Chapter 4 - The Poisoned Table
By midnight, Alejandro had moved Lucía into a private, high-security penthouse owned directly under his personal name, completely disconnected from Montero Enterprises. He hired top-tier private bodyguards and a personal obstetrician to examine her.
"She’s severely fatigued and malnourished, Mr. Montero," the doctor reported quietly after the exam. "Working twelve-hour shifts on her feet while seven months pregnant has put severe strain on her body. But the baby... the baby is healthy. It’s a girl."
Alejandro looked through the glass window at Lucía, who was sleeping peacefully in a plush bed, her hand still resting over her belly. Pain slashed through his soul. While he had been dining in Michelin-star restaurants with the woman who destroyed his life, his wife had been scrubbing toilets just to afford sonograms.
At dawn, Alejandro arrived at the Montero family mansion in Polanco.
The dining hall was set for breakfast. Doña Elena sat at the head of the long mahogany table, sipping espresso from bone china. Sitting to her right was Valeria, looking pale and nervous.
"Alejandro," Doña Elena said softly, setting her cup down. "You didn't come home last night. Valeria told me about the scene at the hotel. My dear boy, you shouldn't let that deceitful woman manipulate you again."
Alejandro walked over to the table and tossed the notarized departure agreement onto Doña Elena’s silver breakfast tray.
"Did you really think a piece of paper would keep her hidden forever, Mother?" Alejandro asked quietly.
Doña Elena’s eyes narrowed slightly, but her face remained a cool mask of aristocrat perfection. Valeria, however, shrank back in her chair.
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"She was trash, Alejandro," Doña Elena spat, dropping the affectionate tone entirely. "A maid’s daughter who wormed her way into our family name. She would have ruined our bloodline. I did what was necessary to preserve the Montero legacy!"
"And you," Alejandro turned his glare toward Valeria, "you were paid to comfort the grieving husband, weren't you?"
