Chapter 9 - WHAT ANDRÉS BECAME
Two years passed.
The divorce was finalized.
Lucia and the girls moved into a house near the river, far from the Delacroix estate.
Andrés remained part of the girls’ lives under clear boundaries. He attended school events, answered difficult questions, and never asked Lucia to hide the truth about the banquet.
Sofia forgave slowly.
Valentina forgave quickly, then became angry again.
Their emotions changed because healing was not a verdict.
Andrés accepted that.
He sold his luxury apartment and used the proceeds to fund legal aid for employees facing family coercion. Reporters praised him.
Lucia did not.
Public generosity could not erase private cowardice.
But she noticed he continued after the cameras left.
One evening, he brought the girls home after dinner.
Sofia ran inside.
Valentina stayed near the car.
“Daddy says Grandma Patricia wrote to us.”
Lucia’s body tensed.
“She did.”
“Can I read it?”
“When you’re older.”
“What if she says sorry?”
“Then the words will still be there later.”
Valentina nodded and hugged her.
Andrés waited by the gate.
“Thank you for not destroying the letters.”
“They belong to the girls.”
“Do you think they’ll ever forgive her?”
“That is not our decision.”
He looked toward the house.
“Do you think you’ll ever forgive me?”
Lucia considered the question.
“I no longer wake up angry.”
His face softened.
“That isn’t the same as forgiveness,” she added.
May you like
“I know.”
It was the most peaceful conversation they had shared in years because neither tried to turn it into a reunion.
