Chapter 7 - A Father’s Vow
That evening, after the party had ended and Lucía was fast asleep in her new nursery—surrounded by stuffed animals, books, and soft glowing nightlights—Santiago and Camila stood on the balcony overlooking the quiet city lights of San Pedro.
The night air was cool, carrying the sweet scent of jasmine from the garden below.
“I received the final decree from the court today,” Santiago said quiet softly, placing a document on the wooden table beside them. “Lucía’s birth certificate has been formally updated. Her legal name is now Lucía Alcázar.”
Camila picked up the document, holding it close to her chest. Seeing her daughter’s name printed next to Santiago’s on an official government document made everything feel final, real, and undeniable.
“Thank you, Santiago,” Camila said softly. “For everything you’ve done over these past few weeks.”
Santiago turned to her, his face serious. “Don’t thank me, Camila. I am only doing what I should have done four years ago. I failed to protect you back then. I let the people around me control my life because I was young, arrogant, and foolish enough to trust the wrong people.”
He stepped closer, taking her hands in his.
“I swore a vow to myself the day I found out the truth,” Santiago continued, his voice shaking with deep emotion. “I will never allow anyone to put a wall between us again. Not my family’s legacy, not society, not money. Nothing.”
“Santiago…” Camila whispered, looking up into his eyes. “We’ve both changed so much. We aren’t the same young people who met in Puebla.”
“I know,” Santiago agreed softly. “We are older, wiser, and we carry scars. But my feelings for you haven’t changed, Camila. In fact, seeing how fiercely you fought to protect our daughter all these years has made me love you even more deeply than I did back then.”
Camila’s breath caught in her throat. For years, she had locked her feelings away in the darkest corner of her heart, believing that loving Santiago was a luxury a poor woman could not afford. But standing here now, wrapped in his warmth, she realized that the love had never truly died; it had only been waiting for the storm to pass.
“I was so angry at you for so long,” Camila admitted tears shimmering in her eyes. “I thought you had abandoned us. I hated you for every cold look you gave me in the hallway when you didn't know who I was.”
“I know,” Santiago said gently, bringing her hands up to his lips and pressing a tender kiss against her knuckles. “And you had every right to hate me. I will spend every day of my life earning back your trust, if you’ll give me the chance.”
May you like
Camila let out a soft tearful laugh, leaning her head against his chest. She listened to the steady beating of his heart—the same heart she had fallen in love with years ago.
“You don’t have to earn what’s already yours, Santiago,” she whispered.
