Chapter 1 – The Truth Behind the Screen
The silence that followed the DNA results felt heavier than any scream Rebecca had thrown that afternoon.
Daniel stood in the middle of the living room, the official report trembling in his hands.
Probability of paternity: 99.9999%.
Sofia was his daughter.
There had never been another man.
His late wife, Isabella, had never betrayed him.
Every poisonous word Rebecca had spoken had been a lie.
Rebecca sat on the sofa with tears running down her face, but for the first time Daniel noticed something strange.
She wasn't crying because she regretted hurting the children.
She was crying because she had lost.
"You forged those messages," Daniel said quietly.
Rebecca shook her head.
"I found the phone in Isabella's things."
"You expected me to believe that?"
"I didn't change anything."
Daniel slowly looked at Mateo.
The twelve-year-old boy stood beside Sofia, one arm wrapped protectively around his little sister's shoulders.
Despite everything that had happened, Mateo's eyes remained steady.
"Dad," he said softly.
"I saw her."
Daniel turned.
"What do you mean?"
"The night before yesterday."
Rebecca's expression changed.
Only for a second.
But Daniel noticed.
Mateo swallowed.
"I couldn't sleep."
"I went downstairs to get some water."
"I saw Aunt Rebecca in your office."
Rebecca interrupted immediately.
"I was looking for paperwork."
"No," Mateo answered.
"You were using Dad's computer."
Daniel's heartbeat quickened.
"You never told me."
"I thought maybe it wasn't important."
Mateo looked down.
"But yesterday I heard her talking on the phone."
Rebecca's face lost its color.
"I heard her say..."
He closed his eyes, remembering every word.
"'A cleverly written lie can destroy a family forever.'"
The room became completely silent.
Rebecca laughed nervously.
"He's just a child."
"He misunderstood."
Daniel slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
Without another word, he called the family security company.
"I need every security recording from this house."
Rebecca stood abruptly.
"You don't trust me?"
"No."
"You've always treated me like family!"
Daniel looked at her with eyes colder than she had ever seen.
"Family doesn't threaten children."
Family doesn't chase little girls with kitchen utensils."
Family doesn't invent lies about a dead woman who can't defend herself."
Rebecca's breathing became uneven.
She grabbed her purse.
"I don't have to stay here."
"No."
"You don't."
Daniel opened the front door.
"You have five minutes to leave."
"You can't do this!"
"I can."
"My lawyer will—"
"My lawyer will contact yours."
Rebecca stared at him in disbelief.
Then her eyes shifted toward the staircase.
Toward Sofia.
Toward Mateo.
For a split second...
Hatred replaced fear.
Mateo instinctively stepped in front of his sister again.
Daniel noticed.
His heart broke.
Even now...
The boy still believed he had to protect everyone.
Rebecca finally walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped.
"You think you've won."
Daniel didn't answer.
She smiled.
"This house is built on secrets."
"When they come out..."
"...your children will hate you."
The front door slammed.
Silence returned.
Daniel locked every bolt before walking back to the children.
Without saying a word, he knelt and hugged them both.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"I should have protected you sooner."
Mateo rested his head against Daniel's shoulder for the first time since Isabella died.
Sofia quietly wrapped her tiny arms around both of them.
Outside...
Rebecca sat inside her car.
She wasn't crying anymore.
She opened another phone.
One Daniel had never seen.
Inside it were dozens of folders.
Photos.
Documents.
Bank transfers.
Emails.
She smiled.
"If I can't have this family..."
May you like
"...I'll destroy what's left of it."
And she pressed Send.
