The Girl He Didn't See

Ivanna was the one who wanted to meet.

Noemi flashed back—downtown café, across the table, Ivanna all sugar-sweet with something sharp hiding underneath.

"It's been two years," she'd said, smiling like a cat. "Now that I'm back, it's time you gave Daniel back."

Noemi eyed her. "Did you get divorced?"

The flicker in Ivanna's face said it all.

"Back then, you wouldn't even set foot in Montavia. Why now?"

No answer. Just cold eyes. Then she dipped.

Noemi hadn't thought much of it—until now.

Pale and shaky, she dragged herself onto the bed and knelt beside Daniel, fingers clutching his sleeve.

"Daniel, please. She asked to meet. We just had coffee. I swear I didn't touch her."

He didn't budge. Just clenched his jaw.

Then he pulled her hand off, face darkening.

"You're faking being sick to cover what you did, aren't you?"

"I didn't..."

Tears streamed as she shook her head. "We can check the cameras. I didn't do anything."

Daniel inhaled sharply, trying to keep it together. "Alright. We'll go off the facts."

He called his assistant.

"Juan, check the café stairwell footage from today. I want everything."

Raul stepped in, catching the tension. "What's going on?"

Noemi gave him the short version. Raul let out a heavy sigh.

He clapped a hand on Daniel's shoulder, firm. "Noemi's not like that."

Yeah, Daniel had changed after two years in the dark. But Noemi? She'd been the same—steady, kind, never giving up on him. Raul had watched her love that guy, even when he didn't deserve it.

A girl who kissed their marriage certificate like it meant everything? No way she pushed anyone.

After a while, Juan sent over the footage.

Daniel hit play on the voice message. Juan's voice shook. "M-Mr. Gomez... the video shows M-Mrs. Gomez pushing Ms. Lopez down the stairs."

"No way!" Noemi darted over, Raul close behind as she replayed the clip.

There it was—someone in her exact outfit shoving Ivanna hard at the stairwell landing.

It looked legit. Too legit.

But how?

Noemi's head pounded. Eyes red, she replayed it again and again, searching for anything off.

"Daniel, it's fake. Someone edited it. Please, just—"

Smack.

His hand cracked across her face.

Her cheek ballooned. Blood trickled from her lip. He didn't hold back.

Raul shot up. "What the hell, Daniel?!"

Daniel didn't even blink. Frozen solid, eyes dead cold.

He grabbed Noemi's wrist and yanked her hard.

No warning, no words—just dragged her down the hall and straight down the stairs.

She stumbled the whole way, knees and arms catching bruises. He didn't stop, didn't slow down.

At the car, he shoved her in and barked at the driver.

"To the hospital."