Chapter 5 - MARISSA’S MOTHER-IN-LAW
Her name was Diane Mercer.
She was Sophie’s paternal grandmother.
And Alejandro hadn’t seen her since Marissa’s funeral.
Sophie’s biological father, Eric Mercer, had disappeared before Sophie turned two.
He struggled with addiction, debt, and a talent for making promises he never kept.
Marissa eventually obtained full custody.
Eric died from an overdose a year before Marissa’s accident.
After Marissa’s death, Diane fought Alejandro for custody of Sophie.
She lost.
The judge cited instability, repeated boundary violations, and Diane’s attempts to hide her son’s history from social workers.
Alejandro had believed that chapter was over.
Apparently it wasn’t.
“Why is Diane with Valerie?”
Elena asked.
Rachel looked at Alejandro.
“That’s what I’m wondering.”
Alejandro remembered something.
“The wedding.”
“What about it?”
“Valerie asked why Sophie’s paternal family wasn’t there.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Everything.”
Rachel’s expression hardened.
“You gave her Diane’s name?”
“I probably did.”
Alejandro sat down.
“My God.”
He had handed Valerie every piece she needed.
Rachel’s team traced Diane’s phone.
It had been inactive for two days.
Her bank account showed a withdrawal of twelve thousand dollars that morning.
Then another piece surfaced.
Valerie had been sending money to Diane for four months.
Small amounts.
Five hundred.
Eight hundred.
One thousand.
Never enough to trigger attention.
But enough to create a relationship.
Rachel placed the records on the table.
“Valerie was paying her.”
“For what?”
“We’re working on that.”
The answer came from Marcus.
Diane had been Valerie’s backup plan.
If Sophie became too sick for Alejandro to manage, Diane intended to petition for emergency custody.
She would claim Alejandro’s work schedule made him negligent.
Valerie would support the claim.
Once Sophie was removed from Alejandro’s home, Valerie would have him alone.
Then she could control what happened next.
Alejandro laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“She was going to stand in court and say I neglected Sophie?”
Rachel didn’t answer.
Because they both knew the cruelest part.
There was evidence.
Sophie had gotten sick while Alejandro was working long hours.
Her antibiotics had not been given.
Her condition had deteriorated.
To someone who didn’t know the truth, it could look like neglect.
Valerie had been manufacturing a case.
Not just an illness.
A story.
One in which Alejandro was the irresponsible father.
Valerie was the overwhelmed wife.
And Diane was the concerned grandmother.
It was brilliant.
Until Sophie recorded it.
At noon, Sophie’s fever finally began to drop.
Alejandro sat beside her.
“You hungry?”
“A little.”
“What do you want?”
“Pancakes.”
“At noon?”
Sophie managed a tiny smile.
“Pancakes don’t know what time it is.”
Alejandro laughed for the first time in twenty-four hours.
“Fair point.”
Then Sophie’s expression changed.
“Is Valerie coming back?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
Alejandro took her hand.
“No.”
Sophie watched him carefully.
“Are you mad at me?”
His heart broke.
“For what?”
“For making her leave.”
Alejandro moved closer.
“You didn’t make anyone leave.”
“But she said—”
“I don’t care what she said.”
His voice was firm.
“You told the truth.”
He touched her hair.
“And telling me the truth saved you.”
Sophie looked down.
“Do you still love her?”
Alejandro wasn’t prepared for that question.
He thought about it.
“I loved who I thought she was.”
“Is that different?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Alejandro looked toward the window.
“Sometimes people show you a version of themselves because they want something.”
Sophie frowned.
“And then?”
“And then one day you see the truth.”
She was quiet.
“Does it hurt?”
“Yes.”
Sophie squeezed his hand.
“Me too.”
Alejandro kissed her forehead.
Outside the room, Elena quietly wiped her eyes.
Then Detective Monroe approached.
“We found Diane.”
Alejandro stood.
“Where?”
“She walked into a police station in San Marcos twenty minutes ago.”
“With Valerie?”
“No.”
“Then where is Valerie?”
Rachel’s expression was grim.
“Diane says Valerie left her at a gas station.”
“Why?”
“Because Diane changed her mind.”
Alejandro stared.
“About what?”
Rachel looked toward Sophie’s room.
“Taking Sophie.”
May you like
Then she lowered her voice.
“And Diane says Valerie has another plan now.”
