Chapter 12 - Mateo’s Last Bargain

Mateo looked exhausted.

“You found it.”

Diego held the ledger.

“You killed my father.”

Mateo shook his head.

“Rafael killed your father.”

“You changed the medication.”

“I delivered a bottle.”

“You knew.”

“I suspected.”

Diego stepped closer.

“You spent twelve years beside me.”

Mateo’s voice broke.

“I spent twelve years trying to get out.”

“By helping them?”

“You don’t understand Rafael.”

“No.”

Diego looked at him.

“I understand cowards.”

Mateo flinched.

Then he reached into his jacket.

Diego tensed.

Mateo pulled out the original trust.

“I came to trade.”

“For what?”

“Protection.”

“From Rafael?”

“From everyone.”

“Rafael is in custody.”

Mateo laughed.

“You still think Rafael is the top.”

Diego’s stomach tightened.

“Who is?”

Mateo looked toward Mercedes.

She had followed Diego into the chapel.

Mateo whispered.

“Ask her.”

Mercedes stared at him.

“Don’t.”

Diego slowly turned toward his mother.

“Mother?”

Mercedes closed her eyes.

Mateo smiled.

“Tell him who financed Rafael.”

Diego’s voice became quiet.

“Tell me.”

Mercedes looked at her son.

“I did.”

Silence.

Diego stared at her.

“You financed him?”

“At first.”

“Why?”

“To protect you.”

“Stop saying that!”

His voice echoed through the chapel.

Mercedes finally lost her composure.

“Because your father was going to take everything from you!”

Diego froze.

“He planned to replace you.”

“With whom?”

“With whichever child Marisol delivered.”

Diego stared at her.

“That makes no sense.”

Mercedes shook her head.

“The trust did not transfer control when the heir turned eighteen.”

“That was the amended version.”

“The original transferred voting control to the first biological grandchild immediately upon legal recognition.”

Diego looked at Valentina’s birth records.

Then Lucia’s.

“They were heirs from birth.”

“Yes.”

“And you hid them to keep me in control?”

“To keep the company stable.”

Mateo laughed.

Mercedes turned on him.

“Rafael was supposed to hide the children.”

“Nothing more.”

“But Rafael realized he could control the heir if he controlled the records.”

Diego finally saw the whole machine.

His mother had started it.

His father had tried to stop it.

Rafael had turned it into a conspiracy.

Paulina had continued it.

Mateo had enforced it.

And two babies had paid the price.

Diego handed the ledger to the detective waiting outside.

Then he looked at his mother.

“You’re coming with us.”

Mercedes whispered.

“I’m your mother.”

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Diego looked toward Valentina and Lucia.

“And they’re my daughters.”