Chapter 8: The Last Lie
The video appeared online at 8:00 a.m.
By 8:15, Mateo's name was everywhere.
By 8:30, reporters were outside his apartment.
By 9:00, Camila had watched it.
And Mateo knew something was wrong the moment he saw her face.
She stood in the living room holding her phone.
No anger.
No shouting.
Just disappointment.
The most painful emotion she had ever shown him.
"Camila...""
She raised a hand.
"Don't.""
Mateo stopped.
"What did you see?""
She looked at him.
"The night Alejandro lost everything.""
His stomach dropped.
"What about it?""
"You were there.""
The words were quiet.
But they destroyed him.
Mateo looked at the phone.
On the screen was the video.
Security footage.
Five years old.
Showing Mateo entering the office.
Showing him meeting Sebastián.
Showing him signing documents.
But there was something else.
Something Mateo didn't remember.
Camila pressed play.
A younger version of Mateo was heard saying:
"I don't care what happens to Alejandro.""
Mateo closed his eyes.
The memory came back.
The anger.
The jealousy.
The desire to win.
But then the video continued.
Sebastián said:
"Once this is done, Camila will never know.""
Mateo froze.
Camila looked at him.
"Why did he say my name?""
He couldn't answer.
Because he remembered.
The plan wasn't just about Alejandro.
It was about controlling Mateo.
"I didn't know everything," Mateo whispered.
Camila stared.
"That is your explanation?""
"No.""
He shook his head.
"I made choices.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"But?""
"But I didn't know Sebastián planned all of this.""
Camila looked away.
"Does that make it better?""
No.
It didn't.
Mateo knew.
That night, Camila packed a bag.
Mateo watched silently.
"Where are you going?""
She didn't look at him.
"My sister's.""
"Please don't leave.""
She stopped.
"Mateo.""
Her voice broke.
"I forgave you for the club.""
He looked down.
"I forgave you for the affair.""
His eyes closed.
"But I don't know if I can forgive discovering there are still parts of you I don't know.""
That hurt because it was true.
She walked away.
Mateo spent the night alone.
Again.
But this time, he didn't blame anyone.
Not Alejandro.
Not Sebastián.
Not his family.
Himself.
The next morning, he made a decision.
He called every news outlet.
He arranged a public statement.
Alejandro tried to stop him.
"This will destroy you.""
Mateo nodded.
"I know.""
"You could lose everything.""
"I already did.""
Alejandro looked at him.
"Then why?""
Mateo answered:
"Because I'm tired of only telling the truth when I'm forced to.""
The press conference was packed.
Cameras flashed.
Questions exploded.
"Mr. Valdés, did you betray Alejandro Ruiz?""
"Did you participate in fraud?""
"Is the video real?""
Mateo stood at the microphone.
For years, he had performed confidence.
Today, he showed weakness.
"The video is real.""
The room went silent.
He continued.
"I made decisions I regret. I hurt people. I allowed my ambition to become more important than my character.""
Reporters shouted questions.
Mateo raised his voice.
"But there is one thing I need everyone to understand.""
He looked directly at the cameras.
"I was responsible for my choices. Sebastián Valdés was responsible for his.""
After the statement, the world waited.
But Mateo wasn't waiting anymore.
Because he finally understood something.
The truth didn't exist to protect him.
It existed because it was right.
That evening, Alejandro called.
"You did the right thing.""
Mateo sat alone.
"Did I?""
"Yes.""
A pause.
Then Alejandro said:
"Your father would have hated that.""
Mateo looked out the window.
"Maybe that's why I needed to do it.""
Silence.
Then Alejandro spoke again.
"Mateo.""
"Yes?""
"There is one more thing.""
"What?""
"The video Sebastián released.""
Mateo frowned.
"What about it?""
Alejandro's voice became serious.
"It was edited.""
Mateo sat up.
"What?""
"The original footage contains something Sebastián removed.""
"What?""
Alejandro answered:
"The person who recorded that meeting.""
Mateo felt cold.
"Who?""
Alejandro paused.
May you like
Then said:
"Your mother.""
