Chapter 11 - Esther’s Version of the Truth
Esther did not run.
She remained in the mansion.
When Alejandro arrived with Camila and two investigators, his mother was sitting in the formal salon drinking coffee.
She looked almost relieved.
Alejandro placed Ricardo’s letter on the table.
Esther did not touch it.
“You found the nursery.”
“Yes.”
“I wondered when you would.”
Alejandro stared at her.
“You knew the letter was there?”
“I knew your father hid things.”
“Did you kill him?”
Esther looked up.
For the first time, her composure cracked.
“No.”
Alejandro did not move.
“Did Marcela?”
Esther closed her eyes.
“I don’t know.”
“Wrong answer.”
“Alejandro.”
“Did you have his brakes altered?”
“No.”
“Did you destroy the inspection?”
“I allowed Salcedo to handle the vehicle.”
“Why?”
Esther’s hands trembled.
“Because your father was dead.”
“The press was circling.”
“The stolen-art investigation would have destroyed everything.”
Alejandro laughed without humor.
“So you buried it.”
“Yes.”
The honesty stunned him.
Esther continued.
“I told myself I was protecting you.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
“Both can be true.”
Alejandro shook his head.
“No.”
“You don’t get to call this protection anymore.”
Esther looked toward Valeria.
“You think she is innocent in all this?”
Alejandro stepped forward.
“Do not.”
But Valeria stopped him.
“Let her speak.”
Esther’s eyes were cold.
“Valeria entered private rooms.”
“She photographed family records.”
“She contacted outsiders.”
Valeria nodded.
“Yes.”
“And thank God I did.”
Esther’s lips tightened.
She looked back at Alejandro.
“Your father wanted to confess everything.”
“Everything.”
“Decades of transactions.”
“Church property.”
“Private collections.”
“Bribes.”
“Do you know what would have happened?”
“Yes.”
Alejandro answered.
“The truth would have come out seven years earlier.”
Esther looked suddenly old.
“I was afraid.”
That was the first human thing she had said.
Then Alejandro asked.
“Why did you let Marcela attack Valeria?”
Esther’s eyes moved toward him.
“I didn’t know she would.”
“But you knew Valeria found the rooms.”
“Yes.”
“And you told Marcela.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“You called her a problem.”
Esther looked at Valeria.
“I did.”
Valeria’s voice remained steady.
“Marcela told me maybe you wouldn’t have to solve the problem yourself.”
Esther went pale.
“I never told her to hurt you.”
“But you taught her what happens when someone threatens the Aranda name.”
Valeria’s words landed harder than shouting.
“People disappear.”
“Evidence disappears.”
“Employees disappear.”
“Truth disappears.”
Esther looked down.
Camila stepped forward.
“Doña Esther, we need to discuss Víctor Salcedo.”
Esther gave a tired laugh.
“Then you need to find him quickly.”
Camila narrowed her eyes.
“Why?”
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“Because Víctor never keeps evidence in one place.”
“And if he thinks Marcela will turn against him, he will destroy her before she can.”
