Javier was speechless. The "director" he dreamed of working with treated his peasant father-in-law with complete respect.
Don Pedro smiled and calmly explained,
"I didn't mean to brag, but for years I've been investing my savings and some friends into building this company. Alejandro is the CEO. This time I came not only to visit my daughter but also to discuss opening a new branch in the city. I was thinking of introducing you to him and seeing if we could work together..."
Javier's body collapsed in on itself. He remembered her indifference, the curt answers she'd given him, the contempt in her eyes. Only a deep regret remained. He stammered, "
Forgive me, Don Pedro... I didn't know..."
My father-in-law sighed and said slowly,
"I don't need you to respect me for my money. I just want you to love my daughter and value your family. But today I clearly saw what weighs on your heart most."
He stood up, picked up his old backpack, and prepared to leave. Maria burst into tears and tried to stop her father. Javier, on the other hand, paled and began to wail. A golden opportunity had slipped through his fingers, driven by pride and contempt.
That night, the house fell silent. Javier, despondent, realized that true wealth lies not in a smart suit, nor in a bulging wallet, nor in a luxury car, but in the kindness and dignity of others. He also realized that he had lost not only a business opportunity but also the trust of his wife and the respect of his father-in-law: a humble farmer who was, in fact, the majority shareholder of the company he so longed to work for.
