PART 2 — THE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Twenty minutes after we left the reception, Alejandro and I were sitting in the back of our car while the city lights blurred across the windows.
I was still wearing my wedding dress.
For the first time that night, I let myself breathe.
Alejandro reached for my hand.
“You okay?”
“I think so.”
He looked down at my fingers.
“You know we don’t have to pretend they’re family just because we’re related to them.”
I smiled sadly.
“I spent my whole life trying to earn a place at a table where Valeria was always given the best seat.”
Alejandro squeezed my hand.
“You don’t need their table anymore.”
I looked out the window.
He was right.
But I also knew my parents weren’t going to let this go.
My phone started ringing.
Mom.
I ignored it.
Then Dad.
Then Valeria.
Within five minutes, I had thirteen missed calls.
I turned my phone face down.
“Let them scream,” Alejandro said.
I thought that was the end of it.
It wasn’t.
At 11:48 that night, my company security director called.
“Ms. Salgado, I’m sorry to disturb you on your wedding night.”
I sat upright.
“What happened?”
“There was an attempted access request on your executive travel account.”
My stomach tightened.
“From whom?”
“Your sister.”
I stared at Alejandro.
“How did she get the credentials?”
“We don’t know. But someone attempted to modify your reservation and transfer several other executive benefits attached to your profile.”
I closed my eyes.
This was no longer about a honeymoon.
Someone had tried to access my professional account.
“Lock everything,” I said.
“It already is.”
“Good.”
The security director hesitated.
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“The request came from a device registered to your father’s consulting company.”
Silence filled the car.
Alejandro leaned forward.
“What are they doing?”
I looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
But I suddenly suspected that my family had been taking far more than a vacation.
PART 3 — THE MORNING AFTER THE WEDDING
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