Chapter 6 - The Other Son
Rebeca closed the hidden door behind her.
The pistol remained pointed toward the floor, but Sebastián knew that could change in a second.
“You told me I had a sister,” he said.
“I told you what your father demanded.”
“Why?”
“Because only one son could inherit.”
Sebastián stared at the photograph of the two newborns.
The babies were nearly identical.
Both had thick dark hair.
Both wore white identification bracelets.
One had been raised in luxury.
The other had been erased.
“What happened to him?”
Rebeca’s face tightened.
“Your grandfather believed twins divided power.”
“That is insane.”
“He was an insane man.”
“Then why obey him?”
“Because he controlled everything.”
Her voice cracked for the first time.
“He controlled the doctors.”
“The police.”
“The courts.”
“He controlled your father.”
“And he controlled me.”
Sebastián looked around the hidden archive.
“So this began with Grandfather?”
“Casa Esperanza began long before I entered the family.”
Rebeca stepped toward the wall of photographs.
“Your grandfather used the foundation to place children with families who served him.”
“Judges.”
“Politicians.”
“Business partners.”
“He gave them what they wanted.”
“In return, they protected the Alcázars.”
Sebastián felt sick.
“Children were currency.”
“In this family, everything was currency.”
“Even your own son?”
Rebeca’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall.
“Mateo was born first.”
“By seven minutes.”
“Your grandfather chose him as the heir.”
“Then why was I brought home?”
“Because Mateo had a heart condition.”
“The doctors believed he might not survive childhood.”
“Your grandfather refused to risk the dynasty.”
“So he switched us?”
“He ordered your father to place Mateo with another family.”
Rebeca looked at the photograph.
“I begged Gabriel to refuse.”
“He said we had no choice.”
“There is always a choice.”
“You say that because you have never had a man place a gun beside your newborn’s head.”
Sebastián fell silent.
Rebeca had been a victim once.
But somewhere along the way, she had become the person holding the gun.
“Where was Mateo sent?”
“To a family in Saltillo.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Gabriel handled the transfer.”
“He promised Mateo would be safe.”
“Did you ever search for him?”
“Every year.”
“Did you find him?”
Rebeca looked toward the hidden door.
“Octavio did.”
Sebastián’s stomach tightened.
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
The same year Valeria discovered the files.
The same year Lucía disappeared.
The same year Valeria lost their first child.
“What did Octavio do?”
“He brought me a photograph.”
“He said Mateo was alive.”
“And?”
“He demanded control of the family trust.”
“Why would Mateo give him that power?”
“Because Octavio claimed Mateo was his client.”
Sebastián began connecting the pieces.
Octavio did not merely know about the family’s crimes.
He had used them to gain control.
“Did you give him the trust?”
“I gave him temporary authority.”
“You gave him everything.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“No.”
Sebastián’s voice became hard.
“You were protecting your position.”
Rebeca raised the gun slightly.
“You know nothing about the choices I made.”
“I know my wife was thrown down a staircase.”
“I know you refused to call an ambulance.”
“I know you tried to take my son.”
“I did not order the hospital kidnapping.”
“Then who did?”
“Octavio.”
The answer came too quickly to be a lie.
Rebeca continued.
“He has been operating independently for years.”
“Casa Esperanza no longer serves the family.”
“It serves him.”
“Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Because he knows where Mateo is.”
Sebastián looked at his mother.
Every terrible decision had been built upon another secret.
Every secret had become leverage.
Every act of fear had created more victims.
“Who is Mateo now?”
“I don’t know his name.”
“Octavio never told you?”
“He showed me photographs.”
“A man entering an office.”
“A man driving with a child.”
“He said Mateo had a family.”
Sebastián’s phone vibrated.
A message from Adriana appeared.
WE ARE INSIDE THE HOUSE.
KEEP HER TALKING.
Sebastián placed the phone back in his pocket.
“What did Valeria find three years ago?”
“Financial records.”
“Adoption payments.”
“And a list of children connected to influential families.”
“Why was my name circled?”
Rebeca looked at him with an expression almost resembling pity.
“Because Octavio intended to replace you.”
“With Mateo?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Mateo is the firstborn.”
“If he appears and proves his identity, he can challenge your control of the family trust.”
“But Octavio already controls it.”
“Only temporarily.”
Rebeca’s hand tightened around the pistol.
“Your father’s will states that permanent control passes to the eldest surviving son when he reaches forty.”
Sebastián was thirty-nine.
His birthday was six months away.
Mateo was seven minutes older.
Octavio had built his entire plan around those seven minutes.
“He wants Mateo to take the company,” Sebastián said.
“He wants Mateo to take the blame.”
Rebeca looked toward the files.
“When the crimes become public, Octavio will claim the true heir controlled Casa Esperanza.”
“He will place every document under Mateo’s name.”
“Then he will destroy him.”
“And remain in control as trustee.”
A knock sounded against the hidden door.
“State police,” Adriana called.
“Put down the weapon.”
Rebeca looked at Sebastián.
“You called them.”
“Yes.”
“I am your mother.”
“You stopped being only my mother when you became a threat to my wife and child.”
Pain crossed her face.
Then anger replaced it.
She raised the pistol.
Sebastián did not move.
“Are you going to shoot me?”
Rebeca’s hand trembled.
For a moment, she looked like the frightened young mother she might once have been.
Then a loud explosion came from above.
The lights went out.
Smoke poured through the hidden doorway.
Someone had set fire to the wine cellar.
Rebeca lowered the gun.
“Octavio,” she whispered.
May you like
The archive was filled with the evidence that could destroy him.
And he had decided to burn it with Sebastián and Rebeca still inside.
