Five days.
That was how long Elisa had been missing. Five long days that seemed like centuries to Eduardo, who couldn't sleep, eat, or breathe in peace. The silence of her absence crushed him, and with each call from the kidnappers, his heart bled more.
Sophia, on the contrary, seemed radiant. With each of Eduardo's tears, she became more necessary, more present, more indispensable. Her confidence grew like a well-fed flame. She no longer feared his initial suspicions. Now, she was certain she was winning the game.
One night, she approached with a glass of wine. Eduardo, exhausted, didn't react when she sat beside him.
You need to relax, Eduardo... she said in a low, almost hypnotic tone. If you continue like this, you won't have the strength to save Elisa when the time comes.
He sighed, leaning back on the sofa. Sophia then gently placed her hand on his arm. He didn't pull away.
A discreet smile curved her lips.
