But what happened next stunned him.

Lucía didn’t go near the table. Instead, she walked over and gently draped a blanket over his shoulders. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she sighed, “I wish I weren’t so alone…”

She picked up the gold watch—not to steal it, but to wipe it gently with her handkerchief, treating it like something precious that belonged to someone she respected. She placed it back exactly where it had been.

Before leaving, she paused and set something small on the table—a dried daisy and a folded piece of paper.

When she was gone, Alejandro sat up, unable to resist his curiosity. On the note, written in shaky handwriting, were the words:

“Sometimes, those who have everything need something as simple as being seen as good.”

That sentence echoed in his mind all night. It was both painful and comforting.

The next morning, Alejandro watched Lucía from his study as she cleaned vegetables in the kitchen. Her silence wasn’t distant—it was peaceful. It wasn’t ambition—it was honesty. Pure, quiet honesty.

Day after day, he found himself thinking about her. He repeated the test again, pretending to sleep.

And again, she did the same: covering him gently, whispering kind words, and turning off the light before leaving.

One night, he couldn’t pretend anymore. As she turned to go, he opened his eyes and asked softly, “Why are you doing that?”

Lucía gasped, dropping her cloth. “Mr. Doval! I… I thought you were asleep.”

“I was pretending,” he admitted. “I wanted to see who you really are.”

Her eyes lowered in embarrassment. “You tested me?” she asked.

He nodded. “I thought everyone wanted something from me. But you… you only leave flowers and kindness. Why?”

Lucía hesitated, then whispered, “Because someone once told me that when a person hides behind their wealth, they end up surrounded by things, but empty of people. And you… you look very lonely.”

Alejandro didn’t know what to say. No one had spoken to him like that in years.

That night, for the first time, they talked—about her small hometown, her grandmother, and the smell of freshly baked bread. He shared his fears, his father’s expectations, and his loneliness. They spoke until dawn.

As the weeks passed, the mansion began to feel warmer. The cold light softened. Alejandro started smiling again. He invited Lucía to breakfast, asked her opinion on music, even shared the emails that annoyed him. Something quiet but real was growing between them—not instant love, but mutual respect built from honesty and calm presence.

One afternoon, Alejandro walked into the garden and noticed dozens of daisies drying under the sun.

“Why daisies?” he asked.

Lucía smiled gently. “Because even the simplest flowers can make someone who already has everything smile.”

But not everyone welcomed the change. One of Alejandro’s jealous business partners began spreading rumors, accusing Lucía of manipulating him for money. Still unsure of himself, Alejandro let the doubt creep in. That tiny moment of weakness shattered something precious.

The next morning, Lucía didn’t come.

She left only a note on the table where her flowers used to be:

“Please don’t worry about me, Mr. Doval. I’ll always be grateful for our talks. But I’d rather leave before becoming another shadow in your life. Take care. — L.”

Alejandro searched for her everywhere, but she had vanished.

Months later, while traveling through a small coastal town, Alejandro noticed a little bakery with a hand-painted sign that read “Lucía’s Daisies.” He stepped inside.

Behind the counter stood Lucía—her hair tied back, her eyes glowing softly as she kneaded dough. The moment she saw him, her hands froze, and the rolling pin slipped to the floor.

“I thought I’d never see you again,” he said, his voice trembling.

“Me too,” she whispered.

He walked closer, took a dried daisy from his pocket—one he had kept all those months—and placed it on the counter.

“You never took anything from me, Lucía,” he said quietly. “But you took away my fear of opening my heart.”

Tears filled her eyes. And for the first time, Alejandro didn’t pretend to sleep. He stood there, fully awake, looking at the only person who had ever truly made him feel alive.