Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
The image stayed frozen on Inés’s screen.
She stared at the woman in the nurse uniform.
Impossible.
It couldn’t be her.
But the face didn’t lie.
“Who is she?”
Leandro stood behind her.
When he saw the picture, his expression changed.
“No…”
Inés turned.
“You know her.”
He slowly nodded.
“Her name was Mariana Torres.”
The same name Noa had heard.
The same name written on the baby photograph.
“She was my father’s assistant.”
“Was?”
Leandro swallowed.
“She died six years ago.”
The room became quiet.
“But she didn’t,” Inés said.
“No.”
Leandro looked at the screen.
“She disappeared.”
The difference mattered.
Because disappearance meant someone was hiding something.
A death certificate could be fake.
A funeral could be staged.
A story could be invented.
Inés immediately reopened the footage.
“Where did she go after entering the dressing room?”
They tracked every camera.
Hallway.
Service elevator.
Parking garage.
Then they found her.
Mariana had left through the underground entrance.
But she wasn’t alone.
Someone was waiting for her.
Someone wearing a black coat.
The face was hidden.
But the vehicle was clear.
A black luxury SUV.
Leandro recognized it.
“That car belongs to my family.”
“Who drives it?”
He didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
Bárbara.
At that moment, the ballroom doors opened.
Bárbara walked in.
“What are you all doing?”
Everyone turned.
Inés looked directly at her.
“Where were you ten minutes ago?”
Bárbara smiled.
“Are you questioning me?”
“Yes.”
“And why?”
“Because your car was seen helping a woman who supposedly died six years ago.”
The smile disappeared.
For the first time, Bárbara looked nervous.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
But before anyone could respond…
Noa screamed.
“Mom!”
Everyone turned.
The little girl was pointing toward the entrance.
A woman stood there.
Older.
Tired.
Holding a small envelope.
The woman looked at Leandro.
Then at Jimena.
Then at Noa.
And whispered:
May you like
“I know where the real baby is.”
To be continued…
