Alejandro recognized the expression.
It was the same one he had worn when shown photographs of Lucía.
The mind resisting evidence because truth threatened something
emotionally expensive.
Alejandro did not mock his father.
He simply said:
“Read everything before you defend him.”
Sebastián did.
Two days later, he apologized to Lucía.
Not for Ramón.
For himself.
Because Lucía had sent him a letter during the separation.
His assistant had routed it to legal.
Sebastián never saw it.
He had not asked why Lucía vanished.
He accepted Alejandro’s version.
The whole family had lived inside separate rooms of the same lie.
Ramón had closed the doors.
Pride kept them locked.
Lucía went into labor five weeks later.
Early.
Alejandro was in Monterrey when she called.
Not his assistant.
Not security.
Him.
“My water broke.”
He stood so fast his chair fell.
