Chapter 5 - The Chase Through the Rose Garden
"Stop him!" Mateo roared.
The police officers instantly reacted, sprinting down the path after Julian. But Julian had a head start. He tore through the elegant rose bushes, throwing wooden chairs behind him to slow down his pursuers.
Mateo handed Sofía to his assistant. "Take her to the car. Lock the doors."
"Daddy, don't leave me!" Sofía cried.
"I’ll be right back, my love. I promise," Mateo said, his eyes filled with a burning, relentless drive.
He kicked off his tight dress shoes and ran after Julian. The anger that had been building inside him since he found Sofía in the bathroom now fueled his muscles. He ran past the weeping guests, past the abandoned buffet tables, and into the dense, manicured maze of the estate's gardens.
Julian was desperately trying to unlock his luxury sports car in the driveway, his hands shaking so violently he dropped his keys onto the gravel.
Just as his fingers closed around the key fob, a heavy weight slammed into his back, throwing him violently against the hood of the car.
Mateo pinned Julian down, his forearm pressed hard against his former friend's neck.
"You?" Mateo growled, his face inches from Julian’s. "You helped her? You killed Elena?"
"Mateo, please!" Julian gasped, choking for air, his eyes wide with fear. "She pressured me! Valeria... she had proof of my embezzlement! She said if I didn't help her swap Elena's heart medication, she would ruin me! I didn't want to do it, Mateo! I swear!"
"You swapped her medication," Mateo whispered, the horrific truth finally settling into his mind. For four years, he had blamed himself, thinking he hadn't done enough to save his wife. But she had been systematically poisoned by the people he trusted most.
"I'm sorry, Mateo! I'm so sorry!" Julian wept, clawing at Mateo’s arm.
"Sorry won't bring her back," Mateo said, his voice cold and hollow.
The police officers finally caught up, panting as they dragged Julian off the car and slammed him onto the gravel, clicking the handcuffs into place. Valeria was led out of the villa shortly after, her designer dress stained with dirt, her face a mask of bitter defeat.
As she passed Mateo, she spat on the ground. "You'll never be happy, Mateo. You're cursed."
May you like
Mateo didn't even look at her. He looked up at the sky, feeling a strange, profound sense of peace wash over him. The storm had passed. The truth was finally out.
But there was still one final, shocking twist left in Elena's legacy.
