Chapter 4 - The Prisoner Who Wasn't Her FatherAt 3:17 a.m., Sofia arrived at the federal detention center.
Leonardo followed.
“You should rest,” he told her.
“So should you.”
“I don't sleep when I'm confused.”
“Then tonight you'll be awake.”
They entered the interrogation room.
A guard brought in the prisoner.
Sofia's breath caught.
He had her father's face.
Same gray eyes.
Same scar above the eyebrow.
Same crooked smile.
But Sofia knew immediately.
It wasn't him.
The man sat down.
“You finally came.”
Leonardo stared.
“Who are you?”
The prisoner smiled.
“Your wife already knows.”
Sofia stepped forward.
“Uncle Rafael.”
His expression softened.
“You've grown.”
“I was six when you disappeared.”
“I know.”
“You let everyone believe you were my father.”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
Rafael looked toward the camera.
“Because your father wasn't supposed to survive.”
Leonardo leaned forward.
“Who tried to kill him?”
Rafael hesitated.
Then said:
“Your mother.”
Silence.
Leonardo stood.
“No.”
Rafael's voice remained calm.
“Helena didn't act alone.”
“Who helped her?”
Rafael looked at Sofia.
“Your father.”
Sofia froze.
“What?”
“Your father was involved in the original scheme.”
“No.”
“He wasn't innocent.”
Rafael reached into his pocket and placed a tiny key on the table.
“He discovered what Helena was doing and tried to expose her. But by then, he had already signed documents that made him responsible for the fraud.”
Leonardo's jaw tightened.
“So everyone betrayed everyone.”
Rafael nodded.
“That family doesn't survive on trust. It survives on secrets.”
Sofia picked up the key.
“What does this open?”
Rafael looked directly into her eyes.
“The room where your father was murdered.”
Her fingers trembled.
“You said he survived.”
“He survived the first attempt.”
“And then?”
Rafael lowered his voice.
“The second attempt worked.”
Sofia felt the room tilt.
“Where is his body?”
Rafael smiled sadly.
“There is no body.”
Leonardo looked confused.
“Then how do you know?”
Rafael leaned closer.
“Because I buried him.”
Sofia's eyes filled with tears.
“Where?”
May you like
Rafael whispered:
“Under the Valenti family chapel.”
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