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Andrea stared at the chocolate in her cup, as if she could replace an answer there while Mr. Nikola waited for her to speak. Why didn’t she want to marry Zack? Andrea knew that the answer to that question was not easy to explain. She remained silent for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. Then, she took a deep breath and began to speak. “Mr. Nikola… before I met Zack, I was already married.” The man in front of her looked surprised for a minute but then his face relaxed. “I understand. It didn’t end well,” he murmured. “It ended in the most horrible way possible. The truth is that my marriage was a very unfortunate experience. At first, I was very excited about the idea of ​​getting married, I was young and in love. I imagined that marriage would bring me happiness, love and satisfaction. But nothing could be further from the truth. Andrea sighed, if she had no choice but to lie, at least she would lie with a part of the truth. It took me a lot of work and energy to overcome the scars of my first marriage, it left me with a feeling of helplessness, of insecurity, of… fear. That would be the right word —she murmured thoughtfully—: fear. —So why did you agree to the engagement? —Nikola asked curiously. —Because Zack would do anything to make you happy, and I would do anything to make Zack happy… but not this, at least not now —she replied—. I am very grateful for your concern for my well-being and that of my daughter, Mr. Nikola, but I hope you can understand my position. Andrea pressed her lips together and her eyes became moist as she waited for the man’s response, but he looked at her with empathy and smiled. —Daughter, I completely understand your decision. You should never have to endure an unhappy marriage, but you have to know that not all marriages are the same —he said softly. —I know, the truth is that seeing you and Mrs. Luana gives me a lot of hope, but right now marrying Zack would be… it would be difficult for me. Thank you for reading on LeeNovelas.com. “Then don’t worry, let him earn that place, and if not, it doesn’t matter, as long as you and my granddaughter are with us it will be enough for me,” he replied smiling. Andrea was touched by Nikola’s words, and felt a deep relief knowing that he understood her situation. “Thank you for understanding, Mr. Nikola,” she murmured. “How about this? If you feel like having a meaningful celebration this Christmas, why don’t we baptize Adriana?” The man’s eyes sparkled as his entire expression beamed. “Really? Can we baptize my granddaughter?” he asked. “Now that’s news! How come I didn’t think of it!? How about in two days?! Is it too soon!? No, of course it’s not soon! It’s perfect!” he exclaimed excitedly, turning his wheelchair around. “Roll up your sleeves, girl, we have a baptism to prepare.” Luanaaaaaaa, let’s baptize the baby!Nikola had the two women in a twist in a second, and a couple of hours later, when the others arrived, they quickly joined in with the preparations. Nikola took the baby from Zack’s arms, who looked dazed, and his father motioned for her to come over to him. Remember. Read this novel only at LeeNovelas.com, not on other sites. “That’s the best woman I’ve ever met after your mother,” he said, pointing at Andrea, who was busy in the kitchen with her cookies. “And just so you don’t know, she’s not going to marry you. You’re going to have to work hard to really win that girl over, making her a daughter isn’t enough. So wake up, Zack, because I swear that if you don’t, I’ll formally kidnap her for one of your brothers who’s less stupid than you.” Is that clear? Zack smiled slowly as he looked up at her. “Noted, Dad.” “Well, go help, we have a baptism in two days.” Zack nodded and took a deep breath before walking over to Andrea, who was taking her cookies out of the oven. “Do you have a minute?” he asked and the girl jumped, dropping the tray, which Zack grabbed before it hit the floor. Andrea gasped when she saw him make that gesture of pain. “Zack!” “Fuck, that’s hot!” he growled, throwing the tray onto the kitchen island and Andrea approached him, scared. “I’m sorry, you scared me! Are you okay?” she snapped. “Yeah, it was nothing…” “Let me see, Zack.” She took off her oven mitts and reached for his hand by the wrist, watching as his palm turned very red in an instant. “Damn!” she muttered. “Sit down, come sit down.” Andrea opened the fridge and took out a small bag of ice and a bottle of water. She emptied everything into a clean container and stuck Zack’s hand in there. “Does it hurt a lot?” —she asked frowning and he looked into her eyes. —Are you really asking? —he murmured and Andrea gave him a look of incomprehension—. Are you really asking or because I’m paying you to ask? He saw her press her lips together for a second and breathe heavily. —I’m asking because you got hurt, but it’s okay if you don’t want to answer me. I’m going to get a first aid kit. Zack shook his head in frustration, because he had brought this on himself. Not knowing if Andrea was really worried or was pretending. —Good move! —his mother whispered as she walked past him and took a cookie from the tray—. Turns out you’re not as dumb as I thought! —Are you crazy? Do you think I burned my hand on purpose? —Zack whispered back. —Oh, that was an accident? I correct my sentence, you’re as dumb as I thought, but at least make the most of it. I love you, son! Zack rolled his eyes, but he didn’t really need to pretend it hurt, because it was seriously hurting. Andrea came back a few minutes later with a first aid kit and took his hand out of the cold water, letting it dry a little before she started to put some cream on it. Her touch was soft and sweet and she had a worried expression that made him feel sick inside because he didn’t want it to be fake. “There,”This will make you feel better, let’s put some bandages on you and see if it heals faster,” she murmured and Zack felt himself shudder every time she touched him. “Thanks,” he murmured and saw her smile. After that, there wasn’t much Zack could help, because his right hand was his dominant one and he had it useless. Even at dinner time he made a mess, a piece of meat from his plate went to Noémi’s head and another carrot went into Chiara’s eye, and of course, since that made Adriana laugh, the only ones who were bothered at that table were the twins. Finally Andrea took the fork from his hand and started feeding him dinner as if he were a child. “No need…” “Leave her alone, it’s the smallest thing she’ll have to do for you today!” Loan mocked. “Or you’ll also leave many other things besides the tablecloth lost, you one-handed boy!”—Ugh! What’s it like to aim with your left hand? —Milo laughed and Zack blushed when he realized what they were talking about, but when he looked at Andrea he realized that she had also noticed and was even blushing. —Don’t pay attention to them. Those two idiots love to laugh at my expense, but I can only do it — Zack told her quietly, however Andrea and the fork in her hand believed something very different, and neither Andrea nor her fork were wrong. That night she took a shower first, while Zack played with Adriana who was in her crib, but when it was his turn, he realized that he really was very useless with his left hand. After four hits, three curses and five things thrown on the bathroom floor, she took a deep breath and entered the bathroom to replace him with half his shirt on, half of it off and a stuck elbow. —Let’s see, I’ll help you—she said patiently as she helped him undo the knot and took off his shirt. She stared at him for a moment, but there wasn’t a spark of emotion in her expression, fuck it, but he wanted them all. —Do you need help with the rest? —Andrea asked and he gulped. —No… I don’t think so, I’d rather not shower today and that’s it —he murmured. —And what do you think your father is going to think when he sees you tomorrow in the same clothes as today? —Well… um… —I’m just going to take off your pants. You can go in to shower and then we’ll dress you again —she said as if she were his nurse. —Are you going to stay to shower me? —Zack asked and Andrea gritted her teeth to keep from reacting. —Only if you ask me —she answered. He nodded slowly and Ella lowered her eyes to replace his belt, she opened it while she saw Zack’s abdomen tense with each of her movements when she unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans. She didn’t even have to look at him, she already knew he wasn’t breathing. He pulled down her pants, crouching in front of him, and this time it was she who didn’t breathe. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! You’re so self-conscious!” she screamed in her mind as she finished taking off his pants and stood up again. “Do you want me to help you take a shower?” she asked him and Zack squeezed her good hand because it seemed as if she was waiting for orders. “I don’t like this medicine,” he murmured and Andrea frowned without understanding. “The one you’re giving me,” Zack explained, advancing towards her and a second later Andrea had her back pressed against the bathroom glass. “If I say ‘smile’, you smile, if I say ‘bathe me’, you bathe me, if I say ‘kiss me’…” He leaned over her and their mouths joined in a torrid and urgent kiss while Zack reached her neck with his good hand and completely dominated her will. If I say “moan”…” he whispered in her ear, feeling her skin prickle before a guttural moan escaped from her parted lips that shook Zack to his core. “You give me everything I want… but that’s not the way I want it anymore.” Andrea closed her eyes for a moment, then looked into his eyes.—And how do you want it?