***
I went down the stairs, adjusting my bag on my shoulder while checking the time on my phone.
It was almost time to pick Clara up from school, and I was already bracing myself for rush-hour traffic.
But when I reached the entry hall, Carol—one of the house staff—approached me with a discreet smile, handing me a small folded note.
“Mr. Enrico asked me to give you this,” she said softly before stepping away.
My heart sped up as curiosity and caution collided inside me.
I unfolded the note, recognizing Enrico’s firm, elegant handwriting immediately.
Valentina,
I picked Clara up from school. We’re spending the afternoon at the park. You’ve been exhausted—you deserve some rest. I hope you take this time to take care of yourself.
Oh, and check the fridge. I left you a surprise there.
—Enrico.
I exhaled slowly, a strange warmth spreading through my chest at the unexpected gesture.
Without stopping myself, I walked into the kitchen, curiosity pulling me forward.
I opened the fridge—and froze.
Inside sat a small, elegant bottle of my favorite drink: a Korean soda I loved but could never find in Tiradentes. Only afew specialty shops in São Paulo carried it, and I hadn’t had one in years.
I held the bottle carefully, overwhelmed by the emotion rising in me.
The gesture was small—but the thought behind it was enormous.
It touched me deeply, weakening yet another layer of the defenses I had been fighting so hard to maintain.
Over the next few hours, as I tried to enjoy the rare quiet and solitude of the house, I realized how much I missed them—Enrico and Clara.
My body rested in the empty house, but my mind never stopped wondering what they were doing.
When I heard the familiar sound of the car returning late in the afternoon, I hurried to the door.
I watched quietly as Enrico stepped out, Clara asleep in his arms.
My heart clenched at the sight.
He held our daughter with infinite care, her small body nestled against his chest as he walked calmly toward the house.
The tenderness in his expression made my legs feel weak.
It was impossible not to feel the powerful emotional connection in that moment—father and daughter, fully surrendered to trust and closeness.
I clenched my hands, trying to control the overwhelming wave of emotion threatening to consume me.
No matter how much I tried to deny it, Enrico was reclaiming a place in my heart—one I had never believed I would allow him to occupy again.
And that realization was terrifying.
And impossibly real.
