Chapter 16 - The SignatureAlejandro had seen the signature before.
It was almost identical to his.
But there was one difference.
His father noticed immediately.
“The loop.”
Alejandro looked closer.
The forged signature had a wider loop in the final letter.
His father explained that the family had used that distinction for years to verify documents.
Esteban knew it.
So the forgery had to come from someone else.
“Who has access to Alejandro's old contracts?”
Everyone looked at Rafael.
Rafael shook his head.
“Not me.”
Then Alejandro remembered.
The bank.
His old lawyer.
His business office.
Dozens of people.
But there was one person with every signature specimen.
His mother.
Alejandro looked at Lucía.
“You gave Esther my files.”
Lucía smiled.
“She was useful.”
“Where is Esther?”
Lucía's expression changed.
“She is no longer useful.”
Alejandro froze.
Then a message arrived.
A photograph.
Doña Esther lay unconscious in a dark room.
Blood covered her forehead.
Lucía had betrayed her own accomplice.
The message underneath read:
EVERYONE WHO KNOWS TOO MUCH DIES.
Alejandro understood.
Lucía wasn't protecting Esther.
She was cleaning up.
The courtroom continued.
The judge prepared to issue the order.
Then Valeria's lawyer stood.
“Your Honor, we request an independent medical review.”
Lucía smiled.
“Denied.”
But the courtroom doors suddenly burst open.
Mateo entered.
Behind him were three independent doctors.
He held a sealed package.
“We have evidence that the patient's medical records were manipulated.”
The judge demanded proof.
Mateo presented laboratory samples.
Independent tests.
Chain of custody documents.
Every false diagnosis was exposed.
Then Rafael entered with bank records showing illegal payments.
Then Isabella.
Then Alejandro's father.
Finally, Gabriel.
The courtroom erupted.
The prosecution's case collapsed.
But Esteban was not finished.
He stepped forward.
He revealed a final document.
“The biological father of the unborn child is not Alejandro Aranda.”
Everyone froze.
Valeria looked at Alejandro.
Alejandro's face turned white.
“What?”
Esteban held up a DNA test.
“The child does not share the expected genetic markers.”
Alejandro stared.
Valeria began to cry.
“No.”
Esteban turned toward her.
“You betrayed Alejandro.”
“That isn't true.”
“You know who the real father is.”
Alejandro looked at Valeria.
For one horrible moment, every fear returned.
The doctor.
The secret visits.
The hidden bandages.
The photograph.
Was this the final betrayal?
Valeria stepped toward him.
“Alejandro, listen to me.”
He couldn't move.
“Tell me the truth.”
She put his hand on her stomach.
“You are the father.”
“How do you know?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I never slept with anyone else.”
Then Mateo spoke.
“The DNA test is fake.”
Everyone turned.
He pointed to the report.
“The laboratory used a sample from six years ago.”
Alejandro's face hardened.
Esteban stepped backward.
For the first time, fear entered his expression.
Mateo smiled faintly.
“And I know who provided the sample.”
The judge demanded:
“Who?”
Mateo looked directly at Esteban.
“Esteban himself.”
The courtroom exploded.
But before police could move, Esteban pulled a gun.
May you like
He pointed it at Valeria.
And pulled the trigger.
