As they kept holding hands, Diego guided Lucia to a nearby bench. "Lucia, let's sit down for a bit," he said, his voice warm and a bit amused.
Once they settled on the bench, Diego looked at her with an amused, curious expression, raising his brow slightly. "Lucia," he began with a chuckle, "you are by far the craziest woman I have ever met. How on earth did you pull all of this off? The fake ID, the phone number, the disguise—I mean, I didn't even recognize you! We hadn't seen each other since college. But somehow, you recognized me? Seriously, you're something else, Lucia."
Lucia's heart softened, and she couldn't help but smile, giving a playful shrug. "Alright, let me answer those questions one by one," she said with a laugh. "First, we're still friends on Facebook, remember? I may not post much, but you do—at least once in a blue moon. That's how I kept tabs on you. Plus, you once told me a bit about your company, even if it was vague. So I had enough to work with."
She continued, chuckling at the memory. "And as for the video calls? Well, I avoided them on purpose. I knew I'd need to keep up the disguise and didn't want to risk blowing my cover. That's why I declined every single one of them," she admitted, shaking her head.
Diego laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "So you planned all of that just to make sure I wouldn't suspect anything. That's insane, but also genius."
Lucia smirked, enjoying his reaction. "It worked, didn't it? And for the ID, I had Ivy's help. She handled the ID and phone contact, so I could focus on everything else." She paused, feeling a little embarrassed but also proud of herself. "Honestly, the whole thing feels like a blur now, but somehow… we made it work."
Diego looked at her with admiration and shook his head, still grinning. "You're unreal, Lucia. I don't know whether to be scared or completely impressed, but either way… I'm glad it was you." He squeezed her hand, pulling her closer. "And honestly, I wouldn't change a single thing."
Diego let out a laugh, shaking his head in disbelief. "Wow. I can't believe you did all this… It's insane, but it's incredible. No wonder you kept giving those women such a hard time. And the woman at the restaurant—now it all makes sense! You were actually just protecting what's yours," he said with a teasing grin.
Lucia's cheeks warmed as she returned his smile, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment. "Guilty as charged," she murmured.
Diego leaned forward, his gaze intense as he took Lucia's hands in his, the weight of his words filling the space between them. "Listen, Lucia," he began, his voice low and serious. "A man can… well, he can make mistakes. He might stray, but that doesn't mean he doesn't love you. Cheating—" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's in a man's nature sometimes, especially if he doesn't put his heart into it. That's why I was with those other women, but… I never put my heart in it. My heart has always been with you."
Lucia looked at him, her expression conflicted, a mix of anger, sadness, and the lingering affection she couldn't deny. "But, Diego, you fell for me even as your driver, without even knowing who I really was," she pointed out, her voice quiet but firm. "You connected with someone you thought was a stranger. Doesn't that show you were looking for something you thought was missing?"
Diego sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I was trying to fill a void, Lucia. You stopped talking to me. You stopped answering my calls. I was confused, frustrated… I didn't know what had happened between us. I thought maybe… maybe you'd moved on. I didn't know you were here, right under my nose. So, yes, I connected with someone I thought was new, but I wasn't looking to replace you." He squeezed her hands. "I just… I was lost without you."
Lucia's heart softened slightly at his words, the frustration she'd been holding onto beginning to loosen its grip. "I understand that you were confused, Diego," she said gently. "But trust and loyalty don't work like that. They aren't something you can turn off and on just because things get tough."
Diego nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. "You're right," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know I've made mistakes, and I don't expect you to forget them. But I'm here now, and I want to make things right with you, Lucia. I love you, and that's never changed. If anything, this whole experience made me see just how much I don't want to lose you."
Lucia held his gaze, feeling the sincerity in his eyes. For the first time, she felt that Diego truly understood the pain he'd caused. It wasn't a simple mistake; it was a moment of recklessness that had nearly shattered them. But now, with his heart laid bare, she could see his genuine desire to rebuild what they'd nearly lost.
Taking a deep breath, she gave his hands a gentle squeeze. "We have a lot to work through, Diego," she said softly. "Trust doesn't just come back overnight. But if you're willing to put in the effort, so am I."
Diego's face broke into a small, hopeful smile as he pulled her into a gentle hug. "Thank you, Lucia. I'll do whatever it takes."
But Diego's curiosity wasn't satisfied yet. He looked at her with a playful glint in his eyes. "So where did you even stay this whole time? None of your family members called to let me know you were around. Were they in on this too?"
"No," Lucia shook her head with a small laugh. "I didn't tell anyone. I knew if I went home, they'd figure it out and never let me follow through with this. So, I just… rented a room at a hotel for the disguise."
"What?!" Diego shot her a look of exaggerated shock. "You did all this without backup and paid for a whole hotel room just to stay undercover? Lucia, you really are something else."
"Well," she said, grinning, "that also means I'm going to need you to pay me back for everything I spent on this little mission."
Diego chuckled, squeezing her hand. "That's no problem, baby. I'm here for you, whatever you need. Honestly, I'll do whatever it takes, because you deserve it. And Lucia," he said, his voice softening as he gazed at her, "I love you. I know this whole thing was beyond unconventional, but if it means I get to be with you… then I'd do it all over again."
Lucia's eyes softened as she looked back at him, her heart swelling with affection. "I love you too, Diego. And… I forgive you. I know it couldn't have been easy, with me gone for so long. I didn't expect you to be perfect, but… you didn't put your heart into any of it, and that's what matters."
Diego reached up to cup her cheek, brushing his thumb gently over her skin. "No one else matters, Lucia. You're my fiancée, and I love you for who you are—not the disguise, not the pretense, Just you."
As he leaned in, they closed the space between them, sharing a tender, heartfelt kiss. For a moment, they let everything else fall away, feeling only the warmth of each other's embrace. When they pulled back, they wrapped their arms around each other, laughing softly, as though this reunion was all they'd ever wanted.
Diego looked at Lucia with a playful glint in his eye. "We have a date tonight, so I need you to head back to the hotel, pack up all your things, and come back here," he said, his voice both commanding and affectionate.
Lucia blinked, slightly taken aback. "Wait, we're still going tonight?"
"Yes," Diego replied with a grin. "After everything, I think we both deserve a night out, don't you? And it's about time you moved in here too," he added, his expression softening. "No more hiding out in hotels."
Lucia smiled, feeling a flutter of excitement mix with the warmth of his words. "Alright, I'll go pack up and be back soon," she said, giving him a gentle squeeze of his hand. "But you're sure about this?"
Diego nodded, his gaze steady. "Absolutely. Tonight, I want the whole world to see that you're by my side."
With a smile and a lingering glance, Lucia left to gather her things, feeling a sense of joy she hadn't felt in a long time. Their journey had been unconventional, even chaotic, but at that moment, it felt like everything was finally coming together.