My Favourite Widow

k! K

oor. That morning, the air was frigid, like a knife against her skin. She huddled under the covers, dreading the t

hair so perfectly styled, it looked like it had been carved from ice, strutted into the room

?" The woman's voice was laced with annoyance as she asked the

irred by the woman's words, her blan

e still in bed, snoring like a pig!" the woman t

ealized Raquel was ignoring her again. Her j

ed the air like a knife. "Wake up, sleepyhead! It's al

led birds, jolted awake by the rea

es, and she rubbed her eyes, which were heavy as lead."Why are

y shook her head as she watched her niece, Raquel de Angelis, the on

py eyes and let

d for her phone on the nightstand, its backlit

ailed, her voice b

trained mirth, but she bit back a re

he heaved a sigh and glared at Emma. "

Raquel! Breakfast is served. Shake off your t

l's eyes darted around the room, following E

vealing the first rays of morning sunlight. The sunlight dance

like the waves on a windy day. "Coincidentally, I have today off," she said, her voi

el

iangle beneath her chin, and her

soft as morning sunlight. "It's time to wash y

er lips curled into a bored pout. She couldn't muster up

oulder, her eyelids heavy as lead. "

om, jolting her awake. "Let's go! It's already 7 o

f California more often than not. Emma's house had become her home base, a cozy ha

of Emma's cozy apartment to the

a reputation for winning cases. Aldric Bethoover, her husband of five blissful years, had peris

fection for Raquel. So when Emily and Marvin offered for Emma to

ing bacon wafting up from the kitchen stairs. "I'

y the intoxicating scent of Emma's cooking. It wafted through

wafted through the kitchen, teasing Raquel's senses. Her stomach g

ach is growling like a hungry lion, so let's feast on the delicious food I've prepared for you. From the tende

said, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I'm determined to have a

d in a blue sleepwear, turned around

's gaunt cheeks and sunken eyes. "You look like you'

er brow furrowed in frustration. "All

squeeze Raquel's delicate wrist. "Enough, my dear. You're

down in front of Emma, her eyes darting to the c

ravenous beast, and today it will need all the

ted breath, her heart pounding in her chest. In Emma's eyes, a storm of emotions raged: fear, sadness,

*

ar and onto the bustling campus. Her eyes scanned the crowd for a gli

ng, sw

wering figure, materialized behind her and wrapped his arm

red across campus for his compassionate nature and passionate leadership of various charitable initiatives t

medical student. While some classmates struggle, repeating semesters, he is

surprise, placing a delicate hand over her ch

ks. With a loving expression on his face, he reached out and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb,

lvety chocolate. "I ordered this just for you, sweetie,"

ace glowing with joy as she accepted the gif

elect something special for you, my dear, so I chose low-

e a waterfall, her hand fluttering to

dawn?" Nina teasingly in

g as happily as the b

before a single soul like me," Nina complained

d, his eyes twinkling lik

k it's about time you meet your fake girlfriend

that recently he had been studying human a

on't want to rush into the lab and meet that pr

all the time," reprimanded Raque

r. "I understand her well, dear heart, so do

her shoulders. His empathy dispelled lingering doubts a

ter to their whims so, Raquel? Your kind

"Nina, let me go!" she pleaded. "Jonas, I'm so sorry, bu

neath the ancient oak tree, where the sunlight dances on the

prominent city investor. Once unkempt, he now sported a polished new look, his once-ragged clothes replaced

never blossomed into a full-fledged romance. They danced around each oth

give Jonas the key, even though she felt a growing fondness for him. Their relationship was a tangled web, a dance o

yed words like a 70s ballad," Nina sighed, her heels cli

she gazed at the jar of chocolate in her

always been this way, through th

el, aren't you tired being in some unconventi

lightly. "Through open talks more intimate than any act, Jonas a

ou and Jonas have feelings for each other, but you're not really dating. Consider that in this world, nothi

further. I know myself - wild at times, yet I hold fast to my mot

ows better than to toy with your

eon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Growing up in such a privileged and nurturing environment must

"But rest assured, if he hurts you, I

n her arm conveying resilience. Nina returned the smile, hitting the elevator's button to r

*

irled around her head like a tornado, leaving her feeling lost and bewildered. The professor's le

er, and she began to sketch a peculiar portrai

d around what Mr. Will said?" Nina a

derstand a lick of what he droned on about for two hours s

over from semester one," Nina shook her he

red. Do you want to go home

ter and let the day melt away." Nina paused, her eyes sparkling with

by," Raquel smiled ra

our aunt before meeting Jonas?" Nina's eyes narr

reassuringly. "But I'll wait f

kling at the corners. "Still stuck i

d, expression part h

Jonas's voice, like a warm embrace on a chill

ftly as her eyes lifted, noticing

. Her scrunched nose showed how she treasured his teasing ways. Warmth b

whisper sweet nothings to each other, oblivious to her presence. "Could

e watched Nina's green eyes narrow with jealousy.

always been there for me, through thick and thin?" Nina's eyes scr

ing to be your temporary beau." Jonas's voice pierced

of those prickly bastards than with Alexander Watts." Nina's steely gaze pierced Alexander's soul, like

ws? Five years from now, we might be sharing a c

and I am your highness

s they shared a knowing chuckle, the sound like

I explode." Nina enveloped Raquel in a warm hug before

meet mine." Alexander rested his chin o

asoned bouncer at an exclusive club." Jonas's hand landed on Alex's

, to the seventh

ed towards their secluded hideaway. The setting sun painted the sky in h

ntation? Did it knock yo

es like a river about to burst its

curved into a smile as his beloved began to speak. He leane

droned on and on, lulling me into a hypnotic state. His words were like a thick fog, obscuring my understandi

It's okay, you're just tired after the presentation, and your capacity is like that. When you're tired, it's okay to take

en think straight. Is there any way I can switch educational programs?" Raquel's bottom

like a caged bird. "Didn't you tell me that your parents

e wind whistling through a graveyard. "My parents would dr

ck soon." Jonas chuckled. "I know how t

him. "What is it, Jo

g center and play games or ju

." Raquel s

now." Jonas took off his leather

onas helped her tighten the chin strap, his fingers brushing against her skin gently. She smiled, kno

quel's face as he finished

phrodite herself