PART 1
“My dad won’t be around much longer. When he dies, the company, the house, and the money will be mine. Then we can stop hiding.”
That’s what I heard in an audio recording from my husband while he was taking a bath less than three meters away from me.
My name is Elena Morales, I am forty years old and for sixteen years I believed I was married to a man I knew by heart.
That night, Andrés arrived after midnight saying he was coming from a dinner with suppliers. He left his cell phone on the nightstand and went straight into the shower.
I was finishing some reports when the screen lit up.
“Are you with her again? You said this would all be over soon.”
The sender was Julieta Salas.
Before I could react, another message appeared:
“I don’t intend to wait forever. You yourself said that when your father is gone, everything will be yours.”
I felt my hands go cold.
I didn’t need to guess the password. Months ago, Andrés had registered my fingerprint so he could send some documents from his phone.
I started the conversation.
Hotels.
Dinners.
Photos.
Excuses.
Promises of divorce.
But infidelity stopped being the worst thing when I found that audio.
Andrés was talking about his father, Don Alejandro Mendoza, founder of an industrial distribution company in Querétaro where we both worked.
Don Alejandro had cancer.
He was still in treatment, he went to the office when he could and every Sunday he asked about our children, Daniela, fourteen years old, and Mateo, nine years old.
While he was fighting for his life, his only son was already making plans with his lover about what they would buy after burying him.
I heard the shower turn off.
I left the phone exactly where it was and pretended to check an Excel spreadsheet.
Andrés came out of the bathroom as if nothing had happened.
—Still working?
—Finishing a report.
She put on her pajamas and started complaining about her father.
—He wants to review contracts again tomorrow. He should just accept that he’s sick and stop interfering in the company.
I would have listened to a tired son before.
That night I heard an impatient heir.
I didn’t make a scene.
My children were sleeping on the other side of the hall and I wasn’t going to ruin their early morning just because their father had already ruined our marriage.
The next day, Andrés had breakfast with us as usual. He asked about Daniela’s exam, reminded Mateo to bring his soccer uniform, and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead.
At five in the afternoon he wrote to me:
“I’m with my dad. He wasn’t feeling well. I have a meeting later. I’ll be late.”
I called Don Alejandro.
—Is Andrés with you?
—No, daughter. I haven’t seen him for several days.
That same night I drove to her house.
When I told him what I had found, he didn’t say anything for almost a minute.
Then he asked:
—Did my son talk about my will?
-Yeah.
Don Alejandro closed his eyes.
—A week ago he asked me if I had changed it. He also wanted to know how much the house was worth and how the company’s shares were distributed.
I asked him not to make decisions when he was angry.
“If Andrés has stopped loving me, that’s a problem between our marriage. I don’t want him to change his inheritance for me.”
Don Alejandro gently tapped the table with his fingers.
—I’m not going to change anything because he cheated on you. I’m going to change it because while I’m still breathing, my son is already dividing up my things.
Two days later he went to the doctor.
Afterwards, accompanied only by his lawyer, he went to a notary.
I didn’t know what I had done until that night.
Don Alejandro left an envelope in front of me.
—It’s already signed.
—What did he do?
—The controlling stake in the company will remain yours. Another part will go to Daniela and Mateo. The house and my savings will also be protected for you.
I was frozen.
—No. Leave it to the children.
—They are minors. Someone will have to take care of what belongs to them.
—Andrés will say that I manipulated him.
Don Alejandro stared at me.
—Then he will have to say so while demonstrating why a sick man had no right to decide what to do with what he built over forty years.
I still thought the worst was over.
I had no idea that three nights later, Andrés would return from his lover’s house, find his suitcases by the door… and say in front of his own father the phrase that would end up destroying everything.
PART 2
That morning Andrés returned at four thirty.
I had packed his suitcase and asked Don Alejandro to be present. I didn’t want to argue about a recording or give different versions of events later.
Andrés came in smelling of alcohol and a perfume that wasn’t mine.
He saw the suitcase.
Then he saw me.
And, to my surprise, she smiled.
—So you’ve already discovered Juliet.
He didn’t even try to deny it.
“You saved yourself an awkward conversation,” she continued. “The truth is, I’ve found someone who makes me happier.”
—Then take your things.
Andrés shrugged.
—The apartment is yours. Stay here with the children. I won’t have any problems.
-Because?
His expression changed.
—Because in a few months I’m going to be better than ever.
—In a few months?
Then he said it.
“My dad won’t be around much longer. When he’s gone, the company will be mine. His house and his accounts too. So don’t worry about me.”
The door to the room opened.
Don Alejandro appeared leaning against the frame.
—Not everything will be yours, Andrés.
My husband went white.
-Dad?
—I just heard how you’re waiting for my death.
Andrés pointed at me.
—She filled your head with nonsense!
—You filled my ears.
Don Alejandro made some copies.
—I changed my will.
Andrés read them standing up.
He turned a page.
Then another one.
-What is this?
—My will.
—You left the company to Elena!
—The majority participation.
—And what about me?
Don Alejandro held her gaze.
See more on the next page.
