Chapter 6: The Identity They Wanted to Steal
“They wanted your identity.””
Lucia Ortega’s words stayed in my mind long after the call ended.
Not my money.
Not my company.
My identity.
I sat behind my desk, staring at the city through the glass window.
For years, I had protected my identity because I wanted one thing.
To be loved as Valeria.
Not as the woman who controlled billions.
Not as the person whose signature could move markets.
Just Valeria.
And now the one thing I had hidden from the world had become the thing someone wanted most.
“Call me again,” I said.
The line was still open.
Lucia was quiet.
“I thought you would hang up.””
“Why would I?””
“Because I’m an Ortega.””
I looked down at the folder filled with evidence against her family.
“I’m starting to realize that doesn’t automatically make you my enemy.””
A shaky breath came through the phone.
“Can we meet?””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
“Where?””
She hesitated.
“A place where my family won’t find us.””
That sentence alone told me enough.
Lucia wasn’t calling to manipulate me.
She was afraid.
“Send me the location.””
Before ending the call, I asked:
“Lucia.””
“Yes?””
“Why help me?””
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then she answered:
“Because three years ago, I was you.””
The meeting place was an old bookstore on the edge of the city.
A strange choice.
But perhaps that was the point.
No luxury.
No private rooms.
No place where powerful people would think to look.
When I arrived, Lucia was already there.
I recognized her from old photos.
She was the woman in the picture on Beatriz’s table.
The woman who had “made mistakes.””
Except now I understood.
The Ortega family had a habit of rewriting stories.
They didn’t say women were hurt.
They said women failed.
Lucia stood when she saw me.
She looked tired.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like someone who had spent years carrying a secret too heavy to hold.
“Valeria.””
I nodded.
“Lucia.””
We sat across from each other.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she reached into her bag and placed a small notebook on the table.
“What is that?””
“My proof.””
I looked at the worn cover.
“Proof of what?””
“That Mauricio didn’t choose you.””
I opened the notebook.
The first page contained dates.
Names.
Notes.
My eyes moved quickly.
The earliest entry was from three years ago.
*Target identified: Valeria Cruz.*
I froze.
Target.
Not woman.
Not person.
Target.
“Where did you get this?””
Lucia looked away.
“I found it in Mauricio’s office.””
“When?””
“Before I left.””
I looked up.
“You were investigating him.””
She nodded.
“I knew something was wrong.””
“What happened?””
Her expression changed.
“I was engaged to Rafael.””
I remembered.
The younger brother.
“The same pattern.””
She nodded.
“At first, they were perfect.””
Her fingers touched the notebook.
“Flowers. Gifts. Promises.””
I almost smiled sadly.
“Then?””
“Then the wedding plans started.””
I listened.
“Beatriz told me what my responsibilities would be.””
The bucket.
The rules.
The expectations.
“The difference was…”
She stopped.
“What?””
Lucia looked at me.
“They didn’t test me because they wanted a wife.””
“Then why?””
“They tested me because they wanted to know if I could be controlled.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“And when you couldn’t?””
“They found someone else.””
“Me.””
Lucia nodded.
“Yes.””
I closed the notebook.
“But that still doesn’t explain my identity.””
Lucia looked around before speaking.
“Your identity is more valuable than your money.””
“How?””
“Because of what you inherited.””
I frowned.
“I built Horizonte myself.””
“Yes.””
“But?””
Lucia lowered her voice.
“Your father.””
Everything inside me stopped.
Nobody talked about my father.
Not because he was forgotten.
Because he was the reason I had worked so hard.
“My father?””
Lucia nodded.
“Your father had connections before he died.””
I looked at her.
“What kind?””
“The kind powerful people spend decades trying to obtain.””
I shook my head.
“That’s impossible.””
“Is it?””
She leaned closer.
“Have you ever wondered why Horizonte grew so quickly?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I had.
Of course I had.
I had always believed it was because of determination.
Strategy.
Hard work.
But there were moments when opportunities appeared too perfectly.
Investors who trusted me instantly.
Deals that opened unexpectedly.
I had always thought it was luck.
Lucia opened another page.
“Your father created something before he died.””
“What?””
“A private network.””
I frowned.
“Of investors?””
“No.””
She looked directly at me.
“Of information.””
The word felt heavier than expected.
“Information about what?””
“People.””
Powerful people.
Businesses.
Politicians.
Companies.
Secrets.
I stared at her.
“And you think my father left that to me?””
“I know he did.””
“How?””
“Because my father spent years trying to find it.””
I felt a chill.
“Esteban.””
Lucia nodded.
“My father believes whoever controls that information controls everything.””
I looked down at the notebook.
Suddenly, the marriage made sense.
The investigation.
The contract.
The obsession with me.
They weren’t trying to marry into my wealth.
They were trying to get close enough to access something they believed I had.
“But I don’t have anything.””
Lucia studied me.
“Maybe you don’t know you do.””
When I returned to Horizonte Capital, it was almost midnight.
The building was dark.
Quiet.
But I wasn’t alone.
The lights in my office were on.
I stopped.
My security team had strict instructions.
Nobody entered my office without permission.
I slowly pushed the door open.
Sebastian stood inside.
I wasn’t surprised.
Not anymore.
“You broke into my office.””
“I have access.””
“Not anymore.””
His face tightened.
“Valeria.””
“No.””
I walked in.
“You don’t get to say my name like nothing happened.””
He looked exhausted.
“I came because I need to explain.””
“You had years to explain.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
“It’s true.””
“Then why does protecting me always involve lying?””
He had no answer.
I placed Lucia’s notebook on the desk.
Sebastian saw it.
And his face changed.
“You met her.””
“Yes.””
He closed his eyes.
“Then you know.””
“I know that you helped them.””
His expression became painful.
“I didn’t.””
“Your signature is on the contract.””
“Yes.””
“Your money was transferred from Vargas.””
“Yes.””
“Then explain.””
He sat down.
For the first time, Sebastian looked less like an executive.
He looked like a man who had lost.
“Three years ago, I discovered something.””
“What?””
“The Ortega family wasn’t investigating you.””
I waited.
“They were investigating your father.””
I froze.
“What does my father have to do with this?””
Sebastian looked at me.
“Everything.””
I stepped back.
“My father died when I was nineteen.””
“Yes.””
“So?””
“So before he died, he trusted someone.””
“Who?””
Sebastian’s voice became barely a whisper.
“Me.””
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
“What?””
“He knew people were looking for what he created.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because he asked me not to.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“He made me promise.””
“No.””
“He wanted you away from that world.””
I felt anger rising.
“You don’t get to use my dead father as an excuse.””
“I’m not.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
Sebastian looked at me.
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Before your wedding.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“I tried to stop Mauricio.””
My anger paused.
“What did you say?””
“I told him to leave you alone.””
“Why?””
“Because I knew what he was doing.””
I stared at him.
“And?””
“He didn’t listen.””
“Why?””
Sebastian looked toward the window.
“Because Mauricio wasn’t the one making the decision.””
A horrible thought crossed my mind.
“Then who was?””
Before he could answer, the office door opened.
Both of us turned.
A man stood there.
Someone I never expected to see.
Mauricio.
His face was pale.
His eyes were filled with panic.
“Valeria.””
I stood.
“What are you doing here?””
He looked at Sebastian.
Then at the notebook.
Then back at me.
“You need to leave the country.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“Tonight.””
“Why?””
His voice shook.
“Because my father knows you found out.””
I didn’t move.
“And?””
Mauricio stepped closer.
“And because he’s not trying to take your company anymore.””
A terrible silence filled the room.
“What is he trying to take?””
Mauricio looked at me.
And for the first time since I met him…
May you like
He looked genuinely afraid.
“He’s trying to erase you.””
