Chapter 9 - RENATA TOLD THEM WHY SOFIA CALLED HER “THE WOMAN WHO HID THE PAPERS”
At twenty-one, Leo asked directly.
“Did you hide them?”
Renata smiled.
“Half.”
Sofia had given her copies.
Renata placed one set in locked drawer the week before Sofia’s surgery because Sofia feared Victor might retrieve office files while she was hospitalized.
Sofia kept brass key in blue box.
Then Renata stored duplicate offsite.
After Sofia died, she took offsite copy with her.
That is why Javier thought “woman who hid papers” held leverage.
Then:
“Why didn’t you send duplicates to Dad?”
Renata looked at Dante.
“Because I was a coward.”
Simple.
Then:
“And because I thought he was part of it.”
Dante nodded.
Then:
“I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
Then Leo:
“Did Mom forgive you?”
Renata teared.
“She died before she knew I ran.”
There.
Regret.
Then:
“Do you forgive yourself?”
“Not completely.”
Leo thought.
“Seems tiring.”
Everyone laughed.
Youth.
Then he said:
“Maybe stop.”
May you like
Sometimes children simplify wisely.
Renata did, gradually.
