Page 131 of Please, Forgive Me
We stayed like that, tangled, breathless, hearts racing. And for the first time, I knew with absolute certainty—it wasn’t just desire. It was more. So much more.
It wasn’t just physical need, but something deeper, something complete—a surrender where every touch, every kiss, was a silent promise of love and devotion.
She cupped my face in her hands, her eyes reflecting the same intensity I felt. There was strength and vulnerability in her gaze, that same rare mix I’d always admired in her.
Maria Gabriela was strong—stronger than anyone I’d ever known—and in that moment, I knew, without a single doubt, I would never find another woman like her.
The way she held me, like she needed to be sure I was really there, that we were real, made me feel a kind of vulnerability I hadn’t allowed myself in years. But with her, it wasn’t frightening—it was grounding. Because I knew she was right there with me, feeling exactly what I was.
Her eyes met mine with an intensity that seemed to capture everything we were—our fears, our hopes, our deepest desires. There was power in her, a quiet, magnetic force that drew me in and held me there, completely captive—and I didn’t want to resist.
Maria Gabriela wasn’t just the woman I loved; she was the woman who completed me, who made me want to be better—not just for myself, but for us.
“I love you, Maria Gabriela,” I whispered against her ear, feeling the weight and truth of every word.
“I love you too, Diego,” she murmured, her voice soft but filled with sincerity.
MARIA GABRIELA
Making love to the man who had once been the source of my deepest anguish and my fiercest passion was as overwhelming as it was breathtaking.
Every touch from Diego felt like an unspoken promise, as if, with each caress, he was trying to show me how much I meant to him. His fingers slid slowly across my skin, tracing invisible paths that set every inch of me alight.
There was something in the way he touched me that went far beyond the physical act; it was as if he were trying to memorize every curve, every contour, to make sure I knew how special I was. And I did feel that way—special. For the first time in a long while, there was no one else in the world but the two of us.
Our eyes kept meeting, and in each glance I saw a mix of desire, tenderness, and something I could swear was love. Those same eyes that had so often challenged me now held a softness that made my heart race.
As the night went on, our bodies moved together in perfect rhythm, as though we’d been made for each other. Time seemed to stop, letting us savor every second, every touch, every kiss. I could feel Diego’s heartbeat in sync with mine, and a quiet certainty swept over me—that this moment was unique, eternal.
He whispered my name between kisses, and every time he did, a shiver ran down my spine. It felt like everything was finallyfalling into place, as if we were whole. And I knew he felt the same. In his eyes I saw admiration, respect, and care—but above all, I saw love. A love he might have taken too long to recognize, but that now lived in every move, every gesture, every word.
We made love all night, surrendering ourselves to each other in a way that went beyond anything I’d ever imagined. Each time our bodies came together, the world disappeared, leaving only the two of us and the feeling we shared.
When we finally stopped—exhausted but utterly fulfilled—Diego pulled me closer, wrapping me in his arms as if he could shield me from everything. Lying there with my head on his chest, I could hear the steady beat of his heart, a rhythm that soothed me, calmed me.
He stroked my hair gently, and without a single word I knew what he was thinking, what he was feeling. It was as if we were connected in a way that went far beyond the physical, something that touched our souls.
And in that moment I realized it didn’t matter what happened next. I knew Diego was really trying, that he was committed to giving us a second chance. And that gave me hope—hope that maybe we could build something lasting, something real, something forever.
“I’ll always love you, Maria Gabriela,” he murmured, breaking the silence. “And I’ll prove it to you day after day, because you deserve to feel truly loved.”
I smiled, warmth blooming in my chest at his words. And this time there was no doubt in my heart—I was ready to try. Not just for me, but for the beautiful family we’d built together…
EPILOGUE
“Love is the only thing that makes us truly human…”
DIEGO BITTENCOURT
1 YEAR LATER
Everything I’d ever achieved in life came from effort, determination, and—more often than not—sheer stubbornness.
I’d always believed those qualities could take me anywhere, that they were enough to guarantee success in every aspect of my life. But standing here now, watching Maria Gabriela walk toward me, I realized how wrong I’d been.
The past year had been the best of my life.
Not because I reached new heights in business or gained more power, but because it was the year I learned that the real value of life isn’t found in material accomplishments—it’s found in moments like this.
