As Nikolai spoke, Vivian remained silent, listening to everything he had to say.
"I don't know where to start..." he said, noticing her impatient gaze. "I'll start from when they told me of your existence. I was twelve years old when my mother, our mother, passed away. A few days before her death, she told me that you had been born on October 10, 1995. I was just a child, so I didn't remember anything that had happened on those dates. It was only when my mother died that, along with my father, we began to look for you everywhere.
"We started at the hospital where you were born. There they only told us that at that time many newborns had died due to the collapse caused by the earthquake. But then we found out that a group of nurses managed to get several babies out in time, and you were among them. We looked for you for years, until we discovered that one of the families who had also given birth in that clinic had left for their country days later. We lost track of them, and it was very difficult to find them. We were about to give up when, in a magazine, my father saw you. When he showed it to me, it was like seeing Mom again. You... your eyes, your hair, you are the spitting image of her.
"I wanted to travel, but my father said we should take it slow. Maybe you didn't want us in your life, or maybe our lifestyle would make you uncomfortable. We investigated you and knew you were okay, and that's what really mattered to us. I planned to keep my distance until I saw you married, and then go back with Dad. But my men noticed certain incidents in which you were harmed, and your supposed fiance didn't help you either. So I decided to put someone in charge of your safety. That person told me about everything that happened today, and I didn't think twice. I came to talk to you. Maybe you don't believe me or what I'm telling you sounds crazy, but the Vitales keep their word and never lie about these things. Family is the most precious thing to us, and that's why I'm here. You are not obligated to accept me as a brother, but whenever you need me, I will be there for you."
Vivian continued to look out at the sea intently and, suddenly, asked:
"What was she like?"
Nikolai took out his phone and, extending it to her, replied:
"She never lost hope of finding you."
She looked at the photo carefully. What he said was true: she was the spitting image of that woman. Then she raised her face again.
"I always imagined this moment, what it would be like if my real parents were looking for me. I always thought they had abandoned me or were dead... but knowing that I will never meet her makes me sad. At the same time, I feel like a weight has been lifted from my heart. Thank you for being here tonight."
Nikolai hugged her again and, noticing that she was freezing, commented:
"I think we should go. It's cold and you're freezing... What do you plan to do? Do you want to go back?"
Vivian looked him in the eyes. Without knowing why, she trusted him blindly.
"No. I want to go far away and disappear."
"I can help you with that," he replied, getting up and extending his hand.
She looked at it and, without hesitating for a second, took it. They both headed for the exit, but when she tried to go to her car, he stopped her.
"They'll track it. If you want to disappear, it's best to leave it here."
The girl hesitated for a moment. She nodded.
"I'll take my bag."
Nikolai watched as his sister took only her bag and left the car keys inside. Then, they both got into his car and drove off without leaving a trace of where they were going.
Three years later...
At Los Angeles airport, a woman of imposing figure and great beauty was heading towards the exit, escorted by several bodyguards. Her father and older brother had asked her not to travel, but seeing her refusal, they decided to allow her to return on the condition that she take enough security until they could reach her.
When she reached the exit, seeing the men waiting for her, she turned to Ivan, her brother's trusted man. He, noticing her expression, hurried to say:
"I didn't know about this, Miss..."
"Of course not," she retorted, waiting for them to open the car door for her. She got in and ordered: "Straight to the hospital, please. Then we'll go to the hotel."
"As you wish, ma'am."
Once the car started, she turned on her cell phone. Since the night she left, she hadn't turned it on again, as her brother had advised her not to be tracked. But now, with Mr. Lauren seriously hospitalized, she had decided to return. In her old life, he had been the only one who showed her genuine affection. That's why, when her informants told her about his condition, she didn't hesitate to leave everything and return to thank him for everything he had done for her. She was afraid to return, but it was necessary for two reasons: one, to see him, and another, to know if she was really married or if Mark had never filed the papers with a judge. That was the only question she had had during all these years. Not out of love, but to close that chapter once and for all.
When the cell phone picked up a signal, hundreds of messages and notifications began to arrive. It had been turned off for three years, and now the messages wouldn't let her make the call she wanted. After about ten minutes, she took it again, searched through her contacts and dialed Francisco Lauren's number. It wasn't long before a hoarse and excited voice answered from the other side.
"Hello? Vivian? Vivian, is that you?"
"Hello, Grandpa. Calm down... I want you to calm down."
"Where are you? I'll come for you right now. Tell me where..."
"I'm on my way. Wait for me five minutes, I'm already with you."
He accepted, and after hanging up he looked at his grandson, who had a shadowed face.
"She's on her way. I want you to leave."
"Grandpa, do you realize that I am...?"
"I don't know what you did to your wife, but whatever it is, she's been avoiding you for three years. I'm not going to make her uncomfortable. I know you have to talk, but first I want to see her and know how she's been. Then you can go on with your business. I won't interfere anymore."
Mark gave his grandfather a hard look. Then, after saying goodbye, he headed for the exit to wait for Vivian. He had many things to tell her... and this time, he didn't plan to let her escape.
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