Chapter 4 - THE DOCTOR WHO VANISHED

His passport had not been used in six years.

His medical license expired without renewal.

His condo was sold by a power of attorney signed two months after Valentina's birth.

"Beatriz Reyes."

"I handled family problems."

"Was Leon a problem?"

"He was a coward."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know."

Marco did not believe her.

Detective Ava Brooks did not either.

By midnight, the family celebration had become a criminal complaint.

Fertility fraud.

Possible coercion.

Document tampering.

Corporate fraud.

Maybe worse.

"Did you know Rosa was Valentina's biological mother?"

"No."

"Did you know Rosa carried her?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"Before the birth."

"You told me you were pregnant."

"I told the public."

"You let me believe it."

Tears filled her eyes.

"Carmen said the surrogacy would destroy the merger negotiations with my father's family. She said we could tell you after the trust settled."

"Five years later?"

"I kept waiting for a safe time."

"There is no safe time for a five-year lie."

Isabella touched her pregnant belly.

"This baby is yours. I swear."

"I believe you."

"But I don't know if I believe anything else."

A key card.

"The night Valentina was born, Carmen took me to the clinic records room."

"Why?"

"She showed me the transfer file."

"What did it say?"

"That the embryo was mine."

"Three months later I found Rosa's DNA report in Carmen's desk."

"You knew for almost five years."

"I suspected."

"You knew enough to ask."

"I was afraid."

"Of what?"

"Of losing you. Losing Valentina. Losing everything."

"Rosa already lost everything."

The sentence broke the room.

"I know."

"No. You know now."

"What does this open?"

"An archive room below the old Reyes Women's Clinic."

"The clinic is closed."

"Not the basement."

Isabella whispered, "Carmen still pays utilities."

Before he could answer, the security alarm sounded.

Valentina's bedroom.

The bed was empty.

Window open.

On the pillow sat one white envelope.

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Inside was a note.

STOP DIGGING INTO THE BIRTH OR THE CHILD LEARNS HOW EXPENSIVE TRUTH CAN BE.