CHAPTER 10 The Name That Was Erased
The sound of Eduardo's voice outside the chapel felt more terrifying than the gunshots.
Because bullets came from enemies.
But Eduardo...
Eduardo had been home.
Eduardo had kissed her forehead.
Eduardo had tucked Daniel into bed.
Eduardo had spent fourteen years learning every detail about her.
Her fears.
Her habits.
Her dreams.
Her weaknesses.
And now he was standing outside with someone who wanted her silent.
Laura pressed herself against the cold stone floor behind the altar.
Isabel held her arm tightly.
"Don't answer him."
Laura stared at her.
"You said he was protecting Daniel."
Isabel's eyes filled with pain.
"I said he loved Daniel."
"That's not the same thing."
"No."
A pause.
"Sometimes love makes people do terrible things."
Another gunshot shattered the silence.
The wooden bench beside them exploded into splinters.
Laura covered her head.
"He's trying to kill us."
Isabel shook her head.
"No."
She looked toward the entrance.
"He's trying to stop them from reaching us first."
Laura frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before Isabel could answer, the chapel doors opened.
Eduardo stepped inside.
Alone.
No weapon visible.
His face looked exhausted.
Broken.
"Laura."
She immediately stood.
"You lied to me."
His expression collapsed.
"I know."
"You erased my identity."
"No."
She stared at him.
"Then explain."
Eduardo looked at Isabel.
Then back at Laura.
"I didn't erase you."
"Someone else did."
For the first time, Laura noticed something.
Eduardo wasn't looking at Isabel with hatred.
He was looking at her with guilt.
A terrible, heavy guilt.
"Where is Daniel?"
Laura's voice changed instantly.
Every emotion disappeared.
Only a mother remained.
Eduardo took a slow breath.
"He's safe."
"Where?"
"I moved him."
Her heart jumped.
"You moved my son?"
"Because they were coming."
"Who?"
Eduardo looked toward the broken windows.
"The people who created all of this."
Laura stepped closer.
"You expect me to believe you?"
"No."
He looked at her.
"I expect you to hate me."
The honesty shocked her.
"I deserve that."
Isabel walked out from behind the altar.
Eduardo's face changed.
"Isabel."
She looked at him coldly.
"You told her?"
"Not everything."
"You never do."
Laura looked between them.
"You both know each other too well."
Neither answered.
That was enough.
A siren sounded in the distance.
Eduardo looked toward the road.
"We don't have much time."
Laura laughed bitterly.
"Funny."
"What?"
"You always say that."
She pointed at him.
"Everything is urgent when you want me to obey."
Eduardo lowered his head.
"You're right."
That answer surprised her.
No excuses.
No manipulation.
Just acceptance.
"Then tell me the truth."
He looked at Isabel.
She nodded slowly.
"It's time."
They moved to the back room of the chapel.
Isabel locked the door.
Eduardo pulled out a small box.
Inside were old documents.
Photos.
Passports.
Birth certificates.
And one envelope.
Laura recognized the handwriting immediately.
Her own.
"What is that?"
Eduardo hesitated.
"Your original file."
"My original file?"
"Before the name Laura Mendoza."
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
The first page contained a photograph.
A young woman.
Same face.
Same eyes.
But the name beneath it was different.
Elena Vargas.
Born:
March 3, 1987.
Occupation:
Medical researcher.
Laura stared.
"No."
Eduardo watched her carefully.
"You weren't a businesswoman."
She looked up.
"What?"
"You were a researcher."
The room spun.
"Researcher in what?"
Isabel answered.
"Genetics."
Laura dropped the papers.
"You're saying I studied genetics?"
"Yes."
"Then why don't I remember?"
Eduardo's voice became quiet.
"Because they made sure you didn't."
A cold silence filled the room.
"What did they do to me?"
Nobody answered.
Finally Isabel whispered:
"Memory suppression."
Laura stared at her.
"No."
"You were involved in their research."
"Research about what?"
Isabel looked at the documents.
"Human compatibility."
The same phrase.
The same nightmare.
The same hidden program.
"But you discovered what they were really doing."
Laura swallowed.
"What?"
"They weren't creating treatments."
"They were creating a system."
"A system to identify people who could be used."
Laura looked at Eduardo.
"And Daniel?"
Isabel's face softened.
"Daniel was the child who exposed them."
Laura frowned.
"I don't understand."
"Daniel was born from the research."
"Research?"
"Yes."
Isabel took a deep breath.
"They wanted to prove they could create a child with specific genetic advantages."
Laura felt sick.
"You're talking about him like he's an experiment."
"Because that's what they saw."
Isabel's voice broke.
"But I saw my son."
The room became silent.
"I tried to expose them."
"I tried to take Daniel away."
"And that's when they came after me."
Laura looked at Eduardo.
"And you?"
He looked away.
"I helped them."
Her chest tightened.
Even though she already knew...
Hearing it still hurt.
"Why?"
Eduardo closed his eyes.
"Because they threatened Daniel."
Outside, a car engine stopped.
Everyone froze.
Eduardo looked through the broken window.
"We have to leave."
Laura didn't move.
"One more question."
He looked at her.
"Who am I?"
Eduardo's face changed.
Because he knew the answer.
"Laura..."
"Who am I?"
A long silence.
Then he whispered:
"Elena Vargas died seven years ago."
Laura felt cold.
"What?"
"The woman named Elena Vargas died in a hospital."
"Then who am I?"
Eduardo looked at her.
"The woman who survived."
A loud crash came from the front of the chapel.
Someone had broken inside.
Footsteps approached.
Many footsteps.
Isabel grabbed Daniel's old photograph from the table.
"We need to go."
They rushed through the back exit.
Behind the chapel was an old cemetery.
Rain began falling.
They ran between the graves.
Then Laura stopped.
A name on a gravestone caught her attention.
She froze.
ELENA VARGAS
Born: March 3, 1987.
Died: October 12, 2019.
Laura stared.
The date.
Three years before she met Eduardo.
Impossible.
The woman buried here...
had her name.
Her identity.
Her life.
But she was standing alive.
Laura turned toward Eduardo.
"What did you do?"
Before he could answer...
A voice came from behind the graves.
"She didn't die."
Everyone froze.
A man stepped out of the rain.
The same older man from Eduardo's office.
The stranger.
But this time he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood a police officer.
And the officer pointed directly at Laura.
"Elena Vargas."
His voice was cold.
"You are under arrest for the murder of Isabel's husband."
Laura's blood ran cold.
"What?"
The stranger smiled.
"Welcome back."
"You finally remembered who you are."
The police officer stepped closer.
"And now..."
May you like
"...we're going to make you pay for what you did seven years ago."
End of Chapter 10
