PART 9 — THE HUSBAND WHO WAS SENT TO WATCH ME

“I did betray you.”
Ricardo’s words stayed in my head.
Not because they surprised me.
Because they confirmed something I had spent years trying not to believe.
The affair had been real.
Daniela had been real.
The lies had been real.
The humiliation had been real.
But apparently…
they weren’t the whole story.
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Where is Sofía?”
“At the old factory.”
“Is she hurt?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Mateo wants you alive.”
I froze.
“Why?”
“Because you have something he needs.”

“The seven million?”

“No.”

His answer came too quickly.

“Then what?”

Silence.

“Ricardo!”

“I don’t know everything.”

“You’ve lied to me for seventeen years.”

“I know.”

“You expect me to believe you now?”

“No.”

His voice sounded different.

Tired.

Almost defeated.

“I expect you to listen.”

I closed my eyes.

“Talk.”

“Your father didn’t hire me to steal from you.”

“Then what did he hire you to do?”

“To watch Mateo.”

My heart pounded.

“Why?”

“Because your father discovered Mateo had been moving money out of the company.”

“And you were investigating him?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you marry me?”

Silence.

“Ricardo.”

“I wasn’t supposed to marry you.”

That sentence hurt more than I expected.

“What?”

“I was supposed to get close to your family.”

I laughed bitterly.

“So I was a mission?”

“At first.”

I couldn’t speak.

Then he said:

“But I fell in love with you.”

I closed my eyes.

I didn’t want to hear that.

Not now.

Not after everything.

“Don’t.”

“I know how it sounds.”

“You don’t get to say that.”

“I know.”

“You cheated on me.”

“Yes.”

“You lied to me.”

“Yes.”

“You made me believe I wasn’t enough.”

“I know.”

“Then don’t tell me you loved me.”

“I did.”

I felt tears in my eyes.

And that made me angry.

Because even after everything, some part of me still remembered the man I had loved.

The man who had held my hand at our wedding.

The man who had kissed me when Sofía was born.

The man who had once stayed awake all night when I had the flu.

Was that man real?

Or had I simply loved a version of him that never existed?

I whispered:

“Why did you betray me?”

His answer was immediate.

“Because Mateo found out I was working for your father.”

I stopped.

“What?”

“He found out.”

“When?”

“Years ago.”

“Then why didn’t he kill you?”

“Because he needed me.”

“For what?”

“To get access to your family.”

I felt sick.

“And me?”

“You became the easiest way in.”

I stared at the wall.

Everything suddenly made sense.

The questions.

The documents.

The inheritance.

The constant pressure.

Ricardo had been standing between two sides.

My father.

And Mateo.

And somewhere in the middle…

was me.

“What happened to my father?”

Ricardo went silent.

“Tell me.”

“I can’t.”

“You owe me the truth.”

“I know.”

“Then tell me.”

He finally whispered:

“Your father wasn’t killed naturally.”

I stopped breathing.

“What?”

“The night he died…”

“Yes?”

“Someone was there.”

“Who?”

“Mateo.”

My knees almost gave way.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I didn’t know whether Mateo was responsible.”

“And now?”

“Now I do.”

I swallowed.

“How?”

“Because I found the records.”

“What records?”

“The original medical report.”

My heart raced.

“My father’s death certificate said heart failure.”

“I know.”

“You’re saying that’s not what happened?”

“I’m saying the original report was altered.”

I couldn’t breathe.

“By whom?”

“I don’t know.”

“But you suspect Mateo.”

“Yes.”

“And Laura?”

“She knew something.”

“Did she help him?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Because Laura tried to warn your father.”

I thought about the letter.

My father had written that he initially suspected Laura.

Then corrected himself.

She wasn’t the betrayer.

She had been trying to protect me.

I whispered:

“What happened after Dad died?”

Ricardo hesitated.

“Mateo took control of the company.”

“And you?”

“I stayed close to you.”

“To protect me?”

“At first.”

I laughed bitterly.

“And later?”

“Later, I got scared.”

“Of Mateo?”

“Yes.”

“So you started building your own life.”

“I thought I could escape.”

“With Daniela.”

Silence.

“Yes.”

My heart sank.

“So Daniela wasn’t part of the plan?”

“No.”

“She was real?”

“Yes.”

“You loved her?”

Another silence.

“I cared about her.”

That answer hurt.

But I wasn’t surprised.

“Does she know about Mateo?”

“No.”

“Does she know about my father?”

“No.”

“Then why was she involved?”

“Because Mateo needed a reason to make you vulnerable.”

I froze.

“What does that mean?”

“Your marriage had to collapse.”

“Why?”

“Because as long as you trusted me, you wouldn’t investigate anything.”

I felt the blood drain from my face.

“So the affair…”

“Yes.”

“Was used to destroy my trust.”

“I didn’t start it for that reason.”

“But you allowed it to happen.”

“Yes.”

“You knew what it would do to me.”

“Yes.”

“And you did it anyway.”

“Yes.”

I closed my eyes.

There was nothing left to say.

Then I asked:

“Where is Mateo now?”

“At the factory.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he contacted me.”

“When?”

“Tonight.”

“What did he say?”

“He told me you were coming.”

My heart stopped.

“You told him?”

“No.”

“Then how does he know?”

Ricardo was silent.

I understood.

Someone was watching me.

Someone had been watching me for years.

“Ricardo…”

“Yes?”

“If I go to the factory…”

“Don’t go.”

“My daughter is there.”

“I know.”

“Then I’m going.”

“Mariana, listen to me.”

“No.”

“He wants the red box.”

I froze.

“How do you know?”

“Because Mateo told me.”

“He knows about it?”

“Yes.”

“Does he know what’s inside?”

“No.”

“Then why does he want it?”

“I don’t know.”

I looked at Laura.

She was standing a few feet away, crying silently.

I whispered:

“I’m going.”

Ricardo sighed.

“Then I’ll meet you there.”

“No.”

“You’ll need someone who knows Mateo.”

“I don’t trust you.”

“You shouldn’t.”

His answer surprised me.

“But you know him.”

“Yes.”

“And you know the factory.”

“Yes.”

“Then tell me one thing.”

“What?”

“Where is the entrance?”

He paused.

“The front entrance is monitored.”

“Then?”

“There is a service tunnel underneath the eastern side.”

I looked at my lawyer.

He was already writing it down.

“Anything else?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“Whatever you do…”

His voice became very quiet.

“Don’t let Mateo get you alone.”

The call ended.

I looked at Laura.

She wiped her tears.

“You shouldn’t go.”

“My daughter is there.”

“I know.”

“Then help me.”

She hesitated.

“How?”

“You know Mateo.”

“Yes.”

“You know my father.”

“Yes.”

“You know what happened.”

Her face collapsed.

“Not everything.”

“Enough.”

She nodded.

Then she said:

“There is something you don’t know about Sofía.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

“Your father knew she would exist.”

I frowned.

“How?”

“Before you were pregnant.”

“What are you saying?”

“Your father had records about your future children.”

“That makes no sense.”

“It does if he knew someone was monitoring your family.”

I shook my head.

“Laura, stop speaking in riddles.”

She took a deep breath.

“When Sofía was born, Mateo asked about her.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why would he care about my daughter?”

Laura looked at me.

“Because she carries your father’s blood.”

I froze.

“What?”

“Your father left something for her.”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re lying.”

“No.”

“Then what did he leave?”

She whispered:

“The second trust.”

I stared at her.

“Second?”

“Yes.”

My lawyer looked up.

“What second trust?”

Laura shook her head.

“I don’t know the details.”

“But you knew it existed.”

“Yes.”

“Where is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Who controls it?”

“Your father.”

“He’s dead.”

“I know.”

“Then who?”

Laura looked toward the floor.

“I think Mateo is trying to find it.”

I suddenly understood.

The seven million wasn’t the only money.

There was another trust.

Something connected to Sofía.

Something Mateo wanted.

And perhaps the red box contained the key.

My lawyer looked at me.

“We need to leave.”

I nodded.

We drove toward the old factory.

The city was almost empty.

Rain began falling.

The factory stood at the edge of the industrial district.

Dark.

Massive.

Abandoned.

At least, that’s what everyone believed.

We parked several streets away.

Ricardo was already there.

He stood beneath a broken streetlight.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Seventeen years of marriage.

One lifetime.

And now we were standing like strangers.

He looked older.

Tired.

“Where’s Sofía?” I asked.

“Inside.”

“Is she safe?”

“Yes.”

I stepped closer.

“If you lie to me once…”

“I won’t.”

I looked into his eyes.

For the first time in years, I didn’t see the confident businessman.

I saw a frightened man.

“What happened to you?” I asked.

He looked away.

“I made choices.”

“You made a lot of them.”

“Yes.”

“Do you regret them?”

He looked at me.

“Every day.”

I wanted to believe him.

I didn’t.

“Show me the tunnel.”

We walked around the building.

The entrance was hidden behind a concrete wall.

Ricardo moved a metal panel.

A narrow passage appeared.

“You’ve used this before?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Years ago.”

“For Mateo?”

“Yes.”

I stared at him.

“You were working with him?”

“No.”

“Then why were you here?”

“To move documents.”

“What documents?”

“Your father’s.”

I felt sick.

“How many?”

“Dozens.”

“Where are they now?”

“Some were destroyed.”

“Some?”

“The rest are with Mateo.”

We entered the tunnel.

The air smelled damp.

Every step echoed.

Then we heard something.

A woman’s voice.

“Mom!”

Sofía.

I ran forward.

“Wait!”

Ricardo grabbed my arm.

I pulled away.

“That’s my daughter.”

“It’s a trap.”

“I don’t care.”

We moved slowly.

Then we saw her.

Sofía was sitting on a chair.

Her hands weren’t tied.

She looked frightened.

“Mom!”

I ran toward her.

She stood.

I hugged her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No.”

“Where is Mateo?”

She pointed.

“He was here.”

“Where did he go?”

“He said he was waiting for you.”

I looked around.

Then the lights turned on.

Every light in the factory.

At the far end stood Mateo.

He clapped slowly.

“Beautiful.”

I froze.

“Let my daughter go.”

“She is free.”

“Then why did you bring her here?”

“I didn’t.”

“What?”

“She came willingly.”

Sofía looked confused.

“No, Mom. That’s not true.”

Mateo smiled.

“Your daughter doesn’t know everything.”

I stepped forward.

“Stay away from her.”

He looked at me.

“You look exactly like your mother.”

I froze.

“You knew my mother?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Your father wasn’t the only person I knew.”

I felt sick.

“Why did you bring Ricardo into my life?”

Mateo laughed.

“I didn’t.”

I stared at him.

“Then who did?”

He pointed toward Ricardo.

“Ask your husband.”

I turned.

Ricardo looked down.

“Tell her.”

Ricardo swallowed.

“I met Mateo before I met your father.”

I froze.

“What?”

Mateo smiled.

“Now we’re getting somewhere.”

Ricardo continued.

“I wasn’t hired by your father.”

“You said he hired you.”

“I lied.”

My heart stopped.

“Then who hired you?”

Ricardo looked at Mateo.

“Your father.”

Mateo laughed.

“No.”

Ricardo shook his head.

“Not him.”

I looked between them.

“Then who?”

Neither answered.

Finally Mateo said:

“Your mother.”

I stopped breathing.

“My mother was dead before you met me.”

“No.”

Mateo’s smile disappeared.

“She wasn’t.”

The room went silent.

I stared at him.

“What?”

“Your mother didn’t die when you were told she did.”

My knees weakened.

“That’s impossible.”

“I saw her.”

“When?”

“Three years ago.”

I couldn’t speak.

My entire childhood suddenly felt like it was collapsing.

My mother had died when I was twelve.

At least, that’s what I had been told.

I remembered the funeral.

The flowers.

The coffin.

My father’s grief.

My own tears.

But Mateo was saying…

it had all been a lie.

I looked at Laura.

She was crying.

“Laura?”

She couldn’t look at me.

I whispered:

“You knew.”

She nodded.

“Why?”

“I was told it was the only way to keep you alive.”

“Keep me alive from what?”

Nobody answered.

Then the factory lights went out.

Complete darkness.

I heard shouting.

A door slammed.

Someone grabbed my arm.

I screamed.

Then a gunshot echoed through the factory.

Everything went silent.

When the emergency lights came on…

Mateo was gone.

Ricardo was on the floor.

And Sofía was standing beside me, holding something in her hand.

A small red envelope.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes.

“Mom…”

“Where did you get that?”

She shook her head.

“Mateo gave it to me.”

I opened it.

Inside was a single photograph.

My mother.

Alive.

Standing beside Mateo.

And on the back was a date.

Three years ago.

My hands began trembling.

Then I saw the final line written underneath the date.

Mariana, if you are reading this, it means I failed to protect you.

I stared at my mother’s handwriting.

My mother had written it.

Not my father.

Not Laura.

My mother.

And beneath that sentence was one final message:

Your father was not my husband.

I couldn’t breathe.

I looked at Sofía.

Then Ricardo.

Then Laura.

Everyone had been lying.

But one question remained.

If my father wasn’t my mother’s husband…

and Mateo wasn’t the man who raised me…

then who was my real father?

And why had my entire family spent my whole life making sure I never found out?

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 10…

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