Chapter 5
I had always thought Alejandra was the least dangerous person in Mateo's family.
She rarely argued.
She didn't make the cruel jokes Paulina enjoyed.
She didn't criticize my career like Beatriz.
Most family gatherings, she sat quietly with her phone and left early.
Now her name had appeared in the middle of a possible financial cover-up.
I looked at Mateo.
"Did Alejandra work on the old development project?"
He shook his head.
"She was still studying accounting."
I stared.
"Accounting?"
"Yes."
"And now?"
"She handles payroll and administrative records for Dad's company."
I felt my stomach tighten.
Of course.
Someone who understood financial records.
Someone with access to the family office.
Someone who could recognize the importance of a blue folder.
Mateo called her.
She didn't answer.
He tried again.
Voicemail.
Then he sent a message.
We need to talk about Renata's documents.
Five minutes later, a reply appeared.
NOT OVER THE PHONE.
I stared at the screen.
Another message followed.
TOMORROW. 7 P.M. MY APARTMENT. COME ALONE.
Mateo looked at me.
I folded my arms.
"You're not going alone."
He sighed.
"Valeria—"
"No. If she has information involving our property, we handle it carefully."
He nodded.
"You're right."
We contacted Gabriela.
She advised us not to pressure Alejandra or attempt to obtain documents improperly.
If she wanted to share information voluntarily, we could arrange a meeting in a neutral place.
Mateo replied with that suggestion.
Alejandra agreed to meet at Gabriela's office instead.
The following afternoon, Renata arrived in Querétaro.
I recognized her immediately.
She was tall, with dark hair pulled into a low ponytail and a serious expression.
She looked nervous when she saw Mateo.
He stood.
"Renata."
She nodded.
"Mateo."
For a moment, I felt strangely uncomfortable.
This woman had once planned to marry my husband.
But the discomfort disappeared when I saw her hands trembling.
She had come because she believed something unjust had happened.
And she deserved to be heard.
I stepped forward.
"I'm Valeria."
She looked at me.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet."
I shook her hand.
"Thank you for coming."
Gabriela invited us into her conference room.
Renata placed a thick folder on the table.
Inside were copies of invoices, bank statements, correspondence, and drafts of the old property agreement.
She had preserved them for years.
Some documents were incomplete.
Others had handwritten annotations.
But together, they showed a troubling pattern.
Project money had moved through companies associated with Ernesto's business network.
Several transfers lacked clear supporting invoices.
One consulting company appeared to have received payments without providing verifiable services.
And the altered property document contained language absent from an earlier draft.
Gabriela studied the papers carefully.
"This needs independent examination."
Renata nodded.
"I know."
Then she opened a smaller envelope.
"There's something else."
Inside was a letter.
It had been written by her father.
Julián Villaseñor.
Renata's eyes filled.
"He died two years ago."
My heart softened.
"I'm sorry."
She nodded.
"Before he died, he gave me this."
Gabriela read the letter aloud with Renata's permission.
Julián described discovering unexplained financial losses.
He wrote that he believed his daughter had been pressured into signing documents she didn't fully understand.
He also mentioned a missing blue folder containing original invoices.
Then came a sentence that made Mateo lower his head.
"I regret trusting friendship more than evidence."
Renata wiped her eyes.
"My father spent his final years believing he'd failed me."
I reached across the table.
"He believed you."
She nodded.
"But he couldn't make anyone else listen."
Mateo began crying.
"I'm sorry."
Renata looked at him.
For a moment, I thought she might shout.
Instead, she spoke quietly.
"You don't get to repair this by apologizing once."
Mateo nodded.
"I know."
She continued.
"You need to stop protecting people who hurt others."
He looked at her.
"I will."
That evening, Alejandra arrived at Gabriela's office.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were swollen.
She carried a large envelope.
When she entered, she saw Renata.
Her face crumpled.
"Oh, Renata."
Renata stood.
"Alejandra."
For several seconds, neither woman moved.
Then Alejandra whispered, "I'm sorry."
She placed the envelope on the table.
"I should have done this years ago."
Gabriela opened it.
Inside were copies of original invoices and correspondence.
Several pages contained signatures.
Others showed internal transfers.
I felt my heart pound.
"Is this the blue folder?"
Alejandra nodded.
"Some of it."
"Where's the rest?"
She looked down.
"Mom destroyed several pages."
Renata covered her mouth.
Alejandra began crying.
"I found the folder when I took over the office records. I didn't understand everything at first."
She swallowed.
"Then I compared the invoices with the bank statements."
Gabriela leaned forward.
"What did you find?"
Alejandra looked at her.
"Payments that shouldn't have been made."
My stomach tightened.
"To whom?"
She hesitated.
"Companies controlled by Dad's business partners."
Mateo stared at her.
"And Mom?"
Alejandra wiped her eyes.
"She knew."
The room went silent.
Then Alejandra continued.
"She kept copies of the altered agreement because she believed it could protect the family if Renata ever challenged the settlement."
Renata closed her eyes.
I felt anger rise.
For years, Beatriz had treated my marriage as though I owed her something.
Now I understood that her obsession with control had existed long before I arrived.
Gabriela began organizing the documents.
Then Alejandra said something unexpected.
"There's another reason Mom wants Valeria's house."
I turned.
"What?"
She looked at me.
"Because Dad's company is in trouble."
My stomach tightened.
"Financial trouble?"
She nodded.
"Serious trouble."
Mateo leaned forward.
"How serious?"
Alejandra took a shaky breath.
"The company owes several million pesos."
He went pale.
"Since when?"
"For more than a year."
I stared at her.
"Why wasn't Mateo told?"
"Because Dad didn't want him questioning the accounts."
My heart began pounding.
Alejandra continued.
"They've been trying to secure new financing."
I felt cold.
"Using what?"
She looked directly at me.
"Property."
I stared at her.
"Our property?"
She nodded.
"Mom believes Mateo can persuade you to put the house up as collateral."
The room fell silent.
May you like
Then Alejandra whispered the sentence that explained everything.
"The dinner was supposed to prove whether you could still be pressured into obeying them."
