—How do you know the name Isabel?
Alejandro’s question landed in the dining room with more weight than anything that had happened before.
Lucía remained crouched beside the table, an antique spoon between her fingers. The silver was darkened by the years, and near the handle, a small engraved rose barely reflected the candlelight.
The engagement ring was still in front of Alejandro.
But he wasn’t looking at him anymore.
—I thought you knew —Lucía murmured.
—Isabel died twenty-two years ago.
Lucia looked up.
—Then nobody told him.
Alejandro felt a dry chill in his chest.
—Tell me what?
Lucia looked around the dining room, as if the walls could answer before she could.
—That she lived here.
Alejandro frowned.
—This house belonged to my parents.
Lucia shook her head slowly.
-Not quite.
And a few hours earlier, Alejandro would have thought that the most important decision of that night was deciding whether he wanted to marry Valeria.
I didn’t know that I was about to discover that I had been asking myself the wrong question for years.
CHAPTER 1 — The Perfect Dinner
Valeria had been imagining that night for weeks.
Not because Alejandro had said anything explicitly.
It wasn’t necessary.
For her, all the signs were there.
The table was set with the finest china. There were lit candles, expensive wine, and a special menu. Alejandro had even asked her to wear her best dress.
Valeria had smiled when she read that message.
He didn’t ask why.
I thought I knew.
When she arrived, she walked around the dining room with a satisfied look. The dress fit her exactly as she wanted, her hair was impeccable, and the understated sparkle of her earrings seemed perfectly suited to the warm candlelight.
Alejandro greeted her with a calm smile.
-You look great.
—Just really well?
He let out a short laugh.
-Spectacular.
—That’s better.
Valeria approached and kissed him.
Then he looked at the table.
Of the cups.
Two places.
Candles.
Flores.
Everything confirmed what I had been imagining for days.
That night was no ordinary dinner.
And that certainty changed something in her.
It made her feel safe.
Too safe.
Lucia entered the dining room with the bottle of wine.
She worked from home and knew the routine well enough to move quietly. She placed a small tray to one side and began to serve.
Alejandro watched Valeria.
He didn’t seem nervous.
She liked that too.
In her head, the whole scene had already played out: he would take out a box, say something nice, maybe too serious, she would feign surprise for a second and then answer yes.
He had even thought about which hand he would extend first.
Lucía tilted the bottle over Valeria’s glass.
A drop fell onto the napkin.
Then another one.
It was a minor mistake.
Valeria lowered her gaze.
Lucia reacted immediately.
-Excuse me.
He took the napkin.
—If she doesn’t know how to serve dinner, fire her.
Lucia remained still.
Alejandro looked up at Valeria.
She didn’t seem to notice the change in his expression.
—I’m sorry, ma’am —Lucía said.
Valeria let out a small laugh.
—“Sorry” doesn’t clean a table.
Lucía removed the stained napkin and placed another one.
Alejandro remained silent.
Valeria interpreted that silence as approval.
That was his first mistake.
There were other moments during dinner.
Small.
Small enough that Valeria didn’t consider them important.
Lucia took a few seconds longer than expected to remove a plate.
Valeria snapped her fingers.
-This.
Lucia returned.
—Yes, ma’am.
-I’ve finished now.
-Of course.
Alejandro put down the cutlery.
—Valeria.
-That?
—He can see you.
She smiled, confused.
-Who?
Alejandro discreetly pointed at Lucia.
Valeria looked towards her.
-Nothing.
Alejandro took his drink.
Valeria interpreted that as a momentary oddity.
He didn’t understand that he was watching.
No to Lucia.
Her.
The conversation continued.
Valeria talked about trips, friends, and plans for the coming months. Every time she mentioned the future, she looked for some reaction from Alejandro.
He answered.
But it didn’t confirm anything.
That began to make her impatient.
Until Lucia returned to collect another plate and Valeria decided to play a joke.
—When I live here you’re going to have to learn to do things faster.
Lucia stopped for just a moment.
—Yes, ma’am.
Alejandro looked up.
—When you live here?
Valeria smiled.
-Some day.
-That?
-Nothing.
She narrowed her eyes.
There was something strange about his tone.
For the first time that night, he felt a small crack in the security with which he had arrived.
But it disappeared when Alejandro put a hand inside his jacket.
Valeria stopped breathing.
He pulled out an engagement ring.
He put it on the table.
The diamond caught the candlelight.
Valeria smiled.
There it was.
Everything made sense again.
—Alejandro…
