Chapter 1: The Performance Ends

Chapter 1: The Performance Ends

The front door swung open.

Two police officers stepped inside, hands resting near their belts as they quickly surveyed the room.

Doña Victoria rushed toward them, tears streaming down her face with astonishing speed.

"Officers! Thank God you're here!" she sobbed. "My son just returned from war, and my unstable daughter-in-law attacked him! She's been hallucinating for months. She's dangerous—to herself and to that baby!"

One officer instinctively looked toward Elena.

She sat trembling in her chair, both hands wrapped around her swollen belly.

She hadn't moved.

She hadn't spoken.

Captain Alejandro Reyes calmly stepped forward.

"No."

His voice stopped everyone.

"My wife hasn't attacked anyone."

He pointed toward the glowing iron still lying on the kitchen counter.

"My mother threatened to press that against my pregnant wife's stomach."

Silence.

The younger officer carefully photographed the iron before anyone touched it.

Alejandro handed over the forged casualty notice.

Then the fake psychiatric evaluations.

Then every forged medical document.

"I've worked with military intelligence for twelve years," Alejandro said evenly.

"Every one of these documents is fabricated."

The senior officer slowly flipped through the paperwork.

His expression hardened.

"This casualty notice isn't even printed on official military stock."

Victoria's crying faltered.

Only for a second.

Then she pointed toward Elena.

"She made them! She forged everything! She's trying to destroy this family!"

Alejandro quietly unlocked his phone.

"I expected that."

He pressed play.

A hidden security camera recording filled the silent kitchen.

Everyone watched Victoria holding the burning iron over Elena.

Everyone heard her whisper:

"Sign the custody papers... or your baby pays."

The room froze.

Victoria's tears disappeared instantly.

For the first time...

Her performance had no audience left to fool.

The officers slowly turned toward her.

"Ma'am," one of them said.

"Please place your hands behind your back."