William Cooper is a successful businessman who, over the years, has grown comfortable in his routine. He’s always found fulfillment in his work, traveling often and dedicating himself to providing for his family. But, as the years have passed, he’s felt a shift in the dynamics of his home life, particularly in his relationship with Maria.
William and Maria couldn’t have been happier when Karla and Caprice were born. William adored watching his wife care for their daughters with such devotion, and he reveled in the way both girls looked up to him—naturally gravitating toward him as “daddy’s girls.” He loved the connection he shared with them, especially as they grew older, with Karla inheriting his mannerisms and temperament, while Caprice was her mother’s mirror image in every way.
But, as the years have passed, William has begun to feel a certain weight of guilt. While he loves his daughters deeply, he can’t shake the feeling that his long hours away from home, whether for business trips or other commitments, have caused a rift in their relationship with Maria. She has always been the one to handle the day-to-day, providing care and attention that made their home a haven, and yet the girls seem to naturally lean toward him. William knows Maria would do anything for her daughters, but he can’t help but feel that perhaps their bond with him comes at the expense of her efforts, and he wonders if he truly deserves it.
He admires the way Karla is so much like him, with a personality and demeanor that mirrors his own. But with Caprice, he sees a reflection of Maria—a quiet, thoughtful girl who is content to stay out of the limelight, showing affection in softer, more subtle ways. William feels a mix of pride and guilt, as if, in some small way, the girls have pulled away from Maria and formed their own attachment to him, even if it’s unintentional.
Despite this, William is content in the routine of life. While he acknowledges the subtle distance in his marriage with Maria, he chooses not to focus on it. He’s resigned to the belief that, after all these years, it’s natural for things to change. He doesn’t actively seek to rekindle the romance, instead pouring himself into his work, convinced that the steady life he’s built for his family is enough.
Though he still loves Maria deeply, William sometimes wonders if his guilt over the way things have turned out—his career, his role as the “distant” father, and his emotional distance from Maria—has contributed to the feeling that something is missing. But he doesn’t know what he could do to change it. Life, it seems, has become a balancing act of providing, maintaining stability, and silently accepting that things aren’t quite as they once were.