CHAPTER 1: THE BUTTON IN THE DEAD WOMAN’S HAND
“Camila died during childbirth. The baby didn’t survive either.”
Those were the first words Eugenia de la Vega said when her son walked through the front door.
Not “Welcome home, Alejandro.”
Not “I’m sorry you had to hear this.”
Just a cold sentence that shattered his entire world before he even had time to put his suitcase down.
Alejandro stood frozen in the entrance hall of the family estate, his fingers still wrapped around the handle of his luggage.
For three weeks, he had been away in Monterrey.
Three weeks of endless meetings.
Three weeks of sleepless nights.
Three weeks of fighting to close the biggest international contract in the history of the De la Vega tequila empire.
His mother had called it:
"The deal that will save our family's legacy."
And Alejandro believed her.
He believed his family.
He believed that when he returned home, Camila would be waiting for him with their newborn son in her arms.
He had imagined that moment hundreds of times.
He would walk into the room.
Camila would smile.
Their baby would grab his finger.
And for the first time in years, Alejandro would feel that his life was complete.
He had even bought gifts.
A small box of milk candies from Monterrey because Camila loved them.
A soft teddy bear with a little blue ribbon for the baby.
And a bouquet of fresh gardenias because Camila always said they smelled like happiness.
But the moment he saw the coffin in the middle of the living room...
Everything fell from his hands.
The candies scattered across the marble floor.
The teddy bear landed beside the flowers.
The gardenias slowly slipped from his fingers.
Because the room where Camila had once announced her pregnancy...
The same room where she had laughed while holding a tiny white shirt that said:
“NEW BOSS ON THE WAY.”
...
was now filled with funeral candles.
There were expensive flower arrangements everywhere.
Golden ribbons.
Perfectly arranged chairs.
Relatives dressed in elegant black clothes.
But something felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
There were no broken voices.
No uncontrollable crying.
No one looked like they had lost someone they loved.
They looked like people attending an important business meeting.
And at the center of it all stood Eugenia de la Vega.
Alejandro’s mother.
A woman known throughout Jalisco as powerful, respected, and impossible to challenge.
She wore a perfectly tailored black dress.
A pearl necklace around her neck.
Her hair was flawless.
Her expression was emotionless.
As if Camila's death was simply another problem that needed to be handled.
Alejandro stared at her.
“Where is my son?”
The room became silent.
Eugenia didn't blink.
“I already told you.”
Her voice was calm.
“He died.”
Alejandro felt his chest tighten.
“No…”
He shook his head.
“No, that’s impossible.”
“Accept reality, Alejandro.”
“Where is Camila’s doctor?”
“Enough.”
“Where was she treated?”
“It was a complication during childbirth.”
“What hospital?”
Eugenia sighed.
A sigh full of irritation.
Not sadness.
Irritation.
“Your wife had a hemorrhage. Sometimes God decides things we cannot understand.”
Alejandro looked at her.
For the first time in his life, his mother’s words didn't comfort him.
They scared him.
Because Camila had always been healthy.
Her pregnancy had been perfect.
The doctors had told them everything was normal.
So why did everyone look prepared for his questions?
Why did nobody seem surprised?
Why did his mother already have every answer?
Alejandro slowly walked toward the coffin.
“Don’t touch her.”
Eugenia’s voice became sharper.
He stopped.
“She is my wife.”
“You cannot help her anymore.”
But Alejandro ignored her.
He reached for Camila’s hand.
Her skin was cold.
Too cold.
She looked peaceful.
Almost like she was sleeping.
But then Alejandro noticed something strange.
Camila hated when people displayed religion for appearances.
She always said:
"Faith is something between your heart and God. It doesn't need an audience."
Yet someone had placed a rosary between her fingers.
Someone had arranged her hands carefully.
Someone wanted everyone to believe she had died peacefully.
But Alejandro knew his wife.
Something was wrong.
Then he noticed her right hand.
It was clenched.
Tightly.
Almost painfully.
Why would a dead woman hold something in her fist?
His heart began pounding.
“Stop.”
Eugenia stepped forward.
“Don't disrespect her.”
But Alejandro carefully opened Camila’s fingers.
And inside...
was a button.
A dark blue button.
Elegant.
Expensive.
Torn from a man's jacket.
For a moment, Alejandro couldn't breathe.
Because underneath Camila's fingernails...
were small pieces of matching blue fabric.
Someone had fought with her.
Someone had grabbed her.
Someone had been close enough for her to tear something from their clothes.
Alejandro quickly closed his hand around the evidence.
He hid it before anyone could see.
Then he looked up.
And his eyes moved toward his older brother.
Mauricio.
Mauricio de la Vega.
Standing near the hallway.
Holding a glass of tequila.
Wearing a navy blue blazer.
The exact same color.
The exact same fabric.
Alejandro's blood turned cold.
But then he noticed something else.
Three fresh scratches on Mauricio’s neck.
Poorly covered with makeup.
Scratches that looked exactly like they came from someone fighting for their life.
Their eyes met.
For one second...
Mauricio stopped smiling.
Only for one second.
But Alejandro saw it.
Fear.
Real fear.
Then Mauricio quickly laughed.
“You arrived late, brother.”
His voice was mocking.
“As always.”
Alejandro stared at him.
“What happened to Camila?”
Mauricio took a sip of tequila.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean what really happened.”
The room became uncomfortable.
Aunts started whispering.
One of them said:
“Grief is making him lose his mind.”
Another said:
“He should accept God’s decision.”
But Alejandro noticed something.
Nobody defended Mauricio.
Nobody defended Eugenia.
They were afraid.
Not sad.
Afraid.
Alejandro turned back to his mother.
“I want the medical records.”
Silence.
“The baby’s birth certificate.”
Another pause.
“And the names of every doctor who treated Camila.”
Eugenia’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“You are humiliating this family.”
“No.”
Alejandro looked at the coffin.
“I am trying to understand why my wife died.”
Mauricio suddenly slammed his glass onto the table.
“Are you seriously accusing your own family during your wife’s funeral?”
Alejandro looked at him.
“I’m asking questions.”
“No.”
Mauricio stepped closer.
“You’re looking for someone to blame because you cannot accept that you failed her.”
That sentence hit harder than any punch.
Because Alejandro knew it was designed to hurt him.
To make him doubt himself.
To make him stop.
And for a moment...
it almost worked.
Until he remembered something.
Five months earlier.
Camila had entered his office late at night.
She looked terrified.
Not worried.
Terrified.
She placed a folder on his desk.
“Alejandro, promise me something.”
“What?”
“If anything happens to me…”
He laughed nervously.
“Camila, why would anything happen?”
“Promise me.”
He looked into her eyes.
And he promised.
Inside that folder were copies of company accounts.
Fake invoices.
Fake suppliers.
Millions of pesos transferred to mysterious companies.
Companies connected to Mauricio.
At the time, Alejandro thought she was being paranoid.
He thought his wife was stressed because of pregnancy.
But then she said something he would never forget.
Something that now echoed inside his head.
“Your mother doesn’t want to protect this family, Alejandro.”
“She wants to control everything that belongs to it.”
Including...
the baby.
Alejandro looked at Camila’s coffin.
Then at Mauricio’s blue blazer.
Then at his mother’s cold expression.
And he understood.
This wasn't a tragedy.
It was a cover-up.
Someone wanted Camila gone.
Someone wanted his child gone.
And someone inside this house was hiding the truth.
Alejandro quietly placed his hand into his pocket.
Feeling the button he had taken from Camila’s hand.
“I won't make a scene,” he said.
Eugenia relaxed.
Mauricio smiled.
They believed he had surrendered.
They believed grief had broken him.
They were wrong.
Because Camila had prepared for this moment.
Before she died, she had hidden evidence.
Evidence that would destroy the entire De la Vega family.
And what Alejandro didn't know yet...
was that the baby they claimed had died...
had never been buried.
Because somewhere in Jalisco...
his son was alive.
And the person hiding him...
May you like
was the last person Alejandro would ever suspect.
TO BE CONTINUED...
