Page 103 of Please, Forgive Me

“‘Please.’” I repeated the word slowly, almost bitterly. “That’s one of the words I used most when you made my life hell back at the company. And did it ever matter, Diego?” My voice trembled under the weight of the pain I didn’t want to feel anymore, but there it was—raw and relentless.

He lowered his head, unable to meet my eyes. Seeing him like that—vulnerable, stripped of arrogance—was jarring.

But it wasn’t enough. He needed to understand the damage he’d caused, and that fixing it wouldn’t be easy.

“The best thing you can do now is forget about me,” I said, forcing my voice to stay firm. “Focus on Clara. She needs you. And I want her to have a father who’s present. But us…”I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat. “We can’t happen again.”

Diego looked at me with a mix of pain and determination. I knew my words hit him, but he didn’t seem ready to back down.

“Go to her room, Diego,” I said, nodding toward the door. “Spend some time with Clara. She’s your daughter—she deserves to know you.”

He nodded silently and headed for the nursery. I watched him walk down the hall, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the quiet apartment.

When the door closed behind him, I sank into the couch, exhaustion washing over me—not just physical, but the kind that settles deep in your bones.

Being near Diego felt like reopening every old wound, and I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.

A few minutes passed. I knew he was in there, holding our daughter, trying to connect with her. And deep down, I knew he would be a good father. Despite everything, there was a bond between them that couldn’t be denied—and that brought me a sliver of comfort.

When he finally came back out, his eyes found mine—and something in them had changed. There was a quiet determination I hadn’t seen before. He stopped a few feet away, close enough for me to feel his presence.

“I’ll never give up on you, Maria Gabriela,” he said, his voice steady. “I know I hurt you, and I know I don’t deserveforgiveness—not yet—but I’ll do whatever it takes to win you back. Because, truth is… I love you.”

His words hit me like a blow. I hadn’t expected to hear that—not now, not like this—and the intensity in his voice shook me to the core.

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know what to feel. I just stood there, staring at him as the floor seemed to fall out beneath me.

Diego didn’t wait for a response. He knew he’d said enough—for now. With one last glance toward the room where Clara slept, he turned and walked out, leaving behind a trail of emotions I couldn’t untangle.

I stayed there, alone in the silence, my thoughts swirling.

Diego had gotten to me—and that terrified me.

I didn’t want to believe he could change, but the way he’d spoken, the sincerity in his eyes… planted a seed of doubt I wasn’t ready to face.

CHAPTER 42

“Love is the answer, even when the questions seem impossible…”

DIEGO BITTENCOURT

“Dad… are we gonna play today?”

I knelt down so I was eye level with my son, taking in the spark of innocence in his eyes—so untouched by how complicated the world really was.

“Not today, buddy,” I said softly, “but there’s something important I need to tell you. Something… I found out a few days ago.”

He looked at me, curious but a little tense, like he could sense this wasn’t one of our usual talks.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. I didn’t want to scare him, but I couldn’t dance around the truth either.

“Do you remember when you asked me if you’d ever have a new mom?”

He nodded, his eyes widening.

“Well,” I said slowly, “you have a little sister now.”

His eyes lit up, and a huge smile spread across his face.