Chapter 7: The Guardian Who Was Never Supposed to Exist
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Valeria was still on the phone.
"Mateo? Are you there?""
I stared at the document on my father's desk.
My aunt's signature.
Valeria's company.
The twenty-eight-million-dollar trust.
And now a guardianship agreement that would give my mistress legal authority over my unborn son if Camila died.
"Valeria, listen carefully," I said.
"Where are you?""
"At your aunt's apartment.""
"Why are you there?""
"She called me. She said there was something I needed to understand about the inheritance.""
"Who else is there?""
"Nobody. Just Isabella and her lawyer.""
"Don't sign anything else. Don't leave with her. And don't accept anything she gives you.""
Valeria began crying.
"Mateo, I didn't know what it was. She told me it was just a temporary arrangement. She said Camila was in critical condition and that someone needed to protect the baby's interests.""
"Did you read it?""
"She said there wasn't time.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you give her your identification?""
"Yes.""
"Your company documents?""
"Yes.""
I looked at Alejandro.
He had already started gathering the papers.
"Valeria, I need you to do exactly what I say. Tell your aunt you need to use the bathroom. Go somewhere private and call me back.""
"Mateo, she's watching me.""
"Then don't let her see your phone.""
A man's voice suddenly came through the background.
"Is everything all right, Miss Montes?""
Valeria went quiet.
Then she whispered:
"Mateo, I think they know.""
The call ended.
I immediately dialed her again.
No answer.
I grabbed my car keys.
Alejandro caught my arm.
"Where are you going?""
"To get Valeria.""
"You're not thinking clearly.""
"She has my son's guardianship papers!""
"And if Isabella is involved in this, walking into her apartment without a plan is exactly what she wants.""
I pulled away.
"What do you suggest? We sit here?""
Alejandro opened the folder.
"We take copies of everything, secure the original trust agreement, and contact a lawyer who isn't connected to your family.""
I stared at him.
"Who can we trust?""
He hesitated.
"Someone who has no financial interest in the trust.""
"Name.""
"Lucía Herrera.""
I recognized her.
She was an independent corporate attorney who had represented several construction companies in Monterrey.
Years earlier, she had worked with Alejandro on a commercial development.
"She's still practicing?""
"Yes. And she has been helping Camila review the trust documents.""
I looked at him.
"Camila involved a lawyer without telling me?""
"She involved a lawyer because she couldn't trust you with the truth.""
I had no answer.
Alejandro called Lucía.
He explained the situation in less than two minutes.
When he finished, she said something that made him stop pacing.
He listened.
Then he looked at me.
"She's on her way.""
"What's wrong?""
"She says the guardianship document may be legally meaningless.""
I exhaled.
"Then why is everyone acting like it's important?""
"Because it may contain a clause that transfers control of the trust if Camila is declared permanently incapacitated.""
I stared at the papers.
"Meaning?""
"Meaning they don't need Valeria to become the legal mother. They need her to become the person controlling the money.""
I looked at the signature page.
Valeria had signed beneath a paragraph authorizing her to act as a temporary representative of the unborn child's financial interests.
I felt sick.
"They used her.""
Alejandro nodded.
"Probably.""
I called Valeria again.
This time, she answered.
"Mateo?""
"Are you safe?""
"I'm in the bathroom.""
"Listen. Don't leave until the lawyer arrives.""
"Your aunt says the papers are necessary.""
"She's lying.""
Valeria began crying again.
"She showed me a document with your signature.""
I froze.
"What document?""
"A transfer authorization. It says you agreed to appoint me as the baby's financial guardian.""
"I never signed anything.""
"That's what I thought.""
She lowered her voice.
"Mateo, she also showed me a photograph.""
"Of what?""
"Camila and Alejandro.""
My jaw tightened.
"What photograph?""
"They were outside a hotel together. Isabella said they had been having an affair and that the baby might not be yours.""
I felt the familiar anger rising.
Then I remembered the hospital.
Camila asking for Alejandro.
Alejandro carrying her.
The letter.
The five months they had spent working together.
I wanted to believe Isabella.
It would have been easier.
But I had learned that night how easily someone could use my jealousy against me.
"Valeria, listen to me. Whatever she showed you, don't make any decisions.""
"Mateo, I need to tell you something.""
"What?""
"I found another document in her folder.""
"What document?""
"A medical report.""
My heart began pounding.
"Whose report?""
"Camila's.""
I gripped the phone.
"What does it say?""
Valeria hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"It says someone changed the medication instructions at the hospital where she was being treated before the accident.""
I stopped breathing.
"Read the name.""
"I can't. Isabella just knocked.""
"Valeria—"
The call ended again.
Lucía Herrera arrived at the mansion twenty-five minutes later.
She was in her early forties, dressed in a dark suit, carrying a leather briefcase.
She listened carefully as Alejandro explained the documents.
Then she examined the trust agreement.
Her expression became increasingly serious.
"This is worse than I expected.""
I stood beside the desk.
"Can they legally transfer my son's inheritance?""
"Not if this agreement is authentic and the amendment was unauthorized.""
"Then we reverse it.""
"Not so quickly.""
She pointed to the final page.
"The original trust contains a protective clause. Any amendment requires approval from the appointed trustee and two independent witnesses. This document has neither.""
"So it's invalid?""
"Potentially. But someone filed it with the financial institution, and the account has already been placed under review.""
I looked at the signature.
"That's my signature.""
Lucía studied it.
"Do you recognize it?""
"No.""
"Then we need a handwriting expert and the original authorization records.""
Alejandro placed another document on the desk.
"What about the guardianship agreement?""
Lucía read it.
Then she shook her head.
"This is an attempt to create an appearance of consent. It doesn't automatically establish guardianship. However, it could be used to support a fraudulent claim that the biological parents intended to appoint Miss Montes.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Can we stop it?""
"Yes. But I need the original.""
I called Valeria.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Lucía looked at me.
"Has anyone contacted the hospital?""
"Not yet.""
"Do it immediately. If someone has tampered with medical records, the hospital needs to preserve the original files.""
Alejandro picked up his phone.
"I'll call the medical director.""
I watched him leave.
Then Lucía spoke quietly.
"Mr. Villarreal, there's something you should understand.""
I turned.
"What?""
"Your aunt's involvement may be more complicated than you think.""
She pointed to the company registration.
"Valeria Montes Holdings was incorporated eleven months ago. The registered agent is the same legal office that filed the trust amendment.""
I stared at her.
"Who owns the legal office?""
Lucía turned the page.
"Ricardo Méndez.""
My father's lawyer.
The man who had handled every important document in our family.
I felt my stomach twist.
"Isabella, Esteban, Ricardo, and Valeria.""
Lucía nodded.
"They appear to be connected.""
I looked at the photograph of Valeria sitting beside me at the nightclub.
For months, I had thought she was simply enjoying my money.
Now I wondered whether she had been placed in my life for a reason.
My phone rang.
Valeria.
I answered immediately.
"Where are you?""
Her voice was trembling.
"Mateo, I'm sorry.""
"Are you safe?""
"I don't know.""
"Tell me where you are.""
"I'm in Isabella's car.""
My blood turned cold.
"Why are you in her car?""
"She said she was taking me home.""
"Get out.""
"I can't.""
"What do you mean?""
"The doors are locked.""
I stood.
"Valeria, listen to me. Don't panic.""
She started crying.
"Mateo, there's another person here.""
"Who?""
"Esteban.""
I looked at Lucía.
She immediately started recording the call on her own device after obtaining my permission.
Valeria continued.
"He says he needs my signature on one more document.""
"Do not sign anything.""
"He says if I don't, he'll tell everyone about us.""
I closed my eyes.
"Let him.""
"Mateo—"
"I said let him.""
There was a pause.
Then Valeria whispered:
"He's telling Isabella that Camila's condition is worse than the hospital is admitting.""
I felt a chill.
"How would he know that?""
"I don't know.""
Then I heard a man's voice.
"Miss Montes, give me the phone.""
Valeria screamed.
The line went dead.
I stood motionless.
Lucía grabbed her briefcase.
"We're calling the police.""
Alejandro returned from the hallway.
He had heard the last part.
"What's happening?""
I looked at him.
"Esteban has Valeria.""
Alejandro's expression hardened.
"Then we need to move.""
Before we could leave, my phone received a new message.
It contained a photograph.
Valeria was sitting in the back seat of a black SUV.
Her hands were trembling.
Beside her was a document.
At the bottom was a signature.
Mine.
Beneath the photograph was a message:
The inheritance belongs to the people who protected this family. Come alone if you want to see the original trust.
Then another message appeared.
And bring the USB drive.
Alejandro looked at the screen.
His face went pale.
"Mateo, that's a trap.""
I looked at the photograph.
Then at the hospital bracelet still wrapped around my wrist from the emergency admission earlier that night.
My wife was recovering.
My son was fighting for his life.
And the people who had nearly destroyed my family were demanding that I walk into their hands.
May you like
I picked up the USB drive.
"Then let's make sure they regret inviting me.""
