Chapter 17 - The Sunset in Las LomasBy late afternoon, the heavy black Mercedes pulled through the wrought-iron security gates of the Villaseñor estate in Las Lomas de Chapultepec.
Inside the mansion, the air was warm, smelling faintly of jasmine and fresh vanilla baking from the kitchen. Marisol sat on the cream-colored sofa in the second-floor master suite, reading a picture book to Valentina, who was curled up in her lap with her worn-out stuffed rabbit clutched tightly in one arm.
When the front door clicked open and heavy footsteps echoed up the sweeping staircase, Marisol’s breath caught. She stood up gently, placing the book down as the suite door pushed open.
Diego walked in. He had removed his tie, his shirt collar unbuttoned, his silver-streaked hair slightly tousled. He looked tired—not with the exhaustion of a defeated man, but with the profound, grounding weariness of someone who had finally laid down an unbearable burden.
“Diego?” Marisol whispered, her heart hammering against her ribs. “How... how did it go?”
Diego didn't answer immediately. He walked across the Persian rug, closed the distance between them, and wrapped his arms tightly around Marisol, pulling her against his chest with a fierce, possessive desperation.
He buried his face in her neck, letting out a long, shuddering breath.
“It’s over,” Diego murmured against her skin. “My mother has no power left. The board is reorganized. No one will ever threaten us again.”
Marisol closed her eyes, a wave of overwhelming relief washing over her as she wrapped her arms around his waist. All the fear, the secrecy, the four years of hiding in the shadows—it had finally evaporated into nothingness.
“Daddy!” Valentina chirped happily, sliding off the sofa and tugging at Diego’s trouser leg with her tiny hands.
Diego released Marisol with a soft smile, dropping down onto one knee to pick up his daughter. He lifted Valentina high into the air, eliciting a bright, musical giggle from the little girl.
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“You smell like cedar and victory, Daddy,” Valentina declared seriously, touching the tip of his nose with her finger.
Diego laughed—a rich, booming sound that warmed the vast, echoing walls of the mansion, turning a cold house into a home.
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