Chapter 8: The Husband Who Finally Spoke
I should have hated Mateo.
Maybe I did.
But seeing that photograph changed something.
Not forgiveness.
Not love.
Something more complicated.
Because despite everything he did…
He was still the father of my child.
My mother wanted to send her security team.
I refused.
“This is about me.””
“No,” she said.
“It stopped being about you when they attacked my granddaughter.””
Her words made me pause.
My granddaughter.
She wasn't protecting me because I was powerful.
She was protecting me because I was hers.
For the first time, I understood what I had missed.
A mother.
We tracked Mateo’s location.
The meeting point was an abandoned warehouse near the old industrial district.
I arrived with my mother’s team nearby.
Not inside.
Watching.
Mateo sat on a wooden chair.
His face was bruised.
When he saw me, his eyes filled with shame.
“You came.””
I stared.
“You knew I would.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He looked down.
“Because I knew you still cared.””
The answer hurt.
“Don’t use that.””
“I deserve that.””
For once, he didn't defend himself.
“Tell me who ordered the attack.””
He swallowed.
“My mother.””
I already knew.
But hearing it from him made it real.
“Why?””
“Because she found out your mother was back.””
He looked at me.
“She was terrified.””
“Of my mother?””
“No.””
A pause.
“Of you.””
I frowned.
“Me?””
Mateo nodded.
“You have no idea what you inherited.””
I stepped closer.
“I’m tired of everyone saying that.””
He looked at me.
“Your mother controls companies in twelve countries.””
“So?””
“So the Villalobos empire exists because they stole from her.””
The warehouse became silent.
“My family built everything on what belonged to you.””
I stared at him.
“And you married me knowing this?””
His eyes filled with tears.
“At first, no.””
“At first?””
He looked away.
“When I found out, I tried to leave.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You tried?””
“My mother threatened me.””
“With what?””
He looked at me.
“With killing you.””
The words hit like ice.
“She said if I betrayed them, they would hurt you and the baby.””
I whispered:
“So you protected me by destroying me.””
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
The honesty was painful.
Before I could answer, a gunshot echoed.
The windows shattered.
Everyone dropped.
My bodyguards rushed in.
Mateo pulled me behind him.
For the first time in months…
He protected me.
A second shot fired.
Then silence.
When we looked up, the warehouse door was open.
Someone had escaped.
On the floor was a small envelope.
My mother picked it up.
Inside was one photograph.
A picture of my father.
Alive.
And standing beside him was a woman.
Doña Carmela.
My mother stared at it.
May you like
Then whispered:
“She knew him.””
