“Oh, I won’t be staying,” she replies coldly. “I’m here for my daughter.”
“Me?”
“Si. Tu. Would you like to explain to me why you’ve been ignoring my calls and texts and tell me where your father’s journal is?”
A burning sensation overwhelms the skin on my face and ears. I probably look as red as a beet right now.
“Uh, well—”
“Don’t bother. I already know you stole it. You had no right, Isa. That journal was the last piece of him I had, and you just took it.”
I glance at Valentina, who is looking directly at me. I almost want to cry just at the sight of her. She’s the only one who knows the contents of my father’s journal and the secret we were trying to uncover.
“Would you like to explain what the hell this is?”
She holds up a sheet of paper. I squint to try and make out the words. It’s my father’s note about his journal and finding the truth. I must have left it in her bedroom when I left in a rush.Fuck.
“It’s a letter,” I say softly.
“I can see that, Isabella. Where did you get it?”
“From Gabriel.”
Silvana and Maritza both look up at the same time, eyes wide.
“He handed it to me when he came to collect the rent. It’s a letter from Dad. For me.”
“What the hell was Gabriel doing with that letter? What’s the truth then, mija? What’s the secret truth he had to keep from his wife and only tell you about?”
“The truth?” I cough, looking over at Valentina again, knowing we haven’t actually figured out the truth. “It’s—”
“I can tell you!” Silvana shouts in a sing-songy voice.
Everyone’s eyes whip over to her as she slowly stands up, loving the attention. She’s going to tell them everything.Fuck. Shit.What do I do? I’m frozen in shock.
“I already know the truth, and I think it’s time everyone else did too. The real truth about the Valdes family.”
Mariposa crosses her arms, waiting to hear more. Rosita shuffles on her feet nervously. I feel like throwing up. Maybe I can cause a distraction if I projectile vomit all over Silvana. Valentina tries pulling Silvana back down, but she snatches her arm away and walks around the table.
“You see, Isa here has been lying about something huge. To all of us. But especially to Rosita and Sofia.” She stops before me and smiles.
“Silvie, please,” I beg in a whisper so only she can hear.
Silvana’s smile gets even larger.
“I mean, Luciano hasn’t found the rings yet, right? I wonder why.”
“What?” I say, looking over at Sofia and Luciano.
They both look confused but as if they understand what Silvana is implying. That I stole the rings. I’m the thief.
I glance over at Valentina, hoping she’ll speak up, but she’s staring at the floor, fidgeting with the corner of the tablecloth. She opens her mouth as if to say something, but Silvana steps forward, cutting her off.
“Isa and Mari are liars. They’re deceitful. Always have been. And Luciano, if I were you, I wouldn’t invest in someone who would be so fake, like Isabellita is. The fact that she’s been here this entire week, lying to everyone and acting like it was okay… I don’t know, it seems kind of sketchy to me. Would you trust them with your life? Money? Rings? I know I wouldn’t.”
“Silvana, shut up, that’s not—” Valentina shouts.
“No, esta bien,” my mother cuts in. “This is why I stayed away from you people. Isa, this is why I told you not to trust them. They’re all liars and cheaters. They only know how to take, take, take. They act all nice until they stab you in the back. Vámonos.”
