CHAPTER 2 — THE NAME ON THE DEATH CERTIFICATE
Leandro remained motionless.
The death certificate trembled between his fingers.
ESTELLE MARIN.
The name was correct.
The date of birth was correct.
Even the signature of the attending physician was authentic.
But beneath the official information was one sentence that made no sense.
Declared deceased twenty-three years ago.
Leandro slowly looked at his wife.
Estelle's face had gone white.
"I've never seen that document."
"I believe you."
Maribel suddenly laughed.
It was a broken, bitter sound.
"You shouldn't."
Leandro turned toward her.
"Why?"
Maribel stared at Estelle.
"Because your wife has been living under a name that was never hers."
Estelle stepped backward.
"No."
"You want the truth?" Maribel whispered. "Then stop pretending."
Daphne stepped between them.
"Don't listen to her."
Maribel's eyes hardened.
"You know nothing."
"I know Estelle."
"You know what she allowed you to know."
Leandro slammed the certificate onto the table.
"Enough!"
The entire ballroom froze.
Leandro turned toward his security chief.
"Seal the estate."
"Boss?"
"No one leaves."
Then he looked at Estelle.
"And no one touches my wife."
Maribel's face changed.
Because those words were not a husband's defense.
They were a declaration of war.
That night, Leandro took Estelle to the old library.
He locked the doors.
Not to imprison her.
To protect her.
He placed the photograph between them.
"Tell me everything."
Estelle sat across from him.
"I told you what I knew."
"Then tell me what you don't know."
She stared at the photograph.
"My mother called me Estelle because she said the name belonged to someone who deserved a second chance."
Leandro frowned.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"My mother?"
Estelle shook her head.
"She was terrified of your family."
Leandro looked at the photograph again.
His father's face.
The newborn.
The hospital.
Then something caught his eye.
A small bracelet around the baby's wrist.
A silver emblem.
The Rossi crest.
Leandro's breathing stopped.
His family crest had been placed around the baby's wrist.
But Estelle had never possessed one.
Or so he had believed.
Suddenly, the library door opened.
Daphne rushed inside.
"We found something."
She placed a small metal box on the table.
"It was hidden inside the wall behind the fireplace."
Leandro opened it.
Inside was a letter.
The handwriting belonged to his father.
The first line read:
If Estelle ever discovers the truth, tell her that I tried to save her.
Leandro looked at Estelle.
May you like
And for the first time, neither of them knew whether his father had been her protector—
or the man who had stolen her life.
