Chapter 12 - The Girl Called Elena
The second twin had been given to Paulina two hours after birth.
At twenty-two, Paulina had already lost her own infant daughter.
Lucía was born prematurely in a private hospital in Geneva and died, according to the doctor, after six days.
Sebastián refused to allow the death to become public.
The trust depended on the possibility that Paulina’s child might someday be acknowledged by Tomás.
When Valentina and her twin were born, Sebastián saw an opportunity.
He ordered Esteban to remove one baby.
Paulina would raise the child secretly as Lucía, preserving a claim through Tomás if necessary. Marisol would raise Valentina far from the family. Whichever girl became useful could later be brought forward.
But Don Rafael discovered the plan.
He ordered Esteban to retrieve the stolen infant.
By then, Paulina had moved the baby to a hidden residence and named her Elena.
“I searched for three years,” Esteban said. “Sebastián changed her identity repeatedly.”
“Why not tell Diego?” Marisol demanded.
“Rafael believed Diego would act emotionally and expose both children.”
“He was right,” Diego said coldly. “I would have exposed every one of you.”
Esteban accepted the hatred in his voice.
“Before Rafael died, he changed the trust to favor Valentina. He believed the child raised by her mother should inherit, not the child shaped by Sebastián.”
“What happened to Elena?” Marisol asked.
“She lived with a governess in France until she was six. Then Paulina moved her.”
“Where?”
“I traced her to a house outside Prague. By the time I arrived, it was empty.”
“Was she safe?”
Esteban hesitated.
Marisol grabbed his coat.
“Was she safe?”
“She was alive.”
“That is not the same.”
“No.”
Diego pulled Marisol back gently.
“What proof do you have?”
Esteban handed Gabriel the silver key.
“Deposit box at Banco Real. The golden button opens the inner compartment.”
“Which golden button?” Diego asked.
“The one Marisol has.”
“Why place evidence behind a key she did not know how to use?”
“Because Rafael did not trust me with everything.”
“Wise of him.”
Esteban’s jaw tightened.
“There are photographs, travel records, and recordings from the clinic.”
“Enough to locate Elena?”
“Enough to identify the network that moved her.”
Paulina’s voice came from the landing.
“You always enjoyed dramatic entrances, Esteban.”
Everyone looked up.
She stood at the top of the staircase in her white dress.
No one had heard her arrive.
Her face was calm, but one hand gripped the railing.
Marisol stared at her.
“You named my daughter.”
Paulina descended one step.
“I gave a nameless child a home.”
“You stole her.”
“I was given a baby after losing mine.”
“You knew she was mine.”
“I knew what my father told me.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That her mother was dead.”
Esteban laughed once.
“You visited Marisol at the Toledo clinic before she woke.”
Paulina’s composure slipped.
Diego moved toward the staircase.
“You were there?”
“My father insisted.”
“You saw both babies?”
“Yes.”
“And you took one.”
“I was grieving.”
“So you committed kidnapping.”
“I was twenty-two and had just held my dead child.”
Marisol’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“Do not use your grief to erase mine.”
Paulina reached the marble floor.
“I loved Elena.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect us to believe that?”
“She was taken from me.”
“By whom?”
Paulina looked at Esteban.
“By him.”
Esteban shook his head.
“I never found her.”
“You entered the French house during the night.”
“It was already empty.”
“You left a white rose.”
Esteban’s eyes narrowed.
“I did not.”
Paulina looked unsettled for the first time.
Diego noticed.
“Who uses the white rose?”
Paulina’s gaze moved toward Marisol.
“My father’s old internal security group.”
“Sebastián?”
“No.”
“Then who commands them?”
Paulina did not answer.
Esteban stepped forward.
“Tell him.”
Paulina’s face turned pale.
“Tell me what?” Diego demanded.
She looked toward Don Rafael’s portrait.
“The group was created by your grandfather.”
“He is dead.”
“The person who inherited it is not.”
A gunshot shattered one of the tall windows.
Security officers pulled Diego and the others down.
A second shot struck the portrait above the staircase.
The canvas tore across Don Rafael’s painted face.
Gabriel shouted orders.
Outside, an engine roared.
A black motorcycle sped through the gates before they could close.
Tied to the broken window was a gray ribbon.
A small card hung from it.
Diego removed the card.
On one side was the lion-and-moon crest.
May you like
On the other were three words:
Elena remembers everything.
