Chesca didn't know what to say. She carefully looked at Thalia, just as they had discussed earlier that morning. Even though she said she wasn't ready to face it, deep down, she knew—she had betrayed her friend.
Her friend, who had helped her live happily and peacefully. And now, she couldn't even meet her eyes.
Across from her, Ericka and Thalia stood in silence, unsure who would speak first.
What is Ericka doing? Chesca questioned silently.
She sighed, shrugged her shoulders, and after a long exhale, finally cleared her throat. That broke the tension.
"I didn't expect to see you today, Ericka," was all Thalia said.
Ericka met her gaze with a sigh. "Thalia, are you avoiding us? I know we just saw each other the other night," she asked directly.
Chesca noticed the seriousness on Ericka's face.
"Yes, I'm avoiding you. Because every time we meet... something bad happens."
"I told you," Ericka replied, with a knowing smile. "You can see it coming."
Thalia didn't respond. She remained still in her seat, unwilling to interrupt the exchange.
"You probably know why I'm here, right?" Ericka asked again.
"No. I was just surprised to see you in my cousin's house," Thalia replied.
Chesca's eyes narrowed. Cousin? Cousin who? Confusion flooded her.
She glanced at Vince, who had been silently observing.
Tejero... Blanco... The names swirled in her mind. Then it clicked.
The Fuego family blacklisted the Blancos because they always opposed our father—ever since their mother, Felisa, died...
Chesca's thoughts raced. Could Fernan and his siblings—the ones who killed Giovane—be Thalia's cousins?
Her throat tightened. She could barely swallow.
Mikaela had called earlier, warning her to be careful. She knew Chesca's secret. In a week, Chesca would enter their mansion to retrieve the old notebook hidden by her father.
Her fingers clenched her shirt sleeve tightly.
The room suddenly felt cold. Silent.
"Chesca."
She heard her name and looked up.
She was met with two familiar faces.
"Sister Ellese? Sister Felisa?" she whispered, barely believing what she saw.
She cried instantly. She had once convinced herself she had no siblings. But now that her memories had returned, the sight of them overwhelmed her.
"We're glad you finally remembered us, Chesca." Felisa hugged her, her touch cold.
Their voices merged with the air; their feet were fading from sight.
"Please, Chesca," Ellese spoke. "We need to act fast. Dad and Giovane have already relocated. We have to finish what we started as children."
Her mind reeled with returning memories—her face, as a child, staring at her mother's lifeless body, gunned down right in front of her.
She had been locked in her room that day. The fear still lingered in the heart of the young Chesca.
Mom, Auntie... please let us leave this place. I don't want to stay here anymore. I'm scared.
A small voice, no older than five, once cried those words.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She had curled into herself, terrified. Her brother Giovane punished her even when she did nothing wrong. She was silent, eyes closed, not daring to look.
Then someone hugged her. "Don't worry. It's us. Felisa."
Ellese, around ten years old, stood there with her twin.
"Felisa... I'm scared. I want to leave," she cried.
"One day, Chesca. We'll leave. One day, we'll escape this hell. For now, we endure—until we can fight back," Ellese had told her.
"Let's endure. We'll fight. Even if Fuego blood runs in our veins, we won't let them imprison us. Be strong, Chesca."
Even in death, her sister's courage shone. It humbled Chesca.
"Do you remember what I always told you?" Ellese's voice echoed.
Tears streamed down Chesca's cheeks. "I'll be strong, Felisa. Ellese."
"I'm glad you remember," came the reply, as the sisters slowly faded from sight.
The present returned. Chesca became aware of the eyes on her. She turned and saw Ericka, her expression puzzled.
"Are you okay, Ruth?" she asked.
Chesca met Thalia's gaze. Her eyes, though silent, showed concern.
I need to tell Ericka the truth, she told herself. No more hiding. No more deception.
She wiped her tears.
"Ericka, I have something to confess."
This time, she meant it.
They may have different goals—but their enemy was the same: her father and her stepbrother, and the greedy organization they led.
Vince and the others didn't interrupt. They let her speak. They gave her space. They waited.
"I am Chesca Daia Fuego," she said, at last.
The silence in the room deepened.
Ericka's face turned pale, eyes wide in disbelief. She was clearly stunned.