Alba’s eyes immediately turned red.
“He hasn’t returned to Salamentro!”
Alba, more than surprised, stood up and threw herself into Ernesto’s arms.
– “You bastard, where did you go?
Ernesto explained:
-I’ve been away from your house, waiting for you to call me and invite me to dinner at your place. I already have the gifts ready, but I’ve been waiting all day without receiving your call.
Alba felt funny, she approached him to hit him in the chest and said:
-You haven’t been back to Salamentro for Christmas?
Ernesto smiled slightly and answered:
-Why do I have to go back there? I just want to be by your side.
Suddenly, he remembered the phone call from a few days before.
“Did she hear me talking on the phone that day? No wonder she’s been acting strange the last few days! Ay, my silly, sensitive girl.”
Ernesto rubbed her head and said fondly:
-Dumb girl, I lied to my father that day at the call and I had no intention of returning to Salamentro.
The maid, who was sensible, brought Ernesto a set of cutlery.
Mateo greeted him with a smile:
-Ernesto, sit down and let’s eat together.
Ernesto took Alba by the arm and took the seat.
Alba was very happy to have the man close to her. Even though Ernesto went back to talking to Mateo about the business dealings she didn’t understand, she was still very happy.
While talking to Mateo, Ernesto did not forget to serve food to the woman next to him.
In turn, Mateo secretly watched him without him noticing.
“It seems Ernesto knows Alba’s food preferences very well.”
Alba, taking the food Ernesto had served her, mumbled:
-It’s not as delicious as the dishes you have prepared for me…..
Hearing this, Ernesto said:
-If you had called me, I could have prepared all the dishes you like. I was thinking of letting Mateo try some of my dishes, but I didn’t expect….
Alba gave him a fierce look and interrupted him:
-Since you didn’t want to come back to Salamentro, you would have consciously taken the initiative to come to my house. What, do you still need me to invite you?
In turn, Ernesto answered him:
-Since you were thinking of coming back to Salamentro with me, then you would have taken the initiative to tell me. What? Do you still need me to invite you?
-You didn’t even ask me to accompany you, how could I possibly be so brazen as to make such a request? Besides, in what capacity would I have returned with you to your house?
Ernesto drew a slight smile on his lips and looked at Alba with affection.
It took Alba quite a while to react.
Christmas, which was a holiday for family reunion, therefore, it would probably be embarrassing for Ernesto to come to her house without receiving the invitation.
So Alba averted her gaze and said:
-Well, you will have to be with me for all the Christmases to come.
Unexpectedly, Ernesto suddenly said:
-Alba, marry me. Then we can spend every Christmas together in the future.
Alba was astonished and looked into his eyes dazedly.
Meeting the man’s sincere eyes, Alba felt so happy that she felt dizzy. She forced herself to calm down and said:
-Ernesto, I accept your proposal.
-I don’t agree! -Suddenly, Mateo banged hard on the table.
Alba came to herself and looked at her older brother.
Ernesto was a little taken aback by Mateo’s sudden blow.
The latter said in a harsh tone:
-Alba is still young, and I still want to keep her alive for a few more years?
Alba immediately replied:
-Mateo, don’t play jokes on me. I’ve been supporting myself since I graduated, okay? And now it’s Ernesto who’s paying for my life?
Mateo sat down and contradicted:
-Alba, how can you be so shameless? Do you feel proud living off him?
-It’s none of your business!
After saying that, he stuck his tongue out at his brother.
It wasn’t until then that Ernesto realized what was going on. If Mateo hadn’t yelled like that, possibly Alba would have forgotten about him again because of the sudden happiness. Mateo had acted that way to deliberately divert Alba’s attention.
The marriage proposal got Alba too excited!
It was just an unexpected proposal, but Alba felt so happy that she almost forgot about him. If he had planned an elaborate proposal, wouldn’t she have forgotten him on the spot?
Ernesto and Mateo, who had always been in contact to analyze Alba’s situation together, exchanged glances at each other with a bit of uneasiness on their faces.
Alba, being in a good mood, got up with the intention of going to the bottle rack to get some red wine.
As she turned around, she saw Ernesto and Mateo with their backs to her talking about something she couldn’t hear.
Alba felt very happy, they were the two most important men in her life!
Before, Alba didn’t understand why her brother had suddenly become so indifferent to her. Now she realized that everything her brother did was for her sake. Whenever she felt happy, Mateo would act indifferent to her so that she wouldn’t forget about him.
This face blindness was really obnoxious!
But this year had been the happiest of her life because she had met the man who loved her very much and today’s dinner had been one of the happiest of her life.
Suddenly, a wave of vertigo hit her and her head hurt like hell.
The damned face blindness attacked her again!
At this moment, however, Carlos’ icy words echoed in her ears, “Find a suitable excuse to get away from me and Mica!”
Alba felt a shiver, came to herself and stepped back to find Ernesto standing in front of her. He took the red wine from her hand and embraced her with a frightened look.
-Alba, look at me and don’t forget me!
Mateo also stood with a frown on his face.
-Ernesto, I’m fine? – Alba said slowly after a while.
Hearing her call his name, Ernesto sighed in relief, took her in his arms and whispered into her ear:
-Honey, you scared me to death…..
Alba apologized, clinging to his chest:
-I’m sorry I worried you so much. But Ernesto, I just got that dizzy feeling under control and I think it’s a good sign!
Ernesto let go of her and asked in surprise:
-Really?
Alba nodded and looked at Mateo and then Ernesto and described the feeling of her sudden dizziness.
Mateo smiled reassuringly to see that his younger sister was all right.
The three of them sat back down at the table and Alba poured wine for the two of them and raised her glass:
-Mateo, Ernesto, I’m sure I’ll get over this face blindness someday. Thank you so much for being by my side, protecting me and taking care of me. Come on, let’s have a toast!