Chapter 4: Unspoken Truths
Lucia stepped into the side lounge near the hotel entrance. Mateo was waiting by the fireplace, his coat off, looking visibly worn down.
"Lucia," he said, taking a step forward before stopping himself. "Thank you for coming down."
"You shouldn't be here, Mateo," Lucia said calmly, keeping her hands folded in front of her uniform. "It's not appropriate while I'm on shift."
"I couldn't leave," Mateo said, his voice quiet. "Lucia... the baby. Why didn't you tell me?"
Lucia looked at him steadily. "When you packed your bags eight months ago, you said you needed a fresh start without burdens. I was respecting your choice."
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Mateo closed his eyes briefly as the weight of his past actions pressed on him. "I was terrified, Lucia. The debt was suffocating, and I felt like a failure every time I looked at you. But leaving was the worst mistake of my life."
"Regret doesn't change what happened, Mateo," she replied gently. "I have built a quiet life here. I don't need speeches."
