But a second later, the edge of the “skin” began to separate.
Sofia screamed and backed toward the bed.
Victor slowly removed a thick silicone covering that had completely concealed his body from his neck to his thighs. His enormous stomach, folds of skin, and even some of the scars had been artificial disguises, so realistic that practically anyone could have been fooled.
A completely different man stood before Sofia.
Young, tall, and athletic.
“Who are you?..” she barely managed to say.
“Victor Alvarez,” the man replied. “But now you need to learn my darkest secret.”
Three years earlier, Victor had nearly died in an assassination attempt. That was when he realized that someone among his closest relatives wanted to take control of his fortune.
So Victor staged the appearance of severe illness and began appearing in public wearing a special suit. He wanted to look like a
