Chapter 17 - HEALING THE WOOD
A month later.
The dark clouds that had hung over San Pedro Garza García for nearly a year finally cleared, giving way to bright blue autumn skies and warm sunshine.
The villa had undergone massive changes. The dark, claustrophobic security shutters had been completely removed, replaced by open glass walls that flooded the halls with natural light. The corporate private servers were dismantled, and the house felt like a sanctuary once again.
In the service hallway, the old pantry room was no longer a storage vault.
Daniel stood in the hallway holding a toolbelt, while Mateo and Sofía sat on the floor with sandpaper, wood stain, and paintbrushes.
Instead of tearing down the old oak door that bore the scratches of Sofía’s fingernails, Daniel had brought it into the light. Together, they were sanding down the rough gouges, filling the deep marks with warm gold resin—a Japanese technique known as Kintsugi, where broken things are repaired with gold to honor their history rather than hide it.
"Look, Dad," Sofía said, dipping her brush into the gold sealant and painting over a small scratch near the base of the wood. "It looks like light coming through."
Daniel crouched down beside her, wiping a speck of dust off her cheek. "That’s because it is, sweetie. It shows how strong you were."
Mateo brushed a layer of smooth varnish over the top section. "What are we going to use this room for now, Dad?"
Daniel smiled, looking inside the brightly lit room, which was now filled with white bookshelves, art easels, and comfortable beanbag chairs overlooking the garden.
May you like
"An art studio," Daniel said softly. "A place where you two can create whatever you want. No locks. No secrets."
Mateo looked at his father, the last traces of distrust and exhaustion finally fading from his eyes, replaced by a warm, genuine smile. "I like that, Dad."
