February. Damian’s voice was barely a whisper. “But if you’ve known since February, why didn’t you say anything before?” Cristina tenderly stroked her belly because she needed time to process the fact that the man she’d married was capable of cheating on her while she was pregnant with her child.
I needed time to decide what kind of life I wanted for my child, and I needed time to ensure that, whatever happened, he would have a stable future. Sonia took a step forward, her eyes shining with pride as she looked at her daughter.
And why today? Why wait for the divorce? Because today Ru would marry you, believing you were a successful businessman. Today she would get everything she’d ever wanted from me, and it seemed only right that she should discover the truth on the very day I would regain my freedom.
At that moment, Ru came down the stairs with uncertain steps. She had touched up her makeup, but her eyes still betrayed the devastation within. She approached the group with her head held high, trying to maintain a modicum of dignity.
“Congratulations,” she said, turning to Cristina. “You won. Does that make you feel better?” Cristina looked at her calmly. It wasn’t a competition, Ru. It never had been. It was my marriage, my life, my future.
And you decided to try to destroy it. I didn’t destroy anything that wasn’t already broken. Maybe you’re right.” Cristina nodded slowly. “But the difference between you and me is that I built something of my own.
You just tried to steal what you thought belonged to others.” Ru looked at Damian, still in shock, and then back at Cristina. “What now? Are you going to fire him?
Are you going to ruin his life out of revenge? Damian is a good manager and a good father. As long as he fulfills those two roles, his job will be safe.” Cristina paused.
But Rut, I hope you understand that employees’ wives don’t have access to certain company privileges. The blow was silent, but devastating. Ru understood instantly. No company cars, no paid business trips, no corporate credit cards she’d taken for granted.
His new life. It had just shrunk drastically. “Come on, Damian,” Ruth murmured, taking his arm. “Let’s get out of here.” But Damian resisted, his eyes fixed on Cristina. “Why don’t you hate me after everything I’ve done to you?”
“Why don’t you hate me?” Cristina smiled sadly. “Because hating takes energy I’d rather invest in loving our son.” And because she gently touched her belly. “Because he’ll need his parents to get along, even if they’re no longer husband and wife.”
Damian nodded slowly, finally understanding the extent of his loss. Not just a wife, not just a company, he had lost an extraordinary woman who, even in the darkest moment of her life, had continued to think of everyone’s well-being.
As the couple walked toward the exit, Sonia approached her daughter. “Are you okay, honey?” Cristina looked at the revolving doors, through which her past and her pain had just vanished.
For the first time in months, Mom. I think so, but in her bag, her phone vibrated with a notification that would change everything again. A message from Elena Ruiz, her accountant.
Cristina, we need to talk urgently. Have you found out anything about the company’s accounts? Elena Ruiz’s office. Accounting firm. 2:30 PM. Elena Ruiz’s accounting firm occupied the second floor of a modernist building on Valmes Street.
With windows overlooking the hustle and bustle of Leample, Cristina settled into the terracotta-colored leather chair in front of the solid walnut desk, while Elena nervously sorted through a mountain of papers and invoices.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee couldn’t mask the tension in the air. Elena, a 45-year-old woman with brown hair pulled back in a neat bun and gold-rimmed glasses, had been the family’s trusted financial manager for nearly a decade. She knew every euro coming in and going out of the accounts, every investment, every expense. That’s why her urgent phone call had so alarmed Cristina.
“Before we begin,” Elena said, pouring herself a glass of water with shaking hands, “I need to know that I would never have allowed all this to happen if I’d known what was really happening.” Cristina frowned, feeling her son shifting restlessly in her lap, as if he, too, sensed the gravity of the moment.
Elena, you’re scaring me. What did you find? The accountant opened a burgundy folder and pulled out several bank statements marked with yellow Post-it notes. This morning, after your phone call about the divorce, I decided to review all the accounts to prepare the final statement of assets and liabilities, and I found irregularities.
What kind of irregularity? Elena pointed to a line on the September bank statement. Bank transfers. Damian made monthly transfers from his business account to a personal account not in his name.
Cristina’s heart was pounding. After everything that had happened in court, there were still more surprises. What figures are we talking about? Over the last eight months, around €45,000. Elena flipped through the pages, showing each marked transfer.
