Chapter 6 - THE LETTER THAT SHOULD HAVE REACHED ME
My dearest Alejandro,
If you're reading this, then someone finally believed me.
I don't know whether you know I'm alive.
I don't know what Lorenzo has told you.
But I need you to understand something.
I never stopped loving you.
I was frightened because I believed someone inside your family wanted our children dead.
Lorenzo showed me evidence that made it appear you had ordered the crash.
I wanted to believe it was false.
I still do.
But I cannot risk our babies' lives while I search for the truth.
There are four boys, Alejandro.
Four beautiful little boys.
They have your eyes.
Your smile.
And the same stubborn expression you make when someone tells you no.
I named them Luca, Gabriel, Nico, and Mateo.
I hope one day you can hold them.
I hope they can know you as the man I loved, not the man the world fears.
If anything happens to me, trust Elena.
She knows where the boys are.
But please understand why she may not tell you.
She promised to protect them until she knew the truth.
I love you.
Always.
Sofia.
I read the letter three times.
Then a fourth.
I could barely see through my tears.
She had not hated me.
She had not stopped loving me.
She had been afraid.
And someone had used my reputation to make that fear believable.
When I returned to Chicago, I went straight to the nursery.
The boys were asleep.
Four small bodies beneath blue blankets.
I stood beside their beds.
Luca slept with one hand curled beneath his cheek.
Gabriel had kicked off his blanket.
Nico held his rabbit.
Mateo slept with Sofia's photograph beside his pillow.
I looked at them.
Then whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Elena appeared in the doorway.
She watched me quietly.
I turned.
“I found her letter.”
Her eyes filled.
“Then you know.”
I nodded.
“She loved me.”
Elena began crying.
“She never stopped.”
I looked toward the boys.
“Why didn't you bring them to me sooner?”
She wiped her cheeks.
“Because Lorenzo was watching you.”
I stared.
“He controlled the people around you. Your guards. Your doctors. Your accounts.”
Her voice broke.
“I couldn't know who would hear if I tried.”
I looked down.
For years, I had believed fear made me powerful.
Now I understood how easily fear could be used against me.
I stepped closer.
“Elena, I'm going to ask you something.”
She nodded.
“Do you believe I'm their father?”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe I would hurt them?”
Her eyes filled.
“No.”
I swallowed.
“Then help me find Sofia.”
Elena nodded.
“I will.”
That evening, my attorney called.
“We found a property connected to Evelyn Cross.”
“Where?”
“A private rehabilitation facility outside Madison, Wisconsin.”
I stood.
“Is Sofia there?”
Margaret hesitated.
“We don't know.”
I looked toward the window.
“Then find out.”
Before midnight, a package arrived at the mansion.
Inside was a white silk scarf.
Sofia's scarf.
The one she'd worn on our honeymoon.
Wrapped around it was a small note.
SHE'S STILL WAITING FOR YOU.
Below it was an address.
May you like
And one sentence.
COME ALONE, OR SHE DIES.
