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Part 2: The Price of Freedom
Valeria felt every muscle in her body tense.
“What do you mean?” she asked, tightening her hold on Sofía.
Alejandro glanced toward the front of the aircraft, making sure no one was close enough to overhear.
“My head of security monitors unusual inquiries whenever my name appears on passenger manifests. Someone gained access to the arrival information for this flight.”
Valeria’s face went pale.
“Who?”
Alejandro handed her the phone.
On the screen was a photograph.
Rodrigo Salinas.
Under it was a message.
Subject has boarded Flight MX271 with female passenger Valeria Hernández Salinas and minor daughter. Client requests visual confirmation upon arrival.
Valeria’s heart nearly stopped.
“How… how did he know I was on this flight?”
Alejandro frowned.
“I don’t think he knew until after you checked in. Someone paid to obtain passenger information.”
She stared at the screen.
Rodrigo had never accepted that she left.
Not because he loved her.
Because he hated losing control.
Their marriage had not collapsed overnight.
It had broken little by little.
First came the insults.
Then the constant criticism.
Then the financial control.
Rodrigo insisted that every paycheck from Valeria’s teaching job be deposited into their shared account.
He managed every peso.
If she bought new shoes, he demanded receipts.
If she visited her parents, he questioned the gasoline expense.
When Sofía was born, everything became worse.
He called motherhood “her responsibility.”
Night feedings?
Valeria’s job.
Doctor appointments?
Valeria’s job.
Housework?
Also hers.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo built his image online as the perfect husband.
Every anniversary photo.
Every smiling family picture.
Every vacation.
Behind every image stood a woman silently carrying everything alone.
The final blow came three weeks earlier.
She returned home from work early.
Rodrigo wasn’t alone.
Another woman stood in her kitchen wearing Valeria’s bathrobe.
Rodrigo didn’t even apologize.
Instead he crossed his arms.
“I’ve already spoken to a lawyer.”
Valeria had looked around the room in disbelief.
“What?”
“The house is in my name.”
“The accounts are frozen.”
“You can leave.”
“And Sofia?”
His answer still haunted her.
“She’s too young to remember you anyway.”
That sentence destroyed whatever remained of their marriage.
She packed one suitcase that night.
She left before sunrise.
The plane finally reached the gate.
Alejandro stood.
“So here’s what will happen.”
“I don’t want to involve you.”
“You already are.”
He smiled sadly.
“Fair point.”
Outside the aircraft windows, several black SUVs waited.
Men wearing discreet earpieces stood nearby.
Passengers began whispering.
Some recognized Alejandro immediately.
Phones appeared everywhere.
Alejandro sighed.
“This is exactly why I asked you for that favor.”
The cabin door opened.
Within seconds, a tall woman wearing a charcoal suit entered.
“Sir.”
She nodded respectfully.
Continued on the next page
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