Page 122 of Please, Forgive Me

“And…” He paused, his eyes locking on mine, and my heart skipped a beat. “Today, we’re not just celebrating our daughter’s birthday. I wanted to take this chance to celebrate someone else—someone who’s been essential in my life, even if it took me far too long to admit it.”

His words caught me completely off guard. Before I could process what was happening, Diego made a small gesture with his hand.

One of the staff appeared, pushing a cart covered by a large white cloth. My pulse quickened. I had no idea what to expect.

“Maria Gabriela…” he began, walking toward me, his gaze steady, his tone sincere. “I know I haven’t always been the man you deserved. And I know our story’s had more ups and downs than either of us would like to remember. But today, ten days before your birthday, I wanted to do something special—because you deserve more than I could ever put into words.”

He pulled off the cloth, revealing a large, beautifully wrapped box. My hands trembled slightly as he handed it to me.

“Open it,” he said softly.

With shaky fingers, I untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.

Inside was something I never could’ve imagined.

A miniature model of what looked like a dance studio—complete with mirrors, ballet barres, and tiny lighting fixtures. For a moment, I was frozen, unable to speak.

“I know dancing has always been a big part of your life—something that makes you happy,” Diego said, watching my reaction carefully. “So, I wanted to give you this… your own space. A dance studio. The real one’s almost finished, in one of the buildings I recently bought. I thought you might want a place to dream, to create… to be yourself.”

His words echoed in my mind as I stared at the detailed model.

A dance studio. It was something I’d never told him, yet it had always been one of my greatest dreams. And now, somehow, it was real.

“I…” I tried to speak, but the words caught in my throat.

The emotion was overwhelming. Diego had taken the time to understand what I wanted—what truly made me happy—and now he was giving it to me in a way I never would’ve thought possible.

He stepped closer, his eyes still locked on mine.

“I hope this is the start of something new… a gift for the future. And, well, you know me—I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer.”

I stood there holding the box, feeling the weight of everything—of the moment, the gesture, the possibilities.

The entire room was silent, everyone waiting for my reaction. And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t know what to say.

Diego’s words echoed in my mind, blending with the rapid thrum of my heart. I was speechless—but deep down, I knew something had shifted.

“Guilty! He came to me, and I told him your biggest dream!” my friend blurted out, breaking the silence. “I might like him now. Not a lot, but… a little.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

I looked at Diego, still at a loss for words, and simply whispered my thanks. It was the least I could do.

DIEGO BITTENCOURT

I’d spent the whole week on edge, going over every detail, every decision, wondering if it would be enough. I knew I’d given my best, but the uncertainty still hung over me like a shadow.

“Never thought I’d see the day my brother threw a kid’s birthday party,” Alexandre said, giving me a firm pat on the back, pride flickering in his smile. “You really outdid yourself.”

“I didn’t do it alone,” I replied, trying to sound modest even though his words stirred something warm inside me. “Clara deserves the best.”

Alexandre nodded, wearing that look only he had—a mix of teasing and sincerity.

“And Maria Gabriela? Gonna ask her what she thinks of all this?”

“Yeah. I want to know what she really thinks.”

I drew in a deep breath and walked over to Maria Gabriela, who was standing next to Clara’s stroller, watching our daughter play with the other guests. When she saw me coming, her eyes lit up, but there was a flicker of hesitation too.