CHAPTER 1: THE LOCKED LEDGER
CHAPTER 1: THE LOCKED LEDGER
Alejandro didn’t move for several seconds.
His daughters’ voices still echoed inside his head like broken glass.
Hungry—but afraid to admit it.
He slowly stood up, his eyes no longer on the children… but on the house itself.
On the polished marble floors.
On the crystal chandeliers.
On Jimena’s diamond necklace glittering somewhere upstairs.
Everything suddenly looked wrong.
Not luxurious.
Not beautiful.
But stolen.
“Girls,” he said gently, kneeling again. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere.”
Valeria grabbed his hand. “Daddy… are you angry?”
Alejandro forced a soft smile. “No, princesa. I’m coming back.”
But when he stood up, his expression had already changed.
Cold. Controlled. Dangerous.
He walked upstairs.
The music grew louder.
Laughter echoed from the main hall.
And there she was.
Jimena.
Still dancing.
Still laughing.
Holding a champagne glass like nothing in the world could touch her.
“Alejandro!” she shouted when she saw him. “You’re home early!”
He didn’t answer.
His eyes moved past her—toward the guests, the bottles, the jewelry, the chaos.
“This party ends now,” he said quietly.
Jimena laughed. “Don’t be dramatic. It’s Christmas!”
Alejandro stepped closer.
“Where is the household account ledger?”
Her smile flickered for half a second.
Then returned. “Why would you need that?”
That was all he needed.
Thirty minutes later, the mansion was silent.
The guests were gone.
The music was dead.
And Jimena was standing in front of him, now fully aware something had shifted.
Alejandro held a thick black folder.
Bank statements.
Transfers.
Withdrawals.
Names he didn’t recognize.
Luxury trips.
Expensive hotels.
Designer stores.
All under Jimena’s signature.
His voice was calm.
“While my daughters were eating mold… you were spending over three million dollars in six months.”
Jimena crossed her arms. “You were never here. I was maintaining the image of this family.”
Alejandro looked at her.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he whispered:
“You starved my children for an image?”
May you like
Silence.
And that silence became the answer.
