Chapter 6 - THE FRIEND AT THE TABLE
Sebastian Cross had eaten Christmas dinner at Roberto’s home for eleven years.
He had attended Elena’s funeral.
He had carried Sofía when she was a toddler.
He had stood beside Roberto at his wedding to Vanessa.
That evening, Roberto invited him to dinner.
Sebastian arrived at seven wearing the same relaxed smile he always wore.
“I heard things got dramatic last night.”
Roberto poured him a drink.
“Who told you?”
Sebastian hesitated.
“Vanessa.”
Roberto nodded as though the answer meant nothing.
They sat in the library.
“You handled Vanessa’s legal affairs before we met.”
Sebastian stopped lifting his glass.
“What?”
“Richard Bell.”
The silence answered first.
Sebastian set the glass down.
“That was confidential.”
“So it’s true.”
“I represented her briefly.”
“You never thought to mention that before I married her?”
“It was years ago.”
“A man died.”
“People die, Roberto.”
“You helped Vanessa try to control his son’s inheritance.”
Sebastian’s face hardened.
“You’re making this sound sinister.”
“How should I make it sound?”
“Like legal work.”
Roberto leaned forward.
“Did you introduce Vanessa to me?”
Sebastian said nothing.
Roberto remembered the charity auction.
Sebastian had invited Vanessa.
Sebastian had seated her beside Roberto.
At the time it had seemed accidental.
Now nothing felt accidental.
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you were alone.”
Sebastian exhaled.
“Elena had been gone two years.”
“You were destroying yourself with work.”
“Sofía needed stability.”
Roberto stared at him.
“And Vanessa needed a wealthy widower?”
“That’s insulting.”
“To who?”
Sebastian stood.
“You’re angry.”
“You should be careful before accusing people.”
Roberto remained seated.
“Sit down.”
Something in his tone worked.
Sebastian sat.
“Did Vanessa ask you about my medical power of attorney?”
Sebastian’s eyes shifted.
That was enough.
Roberto felt the final piece settle into place.
“You knew.”
“I knew she had questions.”
“About what happens if I become incapacitated.”
“She is your wife.”
“She was asking reasonable questions.”
“She was drugging my daughter.”
Sebastian went pale.
Roberto watched him carefully.
That reaction looked real.
“What did you say?”
“She was drugging Sofía.”
Sebastian stood again.
“No.”
“We have video.”
He began pacing.
“No.”
“No, that wasn’t part of anything.”
Roberto caught the wording.
“Part of anything?”
Sebastian stopped.
The room changed.
Roberto slowly stood.
“What were you part of?”
Sebastian’s face collapsed.
“Roberto.”
“What were you part of?”
“I helped her with documents.”
“What documents?”
“She said she wanted protection.”
“Protection from what?”
“You.”
Roberto laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
Sebastian continued quickly.
“She told me your grief had made you unstable.”
“She said your obsession with Sofía was hurting the marriage.”
“So you helped her?”
“I drafted contingency documents.”
“Power of attorney.”
“Temporary guardianship.”
“Asset access.”
Roberto’s hands shook with rage.
“Did I sign them?”
Sebastian looked away.
“Some.”
“Did I know what I was signing?”
Silence.
Roberto stepped closer.
“Did I know?”
“No.”
The word was barely audible.
Sebastian had buried clauses inside routine corporate paperwork.
Vanessa had not merely manipulated Roberto emotionally.
She had built a legal cage around him.
Then Sebastian whispered something worse.
“She has one document you haven’t seen.”
“What document?”
“A psychiatric declaration.”
Roberto stared at him.
Sebastian swallowed.
“If two doctors sign it, Vanessa can activate temporary control of your personal assets.”
“Has anyone signed it?”
“One doctor already has.”
Roberto’s phone rang.
It was María.
He answered immediately.
Her voice was frantic.
“Mr. Roberto.”
May you like
“Sofía is gone.”
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