Silver is up in his bedroom in the Willow's home, he braids his hair with his dog, Buster, eyeing him beside him on his bed. As he finished braiding his hair, he looked over at Buster and smiled. Buster wagged his tail happily, clearly excited to spend the day with his best friend. Silver reached over and scratched Buster behind the ears, causing him to let out a contented sigh.
He heads over to his closet to pick out an outfit for the day. Silver rummaged through his closet, searching for the perfect outfit. Wanting to look nice today at the park in the summer season, he took out a dress and placed it in front of him while staring at himself in the mirror before nodding his head.
Once he was dressed, he grabbed his phone and magic paintbrush, and headed out of his room. Buster jumped off the bed and followed closely behind him. Silver could hear the sound of his family talking excitedly in the living room as he made his way downstairs, curious when he picked up some wonderful smell and follow.
Walking down the staircase towards the living room, Silver was greeted with the sight of a rather large, rather beautiful-looking arrangement of flowers on the white straw basket fill with pink tulips, blue forget-me-nots, peach peonies, yellow daffodils, purple hyacinths, and some few white baby breath sitting on the table.
"Oh Silver, look at this!" Paula said, smiling at another white basket of flowers sitting on the kitchen counter. "He sends flowers!"
Silver plucks the letter from within the flowers and opens it, smiling when he sees a familiar name scribbled at the bottom.
My beloved Silver,
I hope you find these flowers as beautiful and lovely as I do. And that they bring a smile to your face. The flowers were handpicked and delivered from my family garden this morning. I wish I could be there with you just so I could see your reaction but I am currently getting ready for our day at the park by the time you read this. Please enjoy them in good health and know that I am thinking about you. My love for you is endless.
From,
Anthony
"Are these beautiful!" Paula smiles sweetly. "He even spent the mini ones for both Amy and Valentina! Look!"
The twins were holding a small white basket with the same flowers.
Silver couldn't help but feel his heart swell with affection as he read Anthony's note. He couldn't wait to see him at the park and spend the day together. As he looked at the flowers, he felt a sense of warmth and happiness wash over him.
"Anthony is so sweet," Silver said, feeling a twinge of excitement in his chest.
"He really is," Paula agreed, looking at Silver with a knowing smile. "I can tell he really cares about you."
Silver blushed, feeling a bit shy at the thought. The mother then turned toward her daughters, telling them to get change for the day out at the park. Once the girls ran upstairs to their room and got dressed, Silver was left in the living room, still admiring the flowers that Anthony got him.
As Silver continued to admire the flowers, he heard a small voice behind him.
"Those are pretty flowers," the English Bulldog said, tongue sticking out.
Silver turned around to see Buster looking up at him with his big, brown eyes. "Yes, they are," Silver replied, smiling down at his furry friend. "Anthony sent them to me."
Buster cocked his head to the side, looking at Silver with a confused expression. "Who's Anthony?" he asked, tilting his head a little more.
Silver chuckled. "He's my boyfriend," he explained, ruffling Buster's fur. "You remember him, don't you? He and his parents came into my 21st Birthday party uninvited."
Buster's eyes widened in recognition, and he barked happily, wagging his tail even harder. "Oh, yeah! Anthony! I remember now!"
Silver laughed. "Yes, you do now," he said, scratching Buster behind the ears again.
Just then, the doorbell rang, Roberto went to answer the door only to see his nephew.
"Hola familia!" Dorado enters the house wearing this black graphic tee with a red and white design of a skull with lightning bolts for eyes. He pairs this with a pair of distressed black skinny ripped jeans held up by this belt featuring three rows of silver-toned pyramid studs and black high-top Converse sneakers. Over the tee, he wears a black denim vest with patches and studs on it. He is accessories with a silver chain necklace, black spike collars and a pair of black leather wristbands with two layers of silver studs on it. To top it off, he wears a backward black baseball hat with a red lightning bolt on the front.
When he announced his arrival, he was then greeted by a flower once he stepped into the living room. "Woah! What with all the flowers?"
"It's from Anthony!" Silver announced.
Dorado's eyes widened in surprise and shock. "An-Anthony? Him?" he exclaimed, looking at Silver with a mix of confusion and disbelief. "The same guy who crashed your birthday party?"
Silver rolled his eyes. "Yes, Dorado. The same guy," he said, feeling a bit annoyed at his cousin's overprotective nature.
Dorado shook his head. "I can't believe it," he muttered, looking at the flowers skeptically.
"Silver has charmed a respectable young man, Dorado. You must know that changes everything." Paula argued.
"Please do not tell me you approve of this Tia." Dorado asked in astonishment.
"They are dating."
"And you just simply let him date Silver!? Tía, I am not sure I could trust him and Silver can do better than dating that snobby rich boy-" Dorado was cut off by his aunt, Paula scolded her nephew, giving him a stern look. Silver couldn't help but feel a little frustrated with his cousin's attitude. He knew that Dorado was just looking out for him, but sometimes he took it a little too far.
"Silver told us yesterday last night that he and Anthony had shared their official first kiss, and he sent flowers today to four of us." Paula smiled. "And it's pretty!" She added.
Dorado's mouth dropped when his aunt mentioned them sharing a kiss. "K.. K… KISSING!?!?" He gasps. "He kissed him!?" Dorado's eyes went directly at his cousin.
"Yes!" Paula was too focused on the flowers that she didn't notice her nephew's reaction. "Silver told us that it was so romantic!"
Dorado's eyes widened even more in shock. "I can't believe it!" he exclaimed, looking at Silver with a mix of disbelief and concern. "You had your first kiss with.. with him!? Are you sure he's not just using you?"
Silver's face fell at Dorado's words. "What? No, of course not," he said with a hurt and upset tone. "Anthony really cares about me, Dorado. He's not using me."
Dorado crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Silver with a stern expression. "I don't know about this, Silver," he said, still not convinced. "I'm going to have to keep an eye on this Anthony guy."
Silver rolled his eyes again, feeling exasperated. "Dorado, you don't need to keep an eye on him," he said, trying to calm his cousin down. "He's a good guy. And he makes me happy."
Dorado sighed, looking at Silver with a mix of concern. "I just want you to be safe and happy, primo," he said, using the Spanish word for cousin. "And this Anthony dude better not be taken advantage of you."
As the family got ready for their day out, Silver couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement wash over him. He couldn't wait to see Anthony and spend the day together, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the warmth of the sun. And as he looked at the flowers that Anthony had sent him, he knew that today was going to be a special day indeed.
Just then, Valentina and Amy came bounding down the stairs, both dressed in cute summer outfits.
Valentina wore this peachy cotton sundress with pastel pink flowers and green leaves embroidered. The top features a scoop neckline while the bodice has short cap sleeves which are bordered by elastic bands at cuffs and a decorative green velvet belt and the skirt falls above her knees, a matching pair of green sandals and headband on her head.
Amelia wore this white button down shirt featuring a classic polo design with a collared neckline, with a three-button placket, chest pocket, and printed daisies pattern design. It pairs up with a yellow shirt and brown leather belt to keep the dark brown short up. There's a single pair of small hair clips on each side with small daisy and yellow converse shoelaces with daisies embroidered on her feet with white short socks.
"Can we go now?" Valentina asked, looking at Silver with excitement in her eyes. "Come on, come on, come on!" She pulled her brother's hand.
Silver chuckled, "Okay, okay! Let's go," he said, grabbing their bags and heading toward the door. Buster followed closely behind him, wagging his tail happily.
"Have a good day, kids," Paula called after them, waving from the doorway while her husband stood behind her.
"We will, Mama!" Silver called back.
As they walked out into the warm sunshine and toward Dorado's car, Silver couldn't help but feel excited to see Anthony and spend the day together. And even though Dorado was still a bit skeptical and overprotective, he knew that his cousin had his back and would always be there for him.
It was a beautiful day at the beautiful park called "Dreamlight Valley". This park is like a dream come true and located on the left side of Main Street USA with the main entrance located between Emporium and Disney Clothiers, with its lush greenery, and enchanting flora and fauna. The towering trees seem to reach up to the sky, providing a cool shade for visitors to relax and unwind. A shimmering lake in the shape of the mouse invites guests to relax nearby or take a leisurely boat ride, while a whimsical castle-playground offers endless fun for children of all ages. The fragrant flowers release their sweet scent into the air.
It's the perfect place to go for a leisurely walk or have a picnic with loved ones, where the magic of the park will make visitors feel like they have been transported to another world. It's filled with families in the park, most notably: the Parr (aka Incredible) family, the Proud family, the Sheffield family, the Riveras family, and many other families as well.
Silver, Dorado, Buster the dog and the girls were walking down the stone path of the park. As they walked further into the park, they saw Anthony and Vicky in the distance, both sitting on a bench near a fountain and seen chatting in a good conversation.
Anthony had a soft smile on his face as he looked up and saw Silver and his relatives approaching. He is wearing this simple attire with just white dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up above his elbow and about three buttons open. His shirt is tucked inside of his bright red shirt held up by a light brown leather belt with gold buckle and a black sunglasses sitting on his nose. There's this black braided bracelet on his right wrist and a pair of dark brown slip-on sneakers. Lastly, his hair was put into a ponytail.
"Hey," Anthony said, standing up and walking towards Silver. "You look beautiful today."
Silver blushed, feeling a little shy but happy at the compliment. "Thank you," he said, smiling back at Anthony. Silver is wearing this turquoise delicately crafted tea-length dress. Its medium puffy sheer sleeves, together with the voluminous skirt and gold ribbon wrap around him. His hair is styled into a braided ponytail with a small bow at the end and a turquoise plain headband sat on his head. This look isn't complete without plain golden color flats and his signature glasses.
Anthony leaned in and gave Silver a gentle kiss on the lip, causing Silver's heart to flutter with excitement.
"I hope you like the flowers I send you," Anthony said.
Silver nodded with a sense of joy washed over him. "I love them," he said. "They are so beautiful! Thank you so much!"
"Ah! It isn't the Willow!" The beautiful young dark-skin woman walks up toward them and stands beside Anthony. "My favorite family to see today!"
Vicky wore this lovely pencil silk dress in lilac featuring square neckline, elbows length sleeves with ruffle hem, it's finished off with a pleated mid-length skirt. Her dress includes a matching blazer with shoulder pad, puff sleeves with long cuff featuring three button, rounded lapel and three button closure. A pair of leather black ankle strap heels and sheer gloves on both hands. Her afro hair is styled into a box braided ponytail with some edges on her face and her ears have this pair of oval-shaped amethyst gem earrings surrounded by a gold band. There's three strands of ivory pearls and a tiled side lilac sinamay small fascinator with three silk handmade roses and holding an open lace parasol above her to keep her cold down from the sun.
"Hola, Señora Vicky," Dorado charms his girlfriend with a sly smile before kissing her knuckle.
Vicky blushed at Dorado's gesture, smiling at him with a hint of affection in her eyes. "Hola to you too Dorado Lopez," she said, her voice soft and sweet. "You're looking quite dashing today."
Dorado grinned. "Thank you," he said. "You look absolutely stunning as always."
Vicky's smile widened at Dorado's words, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. "You're too kind," she said, "alway so charming."
Dorado leaned in closer to Vicky, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know, mi amor, you're the only thing on my mind right now," he whispered, his voice low and seductive.
Vicky's heart skipped a beat at Dorado's words, her cheeks flushing with excitement. "Ooh, is that so?" she replied, a coy smile playing on her lips.
Dorado nodded, his hand reaching out to caress Vicky's cheek. "Yes, it is," he said, his voice filled with desire. "I can't get enough of you."
Vicky leaned into Dorado's touch, her eyes meeting his in a smoldering gaze. "Oh! Mind your manner Mr. Lopez," she said, her voice teasing with a playful smack on his chest. "Why, we're at a public park and it would be scandalous."
Dorado grinned, so devilishly. "Who said anything about manners?" he replied, his tone playful. "I like to live on the edge."
Vicky chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "You're impossible," she said, her voice went soft. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."
Dorado leaned in closer to Vicky, his lips almost touching her ear. "You know what they say," he whispered, his voice sending shivers down Vicky's spine. "Life is short, so you might as well have some fun."
Vicky's breath caught in her throat at Dorado's words, her heart beat faster than before. "And what kind of fun are you suggesting?" she asked, her voice low and sultry.
Dorado chuckled, his hand sliding down to rest on Vicky's waist. "Oh, I think you know," he replied, with a sound of growl he made.
Vicky bit her lip, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, I'm always up for a little adventure," she said, her hand trailing up Dorado's chest.
While the couple are lost in their flirtatiousness, Silver and Anthony look at each other in an uncomfortable way before Silver lets out a fake cough to remind them of their surroundings, Dorado and Vicky quickly composed themselves, their cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry about that," Dorado said, flashing a sheepish grin. "We got a little carried away."
Vicky nodded in agreement, her hand still intertwined with Dorado's. "Yes, we did," she said, her voice still tinged with desire.
Silver chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "You two are something else," he said, his tone lighthearted. "But please for the sake of the families and people around us, behave okay?"
Vicky nodded in agreement, her hand still intertwined with Dorado's. "Yes, we will," she said, her voice still tinged with desire. "But I can't help it when he's so…. so… steamy."
Dorado grinned, his arm still around Vicky's waist. "And I can't help it when she's so beautiful and alluring," he said, his eyes locked on hers.
"Oh I love the man who speaks to me that way." Vicky purred. "Just love love LOVE IT!"
Silver let out another fake cough to bring these two back to reality. Dorado and Vicky nodded in cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry about that," Vicky said, her voice apologetic. "We'll behave ourselves from now on."
To move on from this awkward situation, Vicky began guiding the group to her pop-up tent where her four staff are setting up and laid out some food on the table. As they walked towards Vicky's tent, the group could see the elegant pop-up tent in the distance. The lilac color scheme was gorgeous, with soft, billowing drapes and delicate lace accents. The tent was adorned with beautiful floral arrangements in shades of white, pink and purple, and blue, adding to the romantic ambiance.
As they approached the tent, they could see Vicky's four staff members bustling about, setting up tables and laying out a delicious spread of food. The tablecloths were a white cream hue, and the gold silverware and plates were intricately designed with delicate patterns including fine porcelain tea cups.
Inside the tent, the atmosphere was cozy and intimate, with gold chairs. The seating area was arranged in a circle, encouraging conversation and interaction between the group. The tent was spacious enough to accommodate everyone comfortably, but still felt intimate and private.
Vicky gestured towards the table. "Please, everyone, help yourselves," she said, her voice warm and inviting. "We have a little bit of everything, so I'm sure you'll find something you like."
The group eagerly dug into the delicious spread of food, chatting and laughing as they enjoyed each other's company. The awkwardness from earlier was forgotten, replaced by the warmth and camaraderie of good friends enjoying a beautiful day in the park. Vicky noticed that Silver's parents weren't with them and asked him, "Where are your parents, Silver? I thought they were coming with us to the park today."
Silver explained that his parents are at home doing some summer cleaning around the house. "They wanted to get the house in order before the summer really heats up," Silver explained to Vicky. "They've been talking about decluttering and organizing for days, so I guess today they finally decided to tackle it."
Vicky nodded, understandingly. "That's a good idea," she said. "It's always good to get things in order and start fresh."
Silver smiled, grateful for Vicky's understanding. "Yeah, they're pretty organized people," he said. "But sometimes I think they take it a little too far."
Dorado chuckled. "I know what you mean," he said. "My Mom is the same way. She's always cleaning and organizing, even when there's nothing left to organize. Especially when she puts on some loud music on the weekends causing me and my two little brothers to wake up in the early morning at 7 am."
In the garage of the Willow house, inside, Roberto was working on the hood of the family car, trying to fix up a dent that had been bothering him for about a month. It was a hot day and he was sweating profusely, but he was determined to get the job done. He has the garage open for the air to cool him down from the heat.
Paula walked into the garage, after cleaning the laundry and dishes in the kitchen, she decided to check on her husband and she couldn't help but admire Roberto working on the hood of their car. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his big forearms, and his brows were furrowed in concentration as he worked on the engine.
"Hey there, Roberto," Paula said, smiling at Roberto. "How's the car coming along?"
Roberto wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned at Paula. "It's coming along," he said. "I think I almost got it fixed."
Paula walked over to him and leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek. "You're such a handyman," she said, her voice low. "I love watching you work."
Roberto felt a stirring in his loins at Paula's words, and he couldn't help but to smile at her. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying the show," he said. "But if you keep looking at me like that, I might not be able to concentrate."
Paula chuckled, her hand sliding down to rest on Roberto's chest. "Oh, is that so?" she said, her voice teasing. "Maybe I should just let you focus on your work then."
Roberto shook his head, his eyes locked on hers. "No, don't go," he said, his voice pleading. "I want you here with me."
Paula smiled, her eyes filled with mischief. "Well, I do have an idea that might help you take your mind off of work," she said, her hand trailing down to rest on Roberto's waist.
Roberto felt his body respond to Paula's touch, his heart racing with desire. "What kind of idea?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Paula turned to Roberto, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Well, Roberto," she said, her voice filled with a hint of flirtatiousness. "With the kids out of the house, we have the whole place to ourselves. Maybe we should take advantage of this moment."
Roberto looked at Paula with bed rest eyes. "You read my mind, mujer," he replied, wiggling his eyebrows. "I was just thinking the same thing."
Paula stepped closer to Roberto. "Let's forget about the chores for now," she whispered, her voice low. "We deserve a little break, don't you think?"
Roberto's heart raced at Paula's touch, his desire growing with each passing moment. "Absolutely," he said. "I can't resist you when you look at me like that."
Paula's lips curved into a sly smile as she leaned in closer to Roberto. "Then why resist?" she murmured, her voice sending shivers down his spine. "Let's make the most of this moment."
With that, they shared a knowing look and began to make their way inside the house, their footsteps echoing through the empty house. As they reached their room, the couple wasted no time. Paula closed and locked the door behind them once they were inside, creating an intimate space where they could escape the outside world.
Back at the park, everyone is having a wonderful time together: Dorado opens his mouth for Vicky to feed him with strawberries, Valentina and Amelia were running around playing tag with the dog Buster, lastly, Silver & Anthony exchanging glances at each other. As the group enjoyed the sunny day in the park, Dorado couldn't help but notice Silver and Anthony standing together, holding hands and smiling at each other. He felt a pang of protectiveness for his cousin rising up, and his gaze shifted to Anthony, whom he didn't fully trust.
Dorado glanced over at Anthony, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the boy's features. He thought to himself, "That boy isn't good enough for my baby cousin. Silver can do better than that."
Anthony noticed Dorado's gaze and smiled warmly at him, trying to break the ice. "Hello, Dorado," he said, his voice friendly. "How's it going?"
Dorado looked away, not interested in making small talk with Anthony. "It's going good," he replied curtly, his eyes flicking back to Vicky.
Anthony sensed the tension in the air and tried to diffuse it. "So, Silver tells me you travel around the countries pursuing your rock and road career with your called "Lopez"," he said, trying to strike up a conversation. "What did you do?"
Dorado shrugged, his eyes still fixed on Vicky. "I just travel different countries here in American and perform on stage with my small travel van," he said. "I also owns an red electric strat guitar that I plays."
Anthony nodded, understandingly. "That's wonderful," he said. "Perhap one day, I could witness your performance."
Dorado remained uninterested, still focused on Vicky. He couldn't help but feel like Anthony wasn't good enough for his cousin, and he didn't want to see Silver get hurt. Anthony noticed the tension and decided to back off, not wanting to make things more awkward. He smiled politely at Dorado and turned his attention back to Silver, giving him a reassuring squeeze on the hand.
Dorado watched them for a moment longer before turning his attention to Vicky, who was now offering him a plate of food. He took a strawberry from the plate and popped it into his mouth, trying to push his concerns about Silver and Anthony to the back of his mind.
Vicky and Silver both noticed the tension between Dorado and Anthony and exchanged a worried glance. They could tell that Dorado wasn't exactly thrilled about Anthony being there, and they didn't want the awkwardness to ruin their fun day in the park.
Vicky decided to try and lighten the mood, hoping that Dorado would open up more to Anthony in a friendly conversation. "Oh, Dorado," she said, her voice cheerful. "Did you try the cupcake with peaches flavor? It's delicious."
Dorado looked up at Vicky and forced a smile. "No, not yet," he said, ignoring Anthony.
Silver could tell that Dorado was still feeling uncomfortable, and he decided to intervene. "Hey, Anthony," he said, his voice friendly. "Did I tell you that my cousin Dorado is a really good soccer player? He's been playing since he was a kid."
Anthony's eyes lit up with interest, and he turned his attention to Dorado. "Really?" he said, his voice intrigued. "That's wonderful. My siblings and I would play rugby together in our family garden."
Dorado remained silent, still not interested in engaging in conversation with Anthony. He felt like Anthony wasn't good enough for his cousin, and he didn't want to waste his time with small talk.
Vicky sighs and decides to change the subject. "So, Silver," she said, a mischievous glint in her eye, "How did you meet Anthony?"
Silver blushed, feeling a little embarrassed. "Oh, uh, we met at his family masquerade ball," he said, his voice low. "The girls drag me to attempt and use fake names so we won't get recognized."
"Silver is truly the most beautiful sight that caught my attention." Anthony jumped in. "I didn't know he was a guy since he introduced himself as "Lady Golden"."
Anthony could tell that Dorado wasn't interested in talking to him, so he decided to focus his attention on Silver and Vicky. He listened to them chat and laughed along with their jokes.
Dorado watched them for a moment, feeling a little left out. He knew that he was being stubborn, but he couldn't help but feel protective over his cousin. Silver, on the other hand, just hopes that he would be nice toward Anthony, that's all he ever wanted but yet Dorado doesn't seem to care.
Vicky's gaze wandered over to the lake, where she saw a fleet of boats bobbing in the water and some people riding on (some in pairs and others in about four groups together). She turned to the others with a smile, an idea forming in her mind.
"Oh everyone," she said, pointing towards the boats. "What do you say we take for a ride on the lake?"
Amelia and Valentina's eyes lit up with excitement, and they immediately jumped at the idea. Dorado and Anthony, on the other hand, seemed hesitant.
Vicky noticed their reluctance and decided to push the idea a little further. "Come on, boys," she said, with a enthusiasm. "It'll be fun. We can split up into pairs and take a boat ride around the lake. It'll be a great opportunity to bond and enjoy the scenery."
Anthony smiled at the idea, eager to spend some time alone with Dorado. "I think that sounds great," he said. "I'd love to take a boat ride with Dorado."
Dorado, however, didn't seem too thrilled with the idea. He huffed, already resigned to the fact that he would have to spend time alone with Anthony. "Sure, let's just get this over with," he muttered.
Vicky didn't seem to notice Dorado's reluctance, too caught up in the excitement of her idea. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Let's head over to the boathouse and get this adventure started."
The group made their way to the boathouse, Dorado and Anthony were given a small boat with oars, and they gingerly stepped inside, trying to find their balance. Silver and Vicky went on another boat with the twins and Buster inside.
"Do you think it will work?" Silver asks Vicky softly, rowing the paddle.
"Of course it will," Vicky smiles sweetly at him underneath her parasol. "Let's be positive and hope for the best."
As they set off onto the lake, Dorado remained quiet and distant, still not fully comfortable with Anthony. Anthony, on the other hand, tried to make conversation, hoping to break the ice.
"So, Dorado, what do you like to do for fun?" he asked, his voice friendly.
Dorado shrugged, not really in the mood to talk. "I don't know, I guess I like listening to music," he said, his eyes fixed on the water and rowing the boat.
Anthony nodded, trying to find common ground. "That's great," he said. "I like listening to music too!"
Dorado remained silent, not interested in making small talk with Anthony. He kept his eyes rowing on the water, trying to ignore the boy beside him.
As they continued to row around the lake, Anthony couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He had hoped that this boat ride would be a chance for him and Dorado to bond, but it seemed like Dorado just wasn't interested. No matter how much he tried, Dorado flat out refused.
Silver and Vicky watch from the other side, they witness Anthony trying his best to engage a conversation with Dorado but seeing how the pink man doesn't take part of this makes them seem like maybe this idea isn't working.
"I don't think this isn't working Vicky," Silver sighs in disappointment.
"Now, now!" Vicky reassured him, not wanting to give up. "You must keep thinking positive my dear Silver, we still have time and I am sure these two will be best of friends together in no time!" Silver nodded, he hoped Vicky was right and prayed Dorado would finally be open-minded to Anthony before continuing rowing the boat and making sure his sisters and dog stay still and didn't try to tip over the boat.
Back to their boat, Anthony sighed, feeling a bit disappointed. He decided to focus on enjoying the peacefulness of being on the water instead. "This is really nice," he said, his voice soft. "The tranquility of the water is something I really enjoy. It reminds me of a river near the town where I grew up."
Dorado remained silent, not interested in what Anthony had to say. He continued to stare off into the distance, his expression unreadable.
Once Anthony and Dorado rowed back to shore, Silver and Vicky waited excitedly for their return after they finished rowing their boat. "Well gentlemen. How was the boat ride?" Vicky asked, beaming with excitement.
Anthony grinned widely, getting off the boat followed by Dorado. "It was amazing!" he exclaimed. "Thank you for suggesting it, Vicky. I had such a wonderful time."
Vicky smiled, pleased with Anthony's response. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," she said. "It's always nice to spend time out on the water."
Anthony noticed the knot that Dorado had tied and shook his head. "That knot won't hold," he said, reaching over to fix it. "Here, let me show you how to do it properly."
Once Anthony fixed the knot, Dorado shifted his weight, accidentally tripping over Buster which offered the poor thing a loud;
YELP!
He stumbled and fell, knocking Anthony into the water with him with a loud splash. Everyone in the park turned to look, their eyes widening in surprise, some even started to laugh at the sight of the two soaking wet men. Valentina and Amelia hold their giggles in and try not to laugh. Silver and Vicky rushed over to the edge of the dock to make sure they were okay.
"Oh my gosh!" Silver exclaimed. "Are you guys okay?"
Anthony quickly surfaced, shaking the water from his hair and removing his shirt. He climbed out of the water, removing his shirt revealing muscles glistening in the sun.
Silver stared passionately, he couldn't help but stare at his boyfriend, his eyes glued to Anthony's chest. All that training at the Royal Guard Station really helped him get into good shape.
Vicky caught his stare before slapping his shoulder. "Silver, it's not polite to stare," she scolded, trying to avert his gaze. "This is very inappropriate and you know better than to-"
She was then cut off when she saw Dorado had also taken off his shirt and jacket, revealing his muscular upper body. Vicky couldn't help but stare, and Silver just shook his head in disbelief before he nudged her, reminding her that it was also improper to stare but all he got from her was her shushing him. Vicky continues to stare at her boyfriend, her eyes lingering on his toned abs and muscular arms.
The young glasses-wearing man rolled his eyes. "Wow, Dorado, I didn't know you had been hitting the gym," Silver joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Dorado just shrugged. "It's nothing," he said, still a bit flustered from the fall.
"Oh, Dorado," Vicky's voice gasps. "I had no idea you were hiding all of that under your clothes."
Dorado blushed, getting a little self-conscious under Vicky's gaze. "Thanks," he said, his voice rusting. "I work out sometimes." He flexes his right bicep and wink at Vicky who she was thankful that she didn't faint to the ground.
Anthony tried to join in on the fun, despite being wet and shirtless. "Hey, at least we all got a good laugh out of it," he said, grinning widely.
Vicky nodded, still trying to keep her eyes away from the shirtless boyfriend. "Yes, it was quite the spectacle," she said, trying to play it cool.
A couple of hours went by and everyone was having a good time… well… almost everyone. Dorado watched in agony as the redhead leaned down to whisper something in Silver's ear, causing him to laugh and throw his head back in delight. Dorado's heart clenched as he felt a surge of jealousy and betrayal. He wanted to rip Anthony's face off and feed it to the ducks. How could Silver be so blind? How could he not see the snake that was Anthony?
"Dorado…" Vicky hissed at him. She'd been telling him off for the past twenty minutes for staring at the young couple like a predator waiting to eat their food. But he couldn't help it, whatever could he do to be sure that his cousin won't get heartbroken or upset?
"I do like how happy they are together, just like Mama and Papa!" Amelia advised no one in particular, probably just thinking out loud but Dorado snapped at her.
Dorado whipped around quickly, demanding she explained herself. "Don't be naive, Amelia! That's not how the world works. People are deceitful, and they'll hurt you in the end!"
"They seem to be, why else would they be walking together?" Valentina added, tilted her head at him unconfused.
"That doesn't mean anything! You don't know what goes on behind closed doors," Dorado replied, his voice laced with a hint of bitterness. Something reared its ugly head in his heart, something clutched and lurched inside of him like he wanted to throw himself off a building or jump off the cliff. "Don't get your hopes up girls, he won't date him! It's Silver, for pete's sake!"
"Dorado, please, lower your voice-!" Vicky hissed, her sweet gesture of patting his shoulder failing to hide the murderous intent in her eyes.
"I don't like this, Vicky. Can't you see what's happening?" Dorado's voice was laced with frustration and anger.
"He looks happy, Dorado. Maybe we should just let your cousin be?" Vicky suggested, trying to reason with him.
"Happy? How can he be happy with someone like Anthony? He's a snake, Vicky, and I won't let him hurt Silver." Dorado's voice was firm, his eyes never leaving the couple's retreating figures. "Silver… he's…" Dorado's voice trailed off as his girlfriend arched an eyebrow, silently warning him to tread lightly so as not to hurt himself. "He's Silver!" He yelled, making the rest of them look at him strangely. Before he knew it, he was marching toward where Silver and Anthony were walking, ignoring Vicky's desperate pleas to stop, his long legs closing the distance effortlessly.
"Anthony!" The redhead turned around and had the audacity to look surprised to see him.
"Dorado."
God, how Dorado longed to punch him, to make him pay for the storm of emotions wreaking havoc within his soul.
"Perhaps we could speak later? I am taking an walking with your cousin Silver–" Anthony's words dripped with insincerity, fueling Dorado's rage.
"I need to borrow my cousin for a bit."
Anthony's expression transformed, his surprise replaced by a thunderous glare. "But Silver and I were—"
"I said, I need to talk to Silver." Dorado's voice was resolute, his gaze locked on Anthony, daring him to challenge his authority. "Silver, may I talk to you?" He turned to look at him and Silver hadn't answered so he took that as a confirmation to grab his hand, pulling him along, effectively replacing the Lord.
"Do-orado!" Silver called out, confusion lacing his voice as his older cousin led them away from prying eyes, away from the judging stares of onlookers in the park.
Dorado let out a small smug 'hmph' at that, the idea of having tricked the man twice was such a delicious discovery.
He led them further into the park, hiding them from view of the park behind a tree.
"Dorado, what are you doing?" Silver's voice trembled with uncertainty, his eyes searching for answers. "I was just having a good time with my partner! What is it that you need to talk–"
Pressing Silver's back against the tree, Dorado caged him in, desperation bleeding into his words. "Silver, you cannot date that guy, do you hear me?" He released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, a lifetime of worries pouring out. "Break him up and never ever speak to him ever again!" His gaze bore into Silver's eyes, pleading for understanding.
"Willy, can't you see through his act?" Dorado huffed, his frustration boiling over. "He's just using you for his own entertainment."
What?
His act?
"What?" Habla en serio?
"Anthony, on his mission to date you, looking to take advantage of a young innocent person like you!" But Dorado wouldn't listen. He continued to rant about Anthony's true intentions, convinced that he was right and Silver was wrong. He took Silver's hand, hoping to comfort him, but his grip was too tight, his words too harsh, and he mistaking his silence for hurt over Anthony.
No matter how much Silver pleaded to Dorado how wrong he is, his older cousin wouldn't budge. He was too blinded by his own fears and insecurities, unable to see how happy Silver was with Anthony. About how there's no way he'd not have an ulterior motive; Because god forbid someone wanted to date him. Silver had tuned him out at some point, not wanting to listen to him insult him so appraisingly, obviously, and ignorantly to his face.
"Because god forbid any guy would want to date me…" Silver whispered hurt, blinking stray tears away as he stared sorrowfully at the grass.
"Huh? Did you say something?" Dorado asked, itching closer and Silver could bear it no longer.
"I did, in fact, I said 'God forbid any guy would want to date me Silver Willow!' that'd be beyond even the great Dorado's understanding." Silver snatched his hands away from him as if it burned.
His eyes grew wide and hands frantic as he went on to explain himself. "What? Wait no, no, no–that's not -this is not..!" Dorado stepped away from him and Silver so badly wanted to slide down the tree and hide her head in his knees, he stood upright however, looking his older cousin in the eye at him as he needlessly sputtered, nonetheless.
"Why can't you be happy for me, Dorado?" Silver asked, his voice trembling with emotion. "Why can't you see that I deserve to be loved? Don't I deserve to be happy?"
But Dorado's response was cold and unfeeling. "I can't be happy for you," he said. "He is not good enough for you."
Beyond tired of this charade he closed his eyes, willing himself not to weep over this crazy accusation Dorado made. "What are you planning to do here? What are you trying to achieve here? Telling me how undesirable I am? Telling me that no one would ever want to date me, Silver Willow?" His voice cracked at the end and Silver was sure it was obvious he was crying.
And then Dorado said the words that broke Silver's heart completely. "No one could ever find you worthy of their love," he said, his voice filled with disdain and contempt.
Once again he'd failed and earnestly loathed the power his cousin held over him. "Is that what you think? That no one could ever find me worthy of their love?" The pain in his eyes was unbearable. Tears sprang to Silver's eyes, but he willed his sobs down to ground out. "I don't want to hear it anymore, Dorado. I don't ever want to speak to you again." He spat before rushing over to where Anthony and the rest of the group stood.
Running over to stand beside him Silver quickly said "I wish to leave" as Dorado yelled out a hurried 'Willy!' coming closer.
"Now" he added before marching away from his partner, Vicky, and the horrified sisters, looking as though they were watching a trainwreck.
Dorado ran after him quickly as he left him dumbstruck by the tree. That wasn't how he'd imagined the conversation would go. Why could his cousin see that he is only trying to protect him from trouble, can't he see he's only doing this for his own good?
Silver deserved to have someone loyal, not to have someone who would use him like some prize to be won or a toy that would later one day be put on the shelves once they got tired playing with it. Watching his dazed gaze of bewilderment morph into one of rage, Dorado had recognized his error in his ways. Once again he had made the prospect of courting her seem ludicrous only this time, he forbade any involvement with any other man. God, from his perspective it must've seemed like he didn't deserve him.
That Silver himself wasn't worthy of anyone least of all himself; which couldn't have been further from the truth. Yes, Dorado believed all the guys to be unworthy of him, but only because Silver was their superior in every way, heck it would perhaps take years scouring the earth to find any great fellow who is worthy of someone as good and lovely as his cousin.
Now as he watched his cousin run away, he'd not even have thought of following him as a second nature. As he neared Silver, he saw him quickly run away again, now from Vicky who was left standing there incredibly confused.
Anthony looked at him as he came closer, a thunderous look replacing his previous concern. "Dorado." He grunted and as much as Dorado would love to beat this young man he had bigger fish to fry at the moment. Nodding at him passingly, Dorado moved to step aside only to be stopped by Anthony pushing him back by his chest.
"What did you do…" He growled.
"Listen buddy, I suggest you get out of my way now, lest you regret it." Dorado warned. Pushing past him, Anthony however insisted on being bothersome, Dorado grabbed his shirt as they stared each other down, ignoring the gasps from the people at the park. Out of the blue Maxwell Sheffield and Enrique Rivera rushed in separating the two of them. They held him back by his shoulders and he thrashed against their grip.
"What are your intentions with my cousin!" Dorado questioned him.
"I don't see how that's any of your business, you are not his older brother nor his father, are you not? Do you wish to slander your poor cousin's name? Or publicly humiliate him in front of everyone?" Anthony growled; another group of men nearby had joined only to hold Anthony back as he made to grab Dorado. "Like you're doing it right now!"
"YOU GILLIPOLLAS!" Dorado yelled, wanted to rip him from limb to limb, he wanted to tear him apart, he wanted to kill him for even suggesting that Dorado had cruel intentions towards Silver. He'd known his cousin practically since they were little boys, inseparable side by side.
How dare he question his loyalty to him, what more does he know about his cousin than his own family members?
"Enough of this!!!" Bob Parr commanded, nodding to other men as they dragged him away from the situation, the rest of the gang quickly following.
"Whatever has happened?" Vicky gasped, clutching at her necklace, her face so concerned it almost hurt. Dorado stared down at the ground, letting the shame fall over him. He stood on his two feet as he quickly looked at Vicky.
Dorado pressed, "Did you see where he ran off to?" He was paranoid, he wanted his baby cousin to know how he was just trying to protect him to whatever Anthony is planning on to take advantage of him.
"I-I believe h-he went to my Manor," Vicky said, she wrapped her arm around the girls, comforting them from that terrified sight they just witnessed.
"Dang it!" Dorado screamed, pulling at his hair as he looked around frantically.
Anthony's face was a mask of anger and frustration as he approached Dorado, his voice filled with venom. "What gives you the right to meddle in my relationship with Silver? Who appointed you as the guardian of his heart?"
Dorado squared his shoulders, his own anger boiling beneath the surface. "I care about Silver, more than you could ever understand. I can see through your charade, Anthony. I know what you're capable of, and I won't let you hurt him."
"Oh, and what makes you think you know better than Silver himself?" Anthony shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think he's incapable of making his own decisions? That he's just some naive child who needs protection from the big, bad world?"
"He's my cousin! I've been there for him since the beginning. I know him better than anyone else," Dorado retorted, cracking with frustration. "I'm just trying to look out for him, to protect him from getting hurt."
Anthony scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "Protect him? More like suffocating him. You're smothering him with your overprotectiveness. You don't see him for who he truly is. He's strong, kind, and perfectly capable of making his own choices."
Dorado's anger flared, his voice rising. "You don't know what he's been through. You don't know the pain he's experienced. I've seen it, I've been there for him when no one else was. I won't let him be hurt again."
"He's not a fragile little bird that needs sheltering in a cage," Anthony shot back, his tone biting. "He's a person, with his own dream, his own goal, and his own heart. And you, Dorado, are robbing him of the chance to experience love and happiness on his own terms."
Dorado clenched his fists, his own frustration mounting. "I'm just trying to look out for him! Can't you see that? I don't want him to get hurt!"
"And you think you have the right to decide what's best for him? You think you know him better than anyone else?" Anthony's voice rose, his face inches away from Dorado's.
Dorado's voice trembled with anger and desperation. "I know him better than anyone else! I've been there for him his whole life since he was a baby. I've protected him, cared for him when he was little. I can't let him make a mistake that will shatter him forever!"
Anthony scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "And what makes you so sure that being with me would be a mistake? Have you even bothered to get to know me? Or are you just judging me based on your own insecurities and biases?"
Dorado's breath hitched, his eyes narrowing. "I don't need to get to know you. I can see right through you. You're just using him, playing with his emotions until you get tired of him and completely dump him like some toy that no longer works. And I won't let you hurt him."
Anthony's voice grew colder, his words laced with venom. "You know what, Dorado? You're not protecting him. You're suffocating him. You're so afraid of him getting hurt that you're not allowing him to make his own choices, to live his own life. You're the one hurting him."
The words struck Dorado like a punch to the gut. He faltered for a moment, his anger momentarily replaced by confusion. "No, that's not true. I'm doing this out of love."
Anthony shook his head, his voice softer but no less intense. "Love isn't about controlling someone, Dorado. It's about supporting them, trusting them to make their own decisions. You're pushing him away with your overbearing protectiveness."
Dorado's shoulders slumped, the weight of his realization crashing down upon him. The anger and defiance drained from his face, leaving behind a mix of guilt and pain. "I... I didn't realize... I thought I was doing what was best for him."
Anthony's expression softened, his anger dissipating. "It's not too late to make amends, Dorado. Silver needs his cousin's support, not his judgment."
Tears welled up in Dorado's eyes as the weight of his actions hit him full force. "I... I love him so much. I don't want to lose him." Dorado shook his head, his voice filled with frustration and a tinge of sadness. "I can't help but worry. He's like a little brother to me. I don't want him to get hurt."
Anthony's voice softened as he stepped closer, his tone filled with understanding. "Then show him that love by trusting him. Apologize to him and let him know that you support him, no matter what."
"He's right Dorado," Vicky took a step closer while rubbing his shoulder on the side. "As his older cousin, it is your job to make things right, your job to support him no matter what, and your job to be there for him." She took his hand and gave him a light squeeze. "Will you do that not just for us… but for him?"
Dorado nodded, his voice choked with emotion. "I will. I'll make things right. I don't want to push him away." His eyes filled with tears, a mixture of regret and sorrow washing over him. "I've been so blind... I've hurt him, haven't I?"
Amelia and Valentina both came to give their cousin a hug, offering a comforting gesture.
"It's not too late to make amends, Dorado." Anthony said softly to him. "Go to him, apologize, and let him know that you trust his judgment. It won't be easy, but it's necessary."
Dorado nodded, his voice choked with emotion. "You're right, Anthony. I need to fix this. I need to make things right with Silver."
With a heavy heart, Dorado turned and hurried towards Vicky's manor, his mind filled with thoughts of how he had let him. He had hurt the person he cared about the most, and now he needed to make amends and rebuild the trust he had shattered.
Dorado burst into Vicky's Manor through the entrance doors, his heart pounding in his chest. The fear and anxiety that had been building inside him and he could feel his hands shaking uncontrollably as he ran up to the nearest servant.
"Where is he? Where is Silver?!" he screamed, his voice hoarse with emotion.
The servant looked at him with wide eyes, clearly terrified by Dorado's outburst. "M-Mister Willow is in the library, Mister Lopez," he stammered, pointing to the hallway. Without another word, Dorado sprinted down the hall, his heart racing faster with every step he took. He could feel his chest tightening, making it difficult to breathe.
Dorado found Silver sitting alone in the bay window bench, looking out the window at the garden. He took a deep breath and approached his cousin, feeling nervous but determined to make things right.
"Silver, can we talk?" he asked tentatively.
Silver didn't even look at him. "I have nothing to say to you, Dorado," he said coldly.
Dorado felt a pang of hurt at the sharpness in his cousin's voice. He knew that he had hurt Silver deeply, and he wanted to make things right. "Please, Silver, just hear me out."
Silver finally turned to look at him, his eyes filled with anger and hurt with tears rolling down on his cheeks. "Hear you out? What's there to say? You told me that no one could ever find me worthy of their love. You made me feel like I…" He sniffed. "…I was stupid for even considering it. What more is there to say?"
Dorado felt like he had been punched in the gut. He had never wanted to make Silver feel that way, but he could see now how his words had come across. He has realized that maybe…. maybe he has gone too far, all because of his overprotective behavior and attitude earlier. "I'm sorry, Silver. I never meant to make you feel stupid or hurt you in any way. I was just worried about you, and I didn't want you to get hurt."
Silver snorted in disbelief. "Worried about me? You mean you were trying to control me. You sounded like you never trust me to make my own decisions, Dorado. You sounded like you're always trying to tell me what to do."
Dorado shook his head, feeling like he was getting nowhere. "That's not true, Silver. I trust you, I really do. It's just that… I don't trust Anthony. I didn't think he's good enough for you."
Silver looked at him skeptically. "And what makes you think that? Have you even talked to him? Have you even once tried to get to know him?"
Dorado sighed heavily, feeling like he was backed into a corner. "No, I haven't. Guess I am…. being a jerk to him and not realizing it."
Silver shook his head, feeling frustrated before releasing a chuckle. "Wow! Took you this long to realize? You didn't even once give him a chance?"
Dorado felt a pang of guilt. He knew that Silver was right - he had been too quick to judge Anthony without even getting to know him properly. "I guess...I guess I was wrong to judge him without even giving him a chance. I'm sorry, Silver. I should have been nice to him first before saying anything."
Silver looked at him for a long moment, his expression softening a little bit. "I just...I don't want you to control my life, Dorado. I'm my own, and I want to make my own decisions. I wish you could trust me enough to let me do that."
Dorado nodded, feeling like he had finally started to get through to his cousin. "I know, Silver. And I do trust you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry that I didn't show that before. It's just that...ever since that...you-know-what happened to you, I-"
"Don't," Silver interrupted him, a pained look on his face, "don't, bring that up please Dorado. You know that I don't want to remember that." He knew exactly what Dorado was referring to, but he didn't want to acknowledge it. He didn't want to relive the event of what had happened to him back when he was a freshman in high school.
"That incident is in the past, and I don't want to remember it."
Dorado immediately regretted his words. He knew that he had touched a nerve, and he didn't want to make things worse. "Right, I'm sorry, Silver. I didn't mean to.. bring that up."
Silver shook his head, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I know you want to protect me, Dorado. But I have grown." He said, "I went from being a shy little kid to a wonderful young adult." He told his cousin. "I helped my friends take down Pete who is threatening to close down the House of Mouse, second it was Ditto who was going to use wish Star to make his dream into reality, then there was Hex who was trying to take over the Magic Universe, and also Herbert interrupted the race tournament." He exclaimed. "I don't need your protection, I can do this on my own…. Look how far we got." Silver voice goes soft.
"I am now a young grown adult, Dorado." He said. "No longer…. A child."
Dorado looked at his cousin with tearful eyes, he couldn't believe how much Silver had grown since they were kids. He remembered when they used to play together, and he would always be the one to protect Silver from bullies at school or any harm that could come his way. But now, Silver had proven himself time and time again, showing that he was more than capable of taking care of himself and those around him.
"Dorado...I know you love me, and I love you too," Silver said softly, reaching out to put his cousin's hands. "But you have to trust me. Trust that I can take care of myself, and that I can make my own choices. I want you to be a part of my life, but not as someone who's trying to control it."
Dorado felt a tear roll down his cheek, and he wiped it away hastily. "You're right, Silver," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "You're not a child anymore. You've come so far, and I'm so proud of you. I'm sorry that I've been holding you back. I just...I don't want anything bad to happen to you." His voice cracked a little. "I just...I just don't want to lose you, you mean everything to me."
Silver smiled at him, a gentle and reassuring expression on his face. "You're not going to lose me, Dorado. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. But you have to let me live my life, and make my own decisions and mistakes. That's how I'll learn and grow to be a good human being."
Dorado wrapped his arms around Silver, pulling him into a tight hug. He felt Silver's body stiffen for a moment before relaxing into the embrace and hugging him back, and he knew that he had made the right choice.
"I love you, Silver," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I love you too, Dorado," Silver replied, his voice just as soft. "And I'm glad that we can talk like this. It means a lot to me."
Dorado pulled back from the hug,looking at Silver with a small smile on his face. "Me too, Silver. Me too."
He knew that they still had a lot to work through, but he felt like they had taken a step in the right direction. He didn't want to be overprotective anymore - he wanted to be supportive and trusting. And he knew that it was going to take time and effort to get there, but he was willing to do whatever it took to make things right between them.
If his cousin can believe in him, so can he.
Dorado and Silver walk out of the Manor where they see Vicky's vehicle arriving at the front of the house, The driver got out and helped the passengers get out. Anthony was the first to get out before helping Vicky get off as well followed by the girls and the dog.
Dorado felt a knot form in his stomach as he saw Anthony step out of the car. He knew he had a lot to make up for with him, especially after the way he had treated him earlier.
Silver noticed the tension in his cousin's body language and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Dorado. Let's go greet them."
Dorado took a deep breath and nodded, following Silver down the steps of the manor. He could feel Anthony's eyes on him as they approached the group, and he braced himself for the worst.
"Hey, guys!" Silver said cheerfully as they approached. "How was the drive?"
Vicky smiled at Silver. "It was great, thank you. How have you been, Silver? Are you feeling better now?"
"I've been feeling much better now," Silver replied, his eyes going on to his redheaded boyfriend. "Anthony, I do believe that Dorado has something he likes you to say." Silver moves to the side for Dorado to talk to.
The moment of silence fill in the air as the two look at each other. Vicky gave Silver a worried look before he gave her a smile with a nod. "Trust me" he whispered to her. The flower lady smile back at him before the two look back at them.
"Anthony," Dorado called out, walking up to him. "Listen, I'm sorry, man. I shouldn't have treated you like that at the park. I was...I was wrong, and I'm sorry."
Anthony looked at him for a long moment, his expression guarded. "It's okay, Dorado," he said finally, his voice neutral. "I understand why you were acting the way you did."
Dorado shook his head, feeling ashamed. "No, it's not okay. I was being a total jerk, and I'm sorry. I should have given you a chance, and I didn't. I was wrong, and I'm... I am so sorry."
Anthony's expression softened a little, and he nodded slowly. "I appreciate the apology, Dorado," he said, his voice still guarded. "But let's just...let's just move past it, okay?"
Dorado nodded, feeling a little relieved that Anthony didn't seem too angry with him. "Yeah, okay. Thanks, Anthony."
Anthony had his hands out wide enough for Dorado and Dorado took this as a sign of forgiveness and gave him a hug. A wave of relief washed over him; he couldn't believe how lucky Silver was to have someone like Anthony in his life - someone who cared about him and treated him with respect, just like how he treated Vicky.
As he pulled back from the hug, Dorado suddenly put Anthony in a headlock, causing him to yelp in surprise.
"Hey, what was that for?!" Anthony exclaimed, laughing.
Dorado grinned at him mischievously. "Just making sure you're not holding any grudges against me," he said, before releasing him from the headlock.
Anthony laughed, shaking his head. "No grudges here. We're good."
Silver watched the interaction between the two, feeling proud of his cousin for taking responsibility for his actions. He knew that it wasn't easy for Dorado to admit when he was wrong, but he was glad that Dorado was making an effort.
Vicky smiles, feeling so relieved now that the two rekindled their relationship and now, she could see that the two are becoming good friends. "I am sure you two would like to get to know each other and I believe you boys will be able to do so as dinner will start soon." She said to them. "I am sure you two got plenty more time." She said before walking up the steps and entering inside her manor.
Amelia and Valentine along with Buster follow inside the purple house with Silver walking behind them. Just as Anthony was about to follow the rest of the group, he was stopped by Dorado who placed his hand on his shoulders.
Dorado cold eyes zero in on him, turning his whole body to face Anthony, "Now listen to me." His index finger finds Anthony's chest and pokes hard, so hard he's sure he'll bruise, "If you hurt my cousin, if you cause a single tear to drop from his eyes, I promise you this, Anthony." His name poisoned Dorado's lips, "I will make sure you won't see the light of day." He cracks all his knuckles by squeezing his fist.
Anthony gave him a smirk. "I wouldn't expect anything else."
With the two wrapping their shoulders around each other, they make their way up to the front double entrance doors. As the evening wore on, Dorado found himself growing more comfortable with Anthony. They talked about their favorite movies and TV shows, their likes and dislikes, and Dorado listening to Anthony tell the story of how he met his cousin. He even found himself laughing at some of Anthony's jokes, something he never thought would happen.
As the night drew to a close, Dorado realized that he had misjudged Anthony. He was a good guy and a good friend to Silver, and he was grateful to have him in their lives.
He knows that his cousin is in good hands, and Anthony is the perfect guy for his little baby cousin.
Now Dorado had a heart-to-heart with Silver, realizing that he needed to trust his cousin to make his own decisions and mistakes. And it seems that Dorado has finally come around to Anthony, realizing that he is a good guy who cares for Silver deeply. Of course, Dorado and Anthony have even started to become good friends, bonding over their shared interests and making each other laugh. Who would have thought that these two would ever get along?
It is always a joy to see family members resolve their differences and come together in love and understanding. I can only hope that this newfound understanding between Dorado and Anthony will lead to a stronger bond between each other.
Next Chapter: Anthony spends an evening dinner with the Willow family.