Chapter 91: Behind You

Frederick noticed the change, but he couldn't understand it. In his mind, he repeatedly went over his interactions with Alexia, trying to find the exact moment when everything had changed. There was something in her gaze, something that deeply unsettled him: a dull gleam, almost as if his daughter now saw him as a stranger.

—Alexia, is something wrong? —he asked one afternoon when he intercepted her in the hallway on her way to her room.

—Nothing, dad —she replied without even stopping.

—You're not fooling me. You've been distant, and I don't know why. If I did something that upset you, I'd prefer you to tell me directly.

Alexia stopped dead in her tracks. For a moment, her emotions were about to overwhelm her. She wanted to scream, demand answers, but she knew she couldn’t do so without revealing herself. Instead, she took a deep breath, closing her eyes to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

—It's nothing, Frederick. I'm just busy with my things, that's all —she finally said, using his name instead of "dad."

That small detail hit Frederick hard. It was the first time his daughter had called him by his name, and he felt something inside him break.

On the other hand, Alexia began to show a more attentive and affectionate behavior towards Analú. There was something in her that awakened a deep empathy in Alexia. Now, she understood that Analú wasn't her rival, but another victim of this web of secrets and lies.

—Why have you been so focused on me lately? —Analú asked one afternoon, as they both had tea in the garden.

—Can't I care about you? —Alexia replied with a gentle smile, trying to hide the weight of what she knew.

—Of course you can, but... I don’t know, I feel like you're being more affectionate than usual. I like it, but it also worries me.

Alexia lowered her gaze to her tea cup, watching how the liquid moved gently. She couldn’t tell her the truth, not yet. But she also didn’t want Analú to feel confused or uneasy about her sudden change in attitude.

—I just want you to know you can count on me, no matter what —she finally said, with a tone of sincerity that made Analú smile.

Deep down, Alexia knew that sooner or later the truth would come to light. And when it did, everything would change forever. For now, she could only deal with her own confusion and growing resentment towards her father, while trying to protect Analú from a secret she wasn’t ready to share yet.

Hours later, the magnate called Thomas.

—Thomas, I need you to follow Alexia and Mateo —the magnate ordered.

—Sir, is this really necessary? I don't think... —Thomas tried to reply.

—Do what I told you! Something is going on, and I need to know what it is.

Reluctantly, Thomas agreed to the order, although not without some hesitation. With trembling hands, he took his phone out of his pocket and quickly wrote a message to his son, warning him about Frederick's plans: “Mateo, Mr. Frederick wants you to follow them. Do whatever you can to be discreet. I can't stop him.” However, the message remained in limbo, with no response. A sense of unease filled him as he stared at the phone in silence.

With a sigh, Thomas put the device away and followed Frederick to the car. The magnate, with his jaw clenched and a somber expression, remained silent. There was a fierce determination in his eyes, as if he was willing to do anything to uncover what Alexia and Mateo were hiding.

They both got into the luxury black vehicle waiting in front of the mansion. Frederick took a seat in the back, crossing his legs with an air of authority that left no room for discussion. Thomas, from the driver’s seat, started the engine and adjusted the rearview mirror to observe his boss.

—Don’t lose sight of them, Thomas. No matter where they go, I want to know every detail —Frederick ordered in a sharp, almost cold tone.

—Understood, sir —Thomas replied, although a small part of him wished he could find an excuse to stop this pursuit. He knew Frederick had a right to answers, but he also feared the consequences of what they might discover.

The car started in silence, gliding down the cobblestone path leading out of the property. The night was dark, and the streetlights illuminated just enough to follow the trail of the young ones. In the distance, the city lights flickered like artificial stars, while the car moved cautiously.

From the back seat, Frederick stared out the window, his mind spinning in a whirlwind of thoughts. There was something in Alexia’s attitude that he couldn’t ignore, a coldness he had never seen before in his daughter. Her recent comment, so loaded with meaning, had left him uneasy: “You’re supposed to be my father, or at least I think you are.”

—What did she mean by that? —he muttered to himself, unaware he was speaking aloud.

Thomas, hearing the question, slightly turned his head back.

—Mr. Frederick, maybe she was just upset. Young people often say impulsive things when they’re angry or confused.

Frederick let out a heavy sigh and shook his head.

—No, Thomas. This is different. Alexia has never been an impulsive girl. If she said something like that, it's because she knows something... something she shouldn't know.

The comment left an uncomfortable silence in the car, broken only by the soft hum of the engine and the crunch of the wheels on the pavement. Thomas gripped the steering wheel tighter, feeling the tension in the air increase with every mile they traveled.

Suddenly, the rear lights of another vehicle appeared in the distance. It was Mateo’s car, heading toward the outskirts of the city with Alexia as a passenger. Thomas slowed down to maintain a prudent distance, making sure not to raise any suspicions.

—There they are —Frederick said, leaning forward with his eyes fixed on his daughter’s car. His voice was filled with a mix of relief and determination—. Follow them, but don’t get too close.

Thomas nodded in silence, adjusting his speed while trying to maintain a balance between discretion and effectiveness. Inside, an internal struggle raged: Should he obey his boss's orders, or should he protect his son and Alexia from whatever Frederick might discover?

The journey continued in tense silence, with both men lost in their own thoughts. As Mateo’s car turned onto a more isolated road, surrounded by tall trees swaying with the wind, Thomas couldn’t help but wonder if they were about to uncover something that would change their lives forever.