—Mrs. Renata.
Alejandro felt something dark rising up his chest.
He took the letter from the bed.
—Can I read it?
Valentina nodded.
The shaky handwriting read:
Dad, I’m sorry for leaving like this. I tried to talk to you so many times, but Mom says you won’t believe me. She says I’m dramatic, unstable, and ungrateful. She says if I talk, everyone will think I’m a rich girl making up problems. Don’t blame Maricela. She was the only one who gave me food when Mom locked the kitchen to punish me.
Alejandro had to stop.
He continued reading.
Today they’re sending me to a place in Cuernavaca. Mom says they correct girls there who embarrass their families . She also wants me to sign some papers. She says if I don’t sign, they’ll make people think I’m sick. Family
“What papers?” asked Alejandro.
Valentina hugged herself.
—Those in my trust.
Alejandro looked up.
The trust her father had set aside for Valentina at birth contained shares, land, and voting rights within the hotel group. It was untouchable until she came of age.
Or so I thought.
Maricela took an old cell phone out of her apron.
“I have recordings, sir. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared. But when I heard they were going to take her away tonight, I recorded everything.”
“What’s happening downstairs?” asked Alejandro.
Valentina pressed her lips together.
—Mom is going to announce my engagement.
The silence fell like a stone.
—What about you?
—With Nicolás Beltrán.
Alejandro knew that last name. Javier Beltrán, Nicolás’s father, was a powerful investor involved in construction, politics, and shady dealings. Alejandro had refused to form a deeper alliance with him before traveling.
Renata, apparently, did not.
“He’s twenty-three years old,” said Alejandro.
“Mom said it was symbolic,” Valentina whispered. “That this way the Beltrán family would protect my future. But my shares also appear in the documents.”
Alejandro stood up.
For the first time, her wealth seemed like a weapon pointed at her daughter.
He called Hector, his head of security, but not the house staff. Then he called Sara Villalobos, his trusted lawyer.
—Sara, I need you to come right now. My wife is trying to take away my daughter’s trust fund and send her to a clinic tonight.
Sara’s voice changed immediately.
—Don’t let anyone leave with documents.
Alejandro hung up.
He picked up the crushed roses from the floor and looked at Valentina.
—You’re not going to sign anything. You’re not going to marry anyone. And no one will ever call you crazy again for refusing to be sold.
Applause erupted below.
Valentina turned white.
—It’s already started.
Alejandro took a deep breath.
—Then I’ll start too.
She went down the service stairs. In the living room, Renata looked stunning in a silver dress, raising a glass alongside Javier Beltrán and Nicolás. On a table, the lawyer Damián was arranging documents.
One of the guests saw Alejandro.
The music stopped.
Renata turned away. The color drained from her face.
-Alexander…
He picked up the destroyed roses.
-Surprise.
No one knew yet that the party had just turned into a trial…
PART 3
Renata walked towards Alejandro with her picture-perfect smile.
—You should have warned us. We would have prepared something.
—I see you prepared quite a lot.
Alejandro picked up one of the documents from the table. It contained Valentina’s name, her trust number, clauses regarding “emotional instability,” and a temporary transfer of rights.
“She’s sixteen years old,” he said.
Renata’s gaze hardened.
—And he behaves like a threat to this family. Family
—No. You turned her into one.
The room murmured.
Javier Beltrán tried to intervene.
—Alejandro, you’re upset. Let’s talk in private.
—No. Too many private things have already happened in this house.
Nicholas let out a laugh.
—Your daughter is very dramatic, Mr. Mondragón.
Alejandro turned around slowly.
—Speak of my daughter again and your last name will never again be allowed on any board, bank, or project where I have a say.
Nicholas swallowed hard.
At that moment, Héctor entered with two security guards. Behind them appeared Sara Villalobos, soaked from the rain, with a briefcase in her hand and fury in her eyes.
He reviewed the documents.
—This attempts to trigger a mental health evaluation of a minor without full consent. It is illegal and predatory.
Renata raised her voice.
—I was just protecting my family!
Then Valentina appeared on the stairs, pale but standing. Maricela was behind her.
“Valentina, go back to your room,” Renata ordered.
-No.
It was a small word, but it made the room tremble.
Valentina went down slowly.
—You told me Dad would choose the company over me. You told me that if I didn’t sign, you’d send me somewhere where no one would listen to my tantrums. You told me that girls like me should be corrected before they destroy their families .
Renata squeezed the glass until it almost broke.
—You’re ungrateful.
Alejandro took a deep breath.
—Then I’ll start too.
She went down the service stairs. In the living room, Renata looked stunning in a silver dress, raising a glass alongside Javier Beltrán and Nicolás. On a table, the lawyer Damián was arranging documents.
One of the guests saw Alejandro.
The music stopped.
Renata turned away. The color drained from her face.
—Alejandro…
He picked up the destroyed roses.
-Surprise.
No one knew yet that the party had just turned into a trial…
PART 3
Renata walked towards Alejandro with her picture-perfect smile.
—You should have warned us. We would have prepared something.
—I see you prepared quite a lot.
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