Chapter 2 — The Accident That Stole His Past
Chapter 2 — The Accident That Stole His Past
The rain had not stopped by morning.
It hammered against the windows of the Villaseñor mansion, turning the gardens into a blur of gray.
Diego stood beside the glass, staring at the city.
He had not slept.
Not after the phone call.
Not after discovering that someone had stolen his DNA results.
And certainly not after hearing the words that had changed everything.
The accident wasn't an accident.
Behind him, Marisol entered quietly.
“You haven't slept.”
Diego didn't turn.
“Neither have you.”
She looked at him.
“I was with Valentina.”
“She needs you.”
“She needs both of us now.”
The words hung between them.
Both of us.
Three years ago, Marisol would have dreamed of hearing those words.
Now they terrified her.
Because getting Diego back meant reopening every wound she had spent three years trying to close.
Diego finally turned.
“I want the truth.”
Marisol nodded.
“Then you need to hear it from the beginning.”
“I do.”
She took a breath.
“It started before you ever knew you loved me.”
Five years earlier, Marisol had never imagined she would meet a man like Diego Villaseñor.
She worked at a small café in Polanco.
The café wasn't elegant.
The chairs didn't match.
The air conditioner broke every other week.
But Marisol loved it.
She loved the smell of coffee.
She loved the morning rush.
And she loved watching people who believed they were too important to wait in line become increasingly impatient.
Then Diego walked in.
He was twenty-nine.
Already wealthy.
Already famous.
Already surrounded by people who wanted something from him.
He entered wearing a dark suit.
Two assistants followed.
A phone was pressed to his ear.
“Move the meeting to three.”
He stopped at the counter.
“I'm sorry, sir,” Marisol said. “The line starts there.”
Diego looked at her.
“I don't have time.”
“Neither do the people waiting behind you.”
One of his assistants nearly laughed.
Diego stared.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.
“You're serious.”
“Very.”
“What if I offer to pay for everyone?”
Marisol folded her arms.
“Then you can still wait.”
That was the first time Diego laughed in her presence.
He stayed.
Ten minutes.
Fifteen.
Twenty.
When he finally reached the counter, Marisol looked at him.
“What would you like?”
“Whatever you recommend.”
“You trust me?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
She made him coffee.
He took one sip.
“This is terrible.”
Marisol laughed.
“You asked me to choose.”
“I was expecting something better.”
“You should have chosen for yourself.”
He came back the next day.
And the day after.
Soon, everyone at the café knew.
The billionaire wasn't coming for coffee.
He was coming for Marisol.
Their relationship was never simple.
Diego's family hated it.
His father believed Marisol was beneath him.
His mother said nothing directly.
She simply reminded Diego that powerful families married powerful families.
Paulina wasn't yet his fiancée.
But she was already around.
She had known the Villaseñors for years.
And she had always believed Diego would eventually choose someone like her.
Then Marisol appeared.
A woman with no money.
No family influence.
No famous surname.
But something Paulina couldn't buy.
Diego loved her.
One evening, he took Marisol to the lake outside the city.
There was no security.
No assistants.
No business calls.
Just the two of them.
He brought a red blanket.
Marisol laughed when she saw it.
“Red?”
“You said you liked red.”
“I said I liked roses.”
“Same thing.”
“No, it isn't.”
He spread the blanket.
She sat down.
“You're terrible at listening.”
“I listen.”
“To what?”
“To you.”
She looked at him.
He took her hand.
“That's why I brought you here.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to tell you something without my family, my lawyers, or my company interfering.”
Marisol smiled.
“What?”
“I love you.”
She froze.
Diego continued.
“I don't know what my father will say.”
“I know.”
“I don't know what my mother will do.”
“I know.”
“And I don't know what happens next.”
Marisol looked at him.
“But?”
He smiled.
“But I know I want you.”
She leaned against him.
“I don't need your money.”
“I know.”
“I don't want your hotels.”
“I know.”
“I don't care about your name.”
“I know.”
“Then what can you give me?”
Diego kissed her forehead.
“Everything I actually have.”
Three months later, Marisol discovered she was pregnant.
She was terrified.
She waited until Diego returned from a business trip.
When he entered the apartment, she was standing by the window.
He immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
She held out the pregnancy test.
Diego stared at it.
Then at her.
“You're pregnant?”
She nodded.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Then he laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because he was overwhelmed.
He crossed the room.
He lifted her into his arms.
“We're having a baby.”
Marisol laughed through her tears.
“You're not angry?”
“Angry?”
He kissed her.
“I'm terrified.”
She smiled.
“Me too.”
He placed his hand against her stomach.
“Do you think it's a boy?”
“Maybe.”
“I hope it's a girl.”
“Why?”
“Because I'll spoil her.”
Marisol laughed.
“You'll spoil the entire family.”
“Probably.”
He looked at her.
“Marisol, I'm going to marry you.”
Her smile disappeared.
“What?”
“I mean it.”
“Diego…”
“I'll tell my family tonight.”
She shook her head.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her.
“I've never been more sure of anything.”
Neither of them knew someone was listening.
That night, Diego returned to his family's mansion.
His father was waiting.
“You're marrying her?”
Diego stared.
“Who told you?”
“Your mother.”
His father stood.
“You will not marry that woman.”
“She has a name.”
“This family has a reputation.”
“I don't care.”
“You will.”
Diego's expression hardened.
“You don't control my life.”
His father stepped closer.
“You think money makes you independent?”
“No.”
“You are wrong.”
He placed a folder on the desk.
Inside were photographs.
Marisol.
Her workplace.
Her apartment.
Her friends.
Diego's face went cold.
“You investigated her.”
“I protect this family.”
“You stalked her.”
“I warned you.”
Diego threw the folder across the room.
“If you touch her—”
“I won't.”
His father smiled.
“Someone else will.”
Diego froze.
“What does that mean?”
“You'll understand soon.”
Two days later, Diego received an anonymous message.
Leave Marisol or she dies.
He thought it was a threat from a business rival.
He didn't tell Marisol.
Instead, he increased security.
But the threats continued.
A car followed him.
Someone broke into his office.
His phone was hacked.
Then Marisol received a message.
He will choose his family over you.
She deleted it.
She didn't tell Diego either.
They both tried to protect each other.
And that silence became the weapon used against them.
The night of the accident began normally.
Diego had planned to meet Marisol.
He was carrying a small box.
Inside was an engagement ring.
He had decided not to wait.
He wanted to propose that night.
But before he reached her apartment, his phone rang.
It was his mother.
“Diego, your father is having chest pains.”
He immediately turned the car around.
He called Marisol.
No answer.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
He left a message.
“I'm sorry. I'll explain everything.”
Then another message arrived.
Unknown number.
Come alone.
He ignored it.
Then a photograph appeared.
Marisol standing outside her apartment.
And beneath it:
If you want her alive, come to the old mountain road.
Diego's blood ran cold.
He turned the car.
At the same time, Marisol was waiting.
She had prepared dinner.
She had prepared a small gift.
She had even written a note.
I love you.
She waited until midnight.
Diego never came.
At 1:13 a.m., she received a call.
“Are you Marisol Hernández?”
“Yes.”
“There has been an accident.”
Her world ended.
The next morning, she arrived at the hospital.
Diego was alive.
Barely.
She tried to enter.
Paulina stopped her.
“You need to leave.”
Marisol stared at her.
“I need to see him.”
“He doesn't know you.”
“He will.”
“No.”
Paulina's voice was strangely calm.
“He won't.”
“What did you do?”
Paulina smiled.
“Nothing.”
“Where is his family?”
“Inside.”
“I am his girlfriend.”
Paulina stepped closer.
“You were.”
Marisol's eyes filled with tears.
“Why are you doing this?”
Paulina whispered:
“Because he was always supposed to marry me.”
Back in the present, Diego sat motionless.
Marisol had finished telling him everything.
His face was pale.
“You received a message that night?”
“Yes.”
“Show me.”
“I don't have it anymore.”
“Why?”
“I changed phones.”
Diego stood.
“Did you tell anyone?”
“No.”
“Did Paulina know about it?”
“I don't know.”
He paced across the room.
“What happened to the car?”
“I don't know.”
“The police report?”
“I never saw it.”
Diego stopped.
“Neither did I.”
Marisol looked at him.
“What?”
“I've never seen the original accident report.”
He reached for his phone.
“Call my lawyer.”
Within minutes, the lawyer arrived.
Diego asked:
“I want the complete accident file.”
The lawyer hesitated.
“I'll have it retrieved.”
“From where?”
“Company archives.”
“Why would my accident report be in company archives?”
The lawyer looked uncomfortable.
“Because your father handled everything.”
Diego's expression darkened.
“My father.”
“Yes.”
That afternoon, Diego visited the old Villaseñor family estate.
The study had been locked since his father's death.
He opened it using an old key.
Inside, dust covered everything.
He searched for an hour.
Then found a metal box hidden behind a bookshelf.
Inside were documents.
Bank records.
Insurance papers.
A copy of his medical report.
And a photograph.
Diego picked it up.
His car.
Wrecked against a barrier.
But something was wrong.
He studied the photograph.
There were no skid marks.
No evidence of sudden braking.
He turned the photograph over.
A handwritten note read:
BRAKES FAILED BEFORE IMPACT.
Diego's blood ran cold.
His father had always told him the accident was caused by excessive speed.
But the photograph said something else.
The brakes had failed.
He opened the medical report.
There was another detail.
Evidence of sedative medication in patient's bloodstream.
Diego stared.
“No.”
He read it again.
Sedatives.
Someone had drugged him.
Then disabled his brakes.
Then sent him to that mountain road.
The accident had not been an accident.
It had been an attempt to kill him.
And Marisol had been used as bait.
A sound came from behind him.
Diego turned.
Paulina stood in the doorway.
She looked frightened.
“What are you doing here?”
He held up the medical report.
“Did you know?”
She stared at it.
“Know what?”
“That someone tried to kill me.”
Paulina's face went white.
“Diego…”
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Look at me.”
She did.
“Did you know?”
Tears appeared in her eyes.
“I knew there was a plan.”
His entire body froze.
“What plan?”
“I didn't know they would kill you.”
“Who?”
She shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Who?”
Paulina backed away.
“Your father.”
Diego stopped breathing.
“My father?”
“He wanted you to marry me.”
“And if I refused?”
“He would destroy Marisol.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“You knew about the pregnancy?”
Paulina closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“And you let me believe she abandoned me?”
“Yes.”
Diego stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because I loved you.”
“No.”
His voice became ice.
“You loved what I represented.”
Paulina cried.
“I was afraid.”
“You should have been.”
He walked toward her.
“You didn't just steal three years from me.”
He held up the medical report.
“You helped steal my life.”
Paulina's tears stopped.
For the first time, her face became cold.
“You think I'm the villain?”
Diego stared.
“You are.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don't know anything.”
“Then tell me.”
“You think your father did everything?”
“Yes.”
Paulina laughed bitterly.
“He wasn't alone.”
Diego's expression changed.
“Who?”
She looked toward the door.
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because they're still alive.”
Silence.
“Who?”
Paulina whispered a name.
And Diego's face went pale.
Because it wasn't a stranger.
It wasn't a business rival.
It wasn't someone outside his family.
It was someone he had trusted for years.
Someone who had been standing beside him long before the accident.
Someone who had watched Marisol disappear.
Someone who had smiled at Valentina.
Someone who had never once admitted knowing the truth.
Diego whispered:
“No.”
Paulina looked at him.
“Yes.”
Then she walked away.
Leaving Diego alone with the truth.
That evening, Diego returned home.
Marisol was waiting in the garden.
She immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
He sat beside her.
“I remember the night of the accident.”
Her face changed.
“What do you remember?”
“Someone called me.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Why?”
“They said you were in danger.”
Marisol's eyes widened.
“You?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“They used you to lure me there.”
She covered her mouth.
“And then?”
“My brakes failed.”
Marisol started crying.
“Diego…”
He took her hand.
“Someone tried to kill me.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because I was going to marry you.”
Marisol closed her eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“And because you were pregnant.”
He squeezed her hand.
“I should have protected you.”
“You were trying.”
“I should have told you about the threats.”
“I should have told you about mine.”
They looked at each other.
For the first time, they understood.
They had both been trying to protect the other.
And their silence had allowed their enemies to separate them.
Diego leaned closer.
“I don't want secrets anymore.”
Marisol nodded.
“Neither do I.”
He looked toward the house.
Valentina was asleep upstairs.
“She deserves the truth.”
“Yes.”
“She deserves a family.”
Marisol looked at him.
“She has one.”
Diego smiled.
“Does she?”
Marisol's eyes met his.
“Yes.”
He reached for her hand.
This time, she didn't pull away.
But neither of them noticed the figure standing behind the curtains.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
The person who had helped cause the accident was still inside the mansion.
And they knew Diego had remembered too much.
The next morning, the first envelope arrived.
It contained a single photograph.
Diego and Marisol at the lake.
The same red blanket.
The same smile.
The same love.
But written across the photograph in black ink were six words:
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED FORGOTTEN, DIEGO.
He stared at it.
Then looked toward Marisol.
For the first time, he understood.
The accident had stolen his past.
But someone had spent three years making sure he never found it.
May you like
And now that he had...
they were terrified of what he might remember next.
