Chapter 6 - Healing Old Wounds
The months that followed Elias’s dramatic break from his family were a whirlwind of transition, healing, and quiet rebuilding. Elias moved out of his luxurious penthouse in Santa Fe, selling it along with most of his high-end assets, and purchased a beautiful, sunlit house in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood of Coyoacán. It was a home, not a showcase. It had a large yard with a sprawling jacaranda tree, perfect for children to play under.
Valeria, initially hesitant, slowly allowed Elias back into her life. She watched, with a cautious but warming heart, as he transformed from a cold corporate executive into a hands-on, deeply devoted father.
Sofia adjusted beautifully to the change. She loved the new house, and more than anything, she loved visiting "Dr. Valeria." Elias had explained to Sofia, in gentle, child-friendly terms, that Valeria was going to have a baby, and that the baby was going to be Sofia’s little sister.
"Will she have my eyes, Daddy?" Sofia asked one sunny afternoon, as they sat in Valeria's new garden, planting flowers.
"I think she will be just as beautiful as you, Sofia," Elias smiled, brushing a speck of dirt from his daughter's cheek. He looked up to see Valeria walking out of the house, carrying a tray of fresh lemonade.
She was now eight and a half months pregnant, her belly a perfect, heavy dome. She wore a simple, flowery sundress, her hair tied back in a loose braid. To Elias, she had never looked more beautiful.
"Here," Valeria said, setting the tray down on the wooden garden table. "You two look like you’ve been working hard."
"We are making a garden for the baby!" Sofia proclaimed proudly, running over to hug Valeria’s knees. "We planted roses and daisies. Daddy says babies like flowers."
"I’m sure she will love them, Sofia," Valeria laughed gently, running her fingers through Sofia’s soft hair. She looked at Elias, and for the first time, there was no shadow of the past in her eyes. Only warmth.
Elias stood up and walked over to her. He didn’t try to embrace her, respecting her boundaries, but he stood close enough that she could feel his warmth. "How are you feeling today? Any more Braxton Hicks?"
"A few, but nothing serious," Valeria smiled. "She’s just getting impatient in there. She’s a Robles, after all; she probably wants to run things already."
Elias chuckled, a genuine, hearty sound. "I hope she takes after her mother instead. I hope she has your heart, your courage, and your brain."
"And your determination," Valeria added softly, looking into his eyes. "You’ve done a wonderful job with Sofia, Elias. And what you did... walking away from everything... I never expected that."
"I told you, Valeria. I would throw away the whole world if it meant keeping you safe," Elias said, his voice dropping to a serious, sincere register. "I spent so many years thinking that keeping my mother happy was the only way to protect Sofia. I was trapped in a golden cage. You broke me out of it. Even when you left, you gave me the courage to finally stand up."
Valeria felt a familiar, sweet flutter in her chest. The anger and pain of the abandonment had slowly evaporated over the months, replaced by a deep respect for the man Elias was choosing to become. He was proving, every single day, that his love was not just words, but actions.
"I think," Valeria said slowly, taking a step closer to him, "that our daughter is going to be very lucky to have you as a father."
Elias’s eyes widened, a sudden, bright hope shining in them. "Valeria... do you mean...?"
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"I mean, Elias, that I am ready to try," she whispered. "We have a lot of history to rewrite, but I want to write it together."
Elias let out a breath he felt he had been holding for six months. He gently reached out, and this time, Valeria didn't pull away. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs wiping away a stray tear of joy from her cheek, and leaned down to kiss her. It was a gentle, healing kiss, filled with promises of a future they would build on their own terms.
