Chapter 2: The Prison Hidden in Plain Sight
No one dared to breathe.
The servants stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the marble floor as Alejandro crossed the room.
He stopped inches from Elena.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Three years of grief, hope, anger, and unanswered questions stood between them.
Finally, Alejandro reached for her trembling hands.
The bruises circling her wrists were old.
Some were fresh.
Others had faded into yellow scars.
His jaw tightened.
"Who did this to you?"
Elena's lips parted, but no sound came out.
She instinctively glanced toward Vivian.
That single glance told Alejandro everything.
Vivian took a slow sip of wine, forcing a smile.
"You're overreacting," she said smoothly. "Your wife has been suffering from memory problems for years. We took care of her."
"Liar," whispered one of the older housemaids.
The room froze again.
Every servant turned toward the elderly woman.
Tears filled her eyes.
"They told us she was dangerous... that she had lost her mind after the accident."
Vivian's confident expression cracked.
Alejandro immediately ordered security to lock every exit.
"No one leaves this mansion."
Within minutes, his private security team arrived.
As they searched the estate, they discovered something no one expected.
Hidden behind a false wall in the basement was a tiny servant's room.
Inside were worn blankets...
A broken mirror...
A locked diary...
And dozens of letters addressed to Alejandro.
Every single one had been returned.
Never mailed.
Never opened.
May you like
Elena hadn't abandoned him.
Someone had stolen every chance she ever had to come home.
