.
But his jaw tightened.
The warmth in his face slowly faded.
Then he leaned slightly toward Valeria.
“Can I ask you for a strange favor?”
She frowned.
“What kind of favor?”
Alejandro looked discreetly toward the aisle, then toward the young man’s phone.
“Could you pretend to fall asleep on my shoulder?”
Valeria nearly laughed out loud.
“What?”
“I know it sounds odd,” he said quietly. “But those people are trying to record me. If they think we’re just an exhausted family traveling with a baby, they may lose interest.”
Valeria knew she should refuse.
She had just escaped a marriage filled with lies.
She was alone with her baby.
Trusting a stranger made no sense.
But there was something in Alejandro’s eyes.
Not arrogance.
Not manipulation.
Only weariness… and a fear that felt painfully real.
So Valeria adjusted Sofia in her arms and slowly rested her head against his shoulder.
The change was instant.
The young man lowered his phone.
The two girls stopped staring.
The irritated woman behind them turned away.
Alejandro released a quiet breath.
“Thank you…”
Valeria meant to move away after a few seconds.
But exhaustion pulled her under before she could.
She fell into a deep sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, the plane was already descending toward Felipe Ángeles International Airport.
Alejandro had not moved.
He had stayed in the exact same position so he would not wake her.
“You slept almost two hours,” he said with a faint smile.
Valeria sat up quickly.
“I’m sorry. Your shoulder must be completely numb.”
He gave a soft laugh.
“Believe me, I’ve been through worse.”
Just before landing, a flight attendant approached them quietly.
“Mr. Montenegro, your security team is waiting for you at the platform.”
Valeria’s eyes widened.
Security team?
Alejandro closed his eyes for a second, as if he had hoped to delay that moment.
Then he looked at her.
