Chapter 7 - Elena Cruz

Diego drove to San Miguel before sunrise.

Marisol insisted on going.

Lucia refused to stay behind.

Valentina refused to leave Lucia.

So all four went together with two police detectives.

The old convent stood beyond an abandoned vineyard.

The front door was open.

Lucia ran inside.

“Elena!”

No answer.

“Elena!”

They found blood on the kitchen floor.

But no body.

One detective discovered tire tracks behind the building.

Marisol hugged Lucia.

Diego searched the rooms.

In Elena’s bedroom, he found a recorder hidden beneath a loose floorboard.

Lucia recognized it.

“She said that was for you.”

Diego pressed play.

Elena’s voice filled the room.

“If you are hearing this, they found me.”

Lucia began crying silently.

Marisol held her.

Elena continued.

“Nine years ago, Marisol Robles delivered twin girls.”

“Both were healthy.”

“I was ordered to falsify the records and declare one infant deceased.”

Diego closed his eyes.

“The order came through Dr. Rafael Serrano.”

Paulina’s father.

Diego opened his eyes.

Elena continued.

“Rafael told me the Villaseñor family wanted the children erased.”

“I believed him.”

“Later, I discovered Rafael had his own reason.”

“He knew the Villaseñor trust.”

“He knew the first biological heir would eventually control the family voting shares.”

Marisol looked at Diego.

Elena’s voice trembled.

“Rafael intended to remove both girls.”

“I returned Valentina to Marisol before she left the hospital.”

“I took Lucia myself.”

“I have regretted separating them every day since.”

Lucia buried her face against Marisol.

Then Elena said something none of them expected.

“Diego, your father was cruel.”

“But he did not order the children killed.”

Diego looked at the handwritten note.

Then at the recorder.

Elena continued.

“The note was altered.”

“The original order said, ‘Remove the second child from the public record.’”

“It did not say ‘No scandal.’”

“And it certainly did not order anyone harmed.”

“Someone changed the document later.”

Diego whispered.

“Rafael.”

Elena answered from nine years in the past.

“Rafael Serrano.”

A floorboard creaked behind them.

Diego turned.

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The bedroom door slammed shut.

Smoke began pouring beneath it.