The memory clawed its way to the surface without permission.
Rafael didn't ask for it. He never did.
But tonight, as the mansion sat cloaked in silence and shadows, it came anyway—uninvited, unwanted, and merciless.
Flashback - Twenty Years Ago
The soft chime of the school bell had barely faded when Rafael spotted his mother standing at the gate, her figure taut with unease. She looked breathtaking as always—tall, graceful, with her coat fluttering in the evening breeze like she belonged on a magazine cover. But even at nine, Rafael had learned how to read faces, and something in hers was… off.
"Mamá!" Rafael ran up to her, his tiny backpack bouncing with each step. "You're early today!"
She smiled quickly, too quickly. Her beautiful gray eyes darted around the street behind him, scanning each face, each shadow. Her hand gripped his tightly—too tightly.
He frowned. "Are you okay?"
