Chapter 11 - Nine Days
The threat changed everything.
Diego moved Marisol and Valentina to a secure penthouse in Santa Fe.
Only a small number of people knew the location.
Valentina believed they were on an adventure.
She built a tent from blankets and asked Diego to crawl inside.
For the first time in days, he laughed.
Marisol watched them from the kitchen doorway.
Diego lay on the floor in an expensive suit while Valentina placed a paper crown on his head.
“You are king,” she said.
“What are you?”
“Rabbit doctor.”
Diego nodded solemnly.
“Very important work.”
Marisol smiled.
Then she remembered the threat.
The smile disappeared.
Later that night, Diego found her on the balcony.
“You should sleep.”
“I close my eyes and see that room where Paulina held her.”
“She is safe.”
“For now.”
Diego stood beside her.
“I will not let anyone take her again.”
“You cannot promise that.”
“No. But I can promise I will stand beside you.”
Marisol looked at him.
“Why did your father change the trust before he died?”
“To protect an heir.”
“Maybe he knew about Valentina.”
Diego considered it.
Rafael had watched Marisol throughout the pregnancy. Alejandro might have discovered the truth.
“If he knew, he never contacted me.”
“Maybe he planned to.”
A message arrived on Diego’s phone.
It contained security footage from the clinic.
A woman in a hat had left the building one hour before investigators arrived.
Facial recognition matched her to an older version of Lucía Robles.
She was alive.
The footage also showed another person entering the clinic earlier that week.
Teresa.
Diego stared at the screen.
The housekeeper who had cared for him since childhood.
The woman who had been alone with Valentina when she disappeared.
He called security.
“Bring Teresa to the penthouse.”
She arrived an hour later.
The elderly woman looked tired but unsurprised.
“You went to the clinic,” Diego said.
“Yes.”
“You know Lucía.”
“Yes.”
Marisol stepped closer.
“Did you help kidnap Valentina?”
Teresa’s face filled with pain.
“No. I tried to stop them.”
“Then explain.”
Teresa sat slowly.
“Lucía is my sister.”
Diego felt the ground shift again.
“She came to me after Alejandro died. She was terrified. Rafael and Octavio had forced her to prepare the poison, then threatened Paulina if she spoke.”
“Why did she disappear?”
“To protect her daughter.”
“And why is she threatening mine?”
“She did not write that message.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Lucía contacted me after seeing Valentina’s photograph. She said Rafael planned to kill the child before her fourth birthday.”
Marisol’s voice trembled.
“Why four?”
“The heir clause becomes permanent when the child turns four. Before then, the board can challenge paternity and guardianship. Afterward, her shares become irrevocable.”
Diego paced.
“Where is Lucía now?”
“She asked me to meet her at the clinic. When I arrived, the room had been searched. She was gone.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
“I was afraid you would think I betrayed you.”
“You did betray me by remaining silent.”
Teresa lowered her head.
“Yes.”
Valentina appeared in the hallway, awakened by the voices.
She ran to Teresa.
“Why are you sad?”
Teresa hugged her.
“I made mistakes.”
Valentina touched her cheek.
“Mamá says sorry helps.”
Marisol looked away, fighting tears.
Teresa removed a key from her necklace.
“Lucía gave me this years ago. She said it opened the last place Alejandro hid evidence.”
“Where?”
“The chapel beneath the Villaseñor family estate.”
Diego’s childhood estate had been closed since his father’s funeral.
At midnight, they traveled there under police escort.
The chapel stood beyond an overgrown garden.
Beneath the altar, the key opened a stone compartment.
Inside was a small recorder.
Diego pressed play.
His father’s voice filled the chapel.
“If you are hearing this, then I failed.”
Diego closed his eyes.
Alejandro continued.
“Rafael Ortega and Octavio Robles have stolen from both families. Lucía was forced to help them poison me. She is not innocent, but she is also not free.”
A pause.
“There is something Diego must know. Marisol Herrera is carrying his child.”
Marisol covered her mouth.
Alejandro had known.
“I sent Teresa to protect her. But Rafael discovered my plan. If the child survives, she will inherit enough power to expose them all.”
The recording crackled.
“Diego, forgive me. I mistook control for love. Do not repeat my failure.”
The recording ended.
Then a second voice came through.
Lucía.
“Rafael has taken me. He is going to the birthday celebration.”
Marisol looked at the date on the recorder display.
The message had been added that afternoon.
Someone knew they would find it.
May you like
And Valentina’s birthday celebration had already been announced to the public.
---
