Chapter 2 — The Truth Hidden in Plain Sight
Chapter 2 — The Truth Hidden in Plain Sight
Emiliano couldn't move.
The security room was silent except for the soft hum of the monitors.
On the screen, Patricia folded her arms.
"I've told you a hundred times," she said coldly. "Your father isn't here to save you."
Martina lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
"No."
Patricia stepped closer.
"You're only sorry because you got caught."
Daniela instinctively stood in front of her younger sister.
"Please don't yell at her."
Patricia laughed.
"So now you're protecting each other?"
She pointed toward the staircase.
"Both of you. No lunch until you learn some manners."
The girls quietly obeyed.
Not because they agreed.
Because they had learned resistance only made things worse.
Emiliano's hands trembled.
"How long..."
His voice barely existed.
"How long has this been happening?"
The Head of Security hesitated before placing a flash drive on the table.
"Sir..."
"I reviewed footage from the past three months after your instructions."
"I think you should see this."
The first recording showed Patricia secretly removing a diamond bracelet from her own jewelry box.
Minutes later...
She quietly slipped it into Rosa's cleaning cart.
That evening, she dramatically announced the bracelet was missing.
Rosa was forced to empty every pocket in front of the household staff.
The bracelet was "miraculously" discovered.
Emiliano remembered firing two security guards that day because he believed they had failed to monitor the staff.
Rosa had never defended herself.
She had simply whispered,
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
The second recording hurt even more.
Daniela proudly held up a school drawing.
"It's for Dad!"
Patricia smiled.
"I'll make sure he gets it."
The moment the girls left...
She tore the drawing into tiny pieces and dropped it into the trash.
Emiliano closed his eyes.
He suddenly remembered wondering why his daughters had stopped giving him handmade gifts.
The third recording shattered him completely.
Late one rainy night...
Martina woke up crying after a nightmare.
Rosa sat beside her bed, softly reading a story until she fell asleep again.
Patricia appeared in the doorway.
She waited until Rosa left.
Then she leaned over the sleeping child.
"If you keep bothering your father..."
"He'll send Rosa away."
The little girl never fully woke.
But tears rolled down her cheeks anyway.
Emiliano buried his face in his hands.
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"My daughters have been living in fear..."
"And I invited it into my home."
