The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable. Jorge crossed his arms defensively, fixing me with a hard stare, while Martina looked uncertain, her gaze shifting between us.
“Of course, Enrico. I think it’s about time,” Jorge said coldly, gesturing toward one of the armchairs. “Please, sit.”
I took another deep breath and accepted, settling into the chair with calm deliberation. I rested my hands firmly on my knees, facing both of them with as much honesty as I could summon.
Jorge’s defensive posture was understandable. I didn’t expect this conversation to be easy. Still, I was determined to face it with complete transparency.
“Before anything else, I want you to know that I understand your resistance,” I said. “I know my past actions hurt not only Valentina, but your entire family.” I paused, gathering my resolve. “I want to offer my sincere apologies for everything that happened—especially for the pain I caused your daughter.”
Jorge held my gaze, his expression unsoftened.
“Words are easy, Enrico. Anyone can say them. What we can’t forget is what you did. I won’t forget my daughter’s pain. I won’t forget the desperation of watching her fall apart like that. You were the perfect man—until you weren’t.”
Martina placed a hand on her husband’s arm, trying to calm him.
“We’re not here to rehash the past,” she said gently. “But you need to understand that trust isn’t rebuilt with well-crafted speeches.”
I nodded firmly.
“I know that, Martina. I’m not here to convince you with words alone. I’m here to fully take responsibility for my mistakes and to make it clear that I understand their consequences. I have no illusions about how difficult it will be to rebuild the trust I destroyed.”
Jorge uncrossed his arms, though his resistance was still evident.
“And how exactly do you intend to do that?” he demanded. “What guarantees you won’t make the same mistakes once all this stops being new and challenging? Do you have any idea what it’s like to watch your daughter struggle every day to rebuild herself while raising a small child alone? Do you understand the weight of that, Enrico?”
His words hit hard—and deservedly so. I swallowed, the pain they stirred deep and sharp.
“Maybe I’ll never fully understand how much Valentina suffered, Jorge,” I said quietly. “Because I wasn’t there when she needed me. Because I failed her when she needed me most.” I took another deep breath, holding his gaze. “But I am here now. And I’m willing to dedicate every second of my life to making sure she never has to face something like that again.”
“All that matters to me now is Valentina and Clara. They’re everything I have—and everything I want to protect for the rest of my life.”
Martina looked away briefly.
“Enrico, you need to understand how hard this is for us,” she said softly. “We love our granddaughter more than anything, and we want her to be happy and safe. That doesn’t mean we can simply forget what happened.”
“I’m not asking you to forget,” I clarified. “What I’m asking for is a chance to prove—through concrete actions—that I’m capable of making Valentina happy again. I don’t want blind trust. I just want the opportunity to earn it back, slowly.”
Jorge let out a deep sigh, glancing at Martina before looking back at me.
“For Clara’s sake, and for Valentina’s, we’re willing to try to keep things less hostile when we’re together,” he said. “But don’t expect that to mean we fully accept you. Your attitude tonight earned you some points—but we still have a long road ahead before any real acceptance.”
“And I’m ready for that road,” I said firmly, genuine relief washing over me at that small victory.
Before the conversation could continue, the library door opened softly. Valentina stepped inside, stopping when she sensed the lingering tension.
“Is everything alright?” she asked cautiously, her eyes moving between us.
Martina offered a small, reassuring smile.
“It is, dear. We were just talking.”
Valentina hesitated, looking to me for silent confirmation. I nodded, offering her a discreet, hopeful smile.
“It’s alright, love,” I said, standing. “Everything will be alright.”
***
The silence in the car was comfortable as we drove back from the airport after seeing Jorge and Martina off on their return flight to São Paulo.
