04. Who Are You

I glanced to my side, and the bed was perfectly made. There was no trace of Matt having slept there with me. I immediately assumed he hadn’t come home the night before. With a heavy feeling in my body, I got up and checked the time on the wall clock—it was six thirty in the morning. I had to go to work; there was no time for regrets.

The maids were already awake, cleaning every corner of the house with their usual efficiency. The sound of damp cloths and furniture brushing against the floor was the only thing breaking the silence. On my desk, they had piled up some old papers, yellowed by the passage of time.

—Miss Sofía, these are Mr. Philip’s old documents, —one of the maids said respectfully—. He strictly requested that after his death, they be left to you.

I brushed it off. Philip probably didn’t want Matt to handle those documents, fearing he would lose them or simply ignore them. It wasn’t the right moment to go through them. I got ready quickly, chose a sober suit, and prepared to leave, but as I walked downstairs, I noticed Kevin wasn’t there.

My confused expression alerted another maid, who approached immediately.

—Mrs. Sofía, the driver went to pick up Miss Anais on Mr. Matt’s orders. He won’t be back for about five hours.

I forced a smile and thanked her. It wasn’t enough that he canceled our anniversary dinner without even warning me—he also left me without transportation to get to work. I opened one of the drawers in the foyer and found Matt’s car keys. Kevin might not be able to take me, but I had to get to the hospital no matter what.

I arrived about half an hour earlier than usual. Matt’s car was far too flashy and fast, and the journalists quickly noticed that the CEO of K.O. Company’s vehicle was parked outside the hospital. They began to surround the area.

I managed to slip through the crowd and get inside. Once I was safe, I breathed a sigh of relief and began my usual duties. Every Monday, the hospital held important meetings for the medical and administrative committees, as well as introductions for new staff. Everyone was already gathered in the boardroom, whispering among themselves with tense expressions.

The hospital director entered the room with a melancholy air etched on his face. We all exchanged worried looks. Something big was about to happen—that much was clear.

—I want to inform you that I will be stepping down as director, —he announced gravely—. The hospital has been purchased by a private individual, and new staff will be brought in, including a new director. I hope you give him your full support and feel comfortable working with him.

We all stared expectantly at the door. Who was the new owner of the hospital, and why had he dismissed the director so abruptly?

The door opened, and a tall man walked in—almost the same height as Matt. His polished shoes matched perfectly with his dark suit and impeccable tie. He carried an unmistakable foreign air, and when he spoke, we all knew where he was from.

—Good morning. My name is Leandro Ricci. I am the new owner of the hospital and, of course, its new director.

Leandro continued speaking, explaining his plans, but my mind began to drift. Nausea and dizziness hit me suddenly. Cold sweat ran down my back, and before I realized it, I collapsed onto the table, losing consciousness.

When I woke up, I was lying on a stretcher. My body felt exhausted and heavy, as if I had run miles without rest. I knew the pills Dr. Edward had prescribed could cause side effects, but I never imagined they would be this intense.

I turned my head to the right and saw a man standing with his back to me. When I shifted slightly to get comfortable, he turned around and gave me a calm smile.

—I know my speeches can be boring, but fainting wasn’t necessary, —he joked softly.

—I’m sorry… it seems my medical condition wasn’t at its best today, —I replied weakly.

—Don’t worry, Sofía. I spoke with the attending physician, and he said you’ll be fine. You just need to rest. You should go home for today and come back tomorrow if you feel better.

—How considerate, —I murmured.

—I want my staff to be well so they can provide quality care, —he replied sincerely.

We looked at each other for a few seconds. Leandro had a warm presence, a way of speaking that conveyed calm and confidence without being invasive.

Suddenly, the door burst open. I turned in surprise. Matt was there, his face completely pale and filled with extreme concern. He rushed over and grabbed my hand tightly.

—Why didn’t you tell me you were feeling sick, Sofía? —he asked with a trembling voice.

—It’s nothing, just a relapse, —I tried to reassure him.

—Oh, Sofía, you had us very worried…

Anais’s voice appeared seconds after Matt entered.

—Were you together? —I asked, confused. Matt was supposed to be working.

—Ah, that… the truth is, Anais will be my new secretary, —Matt replied—. You were right—my father left so much work that it would be impossible for me to handle everything alone.

—That’s great, —I said almost in a whisper, unable to hide my discomfort.

—And what is he doing here? —Matt asked, straightening up to glare at Leandro with clear irritation.

—Matt, it’s been a long time. My condolences about your father, —Leandro said, bowing slightly in respect.

—I don’t want you anywhere near here. Now that my father is gone, do you think you can get away with this? —Matt snapped. I had never seen him like that.

—I’m sorry to tell you that I can’t leave. I’m the new owner of the hospital, and I have every right to be here, —Leandro replied firmly.

Matt’s eyes widened. The tension between them was palpable.

—I know your arrival isn’t a coincidence, but keep your hands away from K.O. Company, —Matt said before storming out.

—I’m aiming for something much bigger than that right now, —Leandro replied with a calm smile.

I watched him leave. His face was well-defined, with distinctly Italian features and an accent that was impossible to ignore.

—Charming husband, —Leandro commented before closing the door.

—Who is he? —I asked, trying to get an answer from Matt.

—This is not the time to talk about that, —he dodged—. But by the way… I’m no expert on secretaries, but I don’t think it’s normal for her to have bruises on her neck.

My gaze drifted into nothingness. I hadn’t noticed Anais adjusting her clothes, clumsily trying to cover the purplish marks on her neck.

Maybe it was too soon to assume anything, but an idea began to take shape. Perhaps Matt had spent the night with Anais. I tried to deny it, to convince myself that he wasn’t like that—that he wouldn’t be capable of betraying me.

I looked out the window. The rain was beginning to fall heavily. Anais had appeared out of nowhere and, in mere seconds, had displaced everything I believed was safe.

I knew my marriage to Matt had been arranged and convenient for both families, but that year together had been beautiful. It was inevitable that real feelings had developed. I believed they were mutual—but perhaps Matt didn’t feel the same.

I just wanted the hours to pass quickly, to get out of there and be alone with him… if there was still anything left to save. But I couldn’t stay there doing nothing—I had to plan something formidable against him