Page 134 of Please, Forgive Me

That wedding was more than just a ceremony—it was a celebration of everything we’d built, of the love that had overcome so many obstacles to bring us here.

She danced, she laughed, and she must’ve told me a dozen times how happy she was—for me, for us.

It made every struggle, every obstacle we’d faced, feel even more worth it.

I was lost in thought when Carolina appeared beside me.

“Hey, daydreamer,” she teased, that familiar mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Lost in your thoughts again?”

I laughed, shaking off the haze of reflection and focusing on her.

“Something like that. I was just thinking about how much things have changed…” I said, gesturing for her to sit down.

“They really have. And look at you!” she said, taking the seat and crossing her legs. “Married, mother of two, running your own company…” She paused dramatically, raising a brow. “And married to the perfect husband every woman envies—though he was a complete jerk for a while. I believe in giving people a second chance, sure, but only one, right?”

I burst out laughing.

“Couldn’t agree more, my friend.”

“But seriously, Gabi,” she said, her tone softening. “You deserve all of this and so much more. Seeing you this happymakes me believe good things really do happen to people who deserve them.”

A lump rose in my throat, and a tear threatened to escape. Having a friend like Carolina—someone who had been with me through everything, good and bad—made everything feel even more possible.

“Thank you, Carol,” I said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I whispered.

“Oh, you’d figure it out,” she said, winking at me. “But lucky for you, you’ll never have to.”

We both laughed, and that moment became one of many I knew I’d treasure forever.

With Carolina by my side, my mom beaming with happiness, and Diego and our kids filling my life with love, I knew I could face anything. Because, in the end, I had everything that truly mattered—love, friendship, and the certainty that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Wrapped in Diego’s arms, I felt the warmth of his body surround me, filling me with a sense of safety and love I’d never known before.

All around us, the wedding guests seemed to fade away, and the only thing I could see was the little family we’d built together. Clara, with her chubby arms and curious eyes, watched everything with fascination, while Arthur—ever the protective big brother—grinned proudly, holding his sister’s tiny hand.

I looked at Diego and saw something I’d always longed for: a man who, despite every challenge, had become someone I could count on for the rest of my life.

The cold, distant Diego I’d met at the beginning had become a man full of love and devotion. He wasn’t just the relentless CEO anymore—he was a caring father, a present husband, the partner I’d always dreamed of having by my side.

“I love you, Maria Gabriela,” Diego whispered in my ear, his lips brushing lightly against my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. “I promise to stand by you through everything, to be the father our children deserve and the husband you’ve always dreamed of. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I want you to know that everything I do now is for our family.”

My eyes filled with tears—but not of sadness. It was a feeling so pure, so overwhelming, I could barely contain it.

I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

“I love you too, Diego,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “You’ve changed my life for the better. No family isperfect, but that’s what makes us real. We’ll face challenges, we’ll struggle, but I know we’ll be stronger together. I promise to be the best wife and mother I can be, because you are my everything.”

Diego smiled—that rare, breathtaking smile that lit up everything around him. He cupped my face in his hands, his gaze so intense it made my heart race.

“And you are everything to us,” he said before kissing me softly—a kiss that sealed not only the love we shared but also the promise we were making to each other in that moment.

As our lips met, I felt Clara squirm in my arms, and Arthur, catching sight of us, let out a giggle.

“They’re happy, Mom!” Arthur exclaimed, his little voice bubbling with joy.

“Yes, sweetheart, we’re very happy,” I replied, smiling at him and at Clara.

And in that moment, surrounded by the three people who meant the world to me, I realized that everything we’d been through—all the struggles, all the pain—had led us here.

We weren’t perfect, but we were a family.

And that, more than anything else, was what truly mattered.

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