An unexpected turn

The atmosphere in the car was tense. Guillermo looked in the rearview mirror, but Valeria's absence worried him. He had grown accustomed to her being the one in charge of taking care of Laura. In addition, Natalia's presence disturbed him, however, he could not take away her right to be close to the little girl, since that would complicate things even more, and Laura, in the midst of her innocence, loved her very much. She was the closest thing she had left to her mother Isabel.

Laura's voice, broken by tears, echoed in her ears. "Daddy, why didn't Valeria come with us?" the little girl asked, with tears still in her eyes.

Guillermo tried hard to remain calm. “She’ll be here later, darling. The important thing is that you’re okay.”

Natalia, sitting in the passenger seat, smiled with a mixture of satisfaction and malice.

—Don't worry, Laura. I'm here, and I promise that everything will be fine.

Laura, still scared, shrank in her seat.

—But I love Valeria. She always takes care of me.

G