Chapter 5 - THE LIE BENEATH THE LIE
I released Beatriz.
“That isn't possible.”
She smiled.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Because Elena told you?”
My anger exploded.
“Don't use my wife's name.”
“Why?”
“Because you're not worthy of saying it.”
Her smile vanished.
I called security.
Two guards entered.
“Beatriz will remain here until police arrive.”
Her face hardened.
“You can't imprison me.”
“No.”
I held up my phone.
“But police can question you about attempted murder.”
For the first time, she looked genuinely afraid.
By morning, investigators had enough evidence to detain her.
The brake line.
Financial transfers.
Forged signatures.
Messages.
But Alejandro remained missing.
And Beatriz's claim about Isabella poisoned my thoughts.
I hated myself for even considering it.
Elena and I had been married eleven years.
I trusted her.
Still, truth didn't care about comfort.
I called Elena's older sister, Lucia.
When I mentioned Alejandro, Lucia became silent.
“You knew?”
“I knew they dated.”
My heart stopped.
“When?”
“Before you.”
“How long before?”
“About a year.”
“Why didn't Elena tell me?”
“She did.”
“No.”
“She tried.”
I remembered a conversation from years earlier.
Elena had told me she'd once dated someone connected to my family.
I hadn't cared.
The past was the past.
I never asked who.
“Did they continue seeing each other?”
“No.”
“You're certain?”
“Yes.”
“What about Isabella?”
Lucia's voice sharpened.
“Daniel.”
“Answer me.”
“Isabella is your daughter.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Elena was terrified Alejandro would someday tell you otherwise.”
I sat down.
“Why?”
“He became obsessed after Elena chose you.”
I closed my eyes.
Pieces moved into place.
Alejandro's hatred.
The arguments.
His refusal to attend our wedding.
His sudden appearance after Elena's funeral.
Lucia continued.
“He told Elena that if he couldn't have her, he would destroy everything she built with you.”
“Why didn't anyone tell me?”
“Elena begged us not to.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew you.”
“What does that mean?”
“You would have destroyed Alejandro.”
She was right.
Then Lucia said something else.
“Elena left a letter.”
I stood.
“What letter?”
“For you.”
“Where?”
“She gave it to your father.”
My father had been dead five years.
“Why would she do that?”
“I don't know.”
I went to the family storage vault that afternoon.
Mateo came with me.
After four hours, we found a sealed envelope.
Daniel.
Elena's handwriting.
My hands shook opening it.
The letter was short.
She explained Alejandro.
The obsession.
The threats.
And one sentence stood out.
If Alejandro ever questions Isabella's father, do not believe him.
I had a DNA test done before she was born because he threatened to destroy us with exactly that lie.
The result is enclosed.
I unfolded the document.
Probability of paternity: 99.9998%.
I was Isabella's father.
I sat there and cried.
Not because I'd doubted Elena.
Because she had carried this fear alone.
At the bottom of her letter was one final warning.
Alejandro doesn't want money, Daniel.
He wants you to lose the people you love.
That evening, I returned to Isabella.
She ran into my arms this time.
That tiny change meant everything.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Is Beatriz coming back?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
She held out her pinky.
I hooked mine around it.
“Forever promise?”
“Forever.”
For the first time since I'd returned, Isabella smiled.
Then someone knocked.
Mateo entered.
His face told me the peace was temporary.
“What happened?”
“Alejandro contacted us.”
“How?”
“He sent a video.”
Mateo handed me his phone.
Alejandro appeared on screen.
Older.
Thinner.
Angrier than I remembered.
“Hello, little brother.”
I watched.
“You've probably discovered most of it by now.”
He smiled.
“But there's one thing Beatriz never told you.”
The camera moved.
A man was tied to a chair.
Javier.
Our missing gardener.
Alive.
Barely.
Alejandro returned to frame.
“You want him back?”
May you like
He leaned toward the camera.
“Bring me Isabella.”
