Chapter 2 - The Doctor in the PhotographAlejandro barely slept.
The laboratory report remained on his desk until dawn.
He read it again and again.
The toxicology results were undeniable.
Valeria had been exposed to a chemical that could cause severe abdominal pain, internal bleeding, dizziness, and pregnancy complications.
And someone had known exactly how to administer it.
Not enough to kill her immediately.
Enough to weaken her.
Enough to make the pregnancy appear naturally unstable.
Alejandro walked into the kitchen before sunrise.
Valeria's usual breakfast sat untouched.
A glass of orange juice.
Toast.
Fruit.
Her prenatal vitamins.
His eyes stopped on the vitamins.
He picked up the bottle.
Nothing unusual.
Then he smelled the orange juice.
Bitter.
He poured it into the sink.
“Do not let her eat anything from this kitchen,” he ordered the maid.
The woman stared at him.
“Señor?”
“Nothing.”
He walked away.
Behind him, somebody whispered.
Alejandro turned.
The maid immediately lowered her head.
“Who told you to prepare that?”
She looked terrified.
“Doña Esther.”
Alejandro's stomach tightened.
He marched toward his mother’s private dining room.
The door was open.
Doña Esther sat at the table, drinking coffee.
She looked completely composed.
“You're awake early.”
“Did you poison Valeria?”
Her coffee cup stopped halfway to her lips.
Then she slowly placed it down.
“You've lost your mind.”
“Answer me.”
“I've spent twenty years protecting this family.”
“You haven't answered me.”
She stood.
“I would never hurt my grandchild.”
Alejandro stepped closer.
“Then explain the poison.”
Doña Esther’s eyes sharpened.
“Ask your wife about the first miscarriage.”
Alejandro froze.
“What miscarriage?”
Silence.
His mother smiled coldly.
“You thought she had never been pregnant before you?”
The words struck somewhere deep.
“Valeria told me she lost a child before our marriage.”
“No.”
His mother leaned closer.
“She told you a lie.”
Alejandro felt the room spin.
He immediately went upstairs.
Valeria was sitting beside the window.
She knew from his face what had happened.
“You told me you lost the baby naturally.”
“I did.”
“Mother says that isn't true.”
Valeria looked away.
“Alejandro…”
“Tell me.”
“I was attacked.”
“By whom?”
“Your mother's security chief.”
Alejandro stared.
“My mother ordered it?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because the man threatened my family.”
“Which family?”
Valeria’s eyes filled with tears.
“My sister.”
Alejandro sat down.
For the first time, he understood how many layers of fear were hidden beneath his wife’s silence.
Then he remembered the photograph.
“The doctor.”
Valeria nodded.
“His name is Dr. Mateo Silva.”
“Where is he?”
“He won't come back.”
“Why?”
“Because someone followed him.”
Alejandro looked at her.
“Who?”
Valeria reached into the bedside drawer.
She pulled out a second photograph.
This one showed Dr. Mateo standing beside a black car.
The driver was Rafael.
Alejandro’s younger brother.
His chest tightened.
“Why was Rafael driving him?”
“I don't know.”
“You've seen him before?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“The night I was attacked.”
Alejandro stood.
“You're saying my brother was there?”
“I’m saying I don't know whether he helped me or watched me.”
A knock sounded.
Rafael entered.
Alejandro turned.
“You drove Dr. Silva.”
Rafael froze.
“Who told you?”
“No one. Valeria.”
Rafael's gaze moved to her.
Then back to Alejandro.
“I was protecting her.”
Alejandro's jaw clenched.
“From whom?”
Rafael hesitated.
“From our mother.”
Alejandro stared at him.
Rafael closed the door.
“There is something you need to know about that photograph.”
“What?”
“It wasn't taken outside the house.”
Alejandro frowned.
Rafael continued.
“It was taken inside.”
“That's impossible.”
“No.”
Rafael slowly looked toward the ceiling.
“The photographer was standing in your father’s old study.”
Alejandro went still.
“But that room has been locked for six years.”
Rafael shook his head.
“It wasn't locked.”
“Then why—”
“Because someone wanted you to believe the doctor was Valeria's lover.”
Alejandro's face changed.
“Who?”
Rafael answered in a whisper.
“The person who took the photograph wanted you angry enough to destroy your own marriage.”
Then a phone rang from the hallway.
Valeria looked at the screen.
She screamed.
“Don't answer!”
Alejandro grabbed it.
Unknown number.
He picked up.
Silence.
Then a distorted voice said:
“Ask your wife what happened the night your father died.”
The call ended.
Alejandro slowly lowered the phone.
His father had died six years earlier.
May you like
Officially, it was a heart attack.
But suddenly, Alejandro wasn't sure he believed that anymore.
