Chapter 3 - Lucas’s Demand|
The morning sun offered no warmth through the apartment windows. Ricardo hadn't slept. He had spent the entire night staring at the encrypted audio file, running basic decryption scripts that all failed miserably. Whoever uploaded this file knew exactly what they were doing.
A sharp knock at the front door shattered the silence.
Ricardo closed his laptop instinctively. He walked to the door, looking through the peephole.
It was Lucas.
Ricardo unlocked the door, keeping his body blocking the entrance. Lucas stood in the hallway wearing a crisp, tailored navy suit, looking every bit the successful, grieving widower he had played for the last five years.
“Lucas. It’s early.”
“It’s eight a.m., Ricardo. I’m here to see my daughter.”
“It’s a Tuesday. Bia is getting ready for school. It’s not your weekend.”
Lucas sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in an exaggerated display of patience.
“Things are changing, Rick. I’m getting promoted to regional director next month. I’m buying a house in the suburbs. A good house. Safe neighborhood.”
“Good for you. Bia likes her school here.”
Lucas stepped forward, invading Ricardo’s personal space. His eyes, usually warm and charismatic, turned flat and dead.
“I’m filing for full custody, Ricardo. The temporary guardianship arrangement was just that—temporary. I’m her father. It’s time she comes home to a real family.”
“She has a real family,” Ricardo said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
“You’re an uncle who lives in a cramped two-bedroom apartment,” Lucas countered, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “And Helena agrees with me. It’s time to move on from the past. By the way, I heard you finally threw out that garbage phone.”
Ricardo froze.
“How did you know about the phone?”
Lucas’s smile vanished, realizing his slip. He recovered quickly, adjusting his tie.
May you like
“Helena mentioned it. Look, I’ll have my lawyers send you the paperwork. Have her ready for a weekend visit on Friday. Don’t make this ugly, Rick.”
Lucas turned and walked down the hall. Ricardo closed the door, his heart pounding. Only Bia knew about the phone being thrown away.
