Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO FINALLY ASKED FOR HELP
Maria Alvarez cried when I told her.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
She simply covered her mouth and let tears run down her cheeks.
We were sitting in a private consultation room at Mount Sinai.
I had returned to the hospital with a security escort who waited outside.
Aleandro hadn't insisted on coming.
He'd asked what would make me comfortable.
I'd said I wanted to speak to Maria alone.
He'd respected it.
That still surprised me.
Maria reached across the table.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
I looked down.
“I should have told you.”
She shook her head.
“You're telling me now.”
My throat tightened.
“He said nobody would believe me.”
Maria's face hardened.
“Ryan Mercer can go straight to hell.”
Despite everything, I laughed.
It came out wet and shaky.
Maria squeezed my hand.
Then she helped me contact the hospital's employee assistance program and a domestic violence advocate.
The advocate's name was Rachel Kim.
She was calm.
Practical.
And she didn't ask why I'd stayed.
Instead, she asked what I needed.
Safe housing.
Medical documentation.
Help preserving threatening messages.
A plan for retrieving essential belongings.
I told her everything.
Almost everything.
I didn't mention Victor Sanz.
Not yet.
Because I still didn't understand what I'd heard.
Rachel explained my options without pressuring me to make an immediate decision.
By the end of the meeting, I had a temporary housing arrangement, an appointment with a physician, and information about reporting the abuse.
I also had something I hadn't possessed in months.
A plan.
When I stepped into the corridor, Aleandro was waiting beside the elevators.
He stood when he saw me.
“How did it go?”
I looked at him.
Then smiled faintly.
“I asked for help.”
His expression softened.
“Good.”
I swallowed.
“I was terrified.”
“I know.”
I looked down.
“I'm still terrified.”
Aleandro stepped closer.
“But you're not alone.”
May you like
I looked up.
And for the first time, I believed him.
