CHAPTER 2 THE FAMILY THAT CONTROLLED THE LIE
By sunrise, the Salcedo family had already rewritten history.
Every major news channel repeated the same story.
"Mariana Salcedo suffers emotional crisis and disappears during private yacht trip."
The words appeared everywhere.
Emotional crisis.
Unstable.
Unpredictable.
A woman who supposedly destroyed her own life.
Rodrigo Salcedo watched the television from his mansion office.
He looked calm.
Almost peaceful.
Because powerful people were experts at controlling stories.
And Rodrigo knew something ordinary people didn't.
Truth did not matter.
Money mattered.
Connections mattered.
Reputation mattered.
His wife, Elena, sat across from him drinking coffee.
"People believe us," she said.
Rodrigo smiled.
"They always do."
His daughter Isabella entered the room wearing a designer dress.
She looked nervous.
"Father."
Rodrigo looked up.
"What?"
"Are we sure Santiago won't talk?"
The room became silent.
Rodrigo placed his coffee down.
"Santiago worked for me for fifteen years."
"He knows everything."
Rodrigo smiled coldly.
"Which means he knows exactly what happens to people who betray me."
Isabella swallowed.
"What if he already gave Mariana something?"
Rodrigo stared at her.
For the first time, his calm expression disappeared.
"Find him."
At the hospital, Mariana watched the footage.
She expected pain.
She expected anger.
But she wasn't prepared for what she saw.
The video showed the yacht deck.
The ocean behind them.
Her mother standing beside Nico.
Her voice.
Her words.
"Children like him are nothing but a problem."
Mariana covered her mouth.
Then came the moment.
Elena pushed Nico.
The little boy disappeared over the edge.
Mariana screamed.
The footage shook as she rushed forward.
Then Rodrigo grabbed her.
"Nobody has to know."
Those were his words.
Then he pushed.
Mariana watched herself fall.
Watched her family leave her to die.
The video ended.
She sat frozen.
Santiago stood silently nearby.
"They wanted the world to think you were unstable."
Mariana looked at him.
Her eyes were no longer filled with fear.
They were filled with determination.
"They didn't just try to kill me."
She looked at Nico sleeping.
"They tried to erase my son."
Santiago nodded.
"That is why we cannot release this carelessly."
Mariana frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"They control newspapers."
"They control politicians."
"They control the police."
He leaned closer.
"If you release this too early, they will destroy your credibility before anyone sees the truth."
Mariana clenched her fists.
"So what do we do?"
Santiago looked at the flash drive.
"We create a moment they cannot control."
A dangerous silence followed.
"What moment?"
Santiago looked at the invitation sitting on the table.
The invitation to Isabella Salcedo's upcoming wedding.
"The entire country will be watching your sister's wedding."
Mariana understood.
A slow realization crossed her face.
"You want to expose them there."
Santiago nodded.
"The Salcedos built their empire on appearances."
A faint smile appeared on Mariana's face.
"Then we destroy them in front of everyone."
But before they could continue...
Mariana's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Nobody spoke.
Only breathing.
Then a distorted voice whispered:
"You should have stayed dead."
The call ended.
Mariana stared at the phone.
Santiago immediately stood.
"Who was that?"
May you like
Mariana slowly looked at him.
"The person who knows we're coming."
