Chapter 2: The Missing Will Santiago returned from Singapore two days later. The mansion immediately transformed. Fresh flowers filled every room. Expensive wine appeared on the dining table. Camila welcomed her husband with warm kisses and affectionate smiles. "You've worked too hard," she told him. "You should spend tonight with your mother." Santiago smiled gratefully. "I will." But when he reached Doña Consuelo's room, Camila gently stopped him. "The doctor increased her medication." "She's sleeping." "It would only confuse her." He accepted the explanation without hesitation. From the hallway, Mariana watched disbelief spread through her chest. He was only a few steps away. Yet he never saw his own mother. That evening Mariana entered the library to dust the shelves. Behind several legal binders, she noticed an unlocked safe. Inside lay dozens of financial documents. One folder caught her attention. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT The pages had fresh signatures. Fresh dates. Fresh ink. But Doña Consuelo could barely hold a spoon. She certainly couldn't have signed legal papers. Mariana quickly photographed every page before replacing them exactly as she found them. As she closed the safe... A voice spoke behind her. "Looking for something?" Camila. Standing perfectly still. Smiling. Mariana's heartbeat nearly stopped. "I was cleaning." Camila slowly walked closer. Close enough to straighten Mariana's apron. Then she whispered into her ear. "Curiosity destroys good employees."

5 chapters