Chapter 5 - The HeirThe document was legitimate.
Alejandro knew because he recognized his father's signature.
The will had been notarized.
The beneficiary was listed as:
THE UNBORN CHILD OF ALEJANDRO ARANDA.
The estate included the Aranda shipping company, twelve properties, offshore accounts, and controlling shares in three major corporations.
Alejandro looked at Valeria.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't know.”
Mateo answered for her.
“She learned three weeks ago.”
“How?”
“The lawyer came to see her.”
Alejandro frowned.
“Which lawyer?”
Mateo hesitated.
“Esteban Cruz.”
Alejandro's face changed.
Esteban was his father's oldest attorney.
He was also the man who had publicly confirmed that Alejandro inherited everything after his father's death.
Alejandro called him.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message arrived.
Do not trust the inheritance papers.
Alejandro looked at Mateo.
“What does that mean?”
Mateo lowered his voice.
“The original will may have been changed.”
Valeria stood.
“That's why your mother needs me to look unstable.”
Alejandro suddenly understood.
If Valeria were declared mentally unstable, Doña Esther could seek control of the baby’s assets.
But there was another problem.
Alejandro stared at the date on the will.
Six years ago.
Two days before his father died.
He remembered something.
His father had called him that week.
He had sounded frightened.
Alejandro had been too busy preparing for an overseas business trip.
He hadn't answered.
Thirty minutes later, his father was dead.
Guilt hit him like a wave.
“I abandoned him.”
Valeria touched his hand.
“You didn't know.”
“I should have known.”
“No.”
She looked directly at him.
“They made sure you didn't.”
Rafael entered the factory.
“We have a problem.”
Alejandro turned.
“What?”
“Your mother knows where we are.”
“How?”
Rafael showed him his phone.
A security alert.
The factory perimeter had been breached.
Cars were approaching.
Mateo cursed.
“We have two minutes.”
Alejandro took Valeria's hand.
They ran.
Gunshots exploded outside.
Everyone froze.
Not police.
Private security.
Doña Esther's men.
They escaped through a tunnel beneath the factory.
At the other end, an old van waited.
Inside, Alejandro found a box.
On top was a photograph of his father.
Beneath it was another note.
If you're reading this, Esther has failed to stop Valeria.
Alejandro opened the box.
Inside were dozens of bank records.
Payments.
Transfers.
Names.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Rafael Aranda.
Alejandro turned slowly.
His brother was standing beside him.
Rafael looked at the papers.
Then closed his eyes.
“You finally found it.”
Alejandro whispered:
“You took money from my mother.”
Rafael shook his head.
“No.”
“I can see your name.”
“I took it because she paid me to watch her.”
“For what?”
Rafael’s face crumbled.
“To find out whether she was telling the truth.”
“About what?”
Rafael looked at Valeria.
Then at Alejandro.
“About your father.”
He swallowed.
“Your father didn't die of a heart attack.”
May you like
“He was murdered.”
And Rafael was one of the last people to see him alive.
