A millionaire visited a nursing home to make a donation, but was shocked to find his mother, who had been missing for 40 years, and what she told him made him cry.

A millionaire visited a nursing home to make a donation but ended up being surprised to find his mother who had been missing for 40 years and what she told him made him cry Leonardo Ortega had everything that many dreamed of He had luxury cars, a house that looked like something out of a movie and a bank account that never ran out even if he spent like crazy At his age he was the owner of one of the largest hotel chains in the country People saw him and thought his life was perfect but Leonardo, even though he didn’t say it, carried an old sadness in his
heart, a sadness that came from when he was a child and asked about his mother and nobody knew how to answer him correctly or so they told him Only his aunt Ramona, who had been like a second mother to him, assured him that his parents had died in an accident and that it was better not to stir up those memories It was a cloudy Friday when Leonardo decided he wanted to do something different He didn’t want another meeting or another elegant party He asked his secretary to look for a nursing home where they could make a good donation Not just any but one of those that really needed help It was like this

how he ended up in the San Felipe neighborhood in an old nursing home with peeling walls and a musty smell. The director of the place had barely gotten out of her truck. A short lady with red dyed hair came out to greet him as if he were a celebrity. The plan was simple. Leonardo was going to deliver a check, take a picture for his company’s social media, and get out of there as quickly as possible. But as soon as he crossed the main door, something changed. The atmosphere was sad, but there was something else, something that pulled at his soul. He walked down the long hallway while he watched the old people sitting in broken armchairs, some asleep, others watching TV, not quite understanding what was happening. Then he saw her sitting in a wheelchair near a dirty window. There was a lady with disheveled white hair, wrinkled, but with a look that made his body shudder. He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t stop looking at her. It was as if something inside him was screaming that he knew her. He approached slowly, his hand trembling a little, which was strange for him because he was normally a confident and firm man. The lady looked up. as if
she felt someone calling her wordlessly Leonardo swallowed hard She wasn’t the most groomed or the best dressed In fact she seemed one of the most forgotten there But there was something about her face, the way she tilted her head that felt unbearably familiar The director of the asylum, seeing his interest, came over quickly to tell him that the woman’s name was Carmen and that she had been there for many years She had no registered relatives and according to them she didn’t talk much Sometimes she would say a few words sometimes she would stare into space for hours Leonardo asked how she had gotten
there but the director just shrugged saying that the oldest files had been lost in a flood a few years ago Leonardo didn’t know why but he felt the need to bend down in front of Carmen Not to comply with the photo shoot or to look good it was something else something deep inside him When he was in front of her Carmen raised her trembling hand and touched his cheek Leonardo froze She murmured something barely audible something that to him sounded like her name It couldn’t be she said It couldn’t be He felt the world

He was spinning around The nervous director asked him if everything was okay Leonardo just nodded but his head was a mess Suddenly the check or the photos or the charity event didn’t matter anymore The only thing that mattered was that woman in front of him That woman who although he didn’t remember where or how he felt she had been in his life long before that moment He took out his wallet and almost without thinking he gave the director an amount of money so that nothing would be missing that week but he didn’t want to take any photos He didn’t want anyone to use that to publish it on social networks In his mind there was only one
idea to know who Carmen really was Before leaving Leonardo asked the director if he could visit her again The lady smiled believing he was just another one of those millionaires with remorse who wanted to sponsor an old man to clear their conscience Leonardo didn’t bother to correct her he just asked to be allowed to return whenever he wanted Already in his truck with his hands sweaty on the wheel Leonardo felt something he hadn’t felt in years Fear Fear of what they were going to find if he kept digging Fear of discovering that his life

that perfect, brilliant life he had built wasn’t based on truths but on very old lies. He started the engine but he couldn’t stop looking at the nursing home building in the rearview mirror as he drove away. Carmen, that woman lost in her own world, was a piece of his story that had somehow come back to find him. And Leonardo knew that he wouldn’t be able to rest until he knew the whole truth. Leonardo couldn’t sleep that night. He closed his eyes and all he saw was Carmen’s face. He didn’t understand what was happening to her. He was a practical man, used to
making quick decisions without getting carried away by emotions. But now, lying in his enormous bed and staring at the ceiling, he felt a hole in his chest that he didn’t know how to fill. He got up several times, walked barefoot around the room, went to the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, but nothing could take away the feeling that something was very wrong. He grabbed his cell phone, opened social media to distract himself but he couldn’t concentrate. He closed everything and stared at the black screen. It was as if something inside him was screaming that Carmen wasn’t a
stranger, that there was something else, something that his mind couldn’t understand but that his heart I already knew The next morning without thinking twice he got in his truck and drove to the nursing home He didn’t even call to let them know He arrived, knocked on the door and the director greeted him with a forced smile as if she didn’t expect to see him again so soon Leonardo didn’t pay much attention he just asked if he could see Carmen They found her sitting in the same place near the window This time when Leonardo approached Carmen raised her head faster She looked at him fixedly as if in some corner of her

mind she too recognized something in him She didn’t say anything but her eyes those large, clear eyes spoke to him in a way that words never could Leonardo crouched down in front of her again He didn’t know what to say He didn’t want to scare her he just smiled at her and spoke in a calm voice He asked her how she was if she remembered anything anything Carmen didn’t answer she just raised her trembling hand and touched his cheek again just like the day before That soft, clumsy caress shook his soul He felt like he had experienced that gesture before when he was very small but he couldn’t remember it
well He stayed like that for a while in silence while broken images passed through his head a woman’s laugh a sweet perfume old songs that his aunt Ramona never played for him Could it be could it be that the woman in front of him was his mother the same mother everyone told him had died so long ago The director approached half uncomfortably to offer to take Carmen to the patio where there was more light and a bit of garden Leonardo accepted He pushed her slowly in her wheelchair trying to make the movement smooth They sat under a tree
that barely gave shade There in the open air Carmen seemed to breathe Her eyes darted back and forth as if searching for something. Suddenly she grabbed Leonardo’s hand tightly and stammered a name. He leaned closer wanting to hear Carmen better. She said, Leo. Not completely, not clearly, but enough. Leonardo’s heart skipped a beat. No one at the nursing home had told him his name. No one but his closest circle called him Leo. It was a family nickname, something his aunt Ramona used, something his oldest friends knew.
How was it possible that Carmen, this woman lost in her own world, knew that name? Leonardo’s head began to fill with questions. What if his aunt had lied to him? What if his mother had never died? What if they had abandoned her here to make her disappear from his life? He didn’t want to believe it. Ramona had taken care of him his whole life, she had raised him, she had given him affection, but that caress, that look, that name, all of it said something else. He stayed sitting next to Carmen almost the entire morning, talking nonsense to her, telling her things about his life as if she

I could understand everything Carmen didn’t say much but her expression changed Sometimes she smiled slightly sometimes she seemed to want to cry It was as if inside she was fighting against a lot of memories that wanted to come out but couldn’t The director came back after a while with a sour face to remind him that visiting hours were about to end Leonardo asked her for a few more minutes He couldn’t leave Not yet he took out his cell phone and with the director’s permission took a picture of Carmen He wanted to have her face not only in his memory but also in his
pocket something he could look at again and again in case all this was just a misunderstanding a trick of his mind While he helped her get back to her place Carmen looked at him fixedly again He didn’t need words Leonardo felt that that look was like a hug that crossed 40 years of silence He bent down one last time and whispered in her ear that he would be back, that she wasn’t alone He left the nursing home with his chest in tatters The sun hit his face but he didn’t feel it he walked slowly to his truck without thinking as if on automatic He got in and sat there for a long time with the keys in his hand

but without moving a muscle He knew he had to do something He had to know the whole truth even if it hurt He couldn’t go on living without understanding who this woman was who now occupied every corner of his mind He closed his eyes and saw her face again That face he couldn’t and wouldn’t forget Leonardo drove aimlessly The city passed him by but he didn’t even notice the traffic lights He did everything on automatic His head was trapped in a whirlwind of old memories new questions and a rage that was just
beginning to grow inside him He couldn’t understand how it was possible that no one had told him the truth in so many years Really his whole life had been based on a lie He arrived at his apartment without really remembering how he threw the keys on the hall table and let himself fall into the armchair staring at the ceiling In his mind he began to unearth things that he had always kept hidden in a dark corner things that he had preferred not to think about He remembered when he was a child sitting in the kitchen while his Aunt Ramona
made him pancakes He remembered asking over and over again why he didn’t have a mom like the other children Ramona always had the same answer: that he had had a very bad accident with his father, that they had both died together, and that he was too young to remember them. That story, repeated so many times, had become like a tattoo on his mind. He had never dared to question it. Until now, he got up and went to an old box that he kept in his closet. It was a shoebox that he had never really opened.
Inside were photos and drawings from when he was a child and some letters that he had written when he was barely learning to form sentences. Rummaging through everything, he found a photo that made his blood run cold. It was an old, half-yellowed photo of him as a baby in the arms of a woman. The woman had a sweet smile, a simple dress, and long hair that fell like a waterfall. It wasn’t Ramona. With trembling hands, he turned the photo over. Written on the back in hurried letters, it said Carmen and Leo, my whole life. Carmen, Sionta, the same name as
the lady at the nursing home. It couldn’t be a coincidence. He sank back onto the couch, clutching the photo in his hands. It felt like the floor was opening up beneath his feet. He had grown up believing that his parents were dead. Ramona was his only family But that photo told him something else It told him that his mom had been alive at least long enough to hold him, to love him, to be his real mom He also remembered some strange things he had seen as a child, documents that

Ramona kept under lock and key visits from serious men who spoke to her in me Don’t feel me low voice when they thought Leonardo wasn’t listening One day he had heard the word inheritance although at that moment he didn’t understand what it meant He only remembered Ramona’s serious face pressing her lips together as she signed papers Doubt began to poison his soul What if Ramona wasn’t the savior he had always believed and if she had done terrible things to keep what wasn’t hers The idea hurt him a lot but he
couldn’t ignore it Not after seeing that photo not after feeling the connection with Carmen in his raw flesh He looked for his cell phone and dialed an old acquaintance Mario Santillán a private detective who had once worked for him on a business matter He wasn’t cheap but Leonardo knew that Mario was one of those who wouldn’t let go of a case until he got every last truth out of him They agreed to meet at a cafeteria the next day He hung up and fell silent Suddenly his house felt huge and empty All the luxury the expensive paintings the
designer furniture everything looked fake as if it didn’t really belong to him he walked to the window and looked at the city from his penthouse. Out there, life went on as if nothing had happened, as if his world wasn’t falling apart. He closed his eyes and saw Carmen’s face again. That lost look, tired but full of something he recognized deep down. He knew there was no turning back. What had started as a charity visit had become a personal mission, a brutal need to know the truth about his past, about who he really was. He clutched his mother’s photo to his
chest and swore he wouldn’t rest until he knew everything. No matter what he had to do, no matter who he had to fight, he was determined. The cafeteria was half empty when Leonardo arrived. The place smelled of burnt coffee and sweet bread, but he didn’t care. He was too nervous to notice nonsense. He sat at a table by the window and waited, tapping his foot as if it had a motor inside. Mario Santillán arrived on time, looking the same as always, with a two-day beard, a worn leather jacket, and that

face that had seen more ugly things than he wanted to talk about Leonardo didn’t waste any time he took out the photo of his mother and put it on the table pushing it towards Mario The detective looked at it then at him then back at the photo What do you need me to find he asked in a hoarse voice Leonardo explained everything Slowly he talked about the visit to Carmen’s asylum the connection he felt the doubts that were eating away at his head Mario listened without interrupting him with a serious face as if he were putting together a puzzle in his mind When Leonardo finished Mario only said that he needed
a couple of days to start moving his contacts They said goodbye quickly Neither of them was the type to stay talking to fill awkward silences Leonardo returned home feeling like the clock was moving slower than normal The whole weekend he spent wandering around like a caged lion He didn’t want to see anyone he didn’t want parties he didn’t want business dinners he didn’t even want to turn on the TV he just wanted to know First thing Monday morning Mario called him His voice sounded different as if
he had found something he hadn’t even expected “We have to meet” he said without give more details They met at the same cafe Mario arrived with a manila envelope and a face of bad news He sat down and took out a pile of papers I was going through old files The accident where your parents supposedly died did happen There are official reports newspaper articles All of that is real he said while sliding copies of the documents on the table Nat Leonardo glanced through them quickly he recognized the names of his father and mother in the reports the
overturned car the crash on the highway everything was documented but something caught his attention In the medical report it said that the woman survived the accident although with serious injuries and mental confusion Mental confusion Leonardo asked feeling like his heart was going to jump out of his chest Mario nodded Yes Apparently after the accident your mother was taken to a rural hospital She was there for a few weeks before disappearing from the system Leonardo felt his hands shaking and no one asked about her Officially no In the records

It turns out that a woman went to claim her claiming to be her only family. She took her from the hospital and admitted her to a nursing home, the same one where you found her. Leonardo closed his eyes, trying not to lose control. Everything pointed to Ramona. Everything. What was that woman’s name? He asked in a harsh voice. Mario searched through the papers and pulled out an old, yellowed form. Here it is. Name of the person who picked up the patient: Ramona Ortega. It was like being punched in the stomach. Leonardo gripped the paper tightly. It was enough proof to know
that his aunt had not only lied to him her whole life but had also hidden his mother away like she was an old piece of furniture that was no longer useful. That’s not all, Mario said, scratching his head. They registered something else at the hospital. When your mom woke up from her coma, she couldn’t remember much, not even her full name, her address, or her family. The only thing she kept saying over and over was Leo. Leonardo felt his eyes fill with tears, but he blinked quickly so they wouldn’t be noticeable. Leo, just like that. Yes. The doctors thought she was delirious. They never knew she was talking about you. Leonardo looked at the photo of his mother, the one
he had carried with him all weekend. Now he understood everything. That gesture at the nursing home, that way of touching her face, that murmur. It wasn’t crazy. It was her trying to find him in the fog of her broken mind. He rubbed his face with his hands. He had a lump in his throat that he didn’t know how to get out. “What are you going to do?” Mario asked, looking at him curiously. Leonardo didn’t answer right away. He carefully put the papers back in the envelope as if they were pieces of his life that he was just beginning to put together. He knew the next step was to go looking for answers, but it wasn’t going to be easy.

Ramona was an intelligent and cunning woman and she would surely do everything possible to continue covering up what she had done. She got up from the table, threw some bills on the plate and left the cafe without saying anything else. She had a single objective in mind: to confront Ramona and she wasn’t going to stop until she told her the entire truth. Leonardo didn’t go straight to Ramona’s house. Something in his instinct told him that he shouldn’t ask her directly without having more proof. If he had learned anything in all those years of business, it was that you don’t fight a war without first knowing your enemy. And at this
moment, although it hurt to think about it, his enemy was his own aunt. He went first to his old house, the house where he grew up. Now it was empty. He had kept it out of pure feeling even though he hadn’t really set foot in it for years. He had keys to everything, so he let himself in without any problem. The smell of dust filled his nose. He walked through the halls in silence, remembering when he used to run around with his pants torn and his knees scraped. Everything seemed smaller, sadder. He headed to Ramona’s office. It was a small room that she used
as an office. She had always been very jealous of that space Leonardo as a child could not enter without permission Now as an adult he did not need permission from anyone He began to search through the drawers old papers paid bills expired insurance contracts nothing strange at first glance but something did not add up He remembered that as a child he had seen Ramón putting important documents in a secret compartment in the bookcase He approached and ran his hands along the furniture feeling It did not take long to find a small button hidden in one of the corners When he pressed it a false panel opened revealing a safe

built in Leonardo let out a bitter laugh Of course Ramona would have a safe She had always been distrustful even of her own shadow The problem was that she didn’t know the combination She sat in front of the safe thinking He tried Ramona’s date of birth then his own Nothing He closed his eyes took a deep breath and tried a date he couldn’t forget Lorison’s his parents’ accident The click of the mechanism being released was like thunder in the silent house He opened the box with trembling hands Inside were wads of old bills a couple of jewels and several
manila envelopes stacked up he took everything out and put it on the desk He began to go through the envelopes one by one Most of them were property papers investments normal stationery of someone who handles money Until he found one more wrinkled with moisture stains marked simply as personal When he opened it he felt like the world was coming down on him There was a copy of his mother’s death certificate but something didn’t add up The date didn’t match the records Mario had found It was from before the accident
According to that paper his mother had died a year before crash on the road Leonardo frowned. He knew it was impossible. That record was false. Along with that document was a notarized power of attorney where Ramona appeared as the sole guardian and administrator of all the Ortega family assets, claiming that there were no other living heirs. There were also old bank statements showing transfers of large amounts of money made shortly after the accident. All legally supported but under the assumption that his parents

They had both died without leaving any other family Leonardo felt rage, so much rage Ramona had planned everything She had taken advantage of the accident, her mother’s memory loss and her own position as a protective aunt to keep everything that wasn’t hers Not just money not just property She had stolen her life she had stolen the chance to grow up with her real mother Among the papers he found an old letter It was from his mother It wasn’t addressed to anyone in particular It seemed more like a letter of relief In the letter Carmen spoke of her fear She said
she had had a bad feeling before the trip that Ramona had changed a lot in the last few months that she was no longer the same that she had begun to distrust her but that she didn’t know how to face it without proof Leonardo squeezed the paper between his fingers It was like hearing his mother’s voice from the past warning him of what was happening He put everything back in the envelope and put it in his backpack He closed the safe, adjusted the panel as it was and left the office quietly although there was no one who could hear him As he got into his truck he felt
his blood boil It was a cold calculating fury He wasn’t going to make a scene impulsive He wasn’t going to scream or cry in front of Ramona He was going to use those papers as a weapon He was going to force her to tell him the truth The whole truth He looked at his reflection in the rearview mirror His face was hard, his gaze sharp He was no longer the Leonardo who had come to that asylum just wanting to do a good deed He was a man at war He started the engine and headed straight to Ramona’s house It was time to come face to face with her Ramona lived in a large house in an elegant neighborhood surrounded by gardens

well kept and tall trees Leonardo parked his truck right in front of the front door turned off the engine He stood for a moment gripping the steering wheel tightly as if he needed to gather all his strength to keep from exploding right there Then he let out a sharp breath grabbed the manila envelope he had on the seat next to him and got out Rang the bell Waited for nothing Knocked again this time louder He heard footsteps approaching and then the door opened Ramona appeared Impeccable as always with her cloth dress her face her
pearl necklace and that kind expression she had always used to address him since he was a child Leo what a surprise said smiling What are you doing here so early Leonardo didn’t smile He said nothing just picked up the envelope she was holding We need to talk he said in a dry voice Ramona frowned for a second but stepped aside to let him pass Leonardo walked in and the smell of incense filled his nose The house was tidy clean as always but now all that order seemed false just like her They sat in the living room facing each other He wasted no time taking out the copy of the
minutes of false death and put it on the table What is this Ramona asked looking her straight in the eyes She looked down for just a second just a second Then she looked back at him with that same smile she had always used to calm him down “I don’t know what you’re talking about” she said in a calm voice Leonardo let out a short bitter laugh “Don’t pretend You know perfectly well what I’m talking about You signed papers You made everyone believe that my mom was dead when it wasn’t true Ramona crossed her legs slowly as if she was in no hurry as if she had
everything under control Leonardo my love you were a baby You don’t know everything that happened in that time There was a lot of confusion a lot of pain I did the best I could to protect you Leonardo clenched his fists protecting me putting my mom in a forgotten nursing home and keeping all the family money was protecting me For the first time Ramona’s smile trembled a little not much but enough for Leonardo to notice It was the best for you she said almost in a whisper but firm Your mom wasn’t well She didn’t remember anything She was a danger to you to everyone Leonardo leaned forward
resting his elbows on knees And you decided that the best thing was to make her disappear, leave her locked up as if she were an old piece of furniture and live off money that wasn’t yours Ramón clicked his tongue annoyed It wasn’t like that I raised you I gave you everything you needed Don’t judge me now that you’re a man You don’t know the decisions one has to make to survive Leonardo shook his head feeling his blood boil It wasn’t your decision You had no right Ramona stared at him For a second she dropped her
mask Her expression hardened. It turned cold. “You’re right,” she said dryly. I had no right, but I did it because if I didn’t, that woman would have dragged you into her madness. And everything we built, all the fortune, all the life you have now, wouldn’t exist. Leonardo stepped back, feeling as if he’d been slapped. “We built,” he repeated. “You built.” “I was just a child.” Ramona smiled again, but this time there was venom in her smile. It was I who kept everything standing while you grew into a prince. You
don’t owe me just your upbringing, you owe me your success, your place in the world. Leonardo stood up abruptly. I couldn’t stand listening to her anymore. “What you gave me doesn’t justify what you took from me,” she said, her voice breaking with rage. Ramona stood up too, straightening her dress. “And what are you going to do, Leonardo? Are you going to destroy the only family you have left for some crazy old woman who doesn’t even recognize you?” Leonardo looked at her with immense sadness. It wasn’t just anger, it was disappointment. It was like realizing that all the admiration, all the affection he had felt for her was a lie.

“I’m not alone,” he said, walking toward the door. She’s my real family and I’m going to do whatever it takes to give her her life back. Ramona didn’t answer. She stood in the middle of the living room, watching him leave, her face as hard as stone. Leonardo slammed the door as he left. He walked to his truck, feeling like he had crossed a point of no return. Nothing would ever be the same, but he didn’t care. It was time to get back what had been stolen from him. Leonardo drove aimlessly for a while just to clear his head, but his anger wouldn’t go down.
He felt like he had a fire in his chest. Everything he had built up in his mind about his family, everything he had believed his whole life, was falling apart. And the worst part was, he knew there was still so much left to discover. He parked the truck on a quiet street and called Mario Santillan. He didn’t want to wait any longer. He needed answers, evidence, everything he could use against Ramona to clear his mom’s name and, in the process, get back some of what she had lost. Mario answered quickly, as if he was also waiting for his call.
“What do you have?” Leonardo asked bluntly. “Better Come to the office I can’t tell you everything over the phone Detective said Leonardo started the car and in less than half an hour he was already parking in front of the small building where Mario had his office It was a simple place where the desks are old lamps flicker and chairs creak Mario greeted him with a cup of coffee in his hand and a face that looked like he hadn’t slept well in days “Come in” he said making a sign Leonardo came in sat down and put the manila envelope on the desk as if

“It was a shield,” Mario sat down in front of him, took out a thick folder from his drawer and put it on the table. “I dug deeper into the accident papers but also into your aunt’s financial transactions.” “It wasn’t easy,” Ramona is smart and knows how to cover her tracks but she’s not perfect. Leonardo watched him fixedly like a hawk waiting to pounce. “I found something big,” Mario said, opening the folder. “Shortly after the accident, Ramona moved several properties into her name. Some sales were clean but others not
so much. Leonardo grabbed the papers and began to read. There were copies of deeds, account transfers, sales of land and houses that were originally owned by her father. “How could she do it,” Leonardo asked, his voice tight. “With falsified documents,” Mario explained. “She made your mother pass as dead and you as a minor with no direct inheritance. So she was left as the sole legal heir.” Leonardo felt like each word was like a punch in the stomach. “But that’s not all,” Mario said, taking out another sheet of paper. “It was a report from an investigator who worked in another
state.” The Vinonchit Report said that there were witnesses who remembered Ramona visiting the hospital after the accident, insisting on take Carmen away by signing papers and giving false information A retired nurse from the hospital remembers that Carmen didn’t want to leave with her She was confused but every time she saw Ramona she would get nervous and restless as if she felt something wasn’t right Leonardo gritted his teeth He imagined his mother alone, hurt, confused and on top of that forced to leave with someone who was only trying to make her disappear And the nursing home he asked wanting to know
everything Mario nodded The nursing home where your mother was admitted was very low quality They chose it on purpose A cheap place where no one would ask too many questions The director at that time died years ago but I managed to find a former nurse who worked there She says she remembers a young woman carrying an injured woman saying she was her distant aunt She paid for several months in advance She left a fake number and disappeared Leonardo closed his eyes feeling anger tighten his chest like a claw “Can the nurse testify?” he asked Mario shrank

shrugged. He says yes. He doesn’t hold a grudge, but he doesn’t want any trouble. Although if we pay him for his time and assure him protection, he could declare what he knows. Leonardo got up from his chair and walked from one side of the office to the other. He was thinking fast, like when he was closing an important deal. “We need more,” he said. “Something that will knock her down once and for all, not just words. We need firm evidence.
” Mario smiled sideways. “That’s why I called you.” I found something else, took out a copy of an old bank record. After your mom was hospitalized, Ramona moved a bank account that was in your parents’ name. She closed it and transferred the money to an account of hers in Panama. All through a lawyer who, curiously, now works for her as a legal advisor. Leonardo looked at him. “Do you have the name of the lawyer?” Mario nodded. “His name is Esteban Ordóñez and believe me, that guy is worse than a shark.” Leonardo knew he had to act fast. If Ramona suspected
they were getting close, the evidence could disappear, moving the money could close all the doors. “Can you keep investigating,” Leonardo asked. “Sure,” Mario replied. “But we’re going to need more people.” “That’s It’s not an easy job We’re going up against someone who’s lived her entire life knowing how to pull a fast one without getting caught.
” Leonardo reached into his pocket and pulled out his card “Do what you have to” he said “But bring me everything down to the last stone she’s hiding.” Mario grabbed the card, put it in his jacket and held out his hand Come on but get ready this is just getting started Leonardo shook his hand firmly He knew there was no turning back Leonardo wasn’t one to back down when things got ugly In fact, that was when he got the strongest That same night after seeing everything Mario had shown him he decided he couldn’t keep waiting for everything to sort itself out It wasn’t his

style He returned to his apartment but not to rest He locked himself in his study, locked the door, turned off his cell phone so no one would bother him, and took out all the papers he had gathered so far He placed them on the large wooden table as if it were a puzzle The false deed, the transfers, the property papers, everything Each page was a dirty piece of the story that Ramona had written as she pleased To one side of all that he placed the folder that he had always kept in his personal safe It was a package that his father had left with his lawyer
with instructions to give it to Leonardo when he turned 30 He had received it on time, of course, but at that time he hadn’t given it much importance He had been busy growing his business and had left the papers stored without thoroughly reviewing them Now knowing what he knew, those papers could have answers he couldn’t even imagine He opened the folder carefully The first thing he found was a handwritten letter from his father Leo, if you’re reading this it’s because you’re a grown man now I trust that you’ll know how to take care of everything we built with so much effort Always remember
where you come from Leonardo felt a lump in his throat but he continued reading In the folder were copies of all the family assets hotels land bank accounts They were in his father’s name some co-owned with his mother There was also a will In the will his father left everything to his wife Carmen first and if anything happened to her it would go directly to his son Leonardo It didn’t say anything about Ramona not a word Leonardo gritted his teeth There was firm proof that Ramona had no right to anything Everything she had managed all those years no

It was his. It belonged to his mother first, and then to him. Then he kept looking and found something else: a typewritten letter signed by a trusted lawyer of the family, confirming that in case both Leonardo’s father and mother died, a trust should be opened in Leonardo’s name to protect the inheritance until he came of age. But that trust had never been opened. Ramona had done everything to avoid it, falsifying records, manipulating lawyers, posing as the only
living relative, all to keep the fortune for herself. Leonardo felt his blood boil in his veins. He leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath, controlling the urge to go right then and knock on Ramona’s door and yell in her face everything he had discovered, but he knew he had to be smart. If he wanted to get back what was his and get justice for his mother, he had to do it right step by step, with solid evidence, with the law on his side. So he picked up the phone and dialed Mario. “I need you to get a lawyer,”
he said as soon as he heard Mario’s voice. “A good one, one of those who know how to fight dirty.” and it is necessary.” Mario didn’t ask for details “Leave it to me” he answered and hung up Leonardo spent the rest of the night organizing everything He made copies of each document separated everything into folders put together a file as if he were going to present the case before a judge because he knew that was exactly what he was going to do By dawn he had everything ready He took a shower put on a simple dark suit and left his apartment straight to a notary He needed to certify the documents make sure that everything he had

could be used legally in his counterattack While the notary reviewed the papers Leonardo stared out the window The city was beginning to move People came and went oblivious to everything that was happening in their world He thought about his mother, about everything she had lost Not only her comfortable life, her home, her family She had also lost the opportunity to see her son grow, to hug him on his birthdays, to be there for his triumphs and defeats He thought about everything Ramona had stolen from him, not just money but an
entire life and he knew he wasn’t going to stop until he got justice Several hours passed between paperwork and signatures When he finished he received a message from Mario He had found the perfect lawyer, a young but sharp guy specialized in fights over inheritances and family fraud Leonardo smiled for the first time in days Finally the pieces were beginning to move in his favor he knew the next step was to confront not only Ramona but also her world of influences dirty lawyers and legal tricks but he didn’t care he was ready Leonardo arrived on time to the appointment
that Mario had organized It was a law office in a high tower downtown everything made of glass and steel where the air smelled of expensive coffee and success, he went up to the 20th floor and as soon as he entered he saw Mario waiting for him at reception. He didn’t say anything, he just signaled for him to follow him. The lawyer’s name was Ricardo Torres, 35 years old, impeccable suits and a gaze that seemed to read people in seconds. When Leonardo entered his office, Ricardo stood up, shook his hand firmly and invited him to sit down. Mario told me a little about the matter, Ricardo said as he took out a
notebook. You have the documents. Leonardo nodded and put everything on the table. The deeds, the will, the powers of attorney, the false certificates, everything in order. Ricardo reviewed each paper patiently, making small notes. He didn’t say much, only occasionally he frowned or nodded as if everything he was reading confirmed what he suspected. After almost an hour of silence, he looked up. Your aunt committed fraud, and not a small one. Forgery of documents, identity theft, fraudulent administration of another’s assets. If this occurs

In a court he can go to jail for many years Leonardo clenched his fists but forced himself to remain calm What do I have to do first we need more living evidence” said Ricardo “Witnesses people who can confirm that your mother was alive when your aunt disappeared her and that you can prove that all the money all the properties were moved under false pretenses.
” Mario intervened. I already located a nurse from the nursing home and also a worker from the hospital where Carmen was treated after the accident. They both remember important details. If we can get them to testify, we’re halfway there. Leonardo nodded determinedly. Bring them. Ricardo nodded. And another thing, we need to find original documents, not just copies. That will strengthen your case. The original deeds, the account certificates, everything you can get. Leonardo thought quickly. He remembered that his father’s old office, which had been closed since he was a child, might have more documents stored. The property was still in the
family’s name, and although he hadn’t wanted to return there since the accident, now he had no choice. He got up from his chair. I’m going to look for them. Mario offered to go with him, but Leonardo denied it. I have to do this alone. He left the office and drove straight to the old ranch where he had grown up as a child, a few hours from the city. Along the way, his head was spinning. He thought about his mother during his childhood, about the lies he had swallowed his entire life without knowing it. When he arrived, the ranch was the same as in his memories, the rusty gate, the
dirt road full of stones. the big house with the peeling paint opened the front door which creaked as if complaining of neglect He walked straight to his dad’s office It was locked but the old wood didn’t hold much when he pushed hard Inside everything was covered in dust The furniture the pictures the shelves full of books the air smelled of damp and dead memories He started searching opened drawers looked under furniture took pictures off the wall until he found an antique safe built into the ground floor

an old rug Another combination She closed her eyes and thought, “What password would her dad use?” “He tried her birth date.” Nothing “Did he try her parents’ anniversary date?” “Nothing.” He sat on the floor frustrated until he remembered something, a conversation from when he was a child. His dad had told him his favorite number was the day his mom was born, April 7th, 0704. He dialed the combination. The safe clicked and opened. Inside he found several sealed envelopes, original land deed documents, hotel ownership titles,
bank account contracts, all in his dad and mom’s names. But what caught his eye the most was a separate envelope with his name written on the cover. To Leonardo, when the time is right. He opened it with trembling hands. It was a letter, Leo, if you ever doubt who you are or where you come from, you’ll find your truth here. Your mom and I love you more than anything in the world. If you’re reading this, something probably happened to us. Don’t blindly trust anyone, son. Even family can let you down. Trust your heart, dad. Leonardo felt his chest tighten. He put all the documents in his
backpack, closed the safe again, and left the office. He knew that now he had everything he needed to prove that Ramona had built her life on a mountain of lies, but he also knew that there was still one more step. It was harder to get his mother out of the asylum and help her recover even a piece of the life that had been stolen from her. Leonardo didn’t waste any time. As soon as he returned to the city, he met with Ricardo and Mario gave them all the original documents he had found at the ranch. The emotion was barely within his body, but he also felt that tension.

in his chest as if something was telling him that the worst was yet to come Ricardo reviewed each paper with that calmness of his that sometimes despaired and finished putting together the file They now had everything: witnesses original documents bank account records his father’s true will and even the personal letter “We’re ready” said Ricardo closing the folder firmly Leonardo nodded The time had come to put the pressure on Ramona They summoned her to Ricardo’s office It wasn’t easy Ramona didn’t immediately respond to calls or emails She pretended to be missing for a few days but Mario being a bloodhound for
finding people managed to locate her Someone saw her leaving a luxury spa and then entering a house in another exclusive neighborhood that she didn’t even know she had The pressure took effect Ramona agreed to meet but set conditions She didn’t want cameras or recordings just a civilized conversation as she herself said Leonardo arrived first at the office accompanied by Ricardo and Mario He didn’t want to make mistakes Vezm wasn’t there when Ramona entered She was impeccable Pearl colored suit perfect makeup and that smile of hers the one she
used when she wanted to manipulate everyone But in her eyes There was something different. No fear, courage, wounded pride, Leonardo said as soon as he sat down in front of him. How sad that it has come to this after everything I have done for you. Leonardo did not fall for the provocation. Ricardo placed the folder on the table and opened it slowly. “Mrs. Ramona,” said the lawyer in a firm voice. “We are here because we have clear evidence that you committed fraud and forged documents, and that you deprived Mrs. Carmen, Leonardo’s legitimate mother, of her assets and her freedom.” Ramón let out a dry laugh.
“Evidence please, those are all old papers. Nothing a good lawyer couldn’t explain in court.” Leonardo looked at her, feeling a mixture of sadness and anger. “I don’t want to take this to trial,” he said, trying to sound as calm as possible. “I just want you to return what isn’t yours.” “I want to clear my mother’s name.” “I want you to face up to what you did.” Ramona looked at him with contempt. “Do you really think you’re going to destroy me so easily after all the power I’ve built up all these years?” “No, my dear Leo, it’s not that simple.” Ricardo
slid some copies of the bank transfers towards her. “This is money laundering, ma’am. Transfers to tax havens. Enough for the SAT and the prosecutor’s office to start investigating you.” Ramona flipped through the papers without flinching. “They have nothing firm. A letter, an old will. Witnesses who barely remember. They don’t scare me.” Leonardo took a deep breath. “And what about the fact that my mother is alive, that she can recognize you, that she mumbles my name every time she sees me.” “For a moment, just a moment,” he saw the tremble on Leo’s lips. Ramona the first crack in her steel facade but she recovered quickly Your mother is
crazy Do you think her testimony is worth anything? No one is going to believe a poor old woman who can’t even remember her own last name. Mario smiled sideways with an almost amused expression. There’s no need for her to remember everything. We have medical records that prove that after the accident she was alive and conscious and that you admitted her to a forgotten nursing home without being her legal guardian. Ramona clenched her jaw. She was no longer the calm woman who had entered the office; now she was a cornered beast. And what do you want? Leonardo spat the words out with his eyes.

glowing with fury Do you want to humiliate me? Send me to jail? Ruin me publicly? Leonardo didn’t hesitate. I want justice. I want my mother to get back what’s hers. I want all of Mexico to know who you really are. Ramona stood up from her chair so abruptly that she almost knocked her over. “You don’t know who you’re messing with,” she said, lowering her voice threateningly. “You don’t know the power I have. I’m not going to sit idly by.
” Ricardo adjusted his glasses without losing his calm. “It’s too late for threats, madam. You have two options: reach an agreement right now or face a criminal case that you won’t be able to control. Ramona looked at him as if she wanted to kill him with her gaze. Then she turned to Leonardo. You’re making the worst mistake of your life, Leo. He held her gaze without fear. I already made the mistake of trusting you. I don’t intend to repeat it. Ramona grabbed her bag, slammed the folder of documents that was on the table, and left the office without saying goodbye. The door slammed like thunder in the office. Leonardo fell
into the chair, feeling that the The weight of years of lies fell on him suddenly. Ricardo looked at him seriously. He’s going to defend himself with everything he said. Prepare for a dirty war. Leonardo nodded, clenching his fists. He was ready for anything. Leonardo didn’t want to wait any longer. After the confrontation with Ramona, he understood that the most important piece of all this was Carmen. Although fragile, she was living proof of everything that had happened and he wasn’t going to continue allowing her to be in that forgotten nursing home in the midst of abandonment. That same afternoon, he went straight to the
place. He didn’t give notice, didn’t make an appointment, he arrived, got out of his truck and pushed through the rusty gate. The director, the same woman with dyed hair who had greeted him the first time, ran to intercept him. “Mr. Ortega,” I told you that visits must be scheduled. Leonardo didn’t let her finish. “I didn’t come to visit,” she said, staring at her. “I came to take my mother.
” The director opened her mouth but no sound came out She only managed to follow him as he walked determinedly down the long and damp corridor She found Carmen in the same place as always sitting next to the dirty window staring into space But this time something was different When Leonardo approached Carmen blinked several times as if recognizing his presence as if something inside her was slowly activating He crouched down in front of her and took her hands “Mom” he said for the first time using it like that without fear “You are not alone anymore I am going to

take care of everything You’re coming with me.” Carmen looked at him. Her lips trembled. She didn’t say clear words but her eyes filled with tears. Leonardo felt his heart break into a thousand pieces. He didn’t ask permission. He called a private doctor he had already hired and in less than an hour Carmen was being transferred to a private clinic, a clean, modern place full of light with doctors who truly cared about their patients. There began a new stage. The doctors did studies, analysis, neurological exams, diagnosed
moderate cognitive damage from the scientific accident and from the years of neglect, but with the possibility of partial recovery if given the proper treatment. Stimulation therapies, medications, constant care. Leonardo didn’t hesitate for a second. He accepted everything. He didn’t care about the money. If there was even a minimal chance that his mother could get some of her life back, he was going to fight for it. Difficult days passed. There were times when Carmen didn’t remember anything, times when she was scared, times when she was lost in her own
world. Leonardo didn’t move from her side. He accompanied her to all her therapies, read her books, spoke to her as if she could understand every word, as if Carmen’s mind only needed one. little push to reconnect One day while they were in the clinic garden Carmen grabbed his hand tightly “Leo” she murmured barely audible Leonardo bent down quickly without letting go “I’m here mom Don’t worry everything will be okay Carmen looked at him and in his eyes there was something she hadn’t seen in weeks It was as if by

the end after so long a part of her had awakened “My boy” she said with a broken but clear voice Leonardo felt a lump form in his throat so big that he could hardly breathe He hugged her tightly with a desperate tenderness as if he was trying to protect her from the lost time, the pain of all the years they couldn’t be together Carmen cried and her tears fell silently onto the grey sweater they had put on her at the clinic That was the first big step The doctors were surprised They said it was a huge step forward that she was beginning to recognise faces, that she was trying to form
words, that she showed strong emotions Leonardo wouldn’t leave her side He brought her photos from when he was a child songs his mother used to sing to him when he was little the smells of soft perfumes that he thought might help awaken memories Little by little Carmen began to improve It wasn’t like pressing a button and fixing everything but every small step forward was a victory a shy smile a stray word a direct look One afternoon as they were sitting in the garden Carmen took his hand again “My house?” she asked with a trembling voice Leonardo looked at her
surprised “Do you want to go home mom?” he asked excitedly Carmen nodded with difficulty Leonardo felt like crying again but he held it in He caressed her hand and promised her that very soon they would have a home together again Not in that old house where so many lies had been woven not in a new clean place full of truth That day he understood that although his mother did not remember her whole heart she did know where she belonged The next step was to get her out of the clinic install her in a decent home and continue fighting for her

recovery but he also knew he couldn’t let his guard down Ramona was still on the loose and if she had proven anything it was that she wasn’t going to give up so easily Leonardo looked at his mother so fragile but so brave and gritted his teeth The war was just beginning It was Sunday and the weather was strange One of those days when the sky seems like it can’t decide whether to rain or clear up Leonardo had taken Carmen to the clinic courtyard like he did almost every day It was his routine to give her the sun talk to her things try to get a gesture a few
more words out of her He was in no hurry he had all the patience in the world for her They were sitting under a tree with a blanket over Carmen’s legs because the air was a bit chilly Leonardo spoke to her softly telling her about the plants about the cars that passed by in the distance Sometimes she responded with a slight smile sometimes she just stared That day while he showed her a photo of himself as a child riding a toy horse Carmen frowned as if something inside her was moving Leonardo watched her closely Do you remember this Mom
asked bringing the photo closer Carmen raised her trembling hand She touched it with her fingertips as if it were something sacred. She murmured something that Leonardo didn’t quite understand. He leaned towards her to hear better. “What did you say Carmen?” he whispered almost like a sigh. “Clapping,” Leonardo said, and he froze. “What are the clapping?” She nodded very slowly, as if simply remembering her was hard work. “Hacienda las Palmas,” he repeated a little more clearly, Leonardo felt a shiver run down his spine. That name didn’t
mean anything to him in his current life, but it was evident that it meant something important to Carmen. It wasn’t a random name, it was like a spark in his mind. He quickly took out his cell phone and searched for Hacienda Las Palmas in the browser. Several options appeared, but there was one that caught his attention. An old hacienda on the outskirts of the state, abandoned, registered as property of the Ortega family many years ago. His father had bought that hacienda before the accident when they were dreaming of having a vacation spot far from the
city. Leonardo had never been there as a child. His aunt Ramona always said that the place was dangerous, that it was too far away, that It was worth it. Now he understood why they never took him. He looked at Carmen again. She was also looking at him with that expression, a mixture of sadness and hope. “Do you want to go there?” she asked, stroking his hand. Carmen nodded. It wasn’t a big movement, but it was clear. Leonardo felt his heart beating so hard that his ears were ringing. He knew he couldn’t take her there.
She was very fragile and needed constant medical care. But he could go. He promised her in a low voice that he would go, that he would look for everything necessary to understand what had happened. He stayed with her a little longer, talking to her, reassuring her. When Carmen fell asleep peacefully under the tree, Leonardo knew he couldn’t waste time. That same afternoon, he met with Mario. He explained everything to her. The memory of Carmen, the name of the hacienda, the connection with her past. Mario was ignited just like him. If
she remembered that, it’s because something important happened there, said the detective, adjusting his worn cap. Leonardo nodded. We have to go. Mario didn’t hesitate for a second. Tomorrow. That night, Leonardo could barely sleep. He spent the time going over everything he knew, tying up loose ends in his head. What was on that hacienda? Why did Carmen, still lost in her broken memories, remember that place? What secrets were hidden there that Ramona wanted to bury forever? At dawn, he met Mario in a mechanic’s shop. The detective had found one of those old trucks.

all terrain because they knew that to get to the ranch they would have to go through difficult roads “Ready to go to the end of the world” joked Mario but his smile was serious Leonardo smiled too but not for fun “Ready for anything they started off During the trip the landscape was changing From paved streets they went to dirt roads then to dirt paths surrounded by dry mountain The heat got stronger The dust got in through the windows and every pothole shook them as if the truck was going to
fall apart But they didn’t stop After almost 4 hours of traveling they finally saw it The ranch In the distance you don’t feel me in the middle of nowhere the old structure rose It was a huge building with gray stone walls covered in vines and weeds It looked like a ghost from another time Leonardo got out of the truck looking at everything with a knot in his stomach He knew he was about to discover something big something that could change everything The truck stopped dead in front of an old rotten wooden gate hanging only from a rusty hinge Leonardo got out first The air
smelled of earth dry, damp, old, abandoned The farm stood there, enormous, silent, almost as if daring them to enter. Mario took a flashlight out of his backpack even though it was still daytime. He didn’t trust old places and neither did Leonardo. Something in the air felt heavy, as if the walls themselves held secrets that didn’t want to be discovered. They pushed the gate carefully. It squealed so loud that even the birds flew out of the nearby trees. They moved slowly through a courtyard full of weeds. The floor was cracked with puddles of mud and loose stones.
Each step raised dust. They reached the main door of the house. It was large, made of solid wood, although half fallen. Leonardo pushed hard and the door swung open, releasing a cloud of dust that made them cough. Inside, the air was even denser. The high ceiling let in rays of light that sneaked in between the broken beams. There was old furniture covered with dirty sheets, crooked pictures on the walls, and pieces of broken glass everywhere. Are you sure you want to continue? Mario asked, looking around
suspiciously. Leonardo nodded without hesitation. There’s something here. I’m sorry. They began to explore the place. First they passed through a large living room, then a long dining room with a table that still had broken plates. On top of that, it was as if someone had run out in the middle of dinner and never returned. They arrived at what looked like a library. Books were thrown on the floor, old papers scattered about. Leonardo walked slowly, attentive to every detail. Suddenly, Mario called him from a corner. Look at this. Leonardo came closer. Mario had found a trapdoor in the floor.
half hidden under an old rug They looked at each other without saying anything Leonardo grabbed the edge of the trapdoor and pulled hard The wood creaked but it gave way Below some stairs descended to a dark basement Leonardo swallowed hard Let’s go They turned on the flashlights and went down slowly The air was freezing and smelled like Mocalón it creaked as if it were going to break Downstairs the basement was large full of dusty boxes worm-eaten shelves and furniture covered with broken plastic Leonardo walked straight toward one of the largest boxes opened it and
inside found old papers photo albums documents He began to look through photos of his father young of his mother smiling at a party of himself as a baby everything forgotten there as if someone had wanted to erase those memories forever But there was something else At the bottom of the box he found a blue folder sealed with yellow tape he tore it open and took out the papers It was a record a medical report from his mother dated days after the accident and in it a handwritten note Patient transferred at the request of the family Ramona
Ortega No diagnosis of permanent disability only partial memory loss Psychological treatment is recommended not institutionalization Leonardo felt his chest tighten. His mother hadn’t been crazy, she had only lost part of her memory. And Ramona, knowing this, decided to lock her up in an asylum forever. “Here it is,” Leonardo murmured, showing Mario the document. The detective read it silently. Then he clicked his tongue furiously. With this, Ramona can’t get out. Leonardo put the folder in his backpack, but something else caught his attention.

Attention In a corner of the basement almost hidden among broken furniture there was a small door of those that seem made to store tools He approached and opened it slowly The flashlight illuminated a tiny space almost empty except for something that was on the floor A car or what was left of one It was a rusty chassis crushed by the years covered in dust and cobwebs But Leonardo immediately recognized the shape, the color, the insignia It was his parents’ car Mario approached impressed “What the hell is this doing
here?” Leonardo couldn’t believe it. The whole time they had been told that the car had been destroyed in the accident, that it was beyond repair, that it had been sent to a junkyard, but not here. It was hidden in the basement of the ranch. He got closer and saw something that stopped him in his tracks. The passenger seat was intact, and there on the floor, half covered in dirt, he found a silver pendant, a small heart engraved with the initials C and J. Carmen and Joaquín, his parents, squeezed the pendant in their hand. Something happened here, he said in a low voice, something that
Ramona wanted to hide. Mario nodded and he could no longer hide it. Leonardo put the pendant in his pocket. He closed his backpack with the papers and the medical report and looked one last time at the abandoned car. He knew he had found a key piece, but he also knew that this only made Ramona more dangerous. She wasn’t going down without a fight, and neither was he. When Leonardo and Mario left the ranch, the sun was already setting. The sky was a mix of orange and purple, and the wind raised clouds of dust in its wake. They got into the truck in silence, each
lost in their own thoughts. It went without saying what they had found. It was big, so big that it could put Ramona against the ropes once and for all. But Mario, who always thought one step ahead, was not satisfied. “We are missing something,” he said while starting the engine. “Evidence, yes, but we also need a witness, someone who can confirm what happened on this hacienda.
” Leonardo looked at him sideways, understanding instantly. “Do you think someone saw?” Mario let out a dry laugh. In the towns, everything is known. There is always someone who saw, heard, remembers something. You just have to find them. They wasted no time. They went down to the nearest town, which was about 15 minutes from the hacienda. It was a small place with cobblestone streets, low-roofed houses, and people who looked at you strangely if you weren’t from there. They parked in front of a small grocery store that was barely standing. Mario, who was an expert in dealing with everything.
kind of people was the first to enter Leonardo followed him Inside an older lady was serving behind the counter Her hair was tied back in a tight bun and hands full of wrinkles from hard work When she saw them she narrowed her eyes in distrust “Good afternoon ma’am” Mario greeted with a smile We come from the Ortega family We are looking for someone who worked at Hacienda Las Palmas many years ago The lady looked at them fixedly as if weighing them up “Why do you want to know” she asked in a dry voice Leonardo took a step forward “It’s important ma’am We want
to know what really happened there My mom experienced something really bad and we think someone can help us” The lady remained silent for a few seconds then adjusted her apron and came out from behind the counter “Come” he said simply She led them to the back of the store where there was a small room full of old photos on the walls She pointed to one in particular a group of smiling men in front of the hacienda My husband worked there” he said His name was Rogelio He was a foreman for many years until they closed everything overnight
Leonardo felt that his heart was beating faster He is still alive The lady nodded He is alive but he is sick He barely gets out of bed If you want to see him it is at your own risk He doesn’t like to talk much Leonardo didn’t hesitate We want to see him The lady showed them a house at the end of the street It was an old building with peeling walls and a wooden fence that was falling to pieces They knocked on the door and waited After a while a young girl opened it It must have been her granddaughter she was about 18 or 20 years old and looked at them with the same distrust as everyone else in the
town When they explained what they were there for she hesitated for a few seconds but finally let them in The house was humble with old furniture and a musty smell that got into his nose In a bed next to the window lying under a thick blanket was Rogelio a man as thin as a stick with a face tanned by the sun and the years Leonardo approached slowly Mr. Rogelio my name is Leonardo Ortega I have come to ask you about Hacienda Las Palmas about what happened 40 years ago Rogelio opened his eyes with difficulty He looked at them with a mixture of curiosity and resignation
Ortega murmured That last name weighs boy Leonardo crouched down next to his bed My mom Carmen remembers her The old man let out a long sigh Of course I remember her She was a good woman always smiling always aware of everything Leonardo swallowed What happened that day the day of the accident Rogelio looked at the ceiling as if searching for the words in the damp stains I saw everything he said at last with a raspy voice I saw when his aunt arrived That woman Ramona arrived nervous with a half-destroyed car Her mom was inside alive but confused As if gone She asked for her
son He asked for you Leonardo clenched his fists holding back his rage And my dad The old man closed his eyes He was already dead I saw him Ramona didn’t want to wait for anyone She ordered me not to say anything because if I spoke I was going to get into a lot of trouble Then she took his mom just like that without papers without telling anyone Leonardo felt his stomach turn Are you willing to testify he asked knowing it was too much to ask Rogelio smiled sadly Boy I don’t know how long I’ll stay but if I can help bring
justice I will Not for you for her for your mom Leonardo squeezed his hand with gratitude he knew that testimony could change everything When they left the house the sky was already dark All they could hear were crickets and the crunch of their footsteps on the gravel Mario lit a cigarette and slowly blew out the smoke We have Mrs. Carmen We have the documents and now we have a key witness Leonardo looked up at the starry sky Now Ramona your lies are over The following days were pure strategy Ricardo prepared the
documents for the TEI Deanda Mario accommodated the witnesses Leonardo made it his mission to be with his mother as much as he could It was as if each of them were playing their part in a game that they all knew had no way back Ramona, meanwhile, had disappeared Nobody knew where she was She wasn’t answering calls she didn’t show up at their houses not even her usual friends could give any account of her Leonardo wasn’t fooling himself He knew it was no coincidence Ramona was on the move looking for a way to save herself and it didn’t take
long for her to strike One afternoon Ricardo urgently called Leonardo We have a problem Leonardo was at the clinic accompanying Carmen when he received the call He quickly went out into the hallway to hear better What happened Ramona filed a counterclaim she says all the money and property is rightfully hers and accuses Carmen of having been mentally incapacitated since before the accident Leonardo squeezed the phone so hard he almost broke it How is he going to prove that is a lie Ricardo sighed I don’t know yet but if he manages to convince
the judge that your mother was incapable of handling her assets before the accident it could complicate everything for us Leonardo felt like his world was spinning Ramona was dirtier than he had imagined She was willing to sink Carmen to destroy her even more so as not to lose his fortune He hung up and went back to the room where his mother was Carmen was sleeping peacefully oblivious to the storm that was breaking out there Leonardo approached her and stroked her gray hair tenderly “I will not fail you mom”
He murmured. That same night he summoned Ricardo and Mario to his apartment. They needed to rethink everything. Sitting in the living room, they reviewed the documents, the testimonies, the recordings. “Ramona is going to try to use everything against us,” Ricardo said. “She’s going to pay witnesses, she’s going to buy fake doctors, she’s going to tarnish your mom’s image by any means necessary.
” Mario lit a cigarette and blew out the smoke in annoyance. That old woman is more poisonous than a scorpion. Leonardo ran a hand through his hair. What can we do? Ricardo thought for a few seconds. The key is to prove that Carmen was mentally capable after the accident. Even if she had memory loss, that didn’t make her legally incapable. Mario sat up. And we have the medical report from the hacienda where they recommended psychological treatment, not confinement. Leonardo nodded. And as for Rogelio, he can say that my mom was talking and asking for me. Ricardo grimaced. It’s a risk. Ramona’s lawyer
is going to try to destroy the testimony of an old, sick man. Leonardo slammed his fist on the table. I don’t care. We’re going to fight to the end. Ricardo looked at him seriously. Okay then. Get ready because Ramona isn’t going to stop And the worst thing was he paused The worst thing is that she may have an ace up her sleeve Leonardo frowned What do you mean Ramona isn’t stupid If she sees that she’s going to lose everything she may try one last low blow Mario stepped forward What do you mean threaten extort Ricardo shook his head Something worse Could bring to light secrets
that you don’t even know Something that could destroy your credibility Leonardo looked at both of them feeling like an alarm was going off in his chest What secrets Ricardo sighed I don’t know but be prepared for anything And it didn’t take long for them to find out Two days later while Leonardo was at the clinic he received an unexpected visitor It was Ramona She came in as if nothing had happened impeccable elegant smelling of expensive perfume Leonardo saw her come in and felt his blood run cold What are you doing here Ramona snapped at him Smile That fake smile that no longer fooled anyone I came to talk to you alone
Leonardo looked at the nurses who were watching out of the corner of their eyes He nodded and led Ramona to an empty room He closed the door and faced her What you want ramona looked at him fixedly with that viper gaze that he already knew well I know that you are going to file the lawsuit I know that you have witnesses and papers Leonardo crossed his arms firmly And I am not going to stop Ramona approached lowering her voice Then listen to me carefully Leo because if you continue I am going to tell the world something that you don’t know Leonardo didn’t answer he just looked at her waiting for the
hit Ramona smiled like someone enjoying squashing an insect You are not the son of Joaquín Ortega Leonardo felt the ground open beneath his feet What are you saying Ramona moved even closer until she could almost feel his breath Your real father is someone else someone much more powerful someone you would never want to know you exist Leonardo pushed her furiously Lie Ramona laughed softly as if she enjoyed watching him break Are you sure you want to keep stirring up the past Are you sure you want to open that door Leonardo looked at her with
hatred more confident than ever Ramona looked at him with contempt Then prepare to lose everything She turned around and left the room leaving him alone trembling with rage and confusion Leonardo clenched his fists until his knuckles hurt Ramona had played her last card and now everything was even more personal The news of the trial spread like wildfire It wasn’t just any case It wasn’t every day a famous millionaire took his own aunt to court for fraud breach of trust and forgery of documents The The media began to snoop around, wanting to know more.
Some journalists were hanging around the clinic where Carmen was, others were stationed outside Ricardo’s building. Leonardo didn’t give it any importance, he wasn’t there to protect his image, he was there to deliver justice. The day of the trial dawned gray, as if the sky knew that what was going to happen was no small feat. Leonardo arrived early at the courthouse, dressed in a dark suit without a tie. His gaze was steady, although inside he had a hurricane in his chest. Mario and Ricardo were waiting for him at the entrance. The three of them crossed the lobby together, ignoring the cameras and
microphones that followed them. On the other side, as expected, Ramona Lucía arrived, impeccable as always, dressed in a designer dress, perfect hair, defiant look. She was accompanied by her lawyer, Esteban Ordóñez, that shark that they had already investigated. He smiled as if it were all a simple formality. They entered the courtroom. The judge, a man with a serious face and few words, asked everyone to sit down. He explained the basic rules and warned that he would not tolerate interruptions or soap opera drama. Leonardo felt his heart pounding in his ears. The prosecutor took the floor
first and presented the case. Ramona Ortega had clearly falsified Carmen’s death certificate. She had illegally moved the Ortega family’s properties and accounts into her name. She had placed Carmen in a low-quality nursing home without medical or legal authorization. They presented the original documents, showed Joaquín Ortega’s will where everything was left for his wife and son. They showed the medical report from Hacienda Las Palmas where psychological treatment was clearly recommended.
Institutionalization Then the witnesses took the stand First the retired hospital nurse who confirmed that Carmen was not incapacitated at the time she was handed over to Ramona Then the nursing home worker who remembered how a wealthy woman left a confused lady and paid in advance to never appear again And finally the most important witness Rogelio The weak but determined old foreman testified before the judge everything he had seen the day of the accident How Carmen had survived how Ramona
secretly took her out of the hospital how he ordered her to be quiet The courtroom was completely silent as Rogelio spoke Every word he said was like a stone thrown straight at Ramona’s castle of lies When it was the defense’s turn Esteban Ordóñez tried everything He tried to discredit Rogelio claiming his memory was no longer reliable The judge wouldn’t allow it He tried to present false medical documents that said Carmen suffered from dementia before the accident Ricardo quickly stood up to object The judge granted the
objection he didn’t allow any garbage to be put in the file Esteban looked at Ramona as if asking for another letter under the sleeve but she just crossed her arms with her face hardened Leonardo felt like he was breathing hard He wanted it all to be over but at the same time he wanted to be sure that there was not a single doubt When the judge asked for the final arguments Ricardo spoke for him with a firm voice without dramatizing he said “Today we are not only talking about stolen goods today we are talking about a stolen life a mother who was
taken from her son a family destroyed by ambition Justice is not only about returning what was stolen Justice is about recognizing the damage that should never have been done.” Leonardo looked down feeling a lump in his throat Ramon blinked The judge retired to deliberate The minutes felt endless Leonardo paced back and forth in the waiting room while Mario tried to distract him with nonsense and Ricardo checked messages on his cell phone Finally after what seemed like hours they were called back into the room The judge sat down reviewed some
papers and spoke His voice was firm with no room for doubt This court finds sufficient evidence to consider that Mrs. Ramona Ortega committed fraud forgery of documents and breach of trust The immediate restitution of the assets to Mr. Leonardo Ortega and his mother Carmen Reyes de Ortega is ordered Leonardo closed his eyes for a second They had succeeded but the judge did not end there In addition, a criminal investigation is ordered against Mrs. Ortega for the aforementioned crimes The prosecutor’s office proceeds in accordance with
right Ramona’s face was a poem She lost all color and her fake smile disappeared as if by magic Leonardo looked at her one last time He didn’t say anything, there was no need to He had won but deep down he knew that the most difficult battle was just beginning rebuilding what Ramona had destroyed in his life and in his mother’s He left the room and looked up to the sky It was a new beginning When they left the courtroom the atmosphere was like a contained party Ricardo and Mario smiled barely knowing that the
blow had been strong and accurate Leonardo walked beside them feeling for the first time in a long time that something inside him settled as if an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders But it didn’t take long for them to realize that the matter was not over Leonardo had barely gotten into his truck when he received a call It was an unknown number he answered without thinking Well the voice on the other end was cold dry Leonardo Ortega who is speaking someone who has information that you need to know Leonardo pressed the phone I’m not in the mood for games It’s not a game It’s about your father
the real Leonardo froze The voice continued Ramona didn’t lie completely Joaquín Ortega is not Your biological father and your real one could change your life more than you can imagine. Before he could ask more questions, the call cut off. Leonardo stared at the phone for a few seconds, as if he was waiting for it to ring again. Mario, who was watching him from the passenger door, immediately noticed that something wasn’t right. What’s wrong? Leonardo took a deep breath. Someone claims to have information about my real father. Mario frowned. Do you think it’s true? Leonardo put the cell phone back in
his pocket. I don’t know what to believe anymore, but I have to know. That night in his apartment, Leonardo couldn’t sleep. He sat at his desk in front of the window that looked out onto the illuminated city and thought about everything he had experienced in recent months. He thought about Carmen, his life, his childhood, and now about that bombshell that Ramona had dropped as a last resort. And if it was true, and if his life was built on an even bigger lie. At dawn, he decided not to stay still. He spoke to Ricardo. He asked him to discreetly investigate everything he could about his mother before the accident. Friends, documents, anything
that might give a clue about what Ramona had insinuated. They passed by. Two days of tension until Ricardo arrived at his apartment with an envelope in his hand. Leonardo opened it without saying a word. Inside were copies of birth certificates, photographs, letters, and a story. Before marrying Joaquín Ortega, Carmen had had a relationship with another man, a powerful and influential man from a family that handled dirty business, politics, and money at levels that Leonardo could barely imagine. The name left him frozen.
Guillermo Santa Cruz one of the strongest businessmen in the country owner of media chains construction companies mines a man with more power than Leonardo could understand According to the documents Guillermo and Carmen had had a serious relationship but it ended badly due to family pressure Shortly after Carmen met Joaquín who accepted her pregnant and raised her as his own Leonardo was the biological son of Guillermo Santa Cruz He didn’t know whether to laugh cry or run away Ricardo looked at him silently waiting for his reaction What
does this mean Leonardo asked finally your real father doesn’t even know you exist Ricardo said Or if he does he’s kept it a secret all these years Leonardo rested his forehead in his hands Everything he thought he knew about his origins was melting like sand between his fingers “Ramón did you know?” he asked suddenly Ricardo nodded Everything indicates yes It is likely that this information has been his under his sleeve all this time That is why he dared to do everything he did He knew that if everything got complicated he could threaten you with this truth Leonardo let out a
bitter laugh Even in his fall he wanted to poison everything He remained silent for a long time looking at the city through the window His life had changed forever not only because of Ramona’s betrayal, not only because of the fight for his mother but because now he knew that part of his blood came from someone who never cared about him someone who maybe wouldn’t even recognize him if they looked him in the eye He ran a hand through his hair trying to organize his thoughts He didn’t know if he wanted to meet Guillermo Santa Cruz, he didn’t know if he wanted to open that door
The only thing that was clear to him was that at the end of the day his true family was Carmen She who, even broken, even forgotten, never stopped loving him And that was the only thing that really mattered The days after the trial were a strange mix of relief and tiredness Leonardo felt like he had run a marathon from which he was barely beginning to catch his breath All the noise The media coverage gradually declined. The newspapers, the networks, the newscasts all lost interest when they realized there was no luxury scandal or
shameful lawsuits, just a man fighting for his mother. Leonardo didn’t want to give interviews, he didn’t want to appear on the front pages, he didn’t want the fame of a hero, he just wanted his life back. The first big step was to take Carmen out of the clinic, not because they didn’t treat her well, but because she had asked for it. Not with clear words, but with looks, with small gestures. She wanted a home, a real home. Leonardo found a beautiful house on the outskirts of the city, a quiet place surrounded by trees and with a large garden where Carmen could spend the afternoons in the sun. He bought it without thinking twice.
twice He filled it with comfortable furniture, pictures of when he was a child, soft music, smells his mother could recognize. Moving day was like a small triumph. Carmen didn’t understand everything, but her shy smile when she saw the garden, the armchairs, the flowers was enough for Leonardo. He felt that it was worth every sleepless night, every fight, every tear. They settled in without haste. He hired a team of specialized nurses to take care of her, but he was still her main companion. He sat with her. In the mornings, he read her the newspaper, even though she
couldn’t always follow the news. He told her about his day, his plans, his childhood memories, even though sometimes it seemed like he was talking to himself. And sometimes, only sometimes, Carmen answered with a single word, a smile, a caress on the hand. They were small moments, but for Leonardo they were everything. The subject of Guillermo Santa Cruz remained floating in the air. Ricardo had found a way to approach him discreetly, but Leonardo wasn’t ready. Not yet. He knew that one day he would want to know more, know who this man was who had given him life, even though he would never
give it to him. a hug, some advice, not even her name. But for now, her priority was something else. One weekend, while they were in the garden, Carmen looked at him for a long time. Leonardo was helping her water some plants when she felt his gaze. He came closer. What’s wrong, mom? It took her a while to answer, as if the words had to travel a long way to reach her mouth. Happy, she asked in 1900, a whisper. Leonardo knelt in front of her. Yes, mom, very happy. Carmen smiled. It wasn’t just any smile, it was the most sincere smile that Leonardo had ever seen. They hugged right there
under the sun, among the flowers and the smell of wet earth. That moment was worth more than all the millions that had been stolen from her, more than any famous surname, more than any lost inheritance. That was her true victory. Time passed. Carmen had ups and downs, as expected. Some days she remembered more, other days she was lost in her own world again, but she was never alone, she was never abandoned again. Leonardo reorganized his life too. He delegated more work in his company, he put aside useless social events, empty parties, he began to build something new, something that made
sense. He reconnected with old friends, supported social causes related to the abandonment of the elderly, visited other nursing homes where he donated without taking pictures or uploading them to the internet, and above all, he built new memories with his mother. Little things: an afternoon of movies, a walk in the garden, an improvised breakfast with burnt pancakes. All of that was pure gold to him. One day, while they were walking in the garden, Carmen squeezed his hand, Leonardo looked at her. She smiled and said, “My boy.
” Leonardo smiled too, feeling that absolutely everything was worth it. The inheritance, the lawsuits, the painful truths, the secrets, all of that was left behind. Now only one thing mattered: the present, a present where, despite everything, he had achieved what many never manage to recover: his true family and with it, his true place in the world.

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