Without his friends and family, Sebastián felt like a stranger in his own homeland. Life wasn't the same without them, but staying in the viceroyalty wouldn't have been a good option either. Now he could start over in the land where he was born.
His home and fields were just as he remembered them. When his mother cautiously opened the front door, the smell of confinement greeted them, and although a thin layer of dust covered everything, it seemed as if they had never left. Even so, he had changed a lot in just a few years. He would never forget the time spent in Buenos Aires. La Rosa had become his home, while the room he was now in felt familiar and distant at the same time.He began to walk around his house, ignoring his father's shouts, who couldn't understand who could be so cruel as to make them cross the ocean for nothing. It was evident that there were no signs of anyone having lived there during their absence. Despite the bad experience, Óscar seemed relieved that he didn't have to resort to force to confront intruders. María Esther re-hired some of their former servants, and in a few days, the estate was spotless again.On the third day of their return to Spain, someone knocked on the door. They weren't expecting visitors because they were still unpacking and organizing their things. Sebastián was very surprised when one of the maids informed him that someone was waiting for him. It was the person he most feared meeting and the one he had thought about the most while on the ship."Adriana!" said Sebastián, approaching very slowly.She looked as beautiful as the last time she had been in his arms. Her curls fell wildly over her chest, so pale blonde that they seemed almost white. Sebastián waited cautiously as her turquoise eyes filled with tears at the sight of him."I always knew you would return," she confessed, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand."I'm sorry," he said, knowing it wasn't enough."I want you to meet someone," she added, moving slightly.Sebastián noticed a small girl hiding behind Adriana's dress and felt a tightness in his chest. He knelt to see her better. She was precious, with the same rebellious, platinum hair as her mother, but in her emerald green eyes was the proof that she was a Pérez Esnaola."I'm sorry," he repeated, unable to find any words that could make up for his actions.During his return trip to Spain, he couldn't stop wondering what had happened to Adriana after he left. He was glad to know that she had chosen to keep the fruit of their love. Many women died trying to end their pregnancy, and many others gave birth in secret before giving up their baby. Fortunately, that hadn't been the case. His little girl was alive and peeking out timidly from behind her mother's dress."This is Victoria, your daughter," Adriana said, trying to hold back tears.Sebastián wondered what had happened with her family. Maybe her parents had supported her. Although he wouldn't blame her if she had married someone else so her daughter would have a father. He needed to know everything about them, but he could only say:"I'm sorry.""You already said that.""I know, but I truly am, and I'm so sorry," he said, standing up to look her in the eyes."What are you really sorry for? Are you sorry for leaving without a word? Are you sorry for getting me pregnant?" she demanded to know."I'm sorry for all of it," Sebastián hastened to say."It was very difficult," she added in a barely audible voice."I know, and I'm sorry," he said, moving closer until they were very close."Stop saying you're sorry," she replied, hitting his chest lightly without hurting him."I don't know what else to say... I was a complete idiot," he said, hugging her.Adriana began to cry in his arms. She was so sweet and fragile that he couldn't believe he had caused her so much pain. If he hadn't been afraid and had married her as soon as she became pregnant or even before, he wouldn't have traveled to the viceroyalty or killed a man. How many lives could one person destroy?"A part of me always knew you would come back. No one else believed it, but I did, and despite everything, I couldn't stop missing you more than anything in this world," Adriana confessed."I thought about you a lot too. I didn't know if you were okay or if our baby had been born," he said.She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. Her gaze was sad, innocent, and pure, so different from the mischievous eyes of Ana Bustamante, whom he also believed he had loved."Really? You missed me?" she wanted to know."Yes," he admitted."Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" she insisted, picking up little Victoria."I didn't have the courage to do it. I'm sorry...""If you say 'I'm sorry' one more time, I'll leave!" she threatened."Don't leave. Let's sit in the living room and talk," he pleaded.She nodded and agreed to accompany him. Adriana had always been so good, like an angel, and despite the pain she must have gone through because of him, she wasn't there to judge him. There was no trace of hatred or reproach in her eyes.They sat on the couch, and although Adriana placed her daughter on her lap, a carved box caught the girl's attention, and she broke free from her mother's arms to run off and play."Don't break anything!" the young woman called out."It's okay, let her play. I'm so glad to see you're well... that both of you are well," Sebastián said, tenderly caressing her hand.She could have rejected him, but she didn't."When you left me and my family found out I was pregnant, they took me to a healer. They wanted to get rid of my baby with some parsley leaves, but I didn't let anyone touch me..." Adriana explained, shuddering at the memory."Thank God, you weren't harmed!" he exclaimed.He kissed the top of her head, hugged her, and didn't let go until she finished telling her story."My father was very, very angry. Just seeing me made him upset... They locked me in a convent, and if it hadn't been for the goodwill of my Aunt Marta, I would have stayed there forever.""I'm sorry to hear that. I shouldn't have left, and I won't leave again if you'll have me by your side once more. Can you forgive me?" he asked.Adriana looked at him, bit her lip slightly, and nodded."I think it would be nice if we could be together after all this time."He moved closer and kissed her. It was a soft and tender kiss, sealing the promise that he would never leave her again. He had caused enough damage and didn't want Adriana to suffer because of him again.A thud made them separate. María Esther was staring at the little girl with wide eyes in surprise, and at her feet lay the pot whose contents were spilling all over the floor. It was evident she had noticed the resemblance of the girl to her own family."Mom, I want you to meet Victoria, your granddaughter. Do you remember Adriana?"