Chapter 104: Something is about to happen

The days went by, and the businessman began to slowly recover from his delicate health condition. For this reason, the Thomson family decided to postpone their trip and stay to take care of the matters of Full Color, the company issues they had not been able to resolve as easily as they initially thought. Although they kept an eye on the businessman’s situation from afar, Alexia and Analú dedicated all their time to taking care of him up close.

Before the patient was discharged, the doctor was firm in his recommendations. He emphasized the importance of absolute rest for at least three months, avoiding any type of strong news that could disturb him. He also made it clear that he needed to undergo monthly check-ups to monitor his recovery.

Once at the mansion, Alexia and Analú took turns attending to him. Neither of them seemed willing to leave his side, and together they made sure he lacked nothing. Alexia, though trying to maintain composure, couldn’t avoid the worry that showed on her face. Michelini, for his part, tried to hide his own fears, but his weakened body and prolonged silence revealed that he wasn’t completely better.

One afternoon, while Analú prepared an infusion in the kitchen, Alexia took the opportunity to approach her father, who was resting on the couch in the living room, surrounded by cushions. She looked at him closely: his skin still looked pale, and every so often, he would place his hand on his chest as if a slight pain still persisted.

—Dad... —Alexia said softly, breaking the silence that filled the room.

Michelini looked up at her and gave a faint smile, though his eyes conveyed a mix of fatigue and melancholy.

—What’s going on, daughter? —he asked in a hoarse voice.

Alexia sat beside him and fiddled with her fingers, as if searching for the right words.

—I just wanted to tell you that... I’m here for whatever you need. You don’t have to worry about anything.

He let out a deep sigh and reached out a hand toward hers, covering it gently.

—I know, Alexia. You’ve always been by my side, even when I’ve made mistakes. But there’s something I need to tell you, something I’ve been holding onto for a long time.

Alexia quickly shook her head, her eyes shining with a mixture of fear and frustration.

—No, Dad. Not now. I don’t want you to get upset or make yourself feel worse. Whatever it is, I’d rather not know right now.

Michelini frowned, but didn’t insist. He knew Alexia was right: he wasn’t in a condition to reopen old wounds. However, the need to be honest with her tormented him.

—Okay, daughter. We’ll leave it for another time, but remember, it’s important.

At that moment, Analú entered with the infusion in hand and a warm smile on her face.

—Here you go, Mr. Michelini. It’s herbal, just how you like it.

—Thank you, Analú. —He took the cup and gave her a grateful look. Then, changing the subject, he asked:— How’s everything going at university?

Analú sat in a nearby armchair and sighed.

—Quite well, though I have a lot of pending assignments. But don’t worry, I’m organizing myself so I can help here too.

Alexia looked at her with a mixture of admiration and tenderness.

—You don’t have to take on so much, Analú. My father is already better, and soon he’ll be able to take care of himself.

Michelini chuckled softly, though it was interrupted by a brief cough.

—Don’t exaggerate, Alexia. I’m still capable of walking to the kitchen, even though you won’t let me.

They all laughed, though the worry never quite left the atmosphere. As the night wore on, Alexia retired to her room but couldn’t fall asleep. She stared at the ceiling, reflecting on her father’s words and the uncertainty surrounding their relationship. She knew time waited for no one, but the fear of facing the truth still felt too strong.

The next morning, while they were having breakfast together, Michelini took advantage of a moment of calm to bring up the subject again.

—Alexia, I know you have your reasons for not wanting to talk right now, but I’d like you to know that everything I’ve done has been thinking of your well-being. Maybe I didn’t make the best decisions, but...

—Dad —Alexia interrupted him, pressing her lips firmly—. I promise we’ll talk about it, but not now. I can’t risk losing you again.

Michelini nodded, resigned. Analú, who had been silently watching the scene, intervened with an encouraging smile.

—Mr. Michelini, don’t worry. The important thing is that you’re here with us and that we’ll take care of you until you’re fully recovered.

Michelini returned the smile, grateful for the unconditional support of both young women. Despite the unresolved tensions, those moments together reminded them that sometimes, love and company were enough to keep a wounded heart afloat.

One afternoon, when Analú got out of class, she decided to wait for Nicolás on a bench near the campus. She sat down carefully, placing her backpack full of books and notes beside her. The cool breeze tousled her hair as she absentmindedly checked her phone. They had arranged to meet there and go together to the old house of Analú’s parents. The house had a melancholic air, but Analú felt the need to return, especially now that Mrs. Victoria had informed her that she planned to move that same week. There was something about that decision that troubled Analú; she wanted to inspect the place and, if possible, confront Victoria.

She looked at the time on her phone for the third time. Nicolás should have arrived at least fifteen minutes ago. Frowning, she decided to send him a message:

“Where are you? I’m waiting for you. Let me know if something’s going on.”

The message was delivered, but there was no response. Anxious, she began to tap her foot rhythmically, her impatience growing with each passing minute. The wooden bench was becoming uncomfortable, and the glances from passersby seemed to weigh heavily.

—Why is he taking so long? —she murmured to herself, pressing her lips together.

The clock ticked on, and with it, her concern. She took out her phone again and dialed Nicolás’s number. The tone rang several times before it went to voicemail. She swallowed hard, trying to calm the knot forming in her throat. Maybe he was delayed with work, she thought, trying to convince herself, although deep down, something didn’t feel right.

The sun began to set on the horizon, and the shadows grew longer around her. Analú decided to send him another message, this time a bit more direct:

“Nicolás, are you okay? I’m worried you haven’t arrived. Please let me know.”

This time, she waited with her eyes fixed on the screen, but nothing. Anxiety began to turn into a palpable weight in her chest. She got up from the bench and started pacing back and forth, unable to stay still.

“What if something happened?” — she asked herself quietly, her hands trembling slightly as she searched again in her contacts list. She tried calling other acquaintances who might know something, but no one had news about Nicolás.

Finally, she decided to take action. She walked quickly to the parking lot where Nicolás usually left his motorcycle. Maybe he had problems with it or had gotten stuck in traffic. However, when she arrived, the place was empty.

— “This can’t be happening...” — she muttered, feeling how the worry began to mix with a slight fear.

Not knowing what else to do, Analú decided to head to her parents’ old house alone. The journey felt longer than usual, with every step laden with uncertainty. The streets felt quieter than normal, and the evening chill seemed to intensify her nervousness. When she finally arrived at the house, the gate was slightly open, which struck her as odd, as it was always locked.

She stopped in front of the entrance, her breathing quickened, and looked around. Everything was silent, too silent.

— “Victoria?” — she called out firmly, though her heart was pounding in her chest. She got no response.

She carefully pushed the gate open and entered the front yard. The place seemed abandoned, as if no one had been there for days. The windows were closed, but one of the interior curtains moved slightly, as if a draft had shaken it. Analú cautiously approached, trying not to make noise, and looked through the window.

The interior was empty, but something didn’t seem right. One of the chairs was overturned, and papers were scattered on the floor. A chill ran down Analú’s spine.

— “What’s going on here?” — she whispered, torn between entering or backing away.

The sound of her cellphone interrupted the moment, making her jump. She quickly looked at the screen, hoping it was Nicolás, but it was an unknown number. She answered, barely managing to control her voice.

— “Hello?”

The voice on the other side was female, deep, and direct. — “Is this Analú?”

— “Yes, it’s me. Who’s speaking?” — she asked, her anxiety growing.

— “We’ve found a man identified as Nicolás. He had an accident. He’s at the central hospital.”

The phone almost slipped from her hands. Analú felt the world around her blur as the words repeated in her mind: accident... hospital.

— “Is he okay? What happened to him?” — she asked desperately, but the woman on the other end of the line only responded coldly.

— “You’ll need to come for more information.”

The call ended, and Analú stood still for a moment before reacting. Her heart was pounding as she ran out of the house, no longer concerned about Victoria or the state of the house. Only one thing mattered now: getting to the hospital and finding out what had happened to Nicolás.