Chapter 13
Victoria stuttered nervously. "You don't have to answer right away, but I hope you are willing to give it some thought?"
Diego was stunned, a mix of astonishment and disbelief reflected on his face. He stared at Victoria, his thoughts caught in a whirlwind of emotions and unspoken words. Her confession had caught him off guard, and he didn't know how to respond. Not sure whether he had understood what Victoria just said, he uttered.
"What do you mean? You are giving up on Zorro? For me, and then what?" His voice almost a whisper. Diego could hardly grasp the words, their meaning slowly sinking in.
Avoiding his gaze, Victoria stared at the ground. "Well, I want to have a family of my own. The only option to achieve that in a respectable manner is by marriage. Thinking Zorro could ever marry me was a foolish thing to do. I have spoken about it with the matchmaker. And she has promised to ask some men she knows are interested in marriage. But since you are my best friend," Her voice fainted. "I wanted to ask you myself."
Diego was afraid to look at her. He feared he would give himself away. A flicker of hope sparked deep within him, but he couldn't find the right words to express it. He was afraid of saying the wrong thing, of ruining something so precious.
Did her words imply that Victoria actually had given up on Zorro, and she accepted they could never be together, because she wanted something Zorro couldn't give her? The idea of her closing that door to open a window brought a wave of conflicting emotions.
Victoria interpreted his uncertainty wrong. She blushed slightly. "Just like I said. You don't have to answer right away, I would appreciate it when you are willing to think about it." she whispered softly. "I greatly value our friendship. You are a good and honest man. And I'm done waiting for something that will never be. I want to move on with my life, and I believe the two of us might be able to hit things off. If you think the same, please let me know."
With those words, Victoria stood up from her chair and quickly disappeared from Diego's sight, leaving him speechless and astonished. He felt a mix of emotions rushing through his body; his thoughts were entangled in a whirlpool of uncertainty, hope, despair, and longing.
Diego needed time to think, to sort out his feelings and be honest with himself. He realized this was a turning point, a split-second in his life to decide whether it was possible. He stared at the spot where Victoria had just been seated. Unbeknownst to her, she had offered them the opportunity to be together. It was difficult to comprehend whether Victoria was truly willing to give up on Zorro. Her arguments sounded convincing. Just like him, she had grown tired of waiting. And how many times had he wondered if there would ever come a day when Zorro became unnecessary? Victoria seemed willing to consider Diego as a husband. So his fear of rejection slightly diminished. It was time to gather courage.
If Victoria were willing to give up her dreams to try and find happiness with a man other than Zorro, he would prefer it to be him a hundred times over anyone else. In the worst case scenario, he would spend the rest of his life begging for forgiveness.
Victoria offered him a path full of uncertainties. But on the horizon, a promise also glimmered, for he loved her, and she claimed to love at least a part of him.
.
.