Chapter 36 - The Spring of Renewal
Spring returned to San Ángel with an explosion of brilliant color and warm, golden light.
The community outreach center in the northern district reported that Paulina had arrived on her first day without complaint, working long, grueling hours chopping vegetables, cleaning tables, and helping prepare meals for underprivileged families. She didn't ask for special treatment, she didn't mention her old society connections, and slowly, day by day, she began to earn the quiet respect of the people around her.
Inside the grand estate, Sofia—now a radiant, intelligent teenager—was preparing for her high school graduation and planning her university applications in finance and community development.
I stood on the second-floor balcony, watching Andrés and Sofia kick a soccer ball across the lush green lawn where children laughed and played under the afternoon sun.
Andrés walked up beside me, handing me a cup of warm tea and resting his hand gently over mine.
“I heard about your sister,” Andrés said softly. “Are you sure giving her that job was the right move?”
May you like
“It wasn't about charity, Andrés,” I replied, looking out over the open gates of the estate. “It was about closure. You can’t build a healthy future if you keep ghosts locked in the basement. Letting her work for her own survival is the kindest thing I could have ever done for her.”
Andrés smiled, kissing my cheek. “You never cease to amaze me, Mara.”
