Chapter 1: The Locked Rooms
Chapter 1: The Locked Rooms
Alejandro wrapped his arms around his daughters, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"No one will ever make you go hungry again."
The girls clung to him as though they feared he might disappear if they let go.
He noticed how light they felt.
Too light.
He gently pushed Valeria's sleeve up.
A dark bruise circled her wrist.
His breathing stopped.
"Who did this?"
Valeria quickly pulled her arm away.
"It was an accident."
Alejandro had spent years negotiating billion-dollar contracts.
He knew a lie when he heard one.
Without another word, he stood.
"Stay here."
He walked into the hallway and called for the housekeeper.
No one answered.
He searched room after room until he found Rosa, the elderly nanny who had cared for the girls since they were born. She was sleeping on a thin mattress inside the laundry room.
She looked shocked when she saw him.
"Mr. Santillán..."
"Why are you sleeping here?"
Rosa lowered her eyes.
"Mrs. Jimena said the guest rooms were for important visitors."
Alejandro looked around.
There was no heater.
No proper bed.
Only a blanket.
"Tell me everything."
Tears filled Rosa's eyes.
"She fired every nanny except me. She cut the grocery budget. She sold your late wife's jewelry. The money you wired every month never reached the children."
Alejandro felt his fists tighten.
"Where did it go?"
Rosa hesitated.
"I've seen designer deliveries every week. Private shopping trips. Luxury vacations with her friends while telling everyone you had reduced expenses."
She handed him a folder hidden beneath the mattress.
"I've been saving these."
Inside were grocery receipts totaling less than fifty dollars a week.
Bank transfer confirmations from Alejandro.
Photographs.
One showed the girls eating plain crackers.
Another showed Jimena hosting champagne parties beside the swimming pool.
The timestamps matched the days Alejandro believed his family was enjoying special weekends together.
Every video call suddenly made sense.
Jimena had always insisted the girls were asleep.
Or sick.
Or at piano lessons.
She had never wanted him to see the truth.
Alejandro slipped the folder beneath his coat.
May you like
Then he quietly walked back toward the music.
The party was about to end.
