at the hospital.
Daniel had spent every spare hour by Maria’s bedside, and slowly, a different kind of story had begun to unfold.
one built not on jealousy or fear, but on years of small kindnesses finally being seen for what they were.
“You don’t have to feel guilty for what she did,” Maria told him one evening, her wrist now in a cast, her ribs still wrapped tight.
“None of this was your fault.”
“I know,” Daniel said.
“But I keep thinking about how long you carried this secret.
your father, everything. 3 years and I never even asked you a real question about your life.
Maria smiled faintly. The first real smile since the accident.
You’re asking now.
I want to know everything, he said.
If you’ll let me.
Word of Victoria’s arrest broke publicly 2 days later.
And with it came a wave of attention neither Daniel
