Chapter 11 - The Husband Behind the Door
Sofia did not believe the photograph.
She believed the woman in it was Luciana. She believed the handwriting resembled her mother’s.
But she refused to believe Luciana had ordered her own daughter delivered to the hotel.
“Anyone can copy handwriting,” Sofia said.
Carmen nodded.
“That is what I told myself.”
“When did you receive this?”
“Three days before the wedding.”
“From whom?”
“A courier. He knew details only Rafael and Luciana could know.”
“Such as?”
“The name we gave Javier before he was born.”
Sofia waited.
Carmen looked toward the altar.
“Gabriel.”
Javier Robles had been born Gabriel Serrano.
The revelation spread through the church like cold air.
Alexander entered the chapel despite Mercer’s attempt to stop him.
“What did you say?”
Carmen looked at him.
“Javier is not Rafael’s biological son.”
Elena and Adriana entered behind Alexander.
Carmen faced the three Serrano siblings.
“Your father had an affair with me. Javier was born one year before Luciana died.”
Elena’s hand went to her mouth.
Alexander remained still.
Adriana did not look surprised.
“You knew,” Sofia said.
Adriana lowered her eyes.
“I suspected.”
Carmen continued.
“Rafael learned the truth when Javier was six. He did not kill him because he realized a Serrano heir could open the hidden room.”
“Then why did you need Sofia’s signature?” Mercer asked.
“Javier’s blood could pass the family scan, but the condo legally belonged to Sofia. The system required both inheritance and title.”
Sofia understood why Javier had pursued her.
He was not only a Robles.
He was her mother’s younger half-brother.
The marriage had been legally invalid from the beginning.
Javier had known.
The realization disgusted her more than his financial betrayal.
“He knew we were related,” Sofia said.
Carmen’s silence answered.
Alexander turned away, jaw clenched.
Sofia looked toward the chapel doors, where Javier waited inside an armored vehicle under guard.
“Bring him in.”
Mercer hesitated.
Sofia repeated the words.
Javier entered wearing handcuffs and a gray detention jacket.
When he saw Carmen, anger flashed across his face.
“You surrendered?”
“I am trying to save you.”
“You have never saved anyone.”
Sofia stood between them.
“What was your name at birth?”
Javier looked at her.
“Sofia, none of this changes how I feel.”
“Answer.”
He swallowed.
“Gabriel Mateo Serrano.”
Elena closed her eyes.
Sofia felt strangely calm.
“You knew before you proposed.”
“Yes.”
“You married your niece.”
“Only legally.”
The calm inside Sofia broke.
“There is no version of this that becomes acceptable when you add the word legally.”
“I needed access to the room.”
“You could have told me.”
“Would you have opened it?”
“No.”
“Then I had no choice.”
Sofia stared at him.
“There was always a choice. You simply chose the one that hurt me.”
Javier looked toward his mother.
“She told me Luciana was alive. She said your mother wanted the room opened.”
Carmen shook her head.
“I told you we received a message. I never said I believed it.”
“You followed it.”
“To protect you.”
“You protected Rafael.”
Javier stepped closer until the chain between his wrists tightened.
“Father said Luciana had returned and wanted Sofia tested.”
Sofia’s stomach turned.
“Tested how?”
“To see whether you would surrender the condo under pressure.”
Alexander moved toward him.
Mercer blocked the path.
“Who is Father?” Sofia asked. “Rafael or Vale?”
Javier laughed bitterly.
“That is the problem. They both use the name.”
He looked at Sofia.
“The voice in my earpiece changed throughout the night. Sometimes it sounded like Rafael. Sometimes Vale. Once, it sounded like Elena.”
“Who gave the final order?”
Javier’s face lost its color.
“The voice said that if you refused to sign, Carmen should tell you the truth about the crash.”
“What truth?”
Javier looked toward Carmen.
She shook her head urgently.
But Javier answered.
“Luciana was not driving the car that went into the river.”
May you like
The church became silent.
“Elena was.”
