Esmeralda decided not to dignify Marcela’s pointed remarks with a response. She steadied her voice and maintained her focus. “Is Santiago around? What I need to discuss with him is urgent.”
Marcela opened her mouth to reply, her expression gleeful, as if she were about to make some sly comment, but her words were interrupted by a deep, familiar voice from behind her.
“Esme?”
Both women turned, and there stood Santiago, his expression one of shock and faint surprise. His gaze shifted between Marcela and Esmeralda, lingering a moment longer on Esmeralda, as if trying to process her unexpected presence. There was a tension in his posture, a momentary falter that made Esmeralda’s heart twist with an inexplicable mixture of hope and resentment.
Marcela recovered quickly, turning to Santiago
