Chapter 1: The First Move
Chapter 1: The First Move
Alexander remained kneeling beside Sofia for several minutes, saying nothing.
He simply studied every bruise.
Every cut.
Every fingerprint left on his daughter's skin.
When he finally stood, his expression was unreadable.
"Did anyone photograph her injuries?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"No."
"We do it now."
He wasn't thinking like an angry father.
He was thinking like the successful attorney he had once been.
Within minutes, every injury had been documented.
Every torn piece of her wedding dress was preserved.
Every text message from Javier was copied.
Every voicemail was saved.
Alexander called only three people before sunrise.
A trauma physician.
A forensic photographer.
And an old friend who now worked as a detective.
By seven o'clock that morning, Sofia's injuries had been officially documented.
Then Alexander looked at her.
"Did you sign anything?"
She slowly shook her head.
"No."
"Good."
His jaw tightened.
"That means they failed."
For the first time since arriving, he smiled.
It wasn't a happy smile.
It was the smile of a man who had just realized his enemy had made a fatal mistake.
Meanwhile, Carmen believed she had won.
She sat comfortably in her dining room sipping coffee while telling Javier that Sofia would eventually return.
"They always come back," she said confidently.
"Once she realizes she has nowhere else to go, she'll sign."
Javier looked uneasy.
"What if she tells the police?"
Carmen laughed.
"With what proof?"
Just then, someone rang the doorbell.
A courier handed Carmen a thick envelope.
Inside was a temporary protective order.
A civil lawsuit.
A criminal complaint.
And divorce papers signed by Sofia less than two hours earlier.
May you like
For the first time all morning...
Carmen's hands began to shake.
