A NAME FROM THE PAST

Camila didn't sleep much that night.

The photograph on her phone kept coming back to her mind. She had looked at it so many times that she could almost remember every detail. Isabel standing outside a building, speaking to a man whose face was hidden.

And the message beneath it.

Your aunt knows where she is.

Where was her mother?

Camila had spent years believing that Valeria was gone. Her father had never given her a reason to question it. Whenever she asked about her mother, he would tell her that she was too young to understand what had happened.

Now she was beginning to wonder whether he had ever told her the truth.

She picked up her phone and called Isabel again.

This time, the call went through.

"Camila?"

"Why didn't you answer my calls?"

"I was busy."

"Is that why you didn't tell me everything?"

There was silence.

Camila sat up.

"I received a photograph of you with a man. Someone said you know where my mother is."

Isabel sighed.

"Who sent it?"

"I don't know. But I want answers."

"Camila, listen to me. There are things I cannot explain over the phone."

"Then explain them in person."

"I will. But you need to be careful."

Camila closed her eyes.

"Everyone keeps telling me to be careful. Nobody wants to tell me what's going on."

"I know."

"Did my mother leave because of the Russo family?"

Isabel didn't answer immediately.

"She left because she was afraid of what would happen to you."

Camila swallowed.

"Was she afraid of my father?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then who?"

Before Isabel could answer, the call ended.

Camila stared at the screen.

She was tired of half answers.

Luciano was in his hotel room when Matteo arrived.

"You need to see this."

Matteo handed him a photograph.

It showed Valeria De La Vega standing beside Luciano's father outside the old Russo residence.

Luciano studied it.

"Where did you find it?"

"It was inside a box in the family archive. There are more."

Matteo placed another photograph on the table.

This one showed Valeria sitting at a dining table with Alessandro Russo.

Luciano looked at the date written on the back.

"These were taken around the same period."

"Yes."

"Did my father know she was in contact with Alessandro?"

"Apparently."

Luciano put the photographs down.

"Why was this hidden?"

Matteo shrugged.

"Maybe because somebody didn't want you asking questions."

Luciano walked towards the window.

His father had been dead for years, but somehow his past was beginning to affect every decision Luciano made.

"Have you spoken to Alessandro?"

"Not yet."

"Don't."

Matteo frowned.

"Why?"

"Because I want to know who else has been searching the archive."

Matteo nodded.

Then he added, "There's another thing. Esteban's lawyer visited Alessandro last week."

Luciano turned.

"Which lawyer?"

"Rafael Moreno."

Luciano recognised the name.

"Find out what they discussed."

Camila returned to Isabel's apartment that afternoon.

She didn't bother calling ahead.

When Isabel opened the door, she looked surprised.

"You shouldn't have come without telling me."

"I tried calling."

Isabel stepped aside.

Camila walked in and placed her phone on the table.

"I want the truth."

Isabel looked at the photograph displayed on the screen.

"I see."

"Who is the man?"

"Someone who was involved in your mother's life."

"What's his name?"

"Alberto Vittoria."

Camila searched her memory.

She had heard that name before, but she couldn't remember where.

"Is he related to the Russo family?"

"Not by blood."

"Then why does everyone keep hiding his name?"

Isabel sat down.

"Because Alberto knew about the agreement. He was also close to your mother."

Camila pulled out a chair.

"Was he her lover?"

Isabel looked at her for a long moment.

"I don't know what they were to each other. But I know your mother trusted him."

"More than she trusted my father?"

Isabel didn't answer.

That silence told Camila enough.

"Why did she disappear?"

Isabel looked towards the window.

"Your mother discovered something about the agreement. Something that made her realise that you were not as safe as everyone claimed."

Camila frowned.

"What was it?"

"She never told me."

"You're her sister. Surely she trusted you."

"She did. But there were things she kept to herself, even from me."

Isabel stood and walked into the bedroom.

When she returned, she was holding a small wooden box.

She placed it in front of Camila.

"Your mother left this with me."

Camila opened it.

Inside was a silver locket, a folded letter and a small photograph.

The photograph showed Valeria holding a baby.

Camila recognised herself immediately.

She picked up the locket.

"Why didn't you give this to me before?"

"Because I was waiting for the right time."

Camila looked at her.

"And when was that supposed to be?"

"When I was certain you could handle what came with it."

Camila unfolded the letter.

The handwriting was unmistakably her mother's.

My little girl,

If you're reading this, then I wasn't able to tell you everything myself. There are people who will tell you that they know what is best for you. Don't believe them without asking questions.

There is a reason I made certain promises. One day, you will understand.

Until then, trust your instincts.

Camila read the letter again.

It wasn't a goodbye.

It was a warning.

Luciano found Camila outside the apartment building.

She was standing near the entrance, holding the wooden box against her chest.

"You look upset," he said.

She turned.

"Do you ever appear somewhere without knowing everything about what's happening?"

"Not often."

"That's probably why you're so annoying."

He almost smiled.

"Did you find out anything?"

Camila hesitated.

Then she showed him the photograph of her mother with the baby.

Luciano studied it.

"Where did you get this?"

"Isabel."

He looked at the locket in her hand.

"She gave you that?"

"Yes."

Luciano's expression changed when he noticed the initials engraved on the back.

"V.D."

"My mother's initials."

He turned the locket over again.

"Where did she get this?"

"Why does that matter?"

"Because I've seen something similar before."

Camila frowned.

"Where?"

"In my father's study."

She stared at him.

"Are you saying my mother had something belonging to your family?"

"I'm saying there may be more connecting them than either of us knows."

Camila looked away.

"I don't know whether to trust you."

Luciano didn't argue.

"Then don't trust me yet."

She looked back at him.

"That's easy for you to say."

"No. It isn't."

For a moment, they stood quietly.

Then Luciano spoke again.

"Come back to Madrid with me."

Camila frowned.

"I'm not finished here."

"I know. But whoever sent those messages knows where you are."

"Are you worried about me?"

"I'm worried about what someone might do to get what they want."

Camila gave him a doubtful look.

"That's not exactly comforting."

"It wasn't meant to be."

That evening, Esteban received a call.

He answered after the second ring.

"Yes?"

A man's voice came through.

"Your daughter has met Isabel."

Esteban stood from his chair.

"How do you know that?"

"Because she's asking the same questions Valeria asked."

Esteban walked towards the window.

"What do you want?"

"The agreement must remain untouched."

"That's not possible anymore."

There was a pause.

"Then you should have thought about that before allowing her to travel to Palermo."

Esteban tightened his grip on the phone.

"She doesn't know anything."

"Not yet."

The call ended.

Esteban remained by the window.

He looked towards the photograph on his desk.

It was an old picture of Valeria holding Camila as a baby.

For years, he had told himself that keeping the truth from his daughter was the only way to protect her.

But now someone else was making decisions about what she deserved to know.

And he was beginning to lose control.

Camila was back in her hotel room when she received one final message.

It was from Isabel.

I should have told you this earlier. Your mother didn't disappear alone. Someone helped her leave, and that person was from the Russo family.

Camila read it slowly.

Before she could reply, another message arrived.

Ask Luciano what his father did the night Valeria left.

She lowered the phone.

Luciano had said his father knew her mother.

But what if he knew much more than that?

Camila looked at the locket in her hand.

For the first time, she wondered whether the man she was being forced to marry was connected to the very reason her mother had disappeared.