They gave her new clothes.
Shoes.
A room of one’s own.
But most importantly…
They gave him a place.
One afternoon, as the sun’s rays streamed through the mansion’s windows, Alejandro called Lucia to the office.
The girl entered nervously.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked immediately.
Alejandro shook his head gently.
“Quite the opposite.”
He got up.
He approached her.
And he knelt down to be at her level.
“Lucía… I want to ask you something important.”
She looked at him, her heart racing.
“Would you like to… stay with us? Forever.”
The world seemed to stop.
“Forever?” she repeated in a whisper.
Alejandro nodded.
“Not as a guest. Not as someone we help.”
He paused.
“Like my daughter.”
Lucia did not respond.
Her eyes began to fill with tears.
“Can I… have a dad?”
Alejandro’s voice broke.
“Yes. If you want.”
Lucia didn’t hesitate any longer.
Ran.
She threw herself into his arms.
And for the first time in her life…
He hugged her without fear.
That day, the house ceased to be just a mansion.
It became a home.
But the story didn’t end there.
Because Alejandro had not forgotten.
Not even forgiven.
