It had been a few tense weeks since Alex first learned of Rodrigo De Santos' betrayal. In that time, Victor had worked tirelessly, uncovering every detail of the De Santos family's involvement in Alex's family tragedy. But what surprised Alex most wasn't the scope of Rodrigo's treachery—it was the innocence of Isabella in all of it.
One evening, Victor entered Alex's office with the final piece of information, his expression serious but tinged with relief.
"I have the full report," Victor said, handing over the final folder. "Rodrigo, Elena, and Victoria were the only ones involved in the deal that led to your grandfather's death. Isabella wasn't part of any of it. In fact, she was mostly kept in the dark about the family's dealings. It seems she was treated more like an outsider than a daughter."
Alex's eyes scanned the report, confirming what Victor had said. Rodrigo and his wife had kept Isabella at arm's length her whole life, never truly involving her in the family's affairs. She had been a pawn, manipulated by the very people who should have protected her. Even her sister Victoria, who had been jealous and manipulative, was part of this toxic dynamic.
Alex's grip on the folder loosened as he exhaled, the weight of his suspicions slowly lifting from his chest. Isabella was innocent in all of this. She had suffered just as much, if not more, at the hands of her own family.
"They never cared about her," Victor continued. "From what I gathered, Isabella was more of a burden to them. Rodrigo favored Victoria, and they used Isabella's mistakes to cover up their own wrongdoings. It's no wonder she left them behind when she had the chance."
Alex's jaw clenched as he thought about the woman who had unwittingly walked into his life. Isabella had been nothing but genuine with him, even when he treated her with coldness and suspicion. And now, knowing that she had been ostracized by her own family, made him feel even more protective of her.
"She didn't deserve any of that," Alex muttered, his voice low and filled with anger toward her family.
Victor nodded. "She's suffered a lot, Alex. I don't think she even knows the full extent of what her family's done. But it's clear that she's not like them."
Alex stood up, pacing the room as he processed everything. His mind raced with thoughts of how to approach the situation. Should he tell her the truth about her family's involvement in his past? Or should he keep it from her, allowing her to finally be free from the pain her family had caused?
Victor interrupted his thoughts. "She doesn't need to know. You could let her be happy, Alex. She deserves some peace after everything she's been through."
Alex stopped pacing, considering Victor's words. Isabella had already been through so much, and revealing her family's dark past would only drag her back into the pain she had fought so hard to escape. It could ruin the fragile happiness she had finally found with him.
But there was also the truth. Could he really keep it from her? Could he live with the lie, knowing her family's betrayal had affected his own?
For the first time, Alex found himself caring more about someone else's happiness than his own thirst for revenge. The old him would have used the information against the De Santos family, but now, all he wanted was to protect Isabella.
"I won't tell her," Alex finally said, his voice firm with resolve. "She doesn't need to know. She's already suffered enough because of them."
Victor gave a small nod of approval. "I think that's the right choice."
As Victor left the office, Alex sat back down, his thoughts turning to Isabella. He thought of the way she smiled when she wasn't burdened by her past, the lightness in her eyes when she wasn't weighed down by pain. He wanted her to keep that happiness, to live without the shadow of her family's sins hanging over her.
From now on, he would protect her—not just from the world, but from the darkness of her own past. She was his, and he would ensure that no one, not even her own family, would hurt her again.