Chapter 2: The Locked Rooms

While guests continued celebrating downstairs, Alejandro brought his daughters into the kitchen.

The chef gasped when he saw the girls.

Within minutes hot soup, bread, fruit, and warm milk covered the table.

The quadruplets ate carefully at first.

As if someone might take the food away.

Then hunger took over.

Alejandro watched with tears in his eyes.

No child should eat like this.

No child from his home.

After the girls finished, he asked a simple question.

"Has Jimena been treating you badly?"

The room became silent.

Then little Sofía spoke.

"Please don't tell her I told you."

Alejandro felt ice run through his veins.

Sofía pointed upstairs.

"The playroom."

"What about it?"

"It's locked."

The girls explained everything.

Jimena often locked them inside for hours whenever guests visited.

Sometimes she skipped meals.

Sometimes she punished them for crying.

Sometimes she told them their father didn't love them anymore.

Alejandro's blood boiled.

He immediately walked upstairs.

The playroom door was locked.

Using a spare key, he opened it.

His stomach dropped.

Inside were security cameras.

A small mattress.

Several empty water bottles.

And a notebook.

The notebook belonged to Valeria.

Its pages were filled with childish handwriting.

"Daddy, today we were hungry again."

"Daddy, Camila cried because she missed you."

"Daddy, Jimena says you're never coming back."

"Daddy, I hope you still love us."

Alejandro could barely breathe.

Then his phone buzzed.

A message from his bank.

Large withdrawals.

Luxury purchases.

Jewelry.

Designer vacations.

Private accounts.

Millions of dollars.

Money intended for his daughters.

Money Jimena had stolen.

At that moment Alejandro realized something horrifying.

The abuse wasn't accidental.

It was calculated.

And Jimena had been preparing for something much bigger.