I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. "It still doesn’t make sense, Juana. If he really cared, he would’ve stepped in when I needed him the most. Watching me cry and then throwing money at the problem doesn’t exactly scream ’knight in shining armor.’"
Juana squeezed my hand. "I get it. I do. And I’m not saying it’s the perfect way to handle things. But María José, you’ve been through so much. Maybe Axel doesn’t know how to approach you. Maybe he’s trying to figure it out, just like you are."
Her words struck a chord, and I felt a pang of guilt for being so dismissive. Or for saying I’d never see him in the same light.
"I just... I don’t want to get my hopes up, Juana. Not about him. Not about anything."
"I get that too. But listen to me: if Axel is the one who dropped that money—and I’m betting everything I’ve got that he is—then it means he cares. And if he cares, that’s something worth holding onto, even if it’s just a little hope." She pressed her lips together, shaking our entwined hands.
"And what about Rosa? She’s made it clear that Axel is off-limits. If she finds out I’ve even thought about him—"
I didn’t even want to think about it. My sister would literally hit me. She’d beat me to a pulp. That’s Rosa for you—full of action and fewer words.
Devious, mean, and harsh actions. I was weak, it’d be stupid to fight a battle I knew I’d definitely loose.
I didn’t want to be a victim.
Juana rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Rosa can’t claim him like he’s a piece of furniture. Axel gets to decide who he likes, and from what you’ve told me, he seems pretty invested in you."
I shook my head. "No, Juana. I can still agree that he helped me since it’s still believable, but liking me? Hell no. He’s just... kind. That’s all."
"Kind?" Juana repeated, raising an eyebrow. "María José, men don’t go out of their way to protect and help someone unless they care. And from what you’ve told me, Axel cares. A lot."
I opened my mouth to argue, but Juana held up a hand to stop me. "Listen, You don’t have to believe me now. Just wait and see. Axel’s actions will speak louder than any words Rosa or Camilla can throw at you."
Her confidence was almost infectious, but I couldn’t stop being a doubting Thomas. "What if you’re wrong?" I whispered.
Juana shrugged listlessly. "Then I’ll owe you a big apology. But I don’t think I am. And as for Rosa? She can’t choose for Axel. If he wants you, María José, then he’ll have you. And from what I can tell, he ticks all the boxes for a man worth fighting for."
Her confidence was contagious, but I could only stare and doubt. Maybe she was right... maybe she wasn’t. I only had to wait and sees
"You make it sound so easy." I chuckled.
"Trust me, María José. I’ve got a good feeling about this."
I shook my head with a reluctant smile appearing on my lips. "You’re incorrigible."
"And you’re too hard on yourself," she replied, pulling me into another hug. "Now, come on. Let’s go wash your face and get you looking like the María José I know. We can’t let you look like you’ve just rolled out of a battlefield."
"That’s exactly how I feel," I muttered.
She wasn’t having any of it. "Hush. Let’s get you cleaned up. You’re still María José del Castillo, even if some people around here have forgotten it."
I let her drag me to the washroom like a rag doll, where she set about her task like a military dama. She untangled my hair, occasionally muttering curses about my father, my sisters, and, of course, Luis Miguel.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her fervor, though my laughter was dampened by the reality of what awaited me.
Once my hair was tamed and neatly braided, Juana scrubbed my face clean and made me rinse my hands and feet. "There," she said, standing back to inspect her work like a painter admiring her masterpiece. "Now you look more like yourself."
"Great," I said, rolling my eyes. "Clean and presentable for the pigs."
Juana shot me a warning glare, but before she could respond, a knock echoed from the door.
We exchanged a glance, and she went to open it. One of the maids stood there, pulling back her bottom lip, as though she’d drawn the short straw for this particular errand.
She must be one of the good ones. One of those who liked the easygoing daughter of the house.
"Don Diego has instructed me to escort Señorita María José to the pig stables," the maid announced.
Well? What did I say about my father again?
Juana froze and I watched as her hand was tightening on the doorframe. "I can’t believe he’s actually doing this."
"It’s fine, Juana," I said quickly, though my chest began to ache at the thought of spending the night among squealing, smelly pigs. "We knew this was coming."
Juana turned to me, her eyes blazing. "Fine? María José, this is not fine! It’s humiliating, degrading—"
"Juana, it’s okay. Really. Let’s just focus on getting me ready. If I have to sleep in a pigsty, I might as well do it with dignity and not smell like meat and tomatoes."
And Luis Miguel... I added in my head.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But we’re going to do this my way. If you’re sleeping with pigs, you’re going to be the best-dressed pig companion they’ve ever seen."
She marched over to my wardrobe, yanking it open. I couldn’t help but smile at her theatrics as she started rummaging through my clothes.
"Something comfortable but not shabby," she muttered to herself, holding up various items and then discarding them. "And we’ll need a good sheet to lay down. I’ll be damned if you’re going to sleep directly on hay."
Just as she began pulling out a soft cotton sheet, the maid cleared her throat nervously. "That... won’t be necessary."
Juana froze mid-motion, her head whipping around. "What do you mean?"
"Don Diego has also requested your immediate presence in his study, Juana."