He hit me. I fell. Everything went dark. How did you survive? Sara looked at Martín, who continued the story. I had returned to the house that night.
I forgot my gardening tools. I saw Gonzalo’s car outside and something seemed off.
I went in through the back door and found Sara on the floor. She was still breathing.
Gonzalo was in the living room putting the gun in Ramiro’s hands while he was asleep. He didn’t see him. He was too engrossed in his thoughts. I got Sara out through the kitchen window.
I took her to my mother’s house. That same night I drove for four hours straight. When we arrived, she woke up. Sara spoke again.
Martin saved my life, but when I learned that Ramiro had been arrested, I wanted to return immediately.
Martín stopped me. Why? Because Gonzalo had contacts in the police and the prosecutor’s office.
If I had turned up alive, they would have truly eliminated me. Salomé too. Gonzalo had seen her that night hiding in the hallway. He knew she was a witness.
If I spoke out, my daughter would pay the price. Dolores understood this woman’s terrible sacrifice. She let her husband be condemned to protect her daughter.
Every day of these 5 years has been hell, Mrs. Medina, but today it ends.
I have proof, and we’re going to use it. Sara pulled an old phone out of her pocket, an old model that hardly anyone used anymore.
“I was recording the night of the attack,” he explained. “I had started documenting everything: Gonzalo’s threats, his calls, his visits.”
I was afraid something would happen to me and I wanted to leave evidence. What exactly did you record? Sara pressed play. The recording was audio, not video, but it was clear.
Gonzalo’s voice filled the room. “Did you think you could threaten me, Sara?”
Did you think you could destroy everything I’ve built? Aurelio told me to give you one last chance, but you chose the difficult path.
Sara’s voice was frightened but firm. “Gonzalo, please, think of Ramiro. He’s your brother. Ramiro is a loser. He always has been.”
She shouldn’t have inherited anything. Everything was for me. For me. And you’re not going to ruin it. Then a bang, a scream, and the recording ended. Dolores felt her heart pounding in her ears.
This is a confession.
And she mentions Aurelio. There’s more, Sara said. The phone kept recording after I lost consciousness.
He caught Gonzalo calling Aurelio. He pressed play again. It’s done, but there’s a problem. The little girl saw everything. She was hiding in the hallway.
Aurelio’s voice. “Take care of the husband as we planned. I’ll take care of the girl.” One word from him and she’d be an orphan. Dolores had the proof she needed.
Gonzalo and Aurelio, condemned by their own voices.
Why did I wait five years to use this? Because I needed Salome to be safe. And because I needed someone to believe me.
Someone with the power to take this to court. Someone like you at the Santa María home. Salomé drew, but this time they weren’t scenes of terror.
She drew a small house, a bright sun, and three figures holding hands: a man, a woman, and a girl. Carmela watched her from the doorway.
After everything that had happened, after Gonzalo’s attempt to take her away, the girl appeared calmer, as if she knew that something was changing.
“Can I sit with you?” Carmela asked. Salomé nodded. Carmela looked at the drawing. “Is that your family?” Salomé nodded again.
You miss them. The girl stopped drawing. She looked at Carmela with those enormous eyes that seemed to see beyond the walls. And then, for the first time in days, she spoke.
“My mother told me to keep it a secret,” she whispered. “She told me that when the time came, I would know what to do. The time has come, Mrs. Carmela.”
I told Dad that Mom is alive.
I told her that she visits me in my dreams and tells me to be strong. Carmela felt tears fall down her cheeks.
Is your mother alive, little one? Yes, and she’s going to save us all. At that moment, Carmela’s phone rang. It was Dolores Medina. Carmela, listen carefully.
Sara Fuentes is alive. I have proof that Ramiro is innocent. We’re on our way to court. I need you to keep Salome safe until this is all over.
How long? Less than 24 hours.
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