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First published February 3, 2021
"Cárcel seemed the kind of man who didn't care about remembering details, and yet when it concerned Inés, his memory exhibited meticulous precision like the sharp, heavy bayonet he wielded"
"While Inés seemed to consider her condition a great weakness that would be nothing but a burden to her husband, Cárcel was the kind of man who would welcome such a burden with open arms. In fact, considering his blind affection, his strong obsession, and his slightly perverted interest in her, Raúl imagined that Cárcel might even go above and beyond that."
"What else happened? What other adorable things did Inés do because she was so worried about me?"
"She even checked to see if you were breathing and lifted your eyelids," he added.
"That's adorable," Cárcel commented.
"She also fumed when we told her you were merely sleeping," Raúl continued.
"So precious..."
"[…], she insisted on staying to watch over you."
"She couldn't keep her eyes off of me," Cárcel muttered"
"He shoved a piece of bread in her mouth before she could argue back. She chewed the food first, and he watched her like the most adorable sight in the world.
"You're so cute when you chew. I wish you could see how adorable you look-"
[…]
"I'm not cute," mumbled Inés. Even despite her sleepiness, her firm voice sounded annoyed.
Cárcel chuckled and pulled her closer to him, duvet and all. "Your cuteness will be the death of me,"
"I don't want to leave because you are too adorable," said Cárcel."

"When she hung her head low, Cárcel continued to kiss her hair. "I like it when you call me your husband, Inés... My heart melts every time I hear you say that."

"All he talks about is you. In the morning, his orders are about you. When he gets home, he asks about you. Before bed, he also..."
"If he confessed his emotions and she turned her back on him, he would wish for nothing but to drop dead.
Without her, none of this would matter. He wouldn't feel this way if not for her.
Indeed, he loved her."

"It doesn't matter if you don't care about her betrayal. I don't care whether you care for me or not," Cárcel added, turning to face her with his back to the sunset. "What matter is that I love you."

"Cárcel continued to ramble on like a madman. "I might die of a heart attack induced by her sheer adorableness. Incredibly endearing."
Raúl grew genuinely concerned for Cárcel. At this rate, if he discovered Inés had indeed spied on him for a while, he might suffer a heart attack from overexcitement."
"Damn it, your mistress is too adorable," muttered Cárcel. "She really knows how to throw me off my feet."
[…]
"So adorable...I want to chew her up from head to toe."
[…]please keep this a secret from her."
"A secret. How adorable."
"He could hardly imagine how heavenly it would be to be loved by his wife.
The thought alone was enough to make Cárcel feel like he was walking on air."
"But just looking at you brings me joy," Cárcel muttered despondently"

"I can't dictate what you say," she pointed out.
"Why not? Go ahead," Cárcel urged.
Inés raised her slightly reddened face and grimaced, stating firmly, "No. I refuse."
She looked endearing even when she was showing such blatant aversion to his words.
"I find it stimulating when you order me around," Cárcel confessed.
"So it's solely for your benefit," she said with a huff. "I won't indulge."
"Please, Inés, command me."

"Kiss me, Inés."
She looked at him with a hint of irritation and leaned in to kiss him.
The whole universe was telling him one thing: this had to be love"
"At last, the truth dawned on her: he had been in love with Inés Valeztena. Always."
"For a while now, he had been sitting with his chín resting on his hands and his clear blue eyes fixed intently on his wife's face, smiling from ear to ear.
"Inés," he called out, seeking her attention.
She ignored him, her focus on the pages before her.
"Look over here, Inés."
"Why?" she asked.
"Just because," he replied, a playful lilt in his voice."
[…] Cárcel's bright smile didn't wane even as her gaze shifted away from him. Look at my dear Inés, dedicated to her reading when she's already so brilliant, Cárcel mused inwardly."

"Perhaps the mermaid reminded him of her because he loved her just the way the soldier loved the mermaid. He didn't mind drowning to spend the rest of his life with her. He forgot to breathe sometimes when he was with her. He was so foolishly in love with her. But-she didn't have feelings for him, just as the mermaid did not love the soldier back."