Chapter 12 - TERESA’S FINAL MOVE
Getting me fired was simple.
At least Teresa thought it would be.
She had been sending anonymous complaints to my employer.
Claims that I misused company purchasing accounts.
Claims that I shared confidential information.
Claims that I was emotionally unstable.
My boss had never mentioned them because the internal review found nothing.
But Teresa kept trying.
Why?
Because if I lost my job, I would become financially dependent on Diego.
Then leaving would be harder.
Rachel looked almost impressed.
“Your mother plans control like a military operation.”
Diego stared at the floor.
“I know.”
But Teresa wasn’t finished.
Two days later, police arrested her.
Not for hitting Sofía.
Not yet.
For financial fraud related to documents in Gabriel’s old accounts.
Elena had turned over everything.
Teresa posted bond the same afternoon.
And the first thing she did was call me.
I shouldn’t have answered.
But I did.
“You think you won.”
Her voice was calm.
“I’m not playing a game.”
“You took my sons from me.”
“One died. The other made his own choices.”
“You turned Diego against his family.”
“No. Consequences did.”
She laughed.
“You sound proud.”
“I’m tired.”
“You’ll be more tired when Sofía hates you for taking away her father.”
There it was.
Always the child.
Always the weapon.
“You don’t get to use her anymore.”
“You think a court order stops me from being her grandmother?”
“Yes.”
Her breathing changed.
“You know nothing about family.”
“I know enough to keep mine away from you.”
I hung up.
Three hours later, Camila screamed from the driveway.
I ran outside.
My car windshield had been smashed.
Across the hood, someone had spray-painted:
LIAR.
Police came.
Security footage showed a hooded person.
Not enough to identify them.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
No voice.
Just breathing.
I hung up.
That night, Sofía slept beside me.
At 1:23 a.m., the alarm went off.
Back door.
Camila grabbed her phone.
I grabbed Sofía.
“Closet. Now.”
We locked ourselves in the bedroom.
Footsteps downstairs.
My blood turned to ice.
Camila whispered to 911.
Someone moved through the kitchen.
Then glass broke.
Sofía buried her face against me.
“Mommy…”
“I’ve got you.”
The bedroom doorknob moved.
Once.
Twice.
Then someone slammed against the door.
Camila started crying silently.
Police sirens sounded outside.
The footsteps stopped.
Then ran.
Officers searched the yard.
Behind the fence, they found a black hoodie.
Inside the pocket was a key.
My house key.
Not Camila’s.
Mine.
May you like
And written on a piece of tape attached to it were two words:
COME HOME.
