Inside Marissa's Heart

Marissa stood in their sprawling garden amidst a blanket of flowers. A gentle breeze traced the fence line, tousling her sleek black hair and tugging at her long-sleeved shirt. She smoothed a stray lock from her face, bent down in her black jeans, plucked a single flower from the ground, and admired its delicate petals under the warm sun. It felt like the final glimpse of this place."Marissa... Marissa. Let's go. Everyone is ready for us to leave," her mother, Rosario Valiente, called out.Rosario's simple blue dress fluttered in the same breeze that had captured her daughter's hair, almost as if the land was pleading with them to stay, not to depart. Walking down the lane toward the garden, she called out once more to Marissa, "Please, come and hop into the car. We'll be leaving soon."Marissa nodded, her expression inscrutable.Ignacio Valiente, the second sibling, leaned against a Hyundai Palisade, puffing on a cigar.Meanwhile, Carlos, the youngest of the siblings, assisted the se

"It's night already, Marissa hasn't returned home, even Ignacio's come back," Rosario murmured to herself, nervously fiddling with her fingers, pacing back and forth in the entrance.Juan descended the stairs and noticing her distress, he approached her. "Mother, I hope all is well?"Rosario looked at him, her expression drawn with worry. "I am worried about Marissa, Juan. Since the incident, she hasn't returned home, and I can't reach her on her phone.""Mother, I will ask the workers to help me go look for her. I'm sure she will be fine," Juan assured her, offering a tight-lipped smile as he wrapped an arm around her. "Let's go back in. I'll go out and look for her."Rosario managed a sad smile. "I hope my princess is alright."Miguel descended the stairs, noticing Rosario's pale face. "What's wrong?"Rosario hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks and onto his shirt. "Marissa hasn't returned home yet."Miguel glanced at Juan as he made a decision. "I'm going out to look

Marissa entered Miguel's room, she found him seated on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on the wall, an inscrutable expression masking his emotions."Good morning, Father," she offered in greeting, receiving only a brief, sidelong glance from him before his attention returned to the wall.Undeterred by his lack of response, she took a deliberate seat, reaching out to hold his hands resting on his thigh. "I understand you don't want to talk to me, Father. I am so sorry for the way I have been behaving. I promise you from now I will change. Please believe me when I say I am truly sorry,"He gently squeezed her hand, a tender smile gracing his lips. "I know you will never lie to me. I am offering you a second chance - just bring back my old happy Marissa," he encouraged.Juan strided in with a lopsided smile. ""Don't fret, Father, you can trust Marissa." "Son..." Miguel's face registered shock. "Son... I know, and I believe in both of you. All my children are my pride," he expressed w

"I realized it had been quite some time since I last went for a jog; my joints are aching," Miguel remarked, his discomfort evident. Juan supported him, guiding towards the sandy shore, with Carlos diligently following, carrying beach chairs.Once the chairs were set up, Miguel eased into the seat, sighing with relief. "The air here is incredibly invigorating," he chuckled, observing the waves. Rosario, in her knee-length dress, gracefully joined him, taking a seat."Let loose, everyone. Juan, forget about the ranch, just enjoy the moment," Miguel urged, a hint of carefree emotion in his voice."Fear not, Dad. Juan's leaving the ranch and his worries behind today. I made a deal with Dani to lure him into a swim, and he wouldn't want to let her down," Marissa assured, clad in her bikini, the sun glistening on the beach.Meanwhile, Daniella lounged on the beach, soaking in the warmth. Carlos and Danna, after a brief respite, waded back into the water, engaging in playful swimming and sp

"Hello, my Juan," Marissa greeted as she strolled into the stable, embracing the white foal. "I've missed you. It's been days without you. You know, Daniella has left, and I'm making an effort to maintain distance from Juan, treating him more as a brother. Meanwhile, my mischievous Carlos is doing his best to find happiness with Danna, and the ever-elusive Ignacio is hardly ever at home. My parents are, as usual, wonderful. Everyone is fine and living their lives. Anyway, I just hope that one day I can forget my feelings for Juan and move on. Staying away from him seems like the best choice.""William, go and take care of the cows. I just called a vet for the infirmary. I need to hire a permanent vet for the animals," she heard Juan's authoritative voice."Yes, Boss," she heard William obediently acknowledging the orders.The door creaked open, and Marissa sensed Juan's gaze on her, causing discomfort. Despite her attempts to distance herself, they always seemed to cross paths."I'm j