Chapter 12 - The Night Álvaro Confessed
I confronted Álvaro that night.
He was sitting alone in the dark.
I turned on the lights.
He looked exhausted.
“Tell me everything.”
He didn't ask what I meant.
Maybe he knew the time had come.
“I met you because my father wanted me to.”
I closed my eyes.
“When?”
“Before our first date.”
“Why?”
“Your credit.”
I nodded slowly.
“Go on.”
“He needed someone whose identity was clean.”
“And you agreed.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I thought I could fix it.”
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
The word was almost inaudible.
I felt tears in my eyes.
“Did you ever love me?”
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“The first time you talked about Mateo.”
I froze.
“You remember?”
“You told me about a child you'd lost during surgery training. You cried because you thought you should have done more.”
His voice broke.
“That was the first time I realized I couldn't treat you like a transaction.”
I looked away.
“You still did.”
“I know.”
He handed me a folder.
Inside were documents proving that he had tried to move assets away from Norte Alto.
He had been preparing to expose his father.
But he had failed.
“Why?”
“Because Dad threatened Daniel.”
“And Jimena?”
“She was threatened with losing her son.”
“Esteban?”
“Not the real enemy.”
“Who is?”
Álvaro looked at me.
“Jimena.”
I stared at him.
“But she told me—”
“She has been playing both sides.”
“Why?”
“Because she believes Dad destroyed her life.”
“What does she want?”
“Control.”
I shook my head.
“She killed Mateo's father?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Álvaro hesitated.
“Her partner.”
I felt sick.
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
Then the front door opened.
Jimena walked inside.
She was holding a gun.
I froze.
Álvaro stood slowly.
“Jimena.”
She pointed it at him.
“You should have stayed quiet.”
I stepped backward.
“Put it down.”
She looked at me.
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
“Then don't.”
“You don't understand.”
“Explain.”
She laughed through tears.
“Dad took everything from me.”
“Your son?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
“Safe.”
“Where?”
She looked at Álvaro.
“He knows.”
Álvaro said:
“Jimena, it's over.”
“No.”
She raised the gun.
Then suddenly a loud crash came from the hallway.
Someone had broken the front door.
Jimena turned.
Álvaro grabbed my arm.
And from outside, a man's voice shouted:
“Mariana!”
It was Esteban.
But he wasn't alone.
May you like
Behind him stood police officers.
And one of them was carrying a document with my name on it.
