Chapter 2: The Truth Unveiled
“Valeria,” my father said, finally looking at me.
Not with pity.
Not with shock.
But with something far worse—quiet understanding.
“You should have told me.”
My throat tightened. “I thought I could fix it.”
“You were never meant to endure it.”
Behind him, one of the security guards placed a tablet on the table. The screen lit up.
Footage.
Clear. Undeniable.
Santiago shouting. Advancing. Raising his hand.
Beatriz watching.
Smiling.
The room turned colder.
“This recording,” the second attorney said, “along with additional evidence already submitted, constitutes grounds for immediate criminal charges—domestic abuse, conspiracy, fraud, and attempted unlawful institutionalization.”
Beatriz staggered back a step.
“You don’t have proof of—”
Another video played.
Her signature.
Her voice.
Her plan.
For the first time, fear replaced arrogance.
Santiago looked at me.
“You did this?”
May you like
I met his gaze, steady now.
“No,” I said softly. “You did.”
