CHAPTER 49
“True love doesn’t erase the scars—it turns them into something beautiful…”
MARIA GAbrIELA
Maybe it was a little wrong of me to let myself hope for something—specifically when it came to Diego—but after a year, I’d decided to give myself permission to feel again.
I knew everything he’d done, the pain he’d caused, but I believe people can change—at least until they prove otherwise. And since then, I hadn’t had any issues with him.
Now, though, I had butterflies in my stomach and needed to figure out exactly what that meant. My heart was pounding as I stood waiting by the door.
I couldn’t tell if it was nerves, anticipation, or maybe a bit of both.
When Diego arrived, it felt like time had rewound itself, and for a fleeting second, I was right back in that same place I’d been when we first met.
“You look beautiful as always, Maria Gabriela,” he said as soon as he saw me. The deep calm of his voice eased my nerves a little, but at the same time, it stirred something inside me—something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
I smiled, doing my best not to show the mess of emotions I was feeling.
“Thanks. You’re not looking too bad yourself,” I teased, my voice laced with that same irony we’d always shared in our conversations.
Diego opened the car door for me—a gesture that, I’ll admit, I found unexpectedly charming.
We got in, and as he drove, he told me about the restaurant he’d reserved for us.
Not just any restaurant, of course. Diego always had this need to impress, to make everything just a little extravagant.
“I booked the entire restaurant for us tonight,” he said with a smile I knew all too well. “Just us—and the staff, of course.”
I looked at him, surprised, though not entirely.
“An entire restaurant just for the two of us? Don’t you think that’s a little… excessive?” I asked, trying to hide the amusement in my voice.
“Maybe,” he admitted with a soft laugh, “but I wanted it to be special. No interruptions—just us. Like old times.”
His words hit me harder than I expected. Like old times.
There was something nostalgic about it—a longing for the days when what we had was all teasing and innocent flirtation, before everything fell apart.
Maybe, in some way, we were both trying to find something we’d lost, something worth holding onto again.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I realized he hadn’t been exaggerating. The place was completely empty, except for us and a few staff members.
Diego had always known how to set a scene, and this time was no different. The space was elegant but warm, lit by soft lights with gentle music drifting through the air.
It was the kind of place that would normally take months to get a reservation for—but with Diego, nothing ever seemed impossible.
“I’ve missed this,” he confessed as he pulled out my chair before sitting across from me. “Us. Talking like this. Being myself without feeling like I have to hide.”
There was honesty in his voice, and it did something to me.
“Me too,” I admitted, though the words weren’t easy. “You know, part of me always wished you’d been the man I met at the start. The one who made me laugh, who drove me crazy in equal measure, but who, deep down, I knew cared.”
“I think we’ve both changed a lot since then,” he said quietly. “But our essence, Maria Gabriela—what made us—that’s still here. And that’s what I want back.”
We talked about so many things that night—about Clara, about Arthur, about how much life had changed for both of us. And we joked too, slipping back into the rhythm we once had. The sharp humor, the gentle teasing—it all felt natural, like time hadn’t passed at all.
“I missed this,” he said again at one point, and I just smiled because I knew exactly what he meant. “Us. I’m not gonna lie, Maria Gabriela—I hope this is the first of many dinners.”
The comment was direct, but it didn’t catch me off guard. I’d been expecting something like that. And in that moment, watching him under the restaurant’s soft lighting, I felt that maybe—just maybe—it could be possible.
“Let’s just see where things go, Diego,” I said, my tone calm but lighter, the kind of tone that hinted I wasn’t closing the door on the idea.
“You know…” he began, absently turning the napkin between his fingers, “I’ve had a few assistants since you left… but none of them, absolutely none, ever came close to you.”
I raised an eyebrow, already bracing myself for whatever was coming next.
“Really?” I asked, my tone dripping with irony. “And why’s that?”
Diego laughed—a lighter, easier sound than the serious tone he used to have back at the office.
“Well, I could say they were all… incompetent.” He paused dramatically, watching my reaction. “But the truth is, you’ve always been irreplaceable. They didn’t have your efficiency, your sharp sense of humor, or your saintlike patience when it came to dealing with me.”
I smiled, appreciating his effort to make me laugh. There was something different about Diego now. He seemed more relaxed, lighter somehow, and the way he included me in the conversation made me feel… seen. Like I belonged there.
He wasn’t the distant boss anymore. He was a man who finally seemed willing to let his guard down.
“I’d say you have a special talent for testing people’s patience, Diego,” I teased, remembering all the times he’d purposely pushed my buttons just to see how long I’d last.
He shrugged, as if accepting the blame without the slightest bit of remorse.
“Maybe. But I always liked the way you pushed back. I think that’s what I enjoyed most about work.”
“Teasing me? That felt more like a sport than entertainment,” I shot back, though I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips.
“Maybe it was a little of both,” he said, smiling too. “But now I’m more interested in you. How’s life been? What are your plans? I’m really glad you agreed to have dinner with me. I wanted to hear all about what you’ve been up to.”
There was an honesty in his voice that caught me off guard. It felt strange, sitting across from Diego, realizing he genuinely cared about what I had to say.
So, for the first time in a long time—especially with him—I let myself open up a little.
“Well, a lot has changed since I left your company,” I began, idly running my finger around the rim of my glass. “My business is still small, but I’m excited. It’s my dream, and I’ve been working hard to make it happen.”
Diego leaned in, clearly interested.
“That’s amazing. What kind of work are you doing?”
“Event planning,” I said, noticing the way his eyes brightened. “I’ve always loved organization, seeing things come together the right way. It felt like the best way to turn that into something of my own.”
He nodded thoughtfully.
“That makes perfect sense. You were always great with details—making everything run smoothly. It’s good to see you’re using that to build something for yourself.”
There was a comfortable silence for a moment as I absorbed his words. Diego was genuinely surprising me. He not only seemed happy for me, but he was actually interested in every little thing I shared.
“And you?” I asked, curious about how he’d been coping with everything since life changed for both of us.
Diego exhaled—not heavily, but like he was releasing something he’d been holding onto. It sounded almost like relief.
“Honestly? I’m better than I ever thought I’d be. Spending more time with Arthur and now with Clara—it’s been amazing. And… starting therapy was a game changer. I don’t think I realized how much I’d been disconnecting from everything and everyone until I started talking about it.”
I studied him closely, watching the sincerity in his eyes. He really was different—and not just on the surface. Diego seemed to be becoming someone more grounded, more open. More… human.
“I’m happy for you,” I said softly—and I meant it.
Seeing him like this—so open, so willing to grow—sparked something in me I thought I’d lost.
“I still want to keep getting better,” he continued. “I want to be the best father I can be for my kids. And… well, I hope we can find a way to be friends again. Or maybe… something more, eventually. No pressure.”
A faint warmth rose in my cheeks.
Diego was opening up in a way I never imagined he could. And as much as I wanted to keep a safe distance, a small part of me hoped he would keep going—that he’d keep proving he’d changed.
“We’ll see how things go, Diego,” I said, my voice gentler than I intended. “For now, I’m happy with the direction we’re heading. And… I’ve missed being able to laugh with you like we used to.”
He smiled—a real one, one that reached his eyes.
“So have I, Maria Gabriela. So have I.”