Lisana came into the world with health problems: at birth, she was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Among her relatives, it was whispered that she was a true miracle. Accustomed to having everyone dedicate much time to her needs and whims, she grew into a woman willing to break the rules of the society she lived in. When she met Lucas, her life changed. She drifted away from her parents and started coming home past midnight more and more frequently. Her family did everything possible to keep her away from him, but their efforts were in vain. He pulled her into a dark world, far removed from the way she had been raised. At one of the many parties they attended as a couple, she took advantage of Lucas being distracted to take a walk around the property. She lingered long enough to feel very thirsty, and as she was about to return to the hall, she saw him. That was the night she met Mateo and became obsessed with seeing him again and again. The situation grew more complicated as the months went by. Mateo was in love with Dana, the woman who threatened to take away the love of her life. She had no doubt she could steal him from Dana, but could she make Mateo fall in love with her? And would Lucas stay quiet about it?
That morning, Lisana approached the terrace of her room as she did every sunrise. She admired the lush greenery that alternated with the orange rooftops of houses peeking through the foliage. In the distance, her gaze rested on Lucas's house. Though she didn't want to think about him, her mind betrayed her. Breaking away from her past was the best decision she had made in her young life; putting distance between them would give her the advantage she needed to save her marriage.
The sunlight had an unusual glow that highlighted the shine of her long hair. She wore an elegant silk robe. Even though she hadn't slept well, she was already made up, her hair done, and ready to change clothes and head to the airport. She was checking her husband's luggage for the fourth time when her mother entered the room.
"I thought you'd be asleep. Your flight is in the afternoon, my love. Why don't you rest a bit more? You both need to unwind, and your father and I will feel more at peace."
Lisana rolled her eyes toward the ceiling, showing the whites of her eyes.
"Mom, can't you see I'm busy? I want to pack the right outfits, especially to make sure my husband has everything he needs. I want him to feel comfortable in our new home. Everything has to be perfect."
"Yes, my love, I understand. I'll ask them to make you some tea to help you relax," Ana said, knowing that contradicting her daughter would accomplish nothing, so she tried to remain patient.
With a wave of her hand and pursing her lips, Lisana declined.
"Look, what do you think? I'm not sure if I should bring this dress," she said, pointing to the gray dress hanging near the mirror. "But, on second thought, it matches the suit I packed for him. Oh, it'll be wonderful to be far away from all of this, far from this nightmare!"
Her mother watched her, frowning, fully aware that Lisana wasn't as calm as she pretended to be. Her daughter couldn't fool her under that guise of normality.
"Everything looks good on you. You're so beautiful. When I first saw you, I knew you'd be a true princess, the apple of my eye."
The phone kept ringing, and Lisana could already sense who it was. Her jaw tightened, and her eyes fixed on the device as she willed it to stop buzzing.
Thoughts raced through her mind. Moments earlier, Mateo had left for Dana's grandfather's wake, which had put her in a bad mood and made her very nervous. She had warned him it would be the last time he'd see that woman, and now this-the untimely call. Her plan was to take Mateo far away, capitalizing on the fact that Dana had announced her engagement to Adán.
"Are you not going to answer the phone? Can I?" Ana asked.
Lisana harshly dropped the clothes she was holding and picked up the call.
"Hello," she said curtly.
"It's me. I want you to come here right now."
Her eyes widened further at the sound of the voice. Something stirred inside her as she confirmed it was Lucas.
"No, I won't go. You'll never see me again!" she shouted, her hands trembling.
"What are you talking about? You don't know what you're saying. You need some affection from me to calm those nerves."
She thought so quickly she was rendered speechless. She didn't want him to ruin her plans, much less suspect she was leaving the country for good.
His tone was soft and melodious, each word spoken with confidence.
Lisana's mother took the phone, pacing the room visibly distressed.
"Hello, this is Lisana's mother. Please leave my daughter alone. Don't call again," she said, clearly upset.
"Ma'am, you'd better stay out of our business. Your daughter and I still have a lot to talk about. Our story isn't over."
"Don't bother her anymore. Leave her alone. I won't let you ruin her," Ana managed to say, her voice trembling.
Ana was determined to protect her daughter from this man.
"Tell her I'm waiting. She has thirty minutes to be at my house."
"She's not going. She already told you she won't. Stop insisting; I forbid it."
"She'll come, ma'am, because Lisana knows what I'm capable of if she doesn't obey. If you don't believe me, ask her yourself. She'll confirm it. That secret she's been hiding-it's going to come out. I have no reason to keep quiet."
"No, you can't threaten her. She's not alone."
"Can't I?" he said with a sarcastic laugh so unbearable it made Ana nauseous. "Of course I can, ma'am. I don't care if it's revealed. In fact, I'd find it quite amusing to tell Mateo the truth to his face."
All Lisana wanted was to get away from everything, especially from Lucas's influence over her. She only wished to be happy with her husband in a distant country.
Ana collapsed onto the bed, dropping the phone, her face pale as Lisana focused on her mother's well-being.
"Are you alright? Mom! Answer me."
Lucas's face lit up with satisfaction at the discomfort he was causing them, savoring the chaos he imagined was unfolding in that room.
Lisana grabbed the phone and hurled it against the wall, shouting, "Enough! Get out of my life! I hate you!"
Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she wiped them away roughly with both hands.
"I'll have to go. Otherwise, he might show up here, and it'll be worse. I can't take that risk."
"Don't risk it with so little time left. Think, daughter, think."
"I know how to handle this. It won't take long. Keep an eye on everything. I'll be back soon."
She flung her hair back in front of the mirror, put on a skin-tone jumpsuit, and accessorized with the jewelry in her dresser drawer.
"What should I tell your husband if he asks where you are?"
"Nothing. Don't say anything. Lucas's house is just a few blocks away. I'll go and be back quickly. He's probably waking up from another night of excess, who knows. I'm used to entering and leaving his chaotic world unscathed. Let me handle it."
With abrupt movements, she finished getting ready, grabbed her purse and car keys, and left the room.
As she walked down the hallway to the stairs, her mother's words echoed in her mind. Lucas refused to leave her life, becoming an obstacle to her happiness. Her parents had warned her from the moment she brought him home, and now she bore the weight of a wrong decision. Still, she couldn't deny that without his help, she wouldn't be Mateo's wife today.
Their complicity had crossed boundaries in their youth, starting with minor mischief. The adrenaline consumed them, and they wanted more and more. Complaints from neighbors had alerted others to their antics. Their irresponsible actions escalated to the point of committing a crime that bound them together-a secret they had sworn to take to their graves, one they laughed about when alone.
Chapter 1 The Journey
16/01/2025
Chapter 2 The Farewell
16/01/2025
Chapter 3 The Confession
16/01/2025
Chapter 4 The Dilemma
16/01/2025
Chapter 5 A Plan
16/01/2025
Chapter 6 Confrontation
16/01/2025
Chapter 7 A Bad Feeling
16/01/2025
Chapter 8 The Wedding
16/01/2025
Chapter 9 Missing
16/01/2025
Chapter 10 Revelations
16/01/2025
Chapter 11 The start of a new search
16/01/2025
Chapter 12 Lisana's Confession
16/01/2025
Chapter 13 Dark Clues
17/01/2025
Chapter 14 Secrets in the Shadows
18/01/2025
Chapter 15 Lies and Truths
19/01/2025
Chapter 16 Mateo's Breaking Point
20/01/2025
Chapter 17 Shelter in the Storm
21/01/2025
Chapter 18 Shadows of the Past
22/01/2025
Chapter 19 The Echo of the River
23/01/2025
Chapter 20 The Submerged Truth
24/01/2025
Chapter 21 The Awakening of Chaos
05/02/2025
Chapter 22 The Weight of the Truth
06/02/2025
Chapter 23 The Hidden Box
07/02/2025
Chapter 24 The Truth Beneath the Skin
08/02/2025
Chapter 25 The Confession of Lucas
09/02/2025
Chapter 26 The Accident in New York
10/02/2025
Chapter 27 The Long Recovery
11/02/2025
Chapter 28 The Rebirth of Melina
12/02/2025
Chapter 29 Visitors' Day
13/02/2025
Chapter 30 External Enemy
14/02/2025
Chapter 31 Lost Trail
15/02/2025
Chapter 32 The Double Face of Betrayal
16/02/2025
Chapter 33 Silence in the Room
17/02/2025
Chapter 34 Shadows in the Hospital
18/02/2025
Chapter 35 The Weight of the Truth
19/02/2025
Chapter 36 Dana's Return
20/02/2025
Chapter 37 No News
21/02/2025
Chapter 38 The Exchange
22/02/2025
Chapter 39 Truths That Sleep
23/02/2025
Chapter 40 Traces of a Betrayal
24/02/2025
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