Chapter 2: The Recording
Chapter 2: The Recording
Mariana barely slept that night.
She sat in her small room replaying the recordings over and over again.
Each one was worse than the last.
Camila's voice remained calm and elegant as she discussed cutting back meals, canceling doctor appointments, and isolating Doña Consuelo from everyone who cared about her.
There was no anger in her voice.
No guilt.
Only calculation.
The next morning, Santiago Aranda unexpectedly returned from a business trip two days early.
The mansion staff immediately rushed to greet him.
Camila smiled warmly and kissed his cheek.
"You should have called," she said sweetly.
"I wanted to surprise everyone," Santiago replied.
Mariana watched from across the hall.
Her heart pounded.
This was her chance.
Before fear could stop her, she approached him.
"Mr. Aranda, may I speak with you privately?"
Camila's smile disappeared for only a second.
But Mariana noticed.
So did Santiago.
Minutes later, inside his office, Mariana placed her phone on the desk.
"I need you to listen."
The room filled with Camila's recorded voice.
At first Santiago frowned in confusion.
Then his face turned pale.
By the end of the recordings, he was standing motionless beside the window.
"How long has this been happening?" he whispered.
Mariana lowered her eyes.
"Months."
Santiago felt sick.
For months, he had trusted the person closest to him.
And for months, his mother had suffered alone.
But the worst discovery was still waiting.
May you like
"There's something else you need to see," Mariana said.
And she led him toward his mother's room.
