CHAPTER 2: “THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MASK”
Alejandro Ferrer stood frozen behind the kitchen door.
For almost ten seconds, he didn’t move.
He didn’t breathe.
He simply listened.
Because the woman speaking inside wasn’t the same Renata Alcázar he showed to the world.
The elegant woman who smiled at charity events.
The woman who held his hand in front of cameras.
The woman who promised him that she wanted a “simple, honest life.”
That woman didn’t exist.
At least…
Not anymore.
Inside the kitchen, Renata laughed softly.
—Relax. Nobody will discover anything.
A man’s voice answered.
—Are you sure? Hundreds of families are involved. If this comes out, we could both end up in prison.
Alejandro’s eyes narrowed.
A man.
There was another person.
He slowly pulled out his phone and activated the security system connected to the mansion’s cameras.
For months, the system had been recording everything.
But Alejandro had never imagined he would need to watch his own home like a detective.
The screen loaded.
Camera 1.
The main entrance.
Nothing.
Camera 2.
The living room.
Nothing.
Camera 7.
The kitchen.
His blood turned cold.
There was Renata.
And sitting across from her was someone Alejandro knew very well.
Someone he trusted.
Someone who had worked beside him for years.
His financial manager.
Victor Salgado.
—You don’t understand, Victor —Renata whispered while drinking wine—. This is exactly why I chose Alejandro.
Victor raised an eyebrow.
—Because he’s rich?
Renata smiled.
—No.
She looked around the luxurious kitchen.
—Because he believes people are good.
Alejandro felt his stomach tighten.
Renata continued.
—That is his weakness.
Victor laughed.
—You really played him perfectly.
Played him.
The words echoed in Alejandro’s mind.
He kept watching.
Unable to look away.
Five months earlier.
When Renata first appeared in Alejandro’s life, everyone thought it was a fairy tale.
A wealthy businessman.
A beautiful woman from an influential family.
A glamorous engagement.
The newspapers loved them.
But what nobody knew was that Renata had not met Alejandro by accident.
She had studied him.
His habits.
His company.
His weaknesses.
And especially…
His kindness.
According to the recordings, Renata had approached Victor months before their relationship became public.
—Alejandro trusts you more than anyone —she told him.
—And?
—And that makes you useful.
At first, Victor refused.
But then Renata showed him something.
Something that changed his mind.
A debt.
A secret.
A mistake from his past that could destroy his career.
After that day…
Victor became her partner.
Alejandro continued watching.
The cameras revealed things he never noticed.
Renata entering his office when he wasn’t home.
Renata copying confidential documents.
Renata accessing employee records.
Renata creating fake donation programs.
But the worst part…
Was the warehouse.
A place Alejandro owned outside the city.
The company used it to store emergency supplies for families affected by natural disasters.
Food.
Medicine.
Basic necessities.
Things donated by hundreds of people who trusted the Ferrer Foundation.
The cameras showed trucks arriving.
But they didn’t leave full.
They left almost empty.
Because someone was stealing the supplies before they reached the families who needed them.
Alejandro covered his mouth.
He remembered every news interview.
Every smiling photo.
Every time Renata stood beside him saying:
“We believe in helping those who need it most.”
She wasn’t helping.
She was stealing.
Back in the kitchen, Renata leaned closer to Victor.
—The best part is that everyone will blame the employees.
Victor nodded.
—Especially Teresa.
Alejandro suddenly stood straighter.
Teresa?
Why her?
Renata continued:
—She’s perfect.
—Poor.
—No connections.
—Nobody will believe her.
Alejandro’s fists tightened.
All those months…
Teresa had been silently suffering.
And Renata had planned it.
She wanted people to think the missing supplies were Teresa’s fault.
Then something appeared on the screen.
A folder.
A hidden file inside Renata’s laptop.
Alejandro zoomed in.
The name shocked him.
“FERRER FOUNDATION — FINAL PLAN.”
He opened the recording.
The audio became clearer.
Renata’s voice appeared.
—Once Alejandro signs the marriage documents, I’ll have access to everything.
Victor smiled.
—And then?
Renata looked directly at the camera.
At that moment, Alejandro felt as if she was looking at him.
—Then Alejandro Ferrer disappears from his own company.
Silence.
The room became unbearably quiet.
Because suddenly Alejandro understood.
This wasn’t just theft.
This wasn’t just greed.
Renata wasn’t planning to steal money.
She was planning to take his entire empire.
But then…
Something else happened.
Something that changed everything.
The camera from the service hallway showed Teresa.
She was standing there.
Listening.
She had heard part of the conversation.
Her face was pale.
She understood.
The woman who had humiliated her daughter wasn’t just cruel.
She was dangerous.
Renata noticed her reflection in the glass.
Her smile disappeared.
—Teresa?
The maid froze.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Renata slowly walked toward her.
—How long have you been standing there?
Teresa stepped back.
Her hands trembled.
—I…
Renata looked at Victor.
Then back at Teresa.
And smiled.
The same cold smile.
—You know…
—I was hoping I wouldn’t have to deal with you yet.
Teresa hugged herself.
—What are you going to do?
Renata walked closer.
And whispered:
—The same thing I did to everyone else who got in my way.
But Renata made one mistake.
A mistake that would destroy her.
She forgot one thing.
The mansion was full of cameras.
And this time…
Someone was watching.
Alejandro picked up his phone.
He called the police.
Then he called Teresa.
But before he could speak…
His screen received a notification.
A new video had been uploaded automatically from the security system.
A recording from the day Camila’s food was thrown away.
Alejandro opened it.
And what he saw made him stand up immediately.
Because behind Renata…
Hidden near the trash can…
Was another person.
Someone who had been inside the mansion that day.
Someone who knew the truth.
Someone who had been pretending to help Teresa all along.
And when Alejandro saw the face on the screen…
He whispered:
“No… it can’t be you.”
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TO BE CONTINUED…
❤️ Chapter 3 will reveal the hidden person in the video, why Renata targeted Teresa and Camila, and the shocking betrayal that no one saw coming.
