But there was something in Alejandro’s eyes.
Not arrogance.
Not manipulation.
Only weariness… and a fear that felt painfully real.
So Valeria adjusted Sofia in her arms and slowly rested her head against his shoulder.
The change was instant.
The young man lowered his phone.
The two girls stopped staring.
The irritated woman behind them turned away.
Alejandro released a quiet breath.
“Thank you…”
Valeria meant to move away after a few seconds.
But exhaustion pulled her under before she could.
She fell into a deep sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, the plane was already descending toward Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
Alejandro had not moved.
He had stayed in the exact same position so he would not wake her.
“You slept almost two hours,” he said with a faint smile.
Valeria sat up quickly.
“I’m sorry. Your shoulder must be completely numb.”
He gave a soft laugh.
“Believe me, I’ve been through worse.”
Just before landing, a flight attendant approached them quietly.
“Mr. Montenegro, your security team is waiting for you at the platform.”
Valeria’s eyes widened.
Security team?
Alejandro closed his eyes for a second, as if he had hoped to delay that moment.
Then he looked at her.
“You really don’t know who I am, do you?”
She slowly shook her head.
“I’m Alejandro Montenegro.”
The name struck her like thunder.
Everyone in Mexico knew the Montenegro family.
They owned one of the most powerful business empires in the country: technology, digital banking, real estate, private hospitals, and educational foundations.
Alejandro Montenegro was one of Mexico’s most influential and private businessmen.
“You’re… that Alejandro Montenegro?”
He nodded with a tired smile.
“And you are the first person in months who treated me like an ordinary passenger.”
Before Valeria could respond, his phone vibrated.
Part 2:
He read the message.
His face changed immediately.
All traces of calm vanished.
“What is it?” Valeria asked.
Alejandro lifted his gaze slowly.
His voice dropped.
“Valeria… someone asked about you before we even landed.”
For the first time since stepping onto that plane, Valeria felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath her.
The aircraft had barely touched the runway when her heart began pounding so loudly that she could hardly hear the engines.
“Who asked about me?” she whispered, holding Sofia closer.
Alejandro slipped his phone back inside his jacket and stayed silent for a moment.
He was not the kind of man who answered carelessly.
When he finally spoke, his tone was steady.
“One of my security men checked the cameras in the arrivals area. There’s a man showing your picture to airport employees.”
Valeria felt the color drain from her face.
“What does he look like?”
Alejandro watched her carefully.
“Gray suit. Expensive watch. Around forty.”
She closed her eyes.
She did not need any more details.
“It’s Rodrigo…”
Alejandro’s expression darkened.
“Your ex-husband?”
She nodded.
“How did he know you were coming here?”
Valeria remembered the goodbye message she had sent an old friend the night before.
Don’t worry. I’m flying to Mexico City tomorrow.
She had never imagined that friend was still talking to Rodrigo.
“Someone told him…”
The plane door opened, and passengers began standing up, impatient to leave.
Alejandro lifted one hand in front of her.
“Stay seated.”
“But—”
“Trust me.”
So she stayed.
For almost five minutes, the other passengers filed out until the cabin was nearly empty.
Then three men in dark suits entered, each wearing a discreet earpiece.
The first walked straight to Alejandro.
“Mr. Montenegro.”
“Status?”
“Confirmed.”
One of the men handed him a tablet.
On the screen was a frozen airport security image.
Rodrigo Salinas stood near the baggage area, holding his phone up to an employee.
Valeria’s photo filled the screen.
It showed her carrying Sofia.
The picture had been taken only two weeks earlier.
A chill moved through her.
“He’s looking for me…”
“Yes,” Alejandro said.
“But why? He already took everything.”
The words escaped before she could stop them.
“The house. The money. The accounts. Everything.”
Alejandro looked directly at her.
“No.”
She lifted her eyes.
“He didn’t take everything.”
It took her a few seconds to understand.
Then she clutched Sofia tighter.
“My daughter…”
Alejandro nodded.
“I think he came for her.”
