Gabriel looked at her without fully recognizing the woman in front of him.
For decades he had interpreted Mercedes's harshness as concern.
Even when she despised his decisions, he assumed there was a reason behind them.
protective intention.
Now he understood the cost of having confused control with care.
—You told me he had disappeared in the flood.
Mercedes did not respond.
—You saw me looking for her.
Nothing.
—You saw me say goodbye in front of an empty coffin.
Mercedes finally raised her head.
—If you had known she was still alive, you would have gone back to her.
-Yeah.
—That's why I couldn't tell you.
The simplicity of the response was worse than a scream.
Gabriel sat down.
—Did you forge the first letter?
Mercedes denied it once.
—Someone wrote it at my request.
—And the money?
—I sent it.
—The letters from Isabel that I never received?
Mercedes remained silent.
Gabriel repeated:
—Did you intercept them?
—Some of them reached my hands.
