Page 126 of Please, Forgive Me

“Maybe. But I always liked the way you pushed back. I think that’s what I enjoyed most about work.”

“Teasing me? That felt more like a sport than entertainment,” I shot back, though I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips.

“Maybe it was a little of both,” he said, smiling too. “But now I’m more interested in you. How’s life been? What are your plans? I’m really glad you agreed to have dinner with me. I wanted to hear all about what you’ve been up to.”

There was an honesty in his voice that caught me off guard. It felt strange, sitting across from Diego, realizing he genuinely cared about what I had to say.

So, for the first time in a long time—especially with him—I let myself open up a little.

“Well, a lot has changed since I left your company,” I began, idly running my finger around the rim of my glass. “My business is still small, but I’m excited. It’s my dream, and I’ve been working hard to make it happen.”

Diego leaned in, clearly interested.

“That’s amazing. What kind of work are you doing?”

“Event planning,” I said, noticing the way his eyes brightened. “I’ve always loved organization, seeing things come together the right way. It felt like the best way to turn that into something of my own.”

He nodded thoughtfully.

“That makes perfect sense. You were always great with details—making everything run smoothly. It’s good to see you’re using that to build something for yourself.”

There was a comfortable silence for a moment as I absorbed his words. Diego was genuinely surprising me. He not only seemed happy for me, but he was actually interested in every little thing I shared.

“And you?” I asked, curious about how he’d been coping with everything since life changed for both of us.

Diego exhaled—not heavily, but like he was releasing something he’d been holding onto. It sounded almost like relief.

“Honestly? I’m better than I ever thought I’d be. Spending more time with Arthur and now with Clara—it’s been amazing. And… starting therapy was a game changer. I don’t think I realized how much I’d been disconnecting from everything and everyone until I started talking about it.”

I studied him closely, watching the sincerity in his eyes. He really was different—and not just on the surface. Diego seemed to be becoming someone more grounded, more open. More… human.

“I’m happy for you,” I said softly—and I meant it.

Seeing him like this—so open, so willing to grow—sparked something in me I thought I’d lost.

“I still want to keep getting better,” he continued. “I want to be the best father I can be for my kids. And… well, I hope we can find a way to be friends again. Or maybe… something more, eventually. No pressure.”

A faint warmth rose in my cheeks.

Diego was opening up in a way I never imagined he could. And as much as I wanted to keep a safe distance, a small part of me hoped he would keep going—that he’d keep proving he’d changed.

“We’ll see how things go, Diego,” I said, my voice gentler than I intended. “For now, I’m happy with the direction we’re heading. And… I’ve missed being able to laugh with you like we used to.”

He smiled—a real one, one that reached his eyes.

“So have I, Maria Gabriela.So have I.”

DIEGO BITTENCOURT

Even though I felt calm about everything, I couldn’t help seeing this night as a turning point.

It was my chance to finally get it right—to show Maria Gabriela that I’d truly changed, that I was ready to be the man she deserved.

Getting here hadn’t been easy. I’d spent months in therapy, trying to understand myself, trying to find who I was again. And now, sitting across from her at a candlelit table in an elegant restaurant, I knew I had to be completely honest.

The room around us glowed softly, the dim light highlighting the delicate lines of her face. She looked beautiful—she always did—and the nervous energy in my chest started to build. But I couldn’t let that get in the way.

This was all or nothing.