Chapter 26 - The Warmth of Home
Beatriz turned her back on Eduardo’s frantic screaming and walked back to the SUV, letting the tinted windows roll up to block out his miserable existence.
By the time the police sirens wailed in the distance, she was already safely inside the grand foyer of her home, shedding her crimson coat and slipping off her heels. The coldness she had worn like armor all day instantly melted away the moment she heard the sound of little footsteps pattering across the hardwood floor.
"Mama! Mama!"
Leo came running down the hallway, laughing joyfully, entirely oblivious to the pathetic scene that had just unfolded at the edge of his kingdom.
Beatriz dropped to her knees and caught him in a fierce, protective embrace. She buried her face in his soft, sweet-smelling hair, breathing in the scent of baby powder and pure innocence.
"Did you have a good day with your nanny, my sweet boy?"
She asked, pulling back to look at his bright, happy face.
"Played with blocks!"
He declared proudly, pointing toward the sprawling living room.
"Show me,"
May you like
Beatriz smiled warmly.
She let him take her hand and drag her into the living room, where a massive tower of wooden blocks stood precariously. Sitting on the plush rug with her son, building and rebuilding his little towers, Beatriz felt the last lingering shadows of her past evaporate. This was why she fought so fiercely. This was why she had turned her heart to iron in the boardroom—so that Leo would only ever know a world of warmth, safety, and endless possibility.
