“And Alejandro?”
The doctor hesitated.
“He has been with Miss Ledesma.”
Later, I checked my phone. Alejandro had not called once. But his mother had left messages telling me not to make things harder for him, not to upset Mariana, and to behave like a proper wife.
That was when I called Clara, my mother’s old friend in Houston.
“Clara,” I whispered, “I want to leave.”
She did not ask questions.
“I’ll get you out today.”
That afternoon, I signed the transfer papers alone.
Before they took me away, Alejandro’s assistant arrived.
“Mrs. Montes, Mr. Alejandro sent me to see if you were awake.”
“Sofia Rivera,” I corrected. “Tell him I’m done waiting.”
I handed him my ring.
“Give this back.”
As the stretcher moved past Mariana’s room, I heard her ask, “Ale, is Sofia angry with me?”
Alejandro answered gently, “She understands. Rest.”
Then my phone buzzed.
It was him.
“You’re awake. Go see Mariana. She won’t stop crying.”
I blocked his number.
And that was only the beginning.
