He caught sight of Isabela, her tiny fist curled around a loose thread on Camila’s blouse. There was a vulnerability, a raw tenderness there, that Alejandro had never known. It was a stark contrast to the transactional relationships that had filled his life until now.

“You and Isabela should stay here, Camila. At least until you’re ready to return to work fully,” Alejandro continued. “We can convert one of the guest rooms into a nursery. I can’t pretend to understand everything you’re going through, but I want to help.”

Camila’s eyes watered, and she quickly brushed away the tears with the back of her hand. It was an act of kindness she had never anticipated, a lifeline thrown in the dark.