Chapter 3 - The Name on the Paper
Verónica held the torn paper against her chest.
Julián stared at her.
“Give it to me.”
She didn't move.
“Verónica.”
“I can explain.”
“You have ten seconds.”
She looked at me.
Then at the boys.
Then at Julián.
“I was trying to protect this family.”
Tomás shouted:
“You're lying!”
Verónica flinched.
Julián's voice became quiet.
“What was Adriana trying to warn me about?”
Verónica shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
She finally handed him the paper.
Julián unfolded it.
Three words were visible.
Do not trust—
The rest had been torn away.
He looked at the handwriting.
Then suddenly sat down.
“That’s Adriana's handwriting.”
I stared at him.
“Who was she warning you about?”
He didn't answer.
The answer seemed obvious.
But he wasn't ready to say it.
Verónica stepped toward him.
“Julián, please listen to me.”
He moved away.
“You knew about the trust.”
“No.”
“You knew about the box.”
“No.”
“You knew the children had been inside the room.”
“I was trying to find something that could help us.”
“Help us?”
“Yes.”
“What were you looking for?”
She hesitated.
“The red folder.”
Silence.
Julián stared at her.
“Why?”
“I thought it contained evidence that Adriana had changed the trust.”
He laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“You've been searching my dead wife's room.”
“I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
She looked at me.
“From her.”
I frowned.
“From me?”
“Yes.”
Verónica's eyes filled with anger.
“She manipulated your children.”
I stepped back.
The accusation hurt.
But Julián interrupted.
“Enough.”
Verónica stopped.
“You accused Mariana of stealing my watch.”
“I had proof.”
“You planted it.”
Her face went still.
“No.”
Julián looked at the administrator.
“Bring me the security logs.”
The administrator nodded.
“And call the police.”
Verónica's expression changed.
“You wouldn't.”
Julián looked at her.
“I would.”
Then the youngest boy, Bruno, tugged at my sleeve.
“Mari.”
“Yes?”
“There was another thing.”
“What?”
He pointed toward the mansion.
“Under Mommy's bed.”
Julián heard him.
“What was under the bed?”
Bruno whispered:
“A camera.”
Julián froze.
“What kind of camera?”
“A little black one.”
I remembered something.
Weeks earlier, I had found a strange device near the nursery.
Verónica had told me it was part of the security system.
I had believed her.
Julián walked quickly into the house.
We followed.
The old bedroom door was open.
Inside, everything looked untouched.
Except the bed.
Julián dropped to his knees.
He reached underneath.
His fingers found a small device.
He pulled it out.
A hidden camera.
The tiny red light was still blinking.
Julián looked at Verónica.
“Who installed this?”
She backed away.
“I don't know.”
Then the camera made a soft electronic sound.
A recording began playing.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Adriana.
“If you're hearing this, Julián, it means I was right to be afraid.”
Julián stopped moving.
I covered my mouth.
The recording continued.
“I don't know who will find this first.”
Static crackled.
Then Adriana whispered:
“Don't trust the woman standing beside you.”
Verónica screamed.
“Turn it off!”
Julián stared at her.
The recording continued.
“There is one person who has been protecting my children all along.”
The audio cut.
Then a second voice appeared.
A man's voice.
Unknown.
He said one sentence.
May you like
“Mariana Reyes knows where the money is.”
Julián slowly turned toward me.
