Chapter 1
“I've made my decision, Julián. I'm not going to spend my life playing nurse to a man who may never walk properly again.”
Rebeca's voice was cold...
Almost bored...
As her husband waited on a gurney at Santa Lucía Hospital in Puebla.
He had 40 minutes before emergency surgery for a perforated intestine—a life-threatening condition that could worsen at any moment.
Julián Robles, 48, had founded that hospital after years of working in public clinics, sleeping in examination rooms, and taking out loans that no one else was willing to give him.
Yet that morning...
He looked nothing like a hospital director.
His surgical gown hung open at the back.
Sweat covered his face.
Every breath sent a sharp stab of pain through his body.
“Rebeca... they're taking me into surgery,” he said.
“Where are you?”
From the other end of the call came the sound of a man's voice...
And the clink of a coffee cup.
“I'm with Esteban,” she replied.
“He's helping me review the divorce papers.”
“I'm also filing for half of the hospital, the house in Lomas de Angelópolis, and all the investments.”
“Don't act surprised. Everything was built during our marriage.”
Esteban Mena was the hospital's Deputy Medical Director...
And one of the people Julián trusted most.
“Since when does my trusted physician handle divorce cases?” Julián asked.
Rebeca let out a dry laugh.
“Since he realized you're no longer fit to run anything.”
The call ended.
Julián lay motionless for a moment.
Then he picked up his phone and called his attorney, Camilo Duarte.
“Open the blue folder in the safe in my office,” he ordered.
“Review the property deeds, the trust agreement, and the company's corporate records.”
“Don't tell anyone.”
“Did something happen?” Camilo asked.
“They're trying to have me declared legally incompetent...”
“Before anyone knows whether I survive this operation.”
Beside him, Clara Mendoza, the attending nurse, replaced his IV bag.
She was 51 years old, with unwavering eyes and a habit of speaking to doctors without the slightest hint of intimidation.
“Your blood pressure is through the roof,” she said.
“If you keep handling your divorce from a hospital bed, you're going into surgery in terrible shape.”
Julián managed a faint smile.
“My wife thinks she can take my millions while I'm under anesthesia.”
Clara adjusted his blanket.
“How thoughtful of her.”
“Most people send flowers.”
“She sent legal threats instead.”
Julián laughed...
Only for it to dissolve into a groan of pain.
“If I make it through this...”
“I'm taking you out to dinner.”
Clara smiled.
“First survive.”
“Then we'll find out whether you know how to eat without giving orders.”
Hours later...
Julián opened his eyes in the intensive care unit.
Clara stood beside him, gently moistening his lips.
“You're still here, Doctor,” she teased.
“Don't get too excited.”
“You can't get out of bed yet...”
“And you're definitely not charming anyone.”
His phone vibrated.
A new notification had arrived.
Rebeca had filed a request for temporary control of the hospital's bank accounts, claiming that Julián had shown signs of "mental confusion" before surgery.
Clara immediately noticed the change in his expression.
“What's wrong?”
Julián read the document again.
Listed as the key witness...
Was Esteban Mena.
The very doctor who knew every detail of his symptoms...
His medications...
And his complete medical history.
Julián slowly lowered the phone.
“This didn't start today,” he murmured.
“Rebeca doesn't just want a divorce.”
“She wants to take over the hospital from the inside.”
May you like
And the most frightening part...
Someone had already begun erasing the evidence.
