Chapter 3 – A Birthday No One Expected
Chapter 3 – A Birthday No One Expected
Several weeks later, Mariana quietly requested one afternoon off.
"I understand if it's inconvenient," she said. "Tomorrow is Lucía's birthday."
Alejandro nodded without asking questions.
But after they left, he overheard two housekeepers talking.
"They probably can't even afford a cake."
That sentence stayed with him all night.
The following afternoon, Alejandro drove alone through Ecatepec in an ordinary SUV without his usual security convoy.
It was the first time in years he had visited that part of the city.
Mariana's apartment was barely large enough for two people.
The walls were cracked.
The furniture mismatched.
A small paper banner reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCÍA hung crookedly above the table.
Lucía looked up as he knocked.
"Mr. Big House!"
She threw her tiny arms around his legs before Mariana could stop her.
"I'm sorry," Mariana whispered. "I never invited you because..."
"You thought I wouldn't come."
She lowered her eyes.
Alejandro carried inside a small white box.
It was not jewelry.
Not expensive toys.
Inside was a homemade chocolate cake from the neighborhood bakery he had passed on the way there.
Lucía gasped.
"It's huge!"
"There are only three of us," Alejandro said.
"Then we'll have leftovers!" she announced proudly.
That evening they laughed over melted ice cream, paper hats, and off-key birthday songs.
Alejandro realized something strange.
May you like
He had attended parties costing millions.
None of them had ever felt this warm.
