—He sent a lawyer. He brought papers. He said that if I signed, his family’s company would cover Mateo’s funeral expenses and provide some help to get me started over. I couldn’t even read well, but I understood one thing: they wanted to buy my silence.
Clara took a deep breath, feeling uneasy. Rosa and the other servants remained motionless, as if rooted to the spot.
“My husband was already dead,” Teresa continued. “My son was all I had. I didn’t want money. I wanted justice. Because that bridge collapsed before the storm. Everyone knew it. His family had promised to repair it months ago. But they didn’t. And when the water came, my boy was left carrying the blame for others.”
Alejandro slowly opened his eyes.
« No… » she whispered. « My father said the bridge was municipal. »
« That’s a lie, » Teresa replied. « The land and the right-of-way belonged to the Ferrer construction company. Your father knew it. The mayor knew it. The lawyer they sent knew it too. That’s why he wanted my signature. I didn’t sign it. »
« So what happened? » he asked.
Teresa took a few seconds to respond.
—What always happens when the poor get in the way happened. A week later, my shack burned down. At night. With all my things inside. I went to the other side of the state. I worked wherever I could. Washing clothes, cooking, collecting cardboard. No one ever came looking for me again. I figured it suited you to think I was dead.
The silence was so heavy that even the noises from the kitchen seemed to fade away.
Alejandro brought both hands to his face. When he spoke, his voice already sounded broken from deep within.
—I didn’t know anything. I swear I didn’t know anything.
Teresa looked at him with a strange mixture of weariness and compassion.
—I do believe you didn’t know. You were just a kid. Your father knew. And he went to the other world without paying.
Alejandro lowered his hands.
—Then I’ll pay.
Clara let out a short, incredulous laugh.
—Alejandro, stop. You’re letting a woman who appeared out of nowhere manipulate you with an impossible story.
He turned slowly. The look he gave her silenced her.
« Impossible? » he asked. « What’s impossible is that a house so full of luxury can stand on a debt like this and no one has felt the weight. »
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