Chapter 11 - Marcela's Bargain
Alejandro returned to Mexico City after midnight.
A message from Marcela was waiting.
MEET ME ALONE.
I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING.
He almost ignored it.
Then another arrived.
MOTHER DOESN'T KNOW I'M CONTACTING YOU.
SHE LIED TO BOTH OF US.
Alejandro showed Rafael.
"It could be a trap."
"It probably is."
"But?"
"But I need to hear what she says."
They chose a public hotel lounge.
Rafael's team occupied nearby rooms.
Marcela arrived wearing sunglasses despite the late hour.
She looked exhausted.
Nothing like the elegant woman who had delivered gossip with a smile days earlier.
"Where is Mother?"
Alejandro asked.
"I don't know."
"That's a lie."
Marcela laughed bitterly.
"You really have changed."
"Answer the question."
"She left the mansion this afternoon."
"With two suitcases."
"Where?"
"I said I don't know."
This time Alejandro believed her.
Marcela removed her sunglasses.
Her eyes were red.
"You found Dad's box."
Alejandro said nothing.
"Mother guessed you would."
"How?"
"Because she found the letter years ago."
"What letter?"
"The one Teresa hid."
Alejandro's stomach tightened.
"What was in it?"
"Instructions leading to the bank key."
"Then why didn't she empty the box?"
"She tried."
"Dad had listed you as the only authorized heir after his death."
"She couldn't open it without triggering legal records."
Alejandro watched her carefully.
"So she sealed the chapel instead."
Marcela nodded.
"She thought you would never look."
"She was right for twelve years."
Marcela flinched.
Alejandro leaned forward.
"Did you poison Valeria?"
"No."
"Did you know about the tea?"
Marcela looked down.
"Not at first."
"Did you know eventually?"
"Yes."
Alejandro felt fury rise.
"And you said nothing."
"I didn't know what was in it."
"You knew she was getting sick."
Marcela's voice cracked.
"I knew Mother was giving her something."
"She said it was to make Valeria lose the baby."
The sentence landed like a gunshot.
Alejandro stood.
Marcela grabbed his arm.
"Listen to me."
"You came here to talk."
"So talk."
Marcela was crying now.
"Mother said the baby couldn't be allowed to become the controlling heir."
Alejandro stared at her.
"What does that mean?"
"Dad's old trust."
"The one you found references to."
"If you have a legitimate son, a large block of family voting shares transfers into a protected line controlled by you and your descendants."
Alejandro's mind raced.
"And Marcela loses influence."
"Not just me."
"Mother does too."
"She currently controls the foundation and part of the family voting bloc through me."
"If your son is born, that structure changes."
Alejandro's face hardened.
"So you helped her."
"I helped her hide Samuel's visits."
"I sent you the photograph."
"I erased the recordings."
Marcela covered her face.
"But I never touched the tea."
"You created the distraction that let her continue."
"I know."
"Why?"
Marcela looked at him.
"Because she told me you would abandon me just like Dad abandoned her."
Alejandro said nothing.
Marcela laughed through tears.
"Do you understand what she did to us?"
"She spent our whole childhood telling me you were more important."
"Then she spent our adulthood telling me I was the only person protecting the family from you."
"She made us compete for a love she controlled."
Alejandro's anger remained.
But something else entered it.
Pity.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
"What happened to Lucia?"
Marcela's face changed.
"I don't know."
"Don't lie."
"I don't know everything."
"But Mother has kept a box in her bedroom safe for years."
"What is inside?"
"I've only seen one thing."
"A photograph."
"Of what?"
May you like
Marcela swallowed.
"Esther standing outside Lucia Marquez's apartment the week before Lucia died."
