Chapter 10 - What My Father Had Left Me
“Lucía.”
The name meant nothing to me.
Ofelia looked terrified.
“Who is Lucía?”
She stared at Rodrigo.
He wouldn't answer.
“Who is Lucía?” I repeated.
Ofelia's face hardened.
“No one.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
She stepped toward me.
“Give me that document.”
“No.”
“Mariana.”
“No.”
Her voice changed.
“You don't understand what you're holding.”
“Then explain it.”
Silence.
Rodrigo looked at his mother.
“You told me she would never find it.”
Ofelia's eyes flashed.
“You were supposed to destroy it.”
Rodrigo shook his head.
“I couldn't.”
“You always were weak.”
I looked between them.
“You're done.”
Ofelia laughed.
“You think a few papers will save you?”
“No.”
I held up my phone.
“The recording will.”
She froze.
Emilia had secretly recorded the entire conversation.
Ofelia realized it too late.
She turned toward the door.
Security arrived minutes later.
But she wasn't arrested.
Not yet.
We needed more.
The original agreement revealed that Rodrigo had been recruited seven years before our wedding.
His task was simple.
Gain my trust.
Marry me.
Obtain access to my father's financial structure.
But the plan changed when my father discovered them.
I read the final page.
It contained one sentence.
If anything happens to me, Mariana must never know the identity of the person who ordered it.
I stared at the words.
“Who ordered it?”
Rodrigo whispered:
“Lucía.”
“Who is she?”
He looked at me.
“Your father's sister.”
I froze.
“My aunt?”
“You were told she died.”
“She did.”
“No.”
Rodrigo shook his head.
“She disappeared.”
Gabriel confirmed it.
“She left Mexico years ago.”
“Why?”
“Because your father accused her of stealing from the company.”
I sat down.
Everything was connected.
The money.
The companies.
The forged documents.
The hidden phone.
But why had she remained hidden?
Then Emilia found another file.
A passport record.
Lucía Salgado had traveled under another name.
She had returned to Mexico three months before Renata's birth.
My stomach tightened.
“She was here.”
“Where?”
Emilia turned the laptop toward me.
A hotel.
Near my house.
I felt a chill.
“She has been watching us.”
Rodrigo said nothing.
“Did you know?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because she threatened to kill you.”
The room went silent.
“That's why you obeyed?”
He nodded.
“I thought I could protect you.”
“You nearly destroyed me.”
“I know.”
I looked at Renata.
Then at the documents.
Then at Rodrigo.
“I need the truth.”
He closed his eyes.
“Your father found proof that Lucía was stealing from the family.”
“And?”
“She planned to take everything.”
“What happened the night he died?”
Rodrigo stared at the floor.
“I was there.”
My breath stopped.
“What?”
“I was there.”
“You watched?”
“I tried to stop them.”
“Who was there?”
“Lucía.”
“Who else?”
“Ofelia.”
“Varela?”
“Yes.”
My hands shook.
“Then why did you marry me?”
“Because Lucía told me if I didn't, she would destroy you.”
“And you believed her?”
“I was afraid.”
I stood.
“You were supposed to protect me.”
“I failed.”
For once, I believed him.
But forgiveness was not the same as trust.
That night, Emilia called.
“Mariana.”
“What?”
“We found Lucía.”
“Where?”
“At the airport.”
My heart raced.
“She's leaving?”
“No.”
“She arrived.”
“Where is she going?”
Emilia paused.
“Your house.”
I looked toward the hallway.
The front doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then someone knocked.
I walked toward it.
My hand reached for the handle.
May you like
And a woman's voice whispered through the door:
“Mariana, I'm your aunt.”
