That morning, Jimena woke with an energy and enthusiasm that felt like the previous storm had broken, leaving the sun to blaze warmly on a new path. She was itching to work out! She grabbed her long-neglected gym clothes and headed to the gym. The sensation of sweat trickling down her skin, the contraction of her muscles, and the surge of energy and adrenaline gave her an indescribable sense of pleasure and satisfaction. She finished her routine and showered. On her way out, she ran into a familiar face."Jack?" she asked, hesitant in her recognition, while scrutinizing him."Jimena!" he exclaimed, thrilled to see her. He ran a hand through his short, blond hair, then approached her cautiously, as if to make sure he had the right person. After a few seconds of scrutiny, he embraced her with euphoria, kissed her cheek, and looked her over again, this time with a different intention. "Wow, you look amazing!"Jimena blushed instantly. She couldn't help but return the favor, openly admiri
That crescent moon night, under a dark sky that contrasted with the glittering stars, the atmosphere at Jimena's house was thick with excitement, uncertainty, and the fear of the new. While her sisters shared knowing giggles and laughter, Jimena was a bundle of nerves, having not been on a date in ages."You look stunning!" Claudia squealed, her eyes sweeping over Jimena with pride."Do you think I should call him and cancel?" Jimena replied, her hands trembling and fidgeting to keep from biting her nails."Jimena Gutiérrez!" Claudia exclaimed, her voice sharp with disapproval. She planted her hands on her hips. "I didn't design this gorgeous dress, style your hair, and do your makeup for nothing.""I think you might be exaggerating a bit, Clau. It's just a date," Jimena replied, still wavering."It's not just a date, Jim. It's the date!" Claudia countered dramatically, gesturing with her hands as if painting in the air. "It's the gateway to your new life, the opening act of your roma
After saying goodbye to Pablo, Jimena took Adrián to his room and tucked him into his crib. She was awash with mixed feelings, yet couldn't suppress the little smile that kept creeping onto her face.She went to her room and collapsed onto the bed, grinning like a love-struck teenager. Just then, her phone vibrated, and she picked it up to read the incoming message.Jack (8:00 PM): "I'll be at your place in twenty minutes."Jimena sprang from the bed after reading it. She'd forgotten!"Damn!" she exclaimed in exasperation, rushing into the bathroom.Jack took her to dinner at a beautiful, elegant restaurant. That's how most of their dates went. He loved talking about his work and how he'd set aside his passion to dedicate himself to the family business. Jimena found herself entertained listening to him.After several hours, he drove her home."Everything alright?" he asked, concerned, as she'd been lost in thought all night."Yeah." She faked a smile. "Just a little tired.""Then I'll
Jimena woke up with dark circles under her eyes. Even though the baby was already six months old, there were nights when he wouldn’t let her sleep, and this had been one of those nights. By the time she got up, Pablo had already left for work, so she began her morning workout routine.She had been putting in a lot of effort lately, especially since she’d gained quite a bit of weight during her pregnancy. However, she was regaining her figure without much trouble, as she had always been disciplined about her exercise.In front of the mirror, Jimena studied her pale skin, noticing how her blue eyes seemed lost amidst the dark circles, a clear sign of exhaustion and sleeplessness. But the dark circles weren’t just from lack of sleep—she had cried again the night before. She remembered when Pablo had kissed her for the first time that summer, the moment their love story had begun. They had been in the middle of a forest, playing a silly paintball game. She drifted into the memories...“H
Jimena lay down, feeling hopeless about seeing Pablo before falling asleep, who had had another social gathering with his business partners.At least the baby had fallen asleep, and she could finally get some rest. She was relieved that her breasts no longer hurt since they had just dried up. The baby had stopped breastfeeding about a month ago, which left her feeling as though her breasts might explode, full, and unable to be relieved by her child.She closed her eyes slowly, the weight of disappointment pressing on her chest, as she longed for her husband's company. These days, she felt depressed by the distance that had grown between them, but also by the unresolved sexual needs that were tearing her apart, especially since she had to watch her husband undress and sleep beside her naked. That ignited her like fire, but she no longer dared to take the initiative.She woke up with a burning sensation in her eyes when she felt Pablo slip under the covers. She guessed he had only been
Early in the morning, Pablo combed his hair in the mirror. Although he was dressed casually, he looked effortlessly stylish and incredibly handsome, making Jimena stand there, mesmerized. She noticed how much his hair had grown, the tips were brushing against his neck; it seemed he had decided to let it grow long.Jimena couldn't help but admire him in silence, captivated by how striking and masculine he was."Are you leaving already?" she asked, shaking the bottle with one hand while holding the baby in the other arm.Pablo approached the boy and filled him with kisses, flooding Jimena's senses with his fresh perfume. She closed her eyes at the feel of his closeness, parting her lips in silent invitation. He, however, looked at her as if she were something strange and kissed her on the forehead, leaving her deeply disappointed."Right, you don't see me as a woman anymore," she said, her gaze filled with sadness. The weight of guilt hit him immediately as he remembered his careless wo
Everyone was chatting in groups, while Pablo decided to pull away. He sat at a reasonable distance from the others, his expression a mix of disdain and weariness."Everything okay?" Kevin asked as he sat beside him."Yeah." Pablo fixed his gaze on the ground. "Why do you ask?""Well, you're here alone and quiet. That’s not like you.""It’s just stress and exhaustion. By the way, how’s married life treating you?" He shifted the topic. Kevin smiled, a special sparkle in his eyes as he thought about his new reality."Though it’s obvious things are going well. Looks like Laura’s treating you wonderfully," Pablo teased."Being with her makes me feel whole. I love that girl in a way I never thought I could love anyone.""You’re a lucky guy," Pablo muttered, almost like a lament. Kevin gave him a curious look."So are you," he said, patting Pablo’s shoulder. "You’ve got a beautiful family.""Yeah..." Pablo replied, hesitating. "I have a beautiful son.""And a beautiful wife," Kevin finished
Pablo decided not to stay long at the meeting, so he said goodbye to everyone and went home."You’re here!" Jimena greeted him excitedly."Did you spend the whole day locked in the room?" he asked, looking at the bed where his wife lay."I don’t feel well," she excused herself, her eyes full of sadness."Depressed again?" He sat down beside her."I don’t know." Two tears rolled down her cheeks, but she wiped them away in a flash. "I’m fine, don’t worry." She faked a smile. He nodded uncertainly and headed to the bathroom.After a refreshing shower, Pablo fed the baby and put him to sleep. Then he carried him to his room and laid him down in his crib. He stayed for a while, gazing at him. A smile spread across his face as he gently caressed his son’s cheek, admiring him with pride."You weren’t planned, but you’re the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the best version of me. Did you know you got your father’s good looks, Little piece of me? My mini-me! You’re luck