Alejandro’s anger vanished in an instant.
Under the blanket, wrapped tightly around Valeria’s swollen body, were thick layers of bandages stained with fresh blood. Purple bruises covered her ribs, her back, and even her arms. A long surgical scar stretched across the left side of her abdomen.
His hands trembled.
“What… what happened to you?”
Valeria burst into tears, unable to hide the truth any longer.
“I didn’t cheat on you.”
Alejandro took a step back, his face turning pale.
“Then who did this?”
Before she could answer, someone knocked softly on the bedroom door.
It was Doña Esther.
“My son,” she said calmly, “don’t let her manipulate you.”
Alejandro slowly turned toward his mother.
For the first time in years, he noticed that Valeria was shaking—not from fear of him, but from fear of the woman standing outside the room.
“Leave,” Alejandro ordered.
His mother smiled.
“I raised you. Don’t let that girl destroy this family.”
“Leave. Now.”
The smile disappeared.
After she walked away, Valeria whispered,
“It wasn’t just her…”
She reached into the nightstand and pulled out a small voice recorder.
“I knew no one would believe me.”
She pressed PLAY.
The room filled with familiar voices.
Marcela laughed.
“If the baby disappears, Alejandro will marry someone from our circle.”
Then came Doña Esther’s cold reply.
“The doctors are already paid. She’ll think she lost the child naturally.”
Alejandro froze.
His own mother’s voice.
His own sister’s laughter.
Planning the death of his unborn child.
Valeria looked at him with empty eyes.
“They’ve been poisoning me for weeks.”
Silence swallowed the room.
For the first time in his life, Alejandro realized that the enemy had never been outside his mansion.
It had always lived inside it.