iet gold. Sofia had barely slept, but something in her expression had shifted.

Sofia could not bring herself to disturb her. Before everything

door, and inhaled slowly. Then she dialed t

xpected. Finally, her father's

's going on,

as she gripped the ph

d to tell you someth

r mother's voice joine

ething happen?" Alicia asked, he

"Nothing has happened to me. But I need you both to listen c

tled across

andro answered,

dly. I need you to trust me for now. I can't explain everything yet, but I need you to under

father's end, the sound of someone weigh

cted. "And I'm asking you-no, I'm begging you-not to stand in my way. Don't try to s

on the line, hea

ain, as if she couldn't quite believe what she'd

at I wan

d, his tone edged with autho

ezed her e

e guessed. I only need you to trust me. You always taught me to stan

nts murmuring to each other, maybe exchanging a loo

's voice came throu

certain a

answer came out

want out... if you ever need anything, all you

tened in Sof

I want. Just have faith in me. Please

We believe in you, Sofia. Even if this mak

tching the phone. One tear slipped down her cheek-not for

through the

r sounded, jarring

ety ran through her as

sses and a tailored suit, a single earpiece marking him as security

u are to accompany me to the hotel, where Mr. Fort awaits.

rawn-out explanations. Only t

scribbling a hurried message, her hand barely steady, and passed

orry about me. I'll contact you as soon a

ook back. She followed the silent bodyguard

of no return for the l

cession, no flowers, no music

capable reality of the Fort name, echoing in

black marble, golden edges, artwork set just so. But Sofia saw none of it. She perched on a chair

er Mr. Fort wou

words twisted toget

gh escaped

e air conditioning sounding impossibly loud. She rose from the sofa, pacing in a tight circle. Pausing before the vanity mi

tching painfully. At last, the do

he sound wa

f the door roared through th

the top button of his shirt casually undone. Though he had no coat, the crisp bite of Madr

from the so

ispered, her greeting

iskey-neat-and took a drink, not once meeting her gaze. Only after a moment, his back s

greement requires? Do you understan

ia's face as she search

es as a couple in public. Acting like husband and wife, at lea

ly a glacial distance, as if he ha

show, or some romantic story. Every cl

a slow, mea

derst

k folder from his jacket. He placed it on the table, flipping it open to reveal a stack

ou are not permitted to access my finances, except where specified. You may not leave Madrid without my approval. You m

ation made Sofi

?" she asked, disbeli

venly. "Break any of these terms, and the

ort of

lion e

breath catch

u break th

ed flatly, leaving no

er outcome, no possibility he

the terms spelled out in perfect detail. Her own name was already typed in

my information," sh

laced it before her. She took it, feeling

a Mo

unmoving. But as her pen paused on the page and the s

ment's re

t. Only now, hearing it spoken

operating at his level did. But he hadn't expected it here, tie

"Tell me-who are your parents?