Chapter 109: Unexpected Discoveries

The sirens of ambulances and patrol cars echoed through the cold night as paramedics attended to the wounded. Outside the warehouse, Analú's family waited anxiously alongside the police officers, who had already cordoned off Maximiliano Carpintier's entire company. The raid was in full motion.

—Please, help us! —Analú exclaimed, her voice trembling with desperation—. Lucas has a gunshot wound in his leg, and Mrs. Esperanza had acid thrown on her face.

The paramedics reacted immediately. Lucas was placed on a stretcher, while Esperanza, covered with a thermal blanket, moaned in pain. Both were loaded into ambulances and rushed to the nearest hospital.

Analú hugged her family tightly, feeling that, at last, the nightmare was ending. She got into one of the patrol cars with her family, heading to the hospital to accompany Esperanza and Lucas.

The hospital was filled with tension. In the waiting room, Analú rubbed her hands nervously while they awaited news. A doctor appeared through the door and approached them.

—Mr. Lucas is stable —the doctor informed with a calm voice—. We managed to extract the bullet, and he will now need to remain under observation. As soon as the nurse allows it, you may see him.

—Thank you, doctor —Analú said with relief—. And Esperanza? How is she?

The doctor's expression turned grim.

—Mrs. Esperanza’s condition is delicate. She suffered second and third-degree burns on several areas of her face due to the acid. She will need multiple reconstructive surgeries.

The doctor's words fell like a heavy weight on everyone. Mr. Michelini, with determination, took out his phone.

—We won’t spare any expenses —he declared—. I will contact one of the best plastic surgeons in Europe. We will do everything possible to help her.

—Frederick, the surgeon needs a photo of Esperanza, right? —Ana Lucia intervened—. I have one with her; maybe it will help.

She took out her wallet and retrieved a picture she had taken with Esperanza during one of their outings. She handed it to Frederick, who took it quickly.

But as soon as he looked at it, his face went pale. His hands started trembling, and suddenly, he dropped the photo as if it burned him.

—Dad, are you okay? —Alexia asked, worried about his reaction.

Frederick didn’t answer. His breathing became erratic, and clutching his chest, he collapsed unconscious.

—Dad! —Alexia screamed, kneeling beside him.

The doctors rushed to his aid and immediately took him to a room. The atmosphere filled with uncertainty.

Amid the chaos, Thomas picked up the photo from the floor. As he examined it closely, his expression shifted to pure disbelief. He murmured words, almost as if he couldn’t believe them.

—She’s alive… Mrs. Amelia is alive.

Alexia turned sharply to him.

—What are you saying, Thomas? That’s impossible! My mother died thirteen years ago.

—Miss… look at her carefully.

Thomas handed her the photo. Alexia took it with trembling hands, and as she examined it, she felt the air leave her lungs.

The woman next to Ana Lucia looked identical to her mother. The only difference was her hair color.

—This can’t be… —she whispered, her voice breaking—. Thomas… It’s my mom! She has the same birthmark on her face…

—I told you, miss.

Ana Lucia, who had been listening in silence, took a step forward, stunned.

—What are you talking about?

Thomas looked at her seriously.

—Ma’am, the woman in the photo is Amelia, Alexia’s mother and Mr. Michelini’s wife. We all believed she was dead, but here she is… alive.

Ana Lucia felt a shiver run down her spine.

—This is… very strange —she whispered—. Are you sure about this?

—There is no doubt. Miss Alexia confirmed it.

Tears filled Alexia’s eyes as her mind tried to process the truth.

—Now I understand why my dad reacted that way… He wasn’t supposed to receive strong news. God, I hope he’s okay…

—We have to wait for the doctors to inform us about his condition —Ana Lucia intervened, placing a hand on her shoulder—. Everything will be fine.

Alexia felt the need to leave the hospital, to get fresh air, to calm the whirlwind of emotions consuming her. Mateo noticed her distress and walked with her down the hallways.

—How do you feel? —he asked softly.

—I don’t know, Mateo. I’m so confused… So many things have happened lately that I don’t know what to believe anymore…

Ana Lucia, worried about the young woman, decided to look for them and approached with a concerned expression.

—Darling, how are you feeling?

Alexia looked at her with desperation in her eyes.

Alexia clenched her fists, feeling a mixture of confusion and anguish. She stared at Ana Lucia, searching for answers in her expression but only finding the same uncertainty reflected in her eyes.

—Mrs. Ana Lucia… I don’t know what to think. Supposedly, my mother died in an accident… she fell from the third floor of the mansion. How is it possible that she’s alive now?

Ana Lucia sighed, looking at her with tenderness and sadness.

—I don’t understand either, my love… But I promise we will find out the truth.

Alexia felt her heart pounding. For the first time in years, she had hope that her mother was still alive. But if that was true… then what had really happened thirteen years ago?

—If she’s alive, that means that… —her voice cracked as she tried to process the thought— someone made us believe she was dead.

Ana Lucia gently took her hands.

—Darling, I understand how you feel… I can’t believe it either, but we must stay calm.

Alexia shook her head, stepping back.

—Stay calm? —her breathing quickened— I’ve spent my whole life mourning my mother’s death! I thought I would never see her again, that I would never hear her voice! And now they tell me she’s been alive all this time?

Ana Lucia hugged her tightly, feeling the young girl’s shoulders trembling with emotion.

—I know, my child… I know…

Mateo, who had remained silent, finally spoke.

—Alexia, I know this is too much, but think… If your mother is still alive, it means someone deliberately kept her away from you. We need to find out who and why.

Mateo’s words sent a shiver through Alexia. Her mind filled with blurry memories, fragments of that tragic night when her father told her that her mother had died. The desperation in his voice, the uncontrollable crying, the funeral… Had it all been a lie?

—My father… —she whispered with a trembling voice— He was the one who gave us the news. He said my mother had fallen… that it was an accident…

Mateo and Ana Lucia exchanged a worried glance.

—Do you think he could have been involved? —Mateo asked cautiously.

Alexia lowered her gaze, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.

—I don’t know… I don’t want to think that, but… If he knew the truth and made us believe otherwise, I would never forgive him.

Ana Lucia gently caressed her hair.

—My dear, before jumping to conclusions, we need proof. Maybe your father was also deceived… or maybe someone else is behind all of this.

Alexia took a deep breath, trying to control the storm of emotions inside her.

—I have to see her —she finally said with determination—. If Esperanza is really my mother, if she is Amelia… I need to see her with my own eyes.

Ana Lucia nodded.

—We will do it together.

Mateo looked at both of them firmly.

—And I will help you find the truth.

The cold night breeze blew gently, but Alexia didn’t feel it. In her heart, a flame had ignited. A flame that would not go out until she discovered what really happened to her mother.