Chapter 101— Mom’s Journal Today I’m here, lying in my bed, looking at my belly and stroking it. As I talk to my baby, memories come flooding back… along with regrets. Yes, I regret those early moments in this pregnancy when I thought about having an abortion. I didn’t want to admit it, but I did. It felt unfair to bring a child into the world with everything Adrián and I were going through: a divorce on the horizon, a “stepmother” who, in my mind, would have been Valeria, a life surrounded by conflict. My mind shut down back then. I couldn’t see that God had sent me a gift, even if it came wrapped in hardship. I couldn’t see that if He entrusted me with this child, He would also give me the strength to care for him. Today, every single day, I ask God for forgiveness—and I ask my baby for forgiveness. For doubting him. For failing to understand that his life is sacred, that he deserves to exist beyond my fears and circumstances. Sometimes I feel like a terrible mother for even thi

Chapter 103 — Confessions on a Stormy Night The house had fallen silent. Isabel had already left, and Adrián was sleeping in the next room. The distant murmur of the wind seeping through the windows was the only witness to the conversation that was about to begin. Lili was lying down, her leg still, and Sofía was sitting beside her, absentmindedly stroking the edge of the blanket covering her. This was a night for friends, and Sofi wasn’t going to miss the chance to talk with Liliana like they did in their youth, like those endless chats in their college dorm room. It was like turning back time. Between them reigned that trust that only true friends build over the years: they could say anything to each other, without pretense, without fear. Lili sighed, breaking the calm. “Sofi… sometimes I get hit with this horrible insecurity. You know I’m not usually like this, but… I feel good with Guillermo, yes… and yet I can’t stop thinking about the fact that he still hasn’t told his daugh

Chapter 105 — A Morning of LightSunday dawned clear, the sun bathing the streets of Montevideo in golden light. From Colonia, Guillermo had already left his mark on Lili’s heart: an early message, full of love.“I love you, my Lili.” That’s how Guille’s message ended—the man she could no longer imagine her life without.As she read it again, Lili’s heart raced. A deep joy filled her chest, and she couldn’t help but smile as she pressed the phone against her heart, as if she could keep those words inside her.Sofía, always attentive, had been by her side since early morning. She helped her with her routine, guiding her through washing up and getting dressed without requiring any effort from Lili. With the kind of patience only a true soulmate can have, she took care of every detail. She gently combed her hair, braiding soft strands that fell over her shoulders, and even applied a touch of makeup to highlight her eyes.“Look at you,” Sofía said with pride. “No injury or wheelchair coul

Chapter 107 — Stones in the Chest The office was silent, but inside Adrián’s chest there was a deafening roar. He couldn’t catch his breath, his hands trembling, his heart pounding uncontrollably. He gripped the desk as if the ground were giving way beneath him. “No… no…” he whispered between gasps. “Not again.” It was an anxiety attack—one of those that left him frozen, trapped inside his own body. No one knew. No one suspected. Adrián, the relentless CEO who never showed a crack, was breaking apart inside. He clutched his phone and dialed the one number he knew could save him. “Adrián?” came the voice on the other end, the low hum of an engine in the background. Guillermo was on the bus heading back. “Guillermo… I can’t breathe…” he managed between shallow breaths. “My chest hurts, man… it really hurts.” There was a brief pause, then Guillermo’s steady voice wrapped around him like a lifeline. “Easy, Adrián. Listen to me. Take a deep breath. Now let it out slowly. Again. I’m

Chapter 109 — Anxiety It was Monday, and the Castell house was quiet. Sofía was resting after a different kind of weekend—the kind that filled her with energy. She had been at Lili’s house, keeping her company, sharing conversations, laughter, and confidences they hadn’t exchanged in a long time. Their friendship, intact despite everything they’d been through, had felt like a soothing balm. Now, lying on her bed, with one hand resting over her rounded belly, she let the calm of the holiday envelop her. But there was something strange in her chest—a knot, a feeling of unease she couldn’t quite place. She closed her eyes and thought of Adrián. She’d noticed he’d been acting strange over the weekend, with a look that seemed to hide something. She couldn’t take it anymore and called him. “My love…” her voice came out soft, like a caress through the phone. “Is something wrong?” There was a brief silence on the other end, and then he sighed. “How sweet of you to call me ‘my love’