The Stranger

Chapter 29 - Cassandra

I had only just arrived at my apartment a few minutes ago and was sitting with my laptop open on the dining table. The screen displayed a beautiful wallpaper of a place I'd never been, but I wasn't really seeing it. My gaze drifted toward the view of the river out the window as I questioned whether I really wanted to know what Alex was hiding. I knew I should have gone to him first, but I didn't want to give him a chance to spin a story. After all, it wasn't just one person warning me—both John and Valeria, two people who didn't even know each other, had suggested there was something shady about Alex.

My phone was sitting on silent mode next to my laptop on the table. I had no messages, and I didn't want to receive any. The manila folder that John gave me next to it. Unopened.

Maybe I should go straight to Alex instead I thought for a moment. But then Valeria's and John's warnings echoed in my mind:

"Behind that handsome face and his charming demeanour, there is a dark side. Don't get sucked into it."

"He abused her. Physically. He hurt her."

I decided to search what happened between Alex and Valeria before confronting him. So, I opened the search engine and typed her name and Alex's name and the word "divorcio".

Immediately, a flood of images and articles appeared. Valeria's pictures dominated the results—she was stunning. But there weren't many photos of Alex, either with her or alone. I clicked on the first article that seemed relevant.

"Renowned flamenco dancer Valeria Rossi has announced her separation from husband Alejandro Dominguez amid allegations of physical abuse. The celebrated artist, known for her passionate performances and breathtaking beauty, filed for divorce in Madrid on Friday. Rossi, whose grace on stage has captivated audiences worldwide, has revealed that Dominguez subjected her to years of abuse behind closed doors. The shocking news has prompted an outpouring of support from fans and fellow artists alike, who are rallying around Rossi as she seeks legal protection and aims to rebuild her life free from violence. Dominguez has yet to comment on the allegations."

My chest tightened as I read the words. Womanizer, Abuser, The Beauty and the Handsome Beast—these were the phrases that kept cropping up in the translated articles. I scrolled through another headline that caught my attention:

"Valeria Rossi, the illustrious flamenco dancer famed for her stunning beauty and electrifying performances, has filed for divorce from her husband Alejandro Dominguez, citing his infidelity and physical abuse. The couple, once the epitome of passion and elegance despite his low-key public persona, has been plagued by Dominguez's alleged womanizing ways. Rossi, speaking through her lawyer, claims that Dominguez, whose striking looks have made him a magnet for attention, engaged in numerous affairs throughout their marriage. The news has sent shockwaves through the flamenco community and beyond, with supporters expressing their sympathy for Rossi as she navigates this difficult chapter. Dominguez, faithful to his private profile and who rarely engages with the media, has not responded to the allegations, leaving fans and media speculating about the future of this high-profile couple."

I was lost for words. I was thankful for John and for Valeria for warning me before being too late, but I had to go confront Alex about this. I printed the news articles and placed them in the folder with the information John had given me and I made my way to confront him about this, secretly hoping it was all a mistake.