And how, upon unexpectedly encountering her ex-husband, she made a surprising decision that revealed the truth about her family and her own heart.
In a bright and elegant city, filled with glass buildings and quiet streets at night, lived Isabella Montes, a businesswoman renowned for her intelligence, discretion, and success. Owner of two interior design companies, mother of twins, and a woman deeply devoted to her family, Isabella was the kind of person who balanced power and warmth almost effortlessly.
Her eight-year-old children, Lucía and Mateo, were her greatest joy. They had inherited her curiosity, her energy, and, above all, her noble way of seeing the world. That afternoon, the twins had received an award at school for a science project. Isabella, always keen to celebrate small achievements, decided to take them to dinner at their favorite restaurant: El Jardín de Cristal (The Crystal Garden), known for its serene atmosphere, interior gardens, and soft music.
“Do you think they’ll have red berry ice cream?” Mateo asked as they walked toward the restaurant.
“If they don’t have it, we’ll order it,” Isabella replied with a smile.
“And can we sit by the fountain?” Lucía added excitedly.
“Of course, I’ll ask for that table.”
The three of them entered hand in hand. The waiters, accustomed to receiving influential people, greeted Isabella with genuine respect. They showed her to the table by the fountain, just as they had requested.
While the children looked over the children’s menu, Isabella looked up to find the waiter. And that’s when she saw him.
A few feet away, elegantly dressed, chatting with a group of colleagues, was Adrián Vega, her ex-husband.
The man who had been her partner for almost a decade. The father of her children. The man with whom she had shared dreams, trips, fears, and later, a farewell that, while not hostile, was deeply painful.
Isabella felt a small lump in her throat. Not from sadness, but from surprise. It had been over a year since they had last seen each other face to face.
Mateo noticed her expression.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
She turned her gaze to her twins, and the answer came to her suddenly: she didn’t want this special night to be ruined by an unexpected awkwardness. She took a deep breath.
“Nothing, honey. Everything’s fine. Have you decided what you want for dinner?”
But fate had already decided otherwise.
Just a few seconds later, Adrián turned his head and his eyes met Isabella’s. The look of surprise on his face was immediate, followed by a mixture of nostalgia and caution. He approached slowly, not wanting to seem intrusive.
“Isabella…” he said softly as he reached her table. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She smiled, out of courtesy and serenity.
“Good evening, Adrián. We’re celebrating the children’s academic achievement.”
The twins looked at him with a mixture of shyness and joy. Although their separation had been respectful, Adrián hadn’t been as present as Isabella had hoped. Not for lack of affection, but because of work, distance, and emotional awkwardness.
“Hi, Dad,” Mateo and Lucía said at the same time.
Adrián bent down to hug them.
“My champions! You told me about the award! I’m so proud.”
Isabella watched the scene. Despite everything, Adrián had always been kind to the children. And this simple scene reminded her of something important: family bonds don’t disappear; they just change shape.
“Are you having dinner alone?” Isabella asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
“I came with a group from work, but they just went to the terrace,” he replied. “And you… are you celebrating something special?”
“Yes,” Isabella smiled. “They wanted their favorite dinner.”
Adrián hesitated for a second before adding,
“Can I… join you for a moment?”
The twins looked at him immediately; their eyes said it all. Isabella took a deep breath. She could have said she preferred to spend the evening alone with her children, but something in their gaze stopped her. And something in Adrián’s calm demeanor told her he wasn’t there to make her uncomfortable.
“A moment is fine,” she finally agreed.
Adrián sat down, and the children excitedly began telling him every detail of their science project. Carolina—their teacher—had told them their model of the solar system was the best in the class. He listened attentively, and for the first time in a long time, Isabella could observe him from the outside.
Despite the separation, he was still a good father when he had the chance. Not perfect, but nobody was.
After a few minutes, the twins insisted,
“Dad, stay for dinner with us.”
Isabella didn’t answer right away. She looked at Adrián.
“Only if your mother agrees,” he said respectfully.
She watched him. She remembered the difficult days, the silences, the distance that had grown between them. But she also remembered the good years, the way he had cared for the twins when they were babies, and how he never spoke ill of her in front of the children.
“You can stay,” she replied.
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