CHAPTER 2 — THE LIE BENEATH HIS LOVE

Isabella slammed the forged transaction document onto Alejandro’s desk.

“Tell me why my signature is on a document authorising the transfer of my inheritance when I never signed it,” Isabella demanded.

Alejandro looked up from his laptop, his expression shifting from irritation to surprise.

“What is this supposed to mean?” Alejandro asked.

“Almost eight hundred thousand euros has been moved from my trust, and someone forged my signature to authorise it,” Isabella replied. “You promised to explain the transaction yesterday, but my financial adviser sent me this because the authorisation looked suspicious.”

Alejandro examined the papers, briefly tightening his jaw.

“You should have told me your adviser was contacting you,” Alejandro said. “I could have handled this without all the unnecessary drama.”

“Someone has stolen my money, and you are worried about drama?” Isabella asked incredulously.

“That is not what I said,” Alejandro replied.

“Then explain why you keep avoiding my questions. I want to know who authorised the transfer, which company received the money, and why the records mention a confidential agreement,” Isabella insisted. “I also want to know why you exchanged an envelope with Don Daniel at the reception.”

Alejandro's expression hardened.

“What does Don Daniel have to do with this?” Alejandro asked.

“That is precisely what I am trying to establish,” Isabella answered.

“You are connecting unrelated things because you have frightened yourself over an accounting discrepancy,” Alejandro said. “I understand that the money came from your father's trust, but you need to stop assuming the worst before we have all the facts.”

“Then give me the facts,” Isabella demanded.

“I will,” Alejandro promised.

“When?” Isabella asked.

“Isabella, for God's sake, I told you I am handling it!” Alejandro shouted.

His raised voice silenced her. She stared at the man who had kissed her forehead that morning and reminded her to eat properly. Whenever her questions became too specific, his patience seemed to disappear.

Alejandro noticed her expression and immediately softened.

“I'm sorry, sweetheart,” Alejandro said, taking her hand. “I have been under pressure, and I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. You know I would never deliberately put you in danger.”

“You keep telling me that you love me,” Isabella whispered, “but love cannot be the only explanation you give me whenever something goes wrong.”

Alejandro drew her into his arms.

“You deserve answers, and I will get them for you,” Alejandro promised. “Give me until tomorrow evening to speak with the people responsible.”

Isabella stepped away from him.

“Tomorrow evening. If you haven't explained everything by then, I will authorise a full audit,” Isabella warned.

“You have my word,” Alejandro replied.

His apology stirred her affection, but it answered none of her questions. After leaving his office, Isabella returned to her study and began copying every financial record she could access.

Several transfers had passed through companies connected to Alejandro's business interests during the previous six months. One document referenced a confidential agreement stored separately from her inheritance records.

Her financial adviser confirmed that the agreement had been filed through a private investment network. When Isabella searched the companies involved, one name appeared repeatedly: Don Daniel.

Another entry referenced a financial arrangement involving her father's former business. The information was incomplete, but the dates suggested that companies connected to the network had benefited from the collapse of her father's enterprise.

Isabella stared at the screen, remembering her father's desperate attempts to save his business.

Could someone have deliberately destroyed everything he had built?

Her phone rang before she could investigate further.

“Please tell me you aren't spending another afternoon buried in financial documents,” Camila said when Isabella answered. “You have a husband, a beautiful home, and a baby on the way. You should be enjoying yourself.”

“I would rather be doing that, but someone has transferred money from my inheritance without my permission,” Isabella explained.

“What sort of transfer?” Camila asked, her tone sharpening.

“Almost eight hundred thousand euros. My signature was forged, and the records mention a company connected to Don Daniel,” Isabella replied.

“Does Alejandro know?” Camila asked.

“He knows I found the transaction, and he has promised to explain everything tomorrow evening,” Isabella answered.

Camila paused before responding.

“Isabella, darling, please be careful not to let financial stress ruin your marriage,” Camila advised. “Alejandro has always taken care of you.”

“I am not trying to ruin my marriage. I am trying to understand why someone forged my signature,” Isabella replied.

“Of course, and I want you to get answers,” Camila assured her. “I only mean that you should give Alejandro a chance to put things right.”

Isabella sighed.

“I hope he can.”

Camila offered to visit the following afternoon, and Isabella accepted, grateful for the company.

She had no idea that Camila's concern came from fear rather than loyalty.

Camila arrived the next afternoon carrying flowers and pastries. After embracing Isabella, she settled beside her in the living room.

“You look exhausted,” Camila remarked. “Tell me everything you have discovered.”

Isabella showed her the forged authorisation and explained the connection between the holding company and Don Daniel's investment network.

“An agreement connecting Alejandro to Don Daniel?” Camila asked, forcing a laugh. “Are you certain you have interpreted the records correctly?”

“I am still investigating, but I know the transfer was unauthorised,” Isabella replied. “Alejandro has not given me a convincing explanation.”

“You should be careful about how you approach him,” Camila advised. “If Alejandro feels you no longer trust him, he might become defensive.”

“Why is everyone more concerned about his feelings than about someone stealing my money?” Isabella asked.

Camila tightened her grip on Isabella's hand.

“I am concerned about you,” Camila insisted. “I have always been concerned about you.”

Isabella felt guilty for questioning her oldest friend's sincerity. Camila had stood beside her through university, her father's death, and her marriage. She could not imagine that Camila was secretly having an affair with Alejandro.

“Promise me you will let him explain before making any decisions,” Camila said.

“I have given him until tomorrow evening,” Isabella replied.

Camila soon changed the subject to the nursery and the baby shower she wanted to organise. She stayed long enough to make Isabella laugh before finally leaving.

But Camila carried away more than the memory of their conversation. She now knew that Isabella had identified the holding company, discovered Don Daniel's connection, and begun investigating the confidential agreement.

As soon as she was alone, Camila contacted Alejandro and warned him that Isabella was getting closer to the truth.

Two days later, Isabella attended a private business luncheon to meet an investment adviser familiar with the companies mentioned in her father's records. The adviser avoided her questions about the network's influential members, leaving her frustrated.

She was checking her phone when Damián Montenegro approached her.

“Mrs Laurent, you seem to have developed a habit of attending gatherings where nobody gives you a straight answer,” Damián remarked.

“Perhaps I keep meeting people who believe their information is more valuable than my time,” Isabella replied.

Damián smiled.

“I hear you have been asking questions about Don Daniel's investment network,” Damián said.

“And I hear you have a habit of listening to conversations that do not concern you,” Isabella countered.

“When the companies involved intersect with my business interests, they concern me,” Damián replied.

“So you admit you are connected to the network I am investigating?” Isabella asked.

“I admit that Madrid is a small city when enough money is involved,” Damián answered. “That is not the same as admitting to anything else.”

Isabella studied him carefully.

“Do you believe a business arrangement is legitimate simply because it has been filed through the proper channels?” Isabella asked.

“No. Paperwork can make almost anything look respectable,” Damián replied.

“And what happens when that paperwork conceals something criminal?” Isabella pressed.

“That depends on who benefits, who gets hurt, and whether those involved believe they can escape the consequences,” Damián answered.

“People say your organisation has benefited from businesses collapsing and families losing everything,” Isabella said. “Why should I believe you are different from the men I am investigating?”

Damián's amusement faded.

“You shouldn't believe anything about me simply because I tell you to,” Damián replied. “Distinguish what people say from what you can prove.”

“Is that advice or a warning?” Isabella asked.

“Would you listen if I called it advice?” Damián countered.

“Not particularly,” Isabella answered.

Damián laughed.

“You make things difficult for yourself, Mrs Laurent,” Damián remarked.

“Only when people expect me to accept answers that would not satisfy anyone with a functioning conscience,” Isabella replied.

His expression grew thoughtful.

“If you find evidence connecting my organisation to your investigation, bring it to me,” Damián said. “I prefer facts to rumours.”

“And if the evidence implicates you?” Isabella asked.

“Then you will have to decide whether you are prepared to follow it wherever it leads,” Damián replied.

Damián walked away, leaving Isabella with more questions than answers. She was attracted to his intelligence, but she distrusted his influence and suspected his organisation might have benefited from her family's suffering. She had no intention of asking him for help.

That evening, Alejandro arranged dinner at their favourite restaurant. Flowers waited at home, and a bracelet engraved with the date they had first met sat inside a gift box beside her place setting.

“You remembered,” Isabella said, touching the engraving.

“Of course I remembered,” Alejandro replied. “That was the day I met the woman who eventually agreed to put up with me for the rest of her life.”

Despite herself, Isabella smiled.

“I know I haven't handled these past few days properly,” Alejandro admitted. “You deserved more transparency from me, and I am sorry.”

“Then tell me what is happening,” Isabella urged.

“I have spoken to the finance team, and I will have the full explanation ready tomorrow,” Alejandro promised. “I love you, Isabella. I cannot imagine raising our daughter without you.”

“I love you too,” Isabella replied, “but I cannot ignore something like this simply because I love you.”

“I understand,” Alejandro assured her, kissing her forehead. “You will have your answers.”

For the rest of the evening, Alejandro treated her tenderly, talking about their daughter and making her laugh. By the time they returned home, Isabella wanted to believe that her husband would finally tell her the truth.

She fell asleep shortly after midnight.

Alejandro waited until her breathing became steady before leaving the bedroom and calling Camila.

“Is she asleep?” Camila asked when she answered.

“Yes,” Alejandro replied. “We have a serious problem. Isabella has found the agreement, and she is asking questions about our transactions with Don Daniel.”

“What exactly has she discovered?” Camila asked anxiously.

“Enough to become dangerous if she keeps digging,” Alejandro answered.

“What are you going to do?” Camila asked.

Alejandro glanced towards the closed bedroom door.

“She has discovered the agreement, Camila, and she cannot be allowed to expose it,” Alejandro said.