CHAPTER 3: THE NAME ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE
CHAPTER 3: THE NAME ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE
The small neighborhood shelter smelled of soup and old blankets.
Valentina greeted everyone by name.
The volunteers smiled warmly at her.
"She always shares whatever food she finds," one elderly woman explained.
"Even when she's hungry herself."
Eduardo listened quietly.
The shelter director placed a thin folder on the table.
"This is all we have."
Inside was a worn birth certificate.
A faded photograph.
And one folded letter.
Eduardo unfolded the paper carefully.
It had been written by Valentina's mother shortly before her death.
If anything happens to me, please don't let my daughter believe I abandoned her.
Her father never knew she existed.
I tried to tell him.
But his security guards turned me away every single time.
Eduardo slowly looked toward the signature.
His heart nearly stopped.
Lucía Herrera.
He remembered her instantly.
Years ago she had worked briefly at one of his construction offices.
Kind.
Quiet.
Always carrying books.
Then one day...
She disappeared.
Eduardo frowned.
"I never received any letter."
His bodyguard suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"Sir..."
Eduardo turned.
"There is something I never told you."
Twenty-five years earlier...
One of Eduardo's senior executives had ordered security never to allow Lucía into the building again.
They claimed she was trying to extort money from the company.
Every letter.
Every message.
Every attempt to meet Eduardo...
Had been thrown away.
Eduardo slowly lowered his head.
An entire life...
Destroyed by one decision made in his name.
Valentina climbed into his lap without asking.
"Why are you crying?"
He wrapped trembling arms around the little girl.
"Because someone stole something from me."
May you like
"What?"
"The chance... to do the right thing."
