Page 38 of Please, Forgive Me

I smiled, charmed by the thought.

“I think it’s perfect, Mom. You should do more for yourself now. Live a little, without all the worries.”

She laughed, the sound light, but her eyes held gratitude—for the battles we’d survived together.

“I could only do this because you were by my side,” she said softly, her eyes misting with emotion. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. You know that, don’t you?”

A silence hung between us, and I felt my chest tighten. I didn’t know what I would’ve done without her either—especially after Dad died and the collectors started showing up. Losing him while carrying that financial weight had been one of the hardest chapters of my life.

But we’d survived it. Together. And that bond had only made us stronger.

“We helped each other,” I said, keeping my voice light. “Now it’s time to enjoy life. You deserve it more than anyone.”

She smiled at me again, but there was something else in the air—a mix of relief and pride. We both knew the scars from those years would always remain, but we also knew we were stronger because of them.

“And you, my daughter?” she asked gently, shifting the subject. “How’s your heart… really?”

I hesitated before answering. My mother always knew when something was wrong, but she also respected my boundaries. I wasn’t ready to talk about Diego or the mess my life had become because of him. Not yet.

“I’m fine, Mom,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “Taking care of things. Working. The usual.”

She nodded, as if to say she understood—that today wasn’t the day for details.

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about her trip, about lighter things, about the good parts of life. And I let myself savor that peace for as long as I could. Moments like these were rare, and I knew I’d need every bit of strength to face whatever came next with Diego.

But for now, I was content just to be there.

The next day, real life came calling.

I woke with that heavy feeling of someone on the edge of a final decision. It was time to settle things with Diego once and for all. I couldn’t keep living in this limbo, but the thought of facing him made my stomach tighten.

I knew he was waiting for an answer, and I’d decided the best thing to do was accept the six-month proposal. At least it would buy me time to get my life in order before finally moving on.

But confronting Diego was never easy.

He always managed to throw me off—whether with his provocations or just by being there, those intense eyes seeming to see more than I ever wanted to show.

I spent the morning at my desk, avoiding any direct interaction with him. Diego hadn’t shown up yet, which only made my nerves worse. My mind wandered, replaying how the conversation might go, imagining his reaction when I finally told him I’d stay.

Part of me wanted to dodge the conversation forever. Another part knew there was no escaping it.

By the end of my shift, after reviewing reports and setting the day’s agenda, I knew I had to end the suspense. I couldn’t keep running. I gathered my documents, took a deep breath, and walked down the hallway toward my boss’s office.

My footsteps echoed louder than usual, like even the floor was warning me this wouldn’t be a routine chat.

I knocked firmly. His voice called for me to come in, and when I opened the door, Diego was at his leather chair, eyes on his computer.

When he finally looked up, something flickered there. It wasn’t the usual coldness. It was as if he’d been waiting for me.

“Maria Gabriela,” he said, his voice steady but focused. “I was starting to wonder when you’d come see me.”

I gave a faint smile, trying to hold myself together as I closed the door.

His office always felt bigger than it was, those massive windows framing the city beyond. The familiar scent of leather and fresh coffee hung in the air, oddly comforting.

“I’ve decided to stay,” I said plainly, wanting to cut through the tension. “I’m accepting the six-month proposal.”

Diego took in my words carefully. There was something in his eyes, like he was scanning for hesitation. But when he saw I was resolved, his shoulders eased.