Elena's smile faltered for a moment, and she clasped her hands tightly in her lap. "I would love for them to get married soon," she began, her voice tinged with worry. "But Ricardo needs to go abroad for surgery first."
Her words settled over the room like a heavy blanket, and the lively atmosphere from earlier was quickly replaced by silence. Zinnia's face instantly mirrored her concern, her brows knitting together as she turned to her mother. "Surgery? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked, her voice rising slightly, a mix of worry and frustration.
Ricardo reached over to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's nothing to worry about, sweetheart," he said in his usual calm tone. "The doctor says I'm fine for now, but surgery is necessary for a complete recovery. We didn't want to alarm you until everything was finalized."
Samuel, who had been listening attentively, leaned forward, his expression growing serious. "When are you leaving?"
