Alejandro was absent for nearly twenty-four hours.
For most people, it meant nothing. But Lucia knew him well — he never walked away from something he considered his own. If he disappears, it’s because he’s arranging something behind the scenes.
Carmen Ruiz noticed the shift first. After a quiet adjustment to Lucia’s treatment plan, test results began to improve. Liver indicators that had risen to dangerous levels were beginning to stabilize. The improvement wasn’t dramatic, but it directly contradicted the previous warning that she «had no more than three days».
The supervising doctor muttered as he stared at the monitor screen:
«This doesn’t make sense… If the damage were irreversible, we wouldn’t have seen such a response.»
Carmen and Lucia exchanged a silent look. The picture is starting to become clear.
Alejandro returned the next day, elegant as usual, wearing his familiar, elegant perfume, and wearing those carefully polished features of artificial anxiety that he is good at showing in front of people.
«How is she?» He asked at the nurses’ office.
Carmen replied with balanced coldness: «Her condition is stable.»
His jaw spasm slightly, revealing what he had tried to hide quickly. Lucia picked it up when he entered her room.
“My love… you look pale,” he said gently as he approached her bed.«
Lucia kept a shallow breath, her eyes almost closed.
She muttered: «I’m tired.»
Bend closer.
«I spoke to the lawyer. Just as a precaution. In case… things get worse.»
Lucia opened her eyes more widely and studied him calmly.
«Always thinking one step ahead, she said in a still tone.»
For a short second, his composure slipped.
«I only protect what is ours.»
«Ours?» I repeated calmly.
At that moment, Carmen entered carrying a Chinese woman, cutting off the tension. Alejandro stepped aside, but his gaze was drawn towards the intravenous solution pump. Carmen noticed immediately.
She said firmly: «Please, do not touch the devices.»
He replied coldly and nervously: «Calm down.»
Later in the afternoon, Alejandro was summoned to the medical director’s office.
The doctor said in a neutral tone: «Mr. Martinez, we have detected irregularities in some medication orders.»
«Violations?»
