Chapter 5 - The Gala of Truth
"A family celebration they will never forget."Tuesday arrived. It was Doña Carmen’s 60th birthday.
For weeks, she had been demanding a grand celebration. Alejandro had promised her a night she would never forget, booking a private banquet room at one of the most exclusive, historic restaurants in San Ángel.
At 7:00 p.m., the family arrived. Doña Carmen wore a stunning designer gown paid for by Alejandro. Ximena, Valeria, and Fernanda were dripped in expensive jewelry, laughing and taking selfies for their social media followers, boasting about their "elite lifestyle."
Sofía walked in beside Alejandro, wearing a simple but elegant maternity dress.
When they sat down at the grand mahogany table, Doña Carmen looked around in disappointment. "Alejandro, where are the other guests? I thought you invited our relatives and my friends?"
"Oh, they are on their way, Mother," Alejandro said, checking his watch with a calm smile. "But before they arrive, I wanted us to have a private family moment. To toast to your legacy."
"How sweet," Doña Carmen purred, raising her champagne glass. "To family, and to knowing one's proper place." She shot a pointed look at Sofía.
"Indeed," Alejandro said, standing up. He didn't raise a glass. Instead, he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a stack of documents, throwing them onto the center of the table.
The heavy thud of the papers silenced the room.
"What is this?" Ximena asked, frowning.
"These are the receipts of your legacy, Mother," Alejandro said, his voice echoing in the private room. "Let's review them, shall we? Over the last five years, I have paid a total of $1.2 million dollars to support the four of you. I paid for your tuition, Ximena, yet the university records here show you dropped out three years ago and have been forging your report cards while spending my money on vacations."
Ximena’s face drained of color. "Alejandro... that's... that's a lie!"
"And you, Valeria," Alejandro continued, ignoring his sister's outburst. "You claimed you needed $50,000 for a business startup. The forensic accountant I hired discovered the money went directly into a secret offshore account in your boyfriend's name."
Valeria gasped, looking at her mother for help.
"Alejandro, stop this madness!" Doña Carmen stood up, her face red with anger. "How dare you insult your sisters on my birthday! If you don't stop this immediately, we will tell everyone what your pathetic wife did! We have the records of her selling her baby!"
Alejandro didn't flinch. He simply smiled.
"Go ahead, Mother. Tell the world. Tell the guests who are about to walk through that door. But before you do, you should know... Sofía told me about her surrogacy before we even got married. I paid for her father's medical treatments myself back then. Your blackmail has no power here."
Doña Carmen froze, her jaw dropping. She turned to Sofía, who was now looking back at her with calm, fearless eyes.
"But that’s not all," Alejandro whispered, leaning over the table. "I also found the secondary credit cards you forged my signature to open. That is identity theft and bank fraud. A federal offense in this country."
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"You... you wouldn't send your own mother to prison," Doña Carmen whispered, her voice finally trembling with genuine fear.
"No," Alejandro said softly. "I won't. But only because of one condition."
