Chapter 10 - The Patient Who Changed Everything
I didn't go alone.
I called Sofía.
Then I called the hospital.
Something had changed.
This wasn't only about my marriage anymore.
It involved stolen medical data.
Financial fraud.
Identity theft.
And possibly a criminal network.
But before we could meet Jimena, the hospital called.
Mateo had suddenly deteriorated.
I drove there immediately.
His mother was crying outside the intensive-care unit.
“Doctor, please.”
I entered.
His blood pressure was falling.
The monitors screamed.
I worked with the team for hours.
There was bleeding again.
We operated.
Again.
This time, I refused to think about Álvaro.
I refused to think about Don Ernesto.
I refused to think about money.
There was only Mateo.
One child.
One heart.
One chance.
When the surgery ended, I stepped into the hallway.
Mateo survived.
His mother hugged me.
I closed my eyes.
For the first time in days, I felt like myself.
Then I noticed someone waiting near the elevators.
Jimena.
She looked terrified.
“What are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you.”
“Why?”
She handed me a small envelope.
“I didn't know what else to do.”
Inside was a key.
“What is this?”
“Locker 417.”
“Where?”
“The old financial office.”
I looked at her.
“What is inside?”
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
She looked around.
“Your father-in-law wasn't the one who started this.”
I felt a chill.
“Who did?”
Jimena's eyes filled with tears.
“Álvaro.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He knew everything before you married him.”
“That isn't possible.”
“I saw the original documents.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He thought he could control it.”
“Control what?”
“The debt.”
She stepped closer.
“He believed if he married you, your credit and reputation could save the family.”
My heart stopped.
“You're saying he married me for my money?”
Jimena shook her head.
“At first.”
“At first?”
“Then he fell in love.”
I almost laughed.
“How convenient.”
She looked devastated.
“I hated what he did.”
“Then why did you help?”
“Because Dad threatened me too.”
“Threatened you with what?”
She looked toward the hospital doors.
“My son.”
I froze.
Jimena had a son.
A child she had kept away from the family.
“Where is he?”
She didn't answer.
Then she whispered:
“Your husband knows.”
I felt the ground shift beneath me.
“Jimena, where is your son?”
Before she could respond, Álvaro appeared at the end of the hallway.
He saw us.
His face changed.
Jimena stepped backward.
Álvaro called her name.
She ran.
He turned to me.
“Mariana.”
I held up the key.
His face went white.
“Where did you get that?”
“Locker 417.”
He stared at me.
Then whispered:
“Don't open it.”
I took one step toward him.
“Why?”
“Because what's inside will destroy all of us.”
May you like
I closed my fingers around the key.
And walked toward the elevator.
