The dawn broke over the Cruz estate, but the weight of the previous day's revelations lingered like a thick fog. Sanchez awoke from a restless night, his mind torn between anger, hurt, and a strange, inexplicable hope. He was a father—something he had never imagined in the years he'd spent rebuilding his life.
Susan, still in her room, clutched a photo of Mia and Adrian. She knew she had to introduce them to Sanchez soon, but the fear of his reaction gnawed at her. Would he accept them? Could he forgive her?
---
That morning, Sanchez called Susan to his study. His demeanor was calm, but the intensity in his eyes betrayed his emotions.
"Susan," he began, his voice steady, "I need to meet them. I need to see my children."
Susan's heart leaped. She had feared he might reject them out of spite, but his words gave her a glimmer of hope. "Of course," she said quickly. "I'll arrange for them to come here."
"No," Sanchez interrupted. "I want to go to them. I need to see where they've been living, how they've been raised. I need to understand everything."
Susan hesitated but then nodded. "Alright. We can leave this afternoon."
---
The drive to the small town where Susan and the children lived was quiet, the tension between them unspoken but palpable. When they arrived at the modest house, Sanchez's heart clenched. It was a far cry from the luxury he had always known, but it was warm and welcoming, with a small garden blooming with vibrant flowers.
The door opened, and two small figures peeked out. Mia, with her curly dark hair and curious eyes, was the first to step forward. Adrian followed, his resemblance to Sanchez striking. Both children froze when they saw the unfamiliar man standing beside their mother.
"Mama?" Mia asked, her voice uncertain.
Susan knelt and held their hands. "Mia, Adrian, this is Sanchez. He's... he's your father."
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.
Sanchez crouched to their level, his voice soft. "Hello, Mia. Hello, Adrian."
Mia tilted her head, studying him intently. "You're our papa?"
Sanchez's throat tightened, but he nodded. "Yes, I am."
Adrian, quieter than his sister, took a small step forward. "Why weren't you with us before?"
The question cut deep, but Sanchez met his son's gaze. "Because I didn't know about you," he said honestly. "But now that I do, I promise I'll never leave you."
The children exchanged glances before Mia suddenly stepped forward and hugged Sanchez.