Chapter 4 - Shattered Alliances
The departure of Paulina Robles was not quiet. From the study, Marisol could hear the shouting, the shattering of a decorative vase in the hallway, and the screech of tires as Paulina’s sports car tore down the cobblestone driveway of the mansion.
Once the noise faded, a heavy silence returned to the house.
Diego returned to the study, looking exhausted but strangely lighter, as if a tight vest he had been wearing for years had finally been cut open. He walked over to Marisol, who was still holding Valentina. The little girl had finally fallen asleep, exhausted by the tension, her thumb tucked securely into her mouth.
"Let me carry her to your room," Diego murmured.
Marisol looked at him, searching his face for any sign of regret, but found only a deep, aching sincerity. She nodded slowly.
Diego leaned down and carefully took Valentina into his arms. He froze for a second as the weight of his daughter settled against his chest. It was a physical reality he had never prepared for. He felt her warm breath against his neck, and a protective instinct, ancient and undeniable, took root in his heart.
They walked in silence down the service corridor to the small staff quarters at the back of the house. Diego had never been to this wing of his own home. Seeing the cramped, windowless room where Marisol and his daughter had lived for the past year made a sharp pang of guilt strike his chest. There was only a single bed, a small dresser, and a corner filled with Valentina’s few toys—including the pink blanket she played on in the kitchen.
He laid Valentina down on the small bed, tucking her in with her stuffed rabbit. He stood over her for a long minute, gently brushing a stray curl away from her forehead.
"I lived in luxury upstairs while my daughter slept here," he whispered, his voice thick with self-loathing.
"You didn't know," Marisol said, standing by the door.
"I should have looked closer," Diego said, turning to face her. "I saw her every day, Marisol. I saw my own mother's eyes looking back at me, and I just assumed it was a coincidence. I was too blind, too caught up in my own world." He stepped closer to her, his expression desperate. "I want to make this right. I want to be her father. But I need you to trust me again."
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"Trust is not something you can order like a coffee, Diego," Marisol said softly. "You just threw out your fiancée and ended a major business deal. The fallout of this is going to be massive. Are you sure you are ready for what comes next?"
"I don't care about the board, and I don't care about the Robles family," Diego said firmly. "I care about her. And I care about you."
