Chapter 29 - Healing the Scars
The days following the kidnapping were spent in quiet recovery.
The mansion was peaceful, the heavy security detail scaled back to normal levels now that the ultimate threat was permanently locked away.
Diego refused to go into the office for an entire month.
He spent every single day sitting in the garden with Marisol, reading books, drinking tea, and simply watching her breathe.
He had come terrifyingly close to losing her again, and he refused to take a single second for granted.
Valentina, meanwhile, threw herself completely into her foundation work.
She visited the new orphanage in the southern district, personally overseeing the architectural designs.
She made sure every room had large, bright windows.
She made sure there were no dark, hidden kitchens where children could feel invisible.
One afternoon, Diego walked into Valentina’s bedroom.
She was sitting at her desk, typing furiously on her laptop.
"You are working too hard, princesa," Diego smiled, leaning against the doorframe.
"There are a lot of kids who need help, Dad," Valentina replied without looking up.
"I know," Diego said softly. "But you also need to live your own life. You are a teenager. You should be going to movies, hanging out with friends, and being completely normal."
Valentina stopped typing.
She looked at her father.
"Normal is boring," Valentina smiled. "I want to change the world. Just like you."
Diego’s heart swelled with absolute pride.
He walked over and kissed the top of her head.
"I received a call from the federal prosecutor today," Diego mentioned casually.
"About Paulina?"
"Yes. She pleaded guilty to avoid a public trial. She was sentenced to forty years in a maximum-security facility without the possibility of parole. She will never see the outside of a cell again."
Valentina nodded slowly.
"And Julian?" she asked.
"He is recovering in the prison hospital. Because he cooperated and gave up Paulina's offshore accounts, he received a reduced sentence of five years."
Valentina looked out the window.
"I hope he figures out how to be a better person when he gets out," Valentina said quietly.
"You are too forgiving, Valentina," Diego sighed.
May you like
"No," Valentina corrected him. "I just know what it feels like to desperately want someone to love you, even if they are broken."
Diego realized, in that exact moment, that his daughter was much wiser than he had ever been.
