She wiped her cheeks.
“But yesterday, standing in your family’s home, I felt as though I had been foolish enough to believe a dream.”
Raúl’s eyes filled with tears.
“You were not foolish.”
“Then why do I feel so ashamed?”
He had no answer that could undo what had happened.
He could tell her that his sisters were wrong. He could promise to make them apologize. He could remind her of every loving moment they had shared.
But none of those things would erase the humiliation she had suffered.
Finally, he spoke.
“Because I failed to protect you from a situation I should have handled differently.”
Raquel looked at him, surprised.
He continued.
“I thought that if I loved you openly, everyone would eventually understand. I thought that if I defended you when they objected, that would be enough.”
He took a breath.
“But I should have spoken to my family before bringing you there. I should have made it clear that you deserved respect before you ever walked through that door.”
