CHAPTER 3: “THE TRAITOR INSIDE THE HOUSE”
Alejandro Ferrer stared at the security footage.
The room around him disappeared.
The sounds of the mansion vanished.
All he could see was one face.
A face he had trusted for years.
A face he never imagined would be connected to Renata Alcázar’s betrayal.
Because standing behind Renata on the day Camila’s food was thrown into the trash…
Was Mariela Torres.
The woman who had worked as the head housekeeper of the Ferrer mansion for almost eight years.
The woman Teresa considered her friend.
The woman who had hugged Camila many times.
The woman who always said:
—Don’t worry, little one. In this house, you are safe.
But the camera showed something different.
Something horrifying.
Mariela had been standing there.
Watching.
Listening.
And doing nothing.
Alejandro replayed the video.
Again.
And again.
The image was clear.
Renata grabbed the container from Camila’s hands.
Teresa looked devastated.
Camila cried.
And Mariela…
She simply stood in the corner.
No surprise.
No anger.
No attempt to stop it.
Almost like she already knew what was going to happen.
Alejandro felt betrayed.
Not only by Renata.
But by everyone who had allowed this to continue.
He immediately called the security manager.
—Send me every recording from the last six months.
The man on the phone hesitated.
—Sir… are you sure?
Alejandro’s voice became cold.
—Every single one.
Two hours later, the truth started appearing.
The cameras showed things nobody had noticed.
Small moments.
Small details.
But together…
They created a nightmare.
Mariela had been helping Renata.
She was the one who told her which employees had financial problems.
She was the one who gave her Teresa’s schedule.
She was the one who informed Renata whenever Alejandro changed his travel plans.
Renata didn’t accidentally know everything.
She had an inside source.
A spy.
Inside his own home.
But why?
Why would Mariela betray the man who had treated her like family?
Alejandro discovered the answer in an old recording.
Six months earlier.
Mariela was sitting in the mansion’s garden.
Crying.
Renata sat beside her.
—You worked here for eight years, and what did Alejandro give you?
Mariela wiped her tears.
—A job.
Renata smiled.
—Exactly.
She leaned closer.
—A job.
Not respect.
Not power.
Not a future.
Then she opened a small envelope.
Inside was a bank receipt.
A huge amount of money.
Mariela stared at it.
—What is this?
Renata smiled.
—A chance.
A chance that would change everything.
Mariela had a son.
A son with serious debts.
A son who had made terrible decisions.
The bank was threatening to take his house.
Mariela needed money desperately.
And Renata knew exactly where to attack.
She didn’t threaten her.
She didn’t force her.
She simply offered a solution.
Money.
Security.
A way to save her son.
And slowly…
Mariela became trapped.
One favor became another.
One secret became ten.
Until she was no longer helping Renata.
She was protecting her.
But there was one thing Renata didn’t know.
Mariela had started regretting everything.
Especially after seeing Camila cry.
Because Camila reminded her of her own granddaughter.
A little girl she had promised to protect.
Every night, Mariela felt guilty.
Every night, she wanted to confess.
But fear controlled her.
Until that day.
The day Renata threw away Camila’s food.
Something changed.
Back in the mansion, Teresa was sitting in her small room.
She still didn’t know what Alejandro had discovered.
She only knew one thing.
She was in danger.
After hearing Renata’s conversation, she understood that this wasn’t about food.
This wasn’t about a child entering a kitchen.
It was something much bigger.
Someone wanted her silent.
Someone wanted her blamed.
Someone wanted her gone.
Camila was sleeping beside her.
Holding her rabbit.
Teresa looked at her daughter and whispered:
—I promise you, baby…
—I won’t let anyone hurt you again.
The next morning, something unexpected happened.
Alejandro walked into the service area.
Not like a boss.
Not like a millionaire.
Like a man who had failed to protect someone.
Teresa immediately stood up.
—Mr. Ferrer…
But Alejandro raised his hand.
—Teresa.
His voice was softer than usual.
—I owe you an apology.
She looked confused.
—An apology?
Alejandro looked at Camila.
At the little girl coloring quietly at the table.
Then he looked back at Teresa.
—I should have seen what was happening.
Teresa’s eyes filled with tears.
For months, she had waited for someone to believe her.
And now…
Someone finally did.
But before she could answer…
The mansion doors opened.
Renata entered.
Perfect makeup.
Perfect clothes.
Perfect smile.
As if nothing had happened.
—Alejandro, darling.
She walked toward him.
—I was looking for you.
Then she noticed Teresa.
Her smile faded slightly.
Only slightly.
—Oh.
She looked at Camila.
—The little girl is still here.
Alejandro stepped in front of them.
A protective wall.
—Yes.
Renata looked at him.
Something in his expression frightened her.
—Is something wrong?
Alejandro smiled.
But there was no warmth.
—Actually…
—Everything is finally becoming clear.
For the first time…
Renata looked nervous.
That afternoon, Alejandro invited Renata to his office.
He placed a folder on the desk.
She looked at it.
Then at him.
—What is this?
Alejandro opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Documents.
Security recordings.
Evidence.
Renata’s face slowly changed.
But instead of fear…
She laughed.
A quiet, confident laugh.
—You think you won?
Alejandro frowned.
—What did you say?
Renata leaned back.
—Alejandro…
Do you really think I would spend months planning everything and leave only one copy of the evidence?
The room went silent.
Alejandro felt a chill.
—What did you do?
Renata smiled.
A smile full of confidence.
—I made sure that if I fall…
—you fall with me.
She stood up.
—Because there is one thing you still don’t know.
Alejandro stared at her.
Renata walked toward the door.
And before leaving, she whispered:
—The biggest secret in this mansion…
—is not mine.
That night, Alejandro received an anonymous message.
No name.
No number.
Only a photo.
A photo of a document.
His hands froze.
Because the document showed something impossible.
A transaction.
Made three years earlier.
Signed with his own name.
For a company he had never heard of.
And at the bottom…
Was a signature.
A signature that belonged to someone he loved.
Someone who had died.
Someone who couldn’t possibly have signed anything.
Alejandro looked at the screen.
And for the first time…
He wondered if Renata was the villain…
Or if she had discovered a secret even darker than her own crimes.
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TO BE CONTINUED…
❤️ Chapter 4 will reveal the shocking secret hidden inside Alejandro’s company, the identity of the person who controlled Renata, and why Camila’s family was connected to everything from the beginning.
