Chapter 2 – The Test That Broke the Wall
Chapter 2 – The Test That Broke the Wall
Alejandro washed the watercolor from his face that evening, yet no amount of soap could erase the feeling Lucía had left behind.
For years, every person who entered his mansion had wanted something.
A promotion.
A loan.
An investment.
A recommendation.
The little girl had wanted only one thing.
To make a sad man smile.
Still, old habits refused to die.
The next morning, Alejandro decided to test Mariana one final time.
Inside his private study sat an antique wooden box that had belonged to his late mother. Hidden beneath several legal documents was a velvet pouch containing a vintage emerald necklace worth nearly half a million dollars.
Before leaving for a meeting, Alejandro intentionally left the study door slightly open.
He also instructed the security team not to interfere, no matter who entered.
From his phone, he watched the security cameras.
Mariana vacuumed the hallway as usual.
She noticed the open door.
For several seconds she hesitated.
Then she gently knocked.
"Mr. Santillán?"
No answer.
She stepped only halfway inside.
The necklace glimmered beneath the morning sunlight.
Mariana froze.
Instead of walking toward it, she quickly closed the study door.
Then she called the head butler.
"I think Mr. Santillán forgot to lock his office. Could you check it?"
She never crossed another step.
Alejandro watched silently from the screen.
His chest tightened.
An hour later, Lucía wandered past the same office chasing Panquecito, who had "escaped" according to her imagination.
She pushed the study door open.
The emerald necklace sparkled in front of her.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh..."
She carefully picked it up.
Alejandro's heart stopped.
Lucía smiled.
"This belongs to Mr. Big House."
She placed the necklace inside the wooden box exactly where she had found it, patted the lid twice, and whispered to the box,
"Stay here. Grown-ups lose things."
Then she ran away after Panquecito.
Alejandro stared at the monitor long after the room became empty.
For the first time in years, one of his tests had failed.
May you like
Not because someone had stolen from him.
Because no one had.
