Chapter 6: The Money Was Never Mine
I had never seen Camila look at me with that much fear.
Not anger.
Not disappointment.
Fear.
And somehow, that was worse.
"I didn't touch your account," I said.
Laura placed her phone on the bedside table.
"The withdrawal request was submitted at 8:42 a.m. It was for 1.8 million dollars.""
I looked at the document.
The account number was familiar.
It belonged to the trust established by Camila's grandmother.
I recognized the last four digits because I had seen them on an old financial statement.
But I hadn't accessed the account.
At least, I didn't remember doing so.
"Who submitted it?"" I asked.
Laura opened an email.
"The request came through a corporate account linked to Villarreal Construction. The attached authorization carries a digital signature attributed to you.""
I shook my head.
"That's not possible.""
Camila looked at me.
"Then who has access to your credentials?""
I stared at the paper.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
It looked genuine.
Too genuine.
I turned toward Laura.
"Did the bank release the money?""
"No. The transaction was flagged because the account had recently been transferred into the independent trust.""
I released a breath.
"Then there's no problem.""
Laura's expression remained cold.
"There is a serious problem, Mr. Villarreal. Someone attempted to access protected funds using your corporate credentials.""
"That doesn't prove I did it.""
"No. But it does mean we're opening an investigation.""
I looked at Camila.
"I swear I didn't do this.""
She watched me silently.
Then she said:
"You expect me to believe you?""
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because I had spent three years teaching her that my word meant nothing.
The hospital room became crowded.
Laura made several calls.
Alejandro contacted the trust's financial institution.
Rosa sat beside Camila and held her hand.
I stood near the window, watching people discuss my wife's money as if I were a stranger.
Finally, I turned toward Alejandro.
"Did you know about the withdrawal?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
"Then why are you involved?""
"Because I'm responsible for protecting the trust until the court appoints its permanent administrator.""
I laughed.
"You're enjoying this.""
Alejandro closed his phone.
"Mateo, I have no interest in your money.""
"Then step away.""
"No.""
I moved closer.
"You're making yourself my enemy again.""
Alejandro stared at me.
"I never stopped being your enemy in your mind. That's why you did what you did.""
I clenched my fists.
"You're not taking my son away from me.""
"Nobody is taking your son away.""
"Then why is my wife putting everything under your control?""
"Because she doesn't trust you with the money.""
I looked at Camila.
She had closed her eyes.
Her hand rested against the hospital blanket.
I wanted her to defend me.
I wanted her to say that I was still her husband.
That whatever happened between us could be repaired.
Instead, she whispered:
"Please stop arguing.""
I immediately stepped back.
Laura approached me.
"Mr. Villarreal, I recommend that you leave while we review the financial records.""
I stared at her.
"You're asking me to leave my wife's room?""
"I'm asking you to respect her wishes.""
I looked at Camila.
She didn't open her eyes.
I walked out.
At 1:30 p.m., Diego called again.
I answered from the hospital parking garage.
"Talk.""
"We have a serious problem.""
"Another one?""
"The board received a notice from the bank.""
"What notice?""
"An attempted withdrawal from Camila's trust account.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who submitted it?""
"Your digital credentials.""
"I didn't do it.""
"Mateo, listen. The request came from the executive office.""
I froze.
"Which computer?""
"Yours.""
I looked at the concrete floor.
My office computer had been locked since the board suspended me.
"Who had access?""
Diego hesitated.
"Valeria.""
My head snapped up.
"What?""
"She had your access credentials. You gave her the password when she was handling the property acquisition paperwork.""
I remembered.
Six months earlier, I had given Valeria access to several internal accounts because she was helping coordinate documents for the new development company.
I had trusted her.
I had even told her that she would eventually have a larger role in the business.
"Where is she now?""
"I don't know.""
"Find her.""
"Mateo, there's more.""
I gripped the phone.
"What?""
"Her company received payments from the same accounts involved in the San Jerónimo transfers.""
I felt sick.
"How much?""
"Almost four million.""
I leaned against the wall.
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then Diego said something that made the situation even worse.
"The last transfer was made yesterday afternoon.""
"Yesterday?""
"Yes.""
I looked at my watch.
The time stamp appeared in my mind.
Yesterday afternoon, I had been at the nightclub.
Camila had been calling me.
And someone had been moving money while I was busy ignoring her.
"Send me everything.""
"I'll try.""
"Diego.""
"What?""
"If you knew about this and helped her, I'll make sure you go down with me.""
He didn't answer.
The call ended.
I drove to Valeria's apartment.
It was a luxury penthouse overlooking the city.
I had paid the deposit.
I had chosen the furniture.
I had even bought the painting hanging above her sofa.
When she opened the door, she was wearing a white silk robe.
Her smile disappeared when she saw me.
"Mateo?""
I pushed past her.
"Where's your laptop?""
"What?""
"Your laptop.""
She closed the door.
"What's wrong with you?""
I turned.
"Did you access my company accounts?""
She stared at me.
Then she laughed.
"Are you serious?""
"Answer me.""
"Mateo, I have no idea what you're talking about.""
I took out my phone and showed her the bank notification.
"Someone tried to withdraw 1.8 million dollars from Camila's trust using my credentials.""
Valeria glanced at the screen.
Her expression changed for a fraction of a second.
I noticed.
"That was you.""
"No.""
"Don't lie.""
She crossed her arms.
"You should be careful about accusing me.""
I laughed.
"Four million dollars went through your company.""
"Those were business transactions.""
"Business transactions?""
"Yes.""
"From where?""
She didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
"Valeria, I am asking you one last time. Did you move that money?""
Her face hardened.
"You know what your problem is, Mateo?""
I stared at her.
"You think every woman in your life is supposed to clean up after you.""
I blinked.
"What?""
"You wanted me to be your assistant, your lover, your secretary, and your accountant. You gave me access to everything because you couldn't be bothered to handle your own paperwork.""
"That's not an answer.""
She walked toward the kitchen.
"Maybe you should talk to your lawyer.""
I followed her.
"Where are the original files?""
She opened a cabinet and removed a glass.
"Which files?""
"The transfer records.""
She poured water.
Then she looked at me.
"Ask Camila.""
I froze.
"What does she have to do with this?""
Valeria smiled faintly.
"More than you think.""
My phone vibrated.
An incoming call from an unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke.
"Mr. Villarreal? This is Detective Morales with the financial crimes division.""
My stomach tightened.
"Yes?""
"We need to speak with you regarding an attempted unauthorized transfer from a protected investment account.""
I looked at Valeria.
She was watching me.
"Where?""
"At your earliest convenience. However, we have already requested access to the relevant electronic records.""
I swallowed.
"Am I being accused of something?""
"We're gathering information at this stage.""
The call ended.
I turned toward Valeria.
She raised her glass.
"Good luck.""
I stared at her.
Then I noticed something on the kitchen counter.
A small black USB drive.
Beside it was a printed photograph.
It showed Valeria standing outside my father's old office.
And next to her was Diego.
The photograph had been taken three days earlier.
I picked it up.
"What's this?""
Valeria's smile disappeared.
"Put that down.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because it's none of your business.""
I held up the photograph.
"You're meeting Diego behind my back?""
She stepped toward me.
"Give it to me.""
I moved away.
"What's on this drive?""
"Mateo.""
"What's on it?""
She lunged.
I pulled my hand back.
The USB drive fell onto the floor.
Valeria stared at it.
Then she whispered:
"You have no idea what your wife has done.""
At 3:20 p.m., I returned to the hospital.
Camila was sitting slightly upright in her bed.
Rosa was helping her drink water.
Alejandro stood near the window, speaking quietly with Laura.
When I entered, everyone looked at me.
"I need to speak to Camila.""
Rosa put down the glass.
"She's tired.""
"It's important.""
Camila looked at me.
"What happened?""
I held up the photograph.
"Why were Valeria and Diego at my father's office?""
Her expression changed.
She looked toward Alejandro.
He nodded slowly.
Then she turned back to me.
"Because they were looking for the original documents.""
I stared at her.
"What documents?""
"The ones proving that you transferred company money into Valeria's accounts.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"How do you know?""
"Because I found them.""
"Where?""
"In your father's old office.""
I shook my head.
"Why were you there?""
Camila lowered her glass.
"Because you asked me to collect some personal documents from the property.""
I remembered.
Two weeks earlier, I had sent her a message asking her to retrieve a box of family papers.
I had forgotten about it.
She continued.
"When I arrived, I found the office unlocked. There were files on your father's desk. One of them contained the original bank statements.""
I looked at Alejandro.
He remained silent.
Camila looked at me.
"Mateo, Valeria wasn't working alone.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"She was helping someone move the money.""
"Who?""
Camila took a breath.
"Diego.""
I stared at her.
"That's impossible.""
"There's more.""
She reached toward the bedside table.
Laura handed her a sealed envelope.
Camila opened it slowly.
Inside were several printed emails.
She handed them to me.
The first was dated six months earlier.
The sender was Diego.
The recipient was Valeria.
The subject line read:
*THE FINAL TRANSFER.*
I began reading.
Once Mateo signs the revised ownership documents, the properties will be transferred without triggering the original audit. Keep Camila away from the paperwork. She must not see the beneficiary details.
I looked up.
"What's this?""
Camila's voice was quiet.
"The reason they wanted me to sign those papers.""
I looked at the next page.
There was another email.
This one contained a list of properties.
My father's old office.
The San Jerónimo development.
Two commercial buildings.
And a private parcel of land registered under Camila's grandmother's estate.
I stared at the final line.
The recipient of the proposed transfers was a company called V.M. Holdings.
Valeria Montes Holdings.
I looked at Camila.
"They were going to take everything?""
She nodded.
"Not just your company. They were going to use your company to gain control of my inheritance.""
I looked at Alejandro.
"Did you know?""
He shook his head.
"Not until today.""
I turned back to Camila.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She gave me a look I would never forget.
"Because the last time I told you something was wrong, I was lying on the floor asking you to come home.""
I looked down at the emails.
My hands were trembling.
For the first time, I understood that Valeria might not have been the woman helping me escape my marriage.
She might have been using my marriage to steal everything.
At 4:05 p.m., the hospital room phone rang.
Laura answered.
She listened for several seconds.
Then her expression became serious.
"You're certain?""
She looked at Camila.
"Yes. I understand.""
She hung up.
"What happened?"" Alejandro asked.
Laura placed her phone on the table.
"The police have located Valeria Montes.""
I looked up.
"Where?""
"At the private airport.""
My heart began pounding.
"Is she leaving the country?""
Laura nodded.
"She was attempting to board a private flight.""
I stared at the phone in her hand.
"Where is Diego?""
Laura hesitated.
Then she said:
"That's the problem. Diego is already on the aircraft.""
Camila closed her eyes.
Alejandro stepped toward the door.
"Where is the flight going?""
Laura looked at the screen again.
"Miami.""
I turned toward my wife.
"Camila, did you know they were planning to leave?""
She opened her eyes.
"No.""
"Then how did they know we found the documents?""
She looked at Alejandro.
He was already reaching for his phone.
Then Laura spoke again.
"There's one more thing.""
We all turned toward her.
"The police found a second set of documents in Valeria's luggage.""
"What documents?"" I asked.
Laura looked directly at me.
"An agreement transferring control of Villarreal Construction to a third party.""
My stomach dropped.
"Who?""
Laura lowered her voice.
"Your father's former business partner.""
I felt the room tilt.
My father had been dead for six years.
His former business partner had disappeared shortly after the company nearly went bankrupt.
And according to the agreement in Valeria's luggage, he was supposed to become the majority owner of my company.
But that wasn't the worst part.
At the bottom of the document was a signature.
Not mine.
Not Diego's.
Not Valeria's.
It belonged to Camila.
She stared at it.
Then she whispered:
"That's not my signature.""
Alejandro took the document from Laura.
He studied it carefully.
Then he looked at me.
"Mateo, I think someone has been planning this long before you met Valeria.""
I stared at the signature.
And suddenly, the entire story changed.
Because if Camila hadn't signed that agreement, someone had forged her name.
And whoever had done it had access to a document she had signed years earlier.
A document that could only have come from one place.
Our home.
May you like
Our marriage.
Our family.
