Later that evening, after dinner, Gabriel and Carlos sat together in the gazebo, the quiet garden around them lit by the soft glow of lanterns. A cool breeze carried the faint scent of night-blooming jasmine.
"I think I'll go back with my grandmother for these two months," Carlos began.
"That might be for the best," Gabriel replied with a nod. "She's been neglecting her own treatment because of us."
Carlos gave a faint smile, almost wistful. "Or maybe it was fate that brought her here. Illness or not, she still found the strength to come, and perhaps, she was meant to meet all of you."
Gabriel's lips curved faintly. "You might be right about that."
But Carlos's gaze lingered on him, studying his expression. "Why do you look so weighed down? You've seemed… off since yesterday." His tone turned more probing. "Don't tell me you argued with your mother."
