Chapter 6: The Truth Nobody Wanted
Alejandro didn’t accuse me.
That surprised me.
After everything that had happened, after all the secrets and manipulation, I expected anger.
Suspicion.
Maybe even disappointment.
But instead, he simply looked tired.
“What happened at the company meeting?””
I sat down on the edge of the bed.
Because suddenly my legs didn’t feel strong enough to hold me.
“It was six months ago.””
“Before you started working at the hotel?””
I nodded.
“Yes.””
He waited.
That was different.
The old Alejandro would have filled silence with assumptions.
This Alejandro listened.
“I came to your office because I needed to talk to you.””
“About what?””
“The baby.””
His expression softened.
“I wanted to tell you something.””
“What?””
I looked at the floor.
“That I was scared.””
He moved closer.
“Lucia.””
“I was happy. I was. But I was scared.””
I touched my stomach.
“I had spent my whole life taking care of myself. Then suddenly I had this little person depending on me.””
My voice lowered.
“And I needed my husband.””
Alejandro looked away.
The pain on his face told me he understood.
“I came to your office because I wanted us to talk about slowing down. About you being home more.””
“And?””
“And Marcus was there.””
His expression changed.
“What?””
“He said you were busy.””
“That’s impossible.””
“I know that now.””
I looked at him.
“But at the time, I believed him.””
I remembered that day clearly.
The cold hallway.
The way Marcus smiled.
The way he acted like he was helping me.
“He told me you were under pressure. He said the company needed you. He said if I loved you, I wouldn’t add more stress.””
Alejandro closed his eyes.
“He manipulated you.””
“Yes.””
“And me.””
“Yes.””
The truth sat between us.
A simple sentence.
A terrible reality.
“He wanted us separated.””
Alejandro nodded slowly.
“Because of the company.””
“Because of control.””
He looked at me.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
That question hurt.
Because the answer was complicated.
“Because every time I tried to reach you, something happened.””
I counted the moments on my fingers.
“Your assistant said you were unavailable. Your lawyer said you needed space. Your phone stopped connecting.””
Alejandro’s face tightened.
“I never blocked you.””
“I know.””
And that was the hardest part.
“I know now.””
He sat beside me.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then he said something I never expected.
“I’m sorry.””
Not a quick apology.
Not the kind people give because they want the argument to end.
A real apology.
“I’m sorry I let other people speak for me.””
I looked at him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t fight harder to reach you.””
My eyes burned.
“I’m sorry you were alone.””
Those words almost broke me.
Because that was what I had needed.
Not money.
Not a bigger house.
Not expensive gifts.
Just for someone to admit I had been alone.
Before I could answer, there was a knock downstairs.
Alejandro stood.
“I didn’t invite anyone.””
The doorbell rang again.
Then again.
His security team had already been contacted after the hotel incident.
One of them appeared on the phone.
“Mr. Montero, there’s someone here requesting to speak with you.””
“Who?””
A pause.
Then:
“Marcus Montero.””
Alejandro looked at me.
The anger returned.
But this time, it wasn’t blind.
It was focused.
“I’ll handle this.””
I stood too.
“No.””
He looked surprised.
“Lucia.””
“I spent months being handled.””
I walked toward the stairs.
“I’m done being hidden.””
When we reached the front door, Marcus stood outside.
Perfect suit.
Calm expression.
Same confidence.
But now there was something different.
He knew the game had changed.
Alejandro opened the door.
“What do you want?””
Marcus looked past him.
At me.
And smiled sadly.
“I wanted to make sure Lucia was telling you the truth.””
I stepped forward.
“You mean you wanted to make sure your lies were still working.””
His smile disappeared.
For the first time, Marcus Montero looked uncertain.
Alejandro noticed.
And so did I.
Because powerful people have one weakness.
They expect everyone else to stay afraid.
Marcus looked at Alejandro.
“You really believe her?””
Alejandro didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.””
The answer was simple.
But it carried everything.
Marcus looked between us.
Then reached into his jacket.
“I guess you should see this.””
He held out a folder.
Inside was a document.
A document with my signature.
A document that appeared to prove I had been planning to take money from Alejandro and leave him.
My heart dropped.
Because it wasn’t fake.
It was my signature.
And I knew exactly when I had signed it.
But I also knew something Marcus didn’t.
May you like
He had no idea what the document was really for.
And now, for the first time, the truth was about to hurt him.
