CHAPTER 32
“It takes courage to admit your mistakes—and even more to make them right…”
MARIA GAbrIELA
“He’s really making you go to that party… or workshop, whatever it is?” Carol asked, rolling her eyes with pure disdain.
I couldn’t even blame her.
“Yeah, girl. But I’m not complaining—just a few more days and I’m out of there for good, thank God.
And this workshop’s on a Sunday, so at least I won’t have to go back to the office on Monday.
” I sighed, feeling that odd mix of relief and anxiety.
“It’s just another one of those endless weekend meetings he loves.
The kind where you’re on your feet for hours, surrounded by investors and important people.
Diego made a point of telling me I had to be there, so… here we go.”
“Of course he did.” Carol let out a sarcastic laugh. “He probably loves watching you suffer while he strolls around looking all perfect, doesn’t he?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Carol always had this way of finding humor in everything, even when things were tough.
“It’s gonna be exhausting, but it’s the last time. After that, I’m free,” I said, trying to convince myself that leaving the company was really as close as it seemed.
“Trust me, Gabi. Once you walk out of there, it’s gonna feel like dropping twenty pounds straight off your shoulders.
I bet Diego’s gonna be completely lost without you.
Maybe he’ll finally realize how indispensable you were.
” She paused for effect, then smirked. “Or maybe he’ll realize that being a boss isn’t just about being gorgeous and arrogant. ”
I burst out laughing. Carol never missed a chance to take a jab at Diego.
Deep down, I knew she wanted the best for me—she wanted me far away from all that pressure—but she couldn’t resist turning the whole thing into a joke.
“Oh, you never miss a beat, do you?” I said, shaking my head, still laughing. “But yeah, it’s gonna be good to leave. To focus on what I actually want—my life, my plans… without his shadow hovering over me.”
“Without Narcissus breathing down your neck all the time!” Carol chimed in, laughing with me. “And then you can finally start your own business, like you’ve always wanted. Maybe even meet a decent guy for once.”
“Oh, come on!” I protested, laughing harder. “One thing at a time, please.”
“I’m serious!” Carol insisted, folding her arms dramatically, as if determined to convince me.
“First, you’ll open your own business, then you’ll find someone who actually values you.
And who knows—by the time that baby’s born, you might even have a decent man by your side.
Because, honestly, Diego might be a lot of things, but decent? Oh, honey, that’s not one of them.”
I let out a deep sigh, my laughter slowly fading.
She was right, but the truth was… I was still confused about everything. Sure, Diego wasn’t the easiest man to deal with—arrogant, controlling, obsessed with work.
And yet, there was something about him that still got to me, something I couldn’t just switch off.
“I know, Carol…” I murmured, staring down at my hands. “But sometimes it’s hard to let go of everything we’ve been through. Even if it was messy, painful… there were good moments too.”
She gave me that look—the one that said she was tired of hearing me talk about Diego.
“Listen, Gabi… just don’t let him drag you down. You’re strong. You know what you want. And it’s definitely not him, right?”
I smiled faintly, trying to take in her words.
“No. It’s not him.”
“That’s right! Focus on what really matters now,” Carol said, her tone lightening as she changed the subject like she could wave all the problems away with a magic wand. “So, have you figured out what you’re doing this weekend—besides that torture workshop your boss booked for you?”
“I think I’ll spend Saturday afternoon sleeping, ‘cause that marathon’s gonna be brutal,” I joked, keeping my tone playful.
Carol gave my shoulder a friendly pat and laughed.
“That’s the spirit! And then you can call me and tell me everything in detail. You know I live for a good behind-the-scenes story from the upper crust.”
“You got it!” I said with a grin.
I finished a few chores after my friend left, trying not to think too much about what was waiting for me at work over the next few days.
Everything seemed calm until my phone buzzed on the coffee table. A message from my mom lit up the screen:
“Be there in 10 minutes. Need to talk.”
I sighed, a small knot tightening in my chest.
Ever since I told her about the pregnancy last month, she’d started visiting more often.
It hadn’t been easy to tell her. Not because she was strict or unkind—but because I felt ashamed. Afraid she wouldn’t believe that even with protection, the unexpected had happened.
And, just as I’d feared, at first she was confused—maybe even skeptical. But deep down, she was my mom. After a long talk, her doubts faded, replaced by understanding and unconditional support.
Now here we were, in this new routine of frequent visits—as if she wanted to remind me that I wasn’t alone, even though a part of me still felt vulnerable.
I walked to the mirror in the hallway, quickly fixing my hair and making sure I didn’t look stressed. I didn’t want her to see any sign of it.
After all, Diego was already doing a great job of complicating my life every single day at work.
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, there she was—my mom—with that warm smile that, even in the middle of my emotional chaos, still had the power to calm me down.
“Hi, sweetheart!” She pulled me into a tight hug, like she always did.
Her arms wrapped around me in that protective way only a mother’s could, and for a brief moment, I wished I could stay there forever—safe from the mess of adulthood.
“Hey, Mom,” I greeted, forcing a small smile. “You got here fast.”
She walked in and made herself comfortable on the couch like she always did—this had always been her home as much as mine.
I followed her, sitting down beside her while she gave me that motherly look that saw everything, knew everything, yet still waited for me to say the right words.
“How are you, honey?” she asked gently, touching my hand. “Are you taking good care of yourself? How’s the baby?”
I shrugged, taking a slow breath.
“We’re fine. I did all the routine tests, and the baby’s developing well. But, you know… work.” My voice trailed off.
I didn’t want to burden her with my worries about Diego. She already had enough to deal with—her daughter’s unexpected pregnancy was probably more than enough.
“I know work’s been tough. You sounded so distant when we talked on the phone this week.” Her voice carried that familiar tone of concern, and I hated making her worry.
“Oh, Mom… it’s complicated. Diego’s been pushing me harder than ever, like he wants me to quit before my time’s up. But I’m determined. Just a few more days, and I’ll be free.” I tried to smile, hoping to convince her I was fine—but I could tell she saw right through me.
She stayed quiet for a moment, studying me, as if trying to measure how much truth there was in my words.
I knew she could see the exhaustion on my face, the confusion in my eyes. Still, her expression wasn’t one of judgment—it was pure understanding.
“Sweetheart…” she began softly, sighing before continuing.
“I know you’re scared about the future, especially with this baby on the way.
And I know you’ve never been one to open up easily.
But you need to remember—you’re not alone in this.
I’m here, always will be. And about Diego…
don’t let him tear you down. You’re so much stronger than that. ”
Her words washed over me like balm on an open wound.
For the first time in days, the weight pressing on my chest felt a little lighter. My mom had that gift—she could take something heavy and somehow make it bearable.
“Thanks, Mom,” I murmured, my eyes stinging slightly. “It just feels like… everything’s spinning out of my control sometimes.”
She squeezed my hand tightly.
“You’ll get through it, sweetheart. And this baby…” she placed her other hand gently over my belly, her smile soft and full of tenderness, “this baby’s going to bring so much joy into your life.”
That moment filled me with a quiet peace.
Even with all the chaos—the tension at work, the confusion with Diego—knowing my mom was by my side gave me the strength I needed to keep going.
“And you, Mom? How are you feeling?” I asked, wanting to shift the focus a little. She was always taking care of me, but I wanted to make sure she was okay too.
“Oh, I’m great!” she said, relaxing into the couch with a smile. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about going back to dance classes. I’ve always loved dancing—and now that I’m going to be a grandma, I’ve got to stay active, right?”
I laughed, picturing her dancing like there was no tomorrow. That was one of the things I loved most about her—her energy, her love for life.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Mom. And who knows, once the baby’s born, you can teach them too. It’ll be nice having all that good energy around.”
She nodded, her smile glowing even brighter.
“Absolutely, sweetheart. I’ll be here—right by your side—every step of the way. Don’t you ever forget that.”
And right then, as we talked about dancing and the future, I realized just how lucky I was to have her.
Despite everything—the uncertainty, the challenges, the fear—knowing my mom was in my corner made everything feel possible.