- Doors That Weren't Meant to Open.

The address Lara had sent him had surprised him. It wasn’t an apartment, as he had imagined. It was a house. A large, elegant house, full of personality… and of secrets that were just beginning to be revealed.

Leo stopped in front of the light wooden door, his hand already raised, ready to knock. He hesitated for just a second. His heart beat differently, as if something beyond reason warned him that tonight wouldn’t be like the others. That something would shift, subtle and inevitable.

He knocked twice.

The door opened, but it wasn’t Lara who greeted him.

—You? —Leo said, barely able to contain the dryness in his voice.

Matías held his gaze from the threshold. His shirt was half unbuttoned, his hair tousled, and his expression perfectly relaxed, as if that house were his too.

—Leo —he greeted, with a smile that masked the tension—. What a surprise.

—I’m looking for Lara —Leo said, not returning the gesture.

—She’s inside. Come in, I’ll let her know.

Leo stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The house was warmly lit, and from somewhere came the soft murmur of laughter… and a child’s voice.

Thiago.

The sound alone eased his chest, though Matías walking ahead of him made his body tense up again.

He didn’t like it. Not at all.

Not because Matías was with Lara —he kept trying to tell himself—, but because he knew what people would see from the outside: a picture-perfect scene for any gossip show.

“The ex returns after she becomes a mother.”

“Is he the father of Lara’s child? Mysterious reunion.”

And nowhere would his name appear.

When they entered the living room, Lara was sitting on the sofa, Thiago on her lap, playing with a cloth doll. When she saw Leo, her face lit up with a gentle smile.

—Hi, Leo —she said calmly—. You arrived just in time to see Thiago defeat the dinosaurs.

Leo smiled, never taking his eyes off Matías, who had sat at the other end of the couch with the ease of someone who had been part of the scene for a while.

—I didn’t know you had company —Leo said, trying to sound casual.

—Matías stopped by to see us. He’s always been close to Thiago. He loves him a lot —Lara explained, stroking the boy’s little head.

Leo nodded, but said nothing.

Matías stood up after a couple of minutes, as if he knew his presence was tensing the room.

—Well, I’ll be off —he announced in a neutral tone—. See you, Lara. Take care.

He said goodbye with a kiss on Lara’s cheek, a soft and natural gesture. He gave Thiago a short hug, and to Leo... just a direct look, without words. As if they understood too much about each other.

—Let me walk you to the door —Lara said, leaving Leo with Thiago to keep playing with the dinosaurs.

—Thanks for coming. So, are you leaving today?

—Yeah, I’m swamped with work.

—I know, and I’m glad things are going well for you.

—Thanks. I’m happy you and Thiago are doing well.

When he left, silence lingered for a few seconds. Lara returned to the living room and saw Leo playing with Thiago so naturally that she paused to watch. Then Leo looked up at her.

—Everything okay? —Lara asked, noticing the slight tension in Leo’s jaw.

—Yeah —he lied—. I was just... surprised to see him here.

—He’s just a friend —she said, but didn’t bother justifying it further. She wasn’t in that place anymore where she had to explain her life.

Leo sat in front of her, watching Thiago now play with a small book. They allowed themselves a few minutes of peace, watching the child, letting the conversation flow effortlessly.

—Can I take a picture of him? —Leo asked suddenly.

—Of course.

Thiago unknowingly posed while Lara chuckled softly. Leo captured the moment: his son’s laughter, the background of a house that wasn’t his, but that breathed love.

—Would you like coffee or something? —Lara offered, getting up.

—No, I’m fine. I just wanted to see you… talk a bit.

—About anything in particular?

Leo shook his head, then spoke:

—Viridiana’s doing well. The pregnancy has gone perfectly, according to the doctors. She’s excited.

Lara nodded, pouring herself a glass of water in the open kitchen.

—I’m glad. Having a child is a gift.

Leo lowered his gaze. The glass of water shimmered in Lara’s hands like a truth yet to be spoken.

—Did you tell her Thiago was mine? —he asked, without looking at her.

—No —she replied sincerely—. That conversation isn’t mine to have. It’s yours.

Leo stayed silent. Then he stood up.

—I should go.

Lara walked him to the door. At the threshold, the silence between them was denser than ever.

—Thanks for coming —she said.

—Thanks for... letting me see him.

—Whenever you want, Leo. But if you’re going to be in his life, make it real. Not just visits. Not in pieces.

Leo nodded. He looked her in the eyes.

And for the first time, he felt like he was no longer in control.

Only facing what he had let slip away.

From the window, Lara watched him walk away. Beside her, Thiago toddled over with a drawing in hand.

—Daddy? —he asked, pointing at the stick figure he had drawn.

Lara caressed his head, unable to contain the emotion swelling in her chest.

—Yes, my love —she whispered—. That’s your daddy.

Lara and Thiago walked away from the window and returned to the couch. Just then, her phone rang. She answered without checking the caller ID, recognizing Patricio’s voice right away.

—Hi, Pato. What’s up, Patricio?

—I just left work and wanted to talk to you. How’s Thiago?

—He’s fine. Leo just left, same as Matías.

—Those two were at your house?

—Yeah. Everything was handled well.

—Seriously?

—Yes, it’s fine. We talked about the important things. Leo would’ve stayed longer, but he had to leave for work.

—And his wife?

—Patricio, just say it, because I’ll tell you the same thing as always: I’m not interested in Leo, and I’m definitely not interested in ruining his marriage. What matters to me is Thiago, and only that.

—I know that very well, Lara. But I’ll tell you this—you’ve become a strong mother and a great woman.

Lara smiled.

—Thanks. Sometimes I feel like you and Dimitri are just kids I have to scold.

That made them both laugh, remembering better times.