Chapter 4: The Truth Behind Silence
“For six years,” Renata continued, her voice steady, “I stayed quiet.”
She glanced around the table.
“At the comments. The insults. The way you all looked at me like I didn’t belong.”
Her eyes landed on Evangelina.
“You thought silence meant weakness.”
Evangelina’s lips tightened.
“You were nothing before this family.”
Renata smiled.
Finally smiled.
But it didn’t reach her eyes.
“And yet,” she said, “I’m the only reason this family still had a future.”
The investigator stepped forward.
“Mrs. Ibarra—”
Renata shook her head.
“Not anymore.”
A beat.
Then—
“Renata Cruz,” she corrected.
The officers moved.
Not aggressively.
But decisively.
Alonso grabbed her wrist.
“You think this ends well for you?” he hissed.
“They’ll destroy you too.”
Renata gently removed his hand.
May you like
“No,” she said.
“You already tried.”
