Chapter 4: The Woman Who Knew Everything
Camila looked different.
Not because she had changed.
Because Mateo finally saw her clearly.
For years, he had seen her as someone who would always stay.
A constant.
A safety net.
But now he saw the exhaustion in her eyes.
The disappointment.
The damage.
"Who was that?"" she asked.
Mateo put the phone down.
"Nobody.""
Camila stared at him.
"You still do that.""
"Do what?""
"Lie.""
The word was quiet.
But it destroyed him.
"I was trying to protect you.""
She smiled sadly.
"No, Mateo.""
She walked into the room.
"You were trying to protect yourself.""
He had no answer.
Because again, she was right.
The next morning, Mateo went searching.
He found Elena's old information.
He found records.
Emails.
Financial reports.
And one message that changed everything.
A message sent five years ago.
From his own account.
To a lawyer.
"I want Alejandro removed completely.""
Mateo stared at the screen.
He didn't remember sending it.
Then he saw the attachment.
A video.
He pressed play.
His younger self appeared.
Sitting in his office.
Talking to someone outside the camera.
Someone whose face wasn't visible.
"I'll do whatever it takes," young Mateo said.
The other person replied:
"Then make sure Alejandro takes the fall.""
Mateo stopped the video.
His heart raced.
Because he recognized the voice.
Not Alejandro.
Not a stranger.
Someone closer.
Someone who had been beside him for years.
That evening, Alejandro arrived at the mansion.
Mateo confronted him in the study.
"You knew.""
Alejandro looked calm.
"Knew what?""
"That someone else was involved.""
Alejandro didn't deny it.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Alejandro looked around the room.
"Because you wouldn't have believed me.""
Mateo clenched his fists.
"You should have tried.""
Alejandro shook his head.
"I did.""
A painful silence followed.
"Mateo, I came to you five years ago.""
The memory returned.
A phone call.
A message.
An angry argument.
Mateo had ignored him.
Because admitting Alejandro was right would mean admitting Mateo was wrong.
"I thought you wanted revenge," Mateo whispered.
Alejandro looked tired.
"I wanted justice.""
Before Mateo could answer, the front door opened.
Camila entered.
She held an envelope.
"Then maybe both of you should see this.""
Mateo turned.
"What is it?""
Camila placed it on the desk.
"I found it hidden in the old family files.""
Alejandro opened it.
His expression changed.
Mateo noticed.
"What?""
Alejandro handed him the paper.
Mateo read the first line.
Then the second.
Then he felt the world shift.
Because the document revealed the one thing that could destroy him completely.
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The person behind the betrayal wasn't his enemy.
It was someone who had been calling him family.
