Carlos smiled. “I’m glad you did.”

“So am I.”

That night, as Ana lay in bed, she noticed something had changed. The word mother-in-law no longer stirred tension. Instead, she thought of a warm kitchen, homemade cake, and an honest conversation that marked the beginning of something new.

She understood then that family isn’t forced into place. It’s built—slowly, carefully—through patience, trust, and the willingness to let go of prejudice.