I have nowhere else to go. My voice broke. Julián was silent for a moment, as if he were debating something in his mind. Finally, he looked me straight in the eyes and made a proposal I never would have imagined. “Come stay at my house for now,” he said in a firm, unwavering tone. “At least until we get the DNA results and find a safe, permanent place for the two of you to live.” I stared at him, completely stunned. Stay at his house.
I had met that man just a few hours before. He might have been Lily’s father, but to me, he was still a stranger. How could I accept something like that so easily? No, I shook my head quickly. I can’t force something like that on you. I’ll find another solution. Force it on you. Julian frowned. Do you really think I could sleep soundly knowing you and the baby are in a place like that? Today it was thieves, but who knows what might happen next time. Lily is too young to be exposed to that kind of danger.
She was right. Just imagining someone coming in and rummaging through our things again sent a chill down my spine. And if we had been there sleeping that night, I didn’t even want to think about it. Lily’s safety was the most important thing. Seeing that I was still hesitating, Julian softened his voice. “Sara, think of your daughter. I know you’re a strong and proud woman, but please put your pride aside for a moment. Consider this something you’re doing for my daughter.”
I wasn’t going to stand idly by and watch my daughter suffer. My daughter said those two words with such naturalness and responsibility that they touched me to the core. She was right. If I really was Lili’s father, I had the right and the responsibility to protect her. And I, as her mother, had to do what was best for her. I looked at the wrecked room and then at Lili, who was still sobbing in my arms. She needed a warm, safe bed, not a place where anyone could break down the door at any moment.
Finally, with great effort, I nodded. “Then we’ll be in your care.” Julian let out a sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Without another word, he quickly gathered the few things that could still be salvaged and packed them in my suitcase. Then he took Lily in his arms. The warmth of his body enveloped her, and she rested her head on his chest, drifting back to sleep peacefully. Watching them, a strange emotion stirred within me. A mixture of bitterness, but also a faint glimmer of warmth.
Julian’s house was a stunning penthouse in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. It was incredibly spacious, immaculate, and decorated with exquisite taste. Compared to the damp, run-down studio in Brooklyn, this was paradise. He led me to a perfectly prepared and inviting guest room. “You and Lili can rest here. The private bathroom has everything you need. If you need anything else, just let me know,” he said kindly. After tucking Lili into the soft bed, I turned to him with a mix of emotions that were hard to describe.
I owed him too much. A simple thank you wasn’t enough. Julian, thank you so much for everything today. If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what I would have done. Don’t be so formal, he smiled gently. I already told you, I did it for my daughter. Rest and recharge. Tomorrow we’ll see how to sort everything else out. He left the room and closed the door silently, leaving my daughter and me in our little refuge. I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Lili sleep.
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