Chapter 8 - The Man in the Photograph
The next morning, Sofia stood in Elena's office.
A photograph lay between them.
The man in it was young.
Dark-haired.
Serious.
His name was Daniel Mendoza.
Sofia's father.
Elena watched her niece.
“You've seen this.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Where?”
“In the vault.”
Elena went silent.
“You found it?”
“I found more than that.”
Sofia opened her laptop.
“I found letters.”
“To whom?”
“To my mother.”
Elena frowned.
“Your mother knew?”
Sofia nodded.
“She knew Daniel was preparing to leave.”
“Why?”
Sofia's fingers tightened.
“She said he was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“I don't know.”
Elena sat down.
“Then why did he leave everything to you?”
Sofia looked at the photograph.
“That's the question I've been trying to answer.”
A knock came at the door.
Javier entered.
Sofia looked at him.
Neither spoke.
He looked exhausted.
“I owe you an apology.”
Sofia said nothing.
“I shouldn't have let my mother make that decision.”
“You didn't.”
“I did.”
Sofia studied him.
“You sat there.”
“I know.”
“You watched.”
“I know.”
“You said I should listen to her.”
Javier lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
Sofia walked to the window.
“You want forgiveness?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He looked up.
“I want the truth.”
Sofia turned.
“Then start with your mother.”
Javier hesitated.
“She says your father wasn't who you think he was.”
Sofia's expression didn't change.
“I know.”
Javier stared.
“You knew?”
“I found the letters.”
“Then why are you still looking?”
“Because the letters were incomplete.”
Sofia opened a file.
One page was missing.
Javier stepped closer.
“What was on it?”
Sofia shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Elena entered.
“We found something.”
She placed an old key on the desk.
Sofia stared at it.
“What is that?”
“The vault key.”
Sofia touched it.
Then she noticed an engraving.
Three words.
Not for Sofia.
Her expression changed.
“Who was it meant for?”
Elena looked at her.
“Your father.”
May you like
Sofia whispered,
“Then why did he leave it for me?”
