Chapter 11 - THE WOMAN IN WHITE

Doña Esther returned to the mansion three days later.

She wore white.

Not black.

Not gray.

White.

As though she had nothing to hide.

Police investigators were waiting.

So was Alejandro.

She entered the grand salon without hesitation.

"My own son."

She said.

"Turning my home into a crime scene."

Alejandro looked at her.

"My home."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You sound like your father."

"I hope so."

That struck harder than shouting would have.

She smiled coldly.

"Rafael was weak."

"He wanted to confess everything."

"He would have destroyed what generations built."

Alejandro stared.

"What did you do to him?"

Her expression remained calm.

"I protected this family."

"That wasn't my question."

Doña Esther glanced toward the investigators.

"I have nothing else to say."

Alejandro stepped closer.

"What did Serrano give Valeria?"

Her eyes flickered.

Then she smiled.

"You have always been emotional where that woman is concerned."

"That woman is my wife."

"That woman is Javier Mendoza's daughter."

There it was.

Spoken with venom.

Alejandro's face hardened.

"You knew."

"Of course I knew."

"Did you kill her father?"

For the first time, Esther lost control.

"Be careful."

She hissed.

"Careful of what?"

"You have no idea what your father did either."

Alejandro paused.

Esther smiled again.

"Did you really think Rafael was innocent?"

She leaned closer.

"He signed the first transfers."

"He approved the bribes."

"He enjoyed the money until his conscience suddenly became inconvenient."

Alejandro said nothing.

That part matched his father's recording.

Rafael had admitted complicity.

Esther continued.

"Your father wasn't a hero."

"No."

Alejandro replied.

"But at least he tried to stop."

She laughed.

"Too late."

"Maybe."

He said.

"But not too late for me."

The investigators stepped forward.

Doña Esther turned toward them.

Then toward Marcela, standing near the doorway.

"Tell them."

Esther ordered.

Marcela froze.

"Tell them what really happened."

Marcela's hands trembled.

Esther smiled.

"You replaced your father's medication."

Marcela went pale.

"You killed him."

Alejandro turned toward his sister.

Marcela looked as though she had been punched.

Then Esther delivered the cruelest blow.

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