Chapter 6 - ASHES AND ACCUSATIONS
Black smoke towered above Coyoacán by the time firefighters arrived.
The gallery where Valeria had once restored historic paintings was consumed by flames.
Alejandro watched the live news footage from Valeria’s hospital room.
Reporters were already gathering behind the emergency barriers.
One of them announced that early evidence suggested the fire had begun in the archive room.
Exactly where Valeria had hidden the documents.
“This wasn’t an accident,” she said.
Alejandro muted the television.
“Marcela never left the hospital.”
“She didn’t have to. Your family has spent decades paying people to do things quietly.”
Alejandro could not deny it.
His phone vibrated continuously.
Board members.
Lawyers.
Journalists.
Business partners demanding explanations.
Then a headline appeared across the television screen:
MENTALLY UNSTABLE WIFE ACCUSES ARANDA FAMILY AFTER SECRET AFFAIR IS EXPOSED.
Beneath it was the blurry photograph of Diego leaving the mansion.
Marcela had released it to the press.
Within an hour, the story was everywhere.
Anonymous sources claimed Valeria had staged her injuries.
Others said Diego was the father of her unborn child.
A fabricated medical document circulated online, describing Valeria as delusional and dangerous.
“It has Esther’s fingerprints all over it,” Alejandro said.
Valeria turned away from the screen.
“This is why I stayed silent. They don’t only destroy evidence. They destroy people.”
Alejandro stood beside her bed.
“I will issue a statement.”
“And say what?”
“The truth.”
“Your truth carries power. Mine will be called hysteria.”
The words hurt because they were true.
For years, Alejandro’s name had opened doors.
Valeria’s lack of wealth had made every accusation against her easier to believe.
He took out his phone and called an emergency board meeting.
By noon, every executive in the Aranda Group appeared on a secured video call.
Some looked concerned.
Others looked terrified.
Alejandro placed the medical report, security footage and forged commitment form on the table.
“My mother and sister attempted to harm my wife and child,” he said. “Anyone who assisted them will be removed and prosecuted.”
His uncle Rogelio leaned toward the camera.
“You are making a dangerous decision based on the claims of a woman who clearly has emotional problems.”
Alejandro stared at him.
“You signed the transfer request for the psychiatric facility.”
Rogelio’s face changed.
“I signed what Esther gave me.”
“Without speaking to Valeria?”
“It was a family matter.”
“No. It was imprisonment.”
Alejandro announced an independent audit of every Aranda company and suspended all relatives from operational control.
Within minutes, three board members disconnected.
By evening, investigators had identified financial transfers from Marcela’s private account to the man suspected of setting the gallery fire.
But the fire had destroyed the archive room.
Nothing remained except wet ash and twisted metal.
Or so everyone believed.
At midnight, an elderly gallery caretaker named Don Julián arrived at the hospital.
His hands were burned, and smoke stained his clothes.
He placed a wrapped package on Valeria’s bedside table.
“I found this behind the false panel before the ceiling collapsed.”
Inside was a partially burned portrait frame.
Valeria sat up.
“The documents were hidden inside the backing.”
Alejandro carefully removed the scorched cardboard.
The original letter was still there.
So were several account ledgers.
But one object made Valeria gasp.
A tiny digital recorder.
“I didn’t put that there.”
Don Julián nodded.
“Your father-in-law did.”
Alejandro pressed play.
For several seconds, there was only static.
Then his father’s voice filled the room.
“If you are hearing this, Esther has probably succeeded in silencing me.”
Alejandro’s eyes filled with tears.
The recording continued.
“My wife is not merely stealing from the company. She is planning something far worse. And Marcela is helping her.”
A second voice entered the recording.
A voice Alejandro recognized.
His uncle Rogelio.
“When Ricardo is gone, the boy will believe whatever his mother tells him.”
Then Esther answered.
“Alejandro has always been loyal.”
May you like
Her tone was cold and confident.
“He will even destroy his own wife if we teach him to doubt her.”
