Chapter 12 - THE WITNESS
Helena agreed to talk.
Not because she regretted anything.
Because she wanted a deal.
She was facing years in prison.
I sat across from her.
“You saw my mother's car.”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
She looked at me.
“Your mother was alive after the crash.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“She was conscious.”
“Then why didn't you help her?”
Helena looked down.
“Because Raul told me not to.”
“Why?”
“He said if she survived, everything would be exposed.”
“And you listened.”
“Yes.”
I stared at her.
“You left my mother there.”
“Yes.”
My hands shook.
“Was she alone?”
“No.”
“Who was with her?”
Helena hesitated.
“Your father.”
I froze.
“My father was there?”
“He arrived before the ambulance.”
“What did he do?”
“He tried to save her.”
“Then why did he disappear?”
“Because Raul threatened to kill you.”
I closed my eyes.
Everything my father had told me was true.
“What about Victor?”
Helena looked confused.
“What about him?”
“Why did he marry me?”
She laughed bitterly.
“Because Raul told him to.”
I felt sick.
“When?”
“Years before the wedding.”
“Why?”
“Because Raul believed your mother had left you control of the company.”
I stared.
“So Victor knew.”
“Yes.”
“Did he know about the trust?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did he think he could steal it?”
“Because Raul promised him the estate if he could force you to sign away your rights.”
I finally understood.
Every insult.
Every demand.
Every financial document.
Every time Victor told me I was worthless.
He wasn't simply cruel.
He was trying to break me.
Make me doubt myself.
Make me surrender.
I stood.
“There's one thing I still don't understand.”
Helena looked up.
“What?”
“Why did you hate me?”
She stared at me.
Then laughed.
“Because your mother won.”
“What?”
“She built everything.”
Helena's voice cracked.
“She had the company. The money. The trust. The respect.”
“And you?”
“I had Raul.”
Silence.
She wiped her eyes.
“And then your mother made you the heir.”
I walked toward the door.
Behind me, Helena spoke.
“One last thing.”
I turned.
“Your mother knew Victor would hurt you.”
My blood ran cold.
“What?”
“She predicted it.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew what kind of man he was.”
I stared.
Helena smiled bitterly.
“She left you a final message.”
“Where?”
“In the house.”
“What message?”
May you like
Helena looked at me.
“Behind the fireplace.”
