CHAPTER 15 THE MARIANA PROJECT
The old vineyard seemed to stop breathing.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Everyone stared at the folder sitting on the table.
A simple name was written across the cover.
THE MARIANA PROJECT.
Mariana felt a strange emptiness inside her.
After everything she had discovered...
After every lie, every betrayal, every hidden secret...
She thought nothing could surprise her anymore.
She was wrong.
"What is that?"
Her voice was quiet.
But everyone heard the fear behind it.
Alejandro smiled.
Not like a grandfather.
Like a man who had spent his entire life controlling people.
"Your entire life."
Mariana's expression hardened.
"I am not a project."
Alejandro tilted his head.
"That is exactly what makes you interesting."
Gabriel stepped forward.
"Enough."
For the first time, Alejandro looked at his son.
"You still think you can protect her?"
Gabriel's fists tightened.
"You took everything from me."
Alejandro calmly replied:
"No."
"I gave you everything."
A bitter laugh escaped Gabriel.
"You destroyed my family."
Alejandro looked at him.
"Your family was weak."
Santiago moved closer to Mariana.
"Don't listen to him."
But Mariana couldn't look away.
Because she needed answers.
"What was the Mariana Project?"
Alejandro opened the folder.
Inside were documents.
Medical records.
Psychological evaluations.
Private reports.
Photographs from her childhood.
Someone had been watching her entire life.
"Before you were born," Alejandro said, "I knew the Salcedo empire needed a different kind of heir."
Mariana frowned.
"Different?"
"Someone who could survive."
The old man smiled.
"Power does not belong to the strongest."
"It belongs to the person who refuses to break."
The documents revealed something horrifying.
Alejandro had secretly studied every member of the family.
Their weaknesses.
Their fears.
Their decisions.
He wanted to create someone capable of taking control of the empire.
Someone intelligent enough to see through manipulation.
Someone emotionally strong enough to survive betrayal.
"You were chosen before you were born."
Mariana stared.
"No."
Alejandro continued.
"You were never supposed to be a victim."
"You were supposed to become the future."
The words disgusted her.
"You used me."
Alejandro smiled.
"Everyone uses everyone."
"That is how the world works."
Mariana stepped forward.
"No."
Her voice became stronger.
"That is how your world works."
For the first time...
Alejandro's smile disappeared.
Because Mariana wasn't afraid.
Not like the others.
And that bothered him.
Elena looked at the folder.
"Why now?"
Alejandro turned toward her.
"Because she finally became what I expected."
Mariana frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Alejandro answered:
"You destroyed Rodrigo's control."
"You exposed the family."
"You found the hidden heirs."
"You brought everyone together."
A pause.
"You did exactly what I needed."
Everyone looked confused.
Santiago spoke:
"You wanted this?"
Alejandro nodded.
"Of course."
"The Salcedo empire was becoming weak."
"Rodrigo became emotional."
"Elena became guilty."
"Gabriel became desperate."
A cold smile.
"But Mariana..."
He looked at her.
"Mariana became dangerous."
A chill went through the room.
Mariana realized something terrifying.
The entire war...
The yacht attack.
The investigation.
The family collapse.
Maybe Alejandro had expected all of it.
Maybe he had been watching.
Waiting.
"Then why let Rodrigo try to kill me?"
Mariana asked.
Alejandro answered immediately.
"Because I needed to know if you could survive."
Everyone stared.
"You tested me?"
"Yes."
The answer was cold.
"Survival reveals character."
Gabriel looked horrified.
"You let your own granddaughter almost die."
Alejandro looked at him.
"She didn't."
A pause.
"She survived."
Mariana felt anger rising.
"You are exactly like them."
Alejandro smiled.
"No."
"I am better."
Suddenly, Mateo stepped forward.
"You don't know what you created."
Alejandro looked at him.
"Explain."
Mateo's eyes were filled with rage.
"You thought controlling us would make us powerful."
"But you forgot something."
A pause.
"We are not you."
For a moment...
Alejandro said nothing.
Then he laughed.
A quiet laugh.
"That is why I chose Mariana."
Everyone turned.
Mariana froze.
"What?"
Alejandro looked at her.
"Because you are the only one who can defeat me."
The room became silent.
Mariana stared.
"Why would you want that?"
Alejandro closed the folder.
"Because the Salcedo empire is dying."
"And only someone like you can save it."
Mariana shook her head.
"I don't want your empire."
Alejandro smiled.
"You say that now."
Suddenly, Santiago's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed immediately.
"What?"
Everyone looked at him.
He slowly lowered the phone.
"It's Nico."
Mariana froze.
"What happened?"
Santiago looked at her.
"He's gone."
The world stopped.
"What?"
"The hospital room was empty."
"No witnesses."
"No cameras."
Mariana felt her heart collapse.
Impossible.
Not again.
Not her son.
A message arrived on her phone.
Unknown number.
Only one sentence.
YOU FOUND YOUR FAMILY. NOW COME FIND YOUR SON.
Below the message was a photograph.
Nico.
Alive.
Sitting in a dark room.
And standing behind him...
Someone Mariana recognized.
Someone who should have been on her side.
Mariana dropped the phone.
Because the person holding Nico's shoulder was...
SANTIAGO REYES.
Everyone looked at Santiago.
Silence filled the vineyard.
Mariana's eyes filled with disbelief.
"Why?"
Santiago looked at the photograph.
Then at Mariana.
And whispered:
"I can explain."
But before he could say another word...
The lights went out again.
May you like
And when they returned...
Santiago was gone.
