Samuel swallowed hard, his throat dry despite the tea he had just sipped. He managed a faint nod. "Thank you, Dad. That... that means a lot to me."
But inside, his heart twisted. Ricardo's words were like daggers of shame. If they knew how much he'd hurt Zinnia over the years—his coldness, his distance, the times he let his work come first—they wouldn't be looking at him with such kindness.
Elena tilted her head slightly, her gentle gaze studying him. "Is something on your mind, Samuel? You seem a little quieter than usual today."
He straightened up, his pulse quickening. "No, not at all. Just... thinking about how lucky I am to have Zinnia and all of you in my life." The words felt like both a confession and a plea for forgiveness he didn't deserve.
Elena's smile widened. "Zinnia is lucky too. You've been so good to her."
