Chapter 3: The Secret Behind The Villalobos Name
Mateo sat in the hospital chair like a man waiting for a sentence.
My mother stood beside the window.
I had never seen her look afraid.
Not when Doña Carmela insulted her.
Not when doctors rushed me into surgery.
Not even when she discovered her daughter had been abused.
But now?
She looked serious.
“What truth?”” she repeated.
Mateo rubbed his hands together.
“My father…”
He stopped.
My mother’s eyes narrowed.
“Continue.””
“My father destroyed one of your companies twenty years ago.””
The room went silent.
I looked at my mother.
She didn't react.
That frightened me more.
“What are you saying?”” I asked.
Mateo looked at me.
“My family knew who you were.””
I felt cold.
“No.””
He closed his eyes.
“I didn't know at first.””
“Then when did you know?””
He hesitated.
That hesitation answered everything.
“When?””
“Six months ago.””
My chest tightened.
Six months.
The exact time I became pregnant.
“You knew my mother was alive?””
“Yes.””
“And you said nothing?””
His silence was unbearable.
My mother stepped forward.
“Why?””
Mateo looked ashamed.
“My mother found out. She thought if you knew Valentina Reyes was your mother, you would leave.””
I stared at him.
“So she treated me like garbage because she was afraid?””
“No.””
My mother's voice cut through the room.
“She treated you like garbage because she believed she owned you.””
Mateo looked down.
For the first time, I saw him differently.
Not as the man I loved.
As the man who watched.
My mother walked toward him.
“Your family spent years destroying mine.””
Mateo looked up.
“My father made mistakes.””
“No.””
Her voice sharpened.
“Your father made decisions.””
She looked at me.
“Your grandmother wasn't the only person who kept us apart.””
I felt my heart stop.
“What do you mean?””
My mother took a deep breath.
“Someone paid people to keep information from me.””
The door suddenly opened.
A nurse stood there.
“Mrs. Reyes?””
“Yes?””
“There is someone here asking to see you.””
My mother frowned.
“Who?””
The nurse looked nervous.
“Your husband.””
I froze.
My mother's husband.
The man who wasn't my father.
The man I had never heard about.
My mother slowly turned toward me.
May you like
And for the first time since arriving...
She looked scared.
