Chapter 24
Victor stared at her.
“You knew?”
“I helped her.”
“Then why did she spend the rest of her life afraid?”
Sofia’s eyes filled, but her voice stayed steady.
“Because I failed to meet her the night we were supposed to leave.”
Victor turned away.
That movement said more than anger would have.
I saw his hand close into a fist at his side.
Sofia watched him.
“I came back for her,” she said.
“When?”
“Three days later.”
“You came back here?”
“Yes.”
“And no one saw you?”
“Rosa did.”
Every face turned toward the housekeeper.
Rosa looked down.
Victor’s voice was quiet.
“You knew my sister survived.”
Rosa gripped the edge of her apron.
“I knew she returned once.”
“You let me search for her.”
“She made me promise.”
Victor’s eyes flashed.
“And you chose her promise over me?”
Rosa lifted her head.
“She had a baby in her arms.”
The room became still.
Victor looked at Sofia.
“You brought Annie here?”
Sofia’s fingers tightened around the cane.
“No.”
“Then whose baby?”
Sofia looked at me.
I felt the answer before she spoke.
“Yours.”
The air seemed to leave my lungs.
“That’s impossible.”
“You were six months old.”
“My mother was Elena.”
“Elena loved you more than anyone in this world,” Sofia said. “Nothing I tell you changes that.”
My feet moved backward until I reached the stair rail.
Victor looked between us.
“You said Hannah wasn’t Annie.”
“She isn’t.”
May you like
“Then whose child is she?”
Sofia’s eyes closed briefly.
