She took a slow breath, her voice breaking. “Because I didn’t want anything from you. Not your money, not your name. Eight years ago, before you married, we shared one night. You probably don’t remember it. But I did. And when I found out I was pregnant, it was too late for explanations. I just wanted to raise her in peace.”
Emiliano’s memory flickered—vague images of a party, too much wine, a night he’d buried beneath the arrogance of youth. Now, the consequences stood before him, alive and innocent.
He nodded, unable to speak.
Julia gently sent her daughter to her room, then sank into a chair. “I didn’t plan for you to find out this way,” she said. “But maybe it’s better. Because there’s something else.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sick, Emiliano. The doctors say it’s cancer. And it’s… advanced.”
He stood frozen, the words echoing in the small room. His instinct was to fix things—to call doctors, pay for the best care, find a solution. But this wasn’t a business problem. It was life. It was love, loss, and regret all at once.
A Promise of Love and Redemption
Julia’s hands trembled as she spoke. “I didn’t want to burden you. But I can’t hide it anymore. Lucía has no one else.”
Emiliano knelt beside her and took her hands. “You’re not alone,” he whispered. “And neither is she. I’ll take care of her. I promise.”
Tears streamed down Julia’s cheeks, yet her smile was peaceful. “Don’t give her a fortune, Emiliano. Give her a father.”
From that day on, everything changed.
