- The Visit.

Leo just nodded at that moment since they were in his home office, as Viridiana was with her friends in the dining room.

"Thank you."

"You're going to be a father."

"Yes, but I’m already a dad."

Ángel looked at him.

"What do you mean? You will be."

Leo briefly mentioned Dimitri, and his friend listened in surprise before saying:

"Wait, are you telling me you have a baby with Lara?"

Leo nodded, mentioning that he had a flight to go see her.

"And Viridiana doesn’t know?"

"I don’t want to tell her yet."

"But you will."

"Someday. I just want to meet my son and talk to Lara."

His friend just nodded. Ángel knew Lara and couldn't imagine how she would react to Leo knowing.

On his private plane, Leo thought too much. He didn’t know what to expect and hadn’t been able to sleep.

"We have arrived, sir."

He heard the pilot’s voice through the speakers. He immediately got ready, got off the plane, and into his gray Chevrolet, driving straight to Mrs. Leonor’s house—Lara’s grandmother.

Driving through those streets, he parked in front of the house, got out quickly, and knocked on the door.

"Coming, coming, coming."

He heard the voice of the elderly woman who opened the door. The moment she saw him, Leonor knew who he was.

"Hello, Mrs. Leonor. I came to see Lara."

"Hello, Leo. How are you?" Leonor asked.

"I'm fine, ma’am."

"Come in, Leo. Lara isn’t here right now; she went to the store."

"Thank you," he replied as he stepped inside.

Leonor offered him something to drink, but he declined. They sat in the living room, and she noticed how Leo looked around the house.

Leo tried to hide his search for his baby and continued the conversation while waiting.

"So, you're not a model anymore?"

"No, now I work in an office at my father’s company."

"And I read that you got married and are expecting your first child with your wife. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Tell me, how is your father?"

Leo spoke about his father when suddenly, the baby started crying.

"Excuse me, Thiago just woke up," Leonor said as she stood up, then paused and asked,

"Would you like to hold him?"

"Yes," Leo answered, standing up and following Leonor.

"Here I am," Leonor said, picking up the baby in her arms.

At that moment, she handed Santiago over to Leo.

Seeing the baby’s big, beautiful eyes staring at him, Leo was speechless. Holding that small bundle of innocence in his arms was overwhelming.

"Grandma, we’re back."

Lara’s voice echoed through the house.

Lara and Patricio placed the groceries on the table and headed toward the room. That was when they noticed Leo.

"Hello," Patricio greeted.

Leo returned the greeting, but Lara had other things to say. However, she remained silent and approached him to take the baby from his arms.

"He’s our baby," Leo said once they were very close.

"Yes, now give him to me. Come to mommy. What are you doing here, Leo?" she asked.

"We need to talk," he said.

Lara held Santiago in her arms.

"How about I prepare a snack?"

Everyone nodded.

"Would you help me, Patricio?"

"Of course, Mrs. Leonor."

Everyone understood the intention—they wanted to leave Leo and Lara alone with the baby.

"What do you want to talk about?" she asked while making funny faces at her baby.

"About our son. When were you planning to tell me?"

"We need to talk about this downstairs. Now, do you want to go back to daddy’s arms?" she said to the baby.

Once she said it, Leo felt a pure, paternal emotion as he received the baby in his arms again.

"I simply wasn’t going to tell you. But sooner or later, you would have found out. I assume my brother was the one who told you. We should discuss this in the living room. Let’s go downstairs."

Patricio saw Lara and Leo coming down the stairs, talking, with Leo still holding Thiago.

Everyone sat in the living room, eating the snacks Leonor had prepared. They chatted about work, friends, and travel until the real topic came up.

They spoke about Santiago—his pregnancy, birth, and time in the hospital.

"Like I said, I had no intention of telling you. And it’s not because you got married or because Viridiana is expecting your child. It was my decision because Santiago would find out at the right time. But now that you know and have met your son, let’s talk about it."

"I understand, Lara. I want you to know that you both will have everything you need."

"So, you want to talk about a father’s responsibilities?"

"Yes. I want to see my son grow up and be his father."

"I agree. Let’s talk about lawyers."

"I already spoke with Saúl," Leo said.

Lara nodded and pulled out her lawyer’s business card, Marisol. She figured Leo had spoken with Saúl to guide him on his responsibilities as a father, just as she had done.

"I also spoke with my lawyer, Marisol. Here’s her card so Saúl can contact her, and they can arrange a meeting to discuss decisions and sign the agreements."

"Yes, agreed," Leo replied, sliding his lawyer’s business card toward Lara.

"When are you planning to return to the city, Lara?"

"I haven’t decided yet. I’ll stay at my grandmother’s house for a few more weeks. But I imagine you must travel—you’re not staying long since you work in your father’s business."

"Yes, this was just a quick trip."

"I see," she replied.

Patricio and Lara both nodded.

"Why don’t you stay for lunch?" Mrs. Leonor suggested.

Thiago had fallen asleep again.

"Yes, thank you, ma’am."

"Lara, come with me."

The two women went to the kitchen.

"So, Leo knows."

"Yes, Aunt. My little brother told him," Lara replied, glancing out the window where Patricio was speaking with Leo.

"He came to meet his son."

"Yes, Grandma, and to be a responsible father to Thiago."

"Sweetheart, do you still love him?"

"I did. But now, I don’t know how to express it. My feelings have changed. It’s not just because he’s a married man. I only see him as my baby’s father. My feelings for him are different now."

Saying this, Lara turned to look at her grandmother.

"The one I’m in love with is my baby, the one I must protect, care for, and love unconditionally."

"That’s right, my dear. And you are very strong."

"Yes, thank you," she finished saying.

They finished preparing the food and began serving lunch.

"Who else knows about the baby?" Leo suddenly asked.

Patricio responded,

"Only the family and you. She just wants to maintain her privacy and protect the baby."

"I understand. But does Matías know?"

Patricio found it strange that Leo mentioned him.

"Matías doesn’t know. Why would he?"

"He’s Lara’s boyfriend."

Patricio chuckled.

"No, they broke up a while ago."

"I didn’t know that."

"Lunch is ready, boys. Patricio!"

"Yes, yes."

Later, they all ate while discussing work.

"I have to travel to New York," Patricio said.

"Were you invited to see Isaac Necton’s work, or will you be walking the runway?"

"I’ll be working. My flight is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.”

Leo stayed for a while longer. When it was time, he wanted to say goodbye to Santiago.