“Cover these bumps before my mother arrives—” said Alejandro, leaving a makeup bag near the sink. And smile. I don’t want drama in my own house.
The bag fell next to Mariana’s split lip like an igniter wrapped in pink paper.
She was sitting on the cold floor of the bathroom, a towel stained with blood in her hands. The morning light entered through the window and he did not forgive anything: the swollen right eye, the purple cheekbone, the fingerprints on his arm and this deep burn in his ribs that reminded him every second of the night before.
His only crime was to say:
– Your mother won’t live here.
Alejandro, who in front of everyone was kind, elegant and even charming, had closed the bedroom door with a horrible calm. Then he took her by the arm, pushed her against the hairdresser and told her he was tired of her tantrums. When Mariana tried to get out, he pulled her back.
“My mother deserves respect —” he had spit on her.
Then came the blow, the cry suffocated, the fear.
And then, the worst: Alejandro washed his hands, put his pajamas on and lay down like nothing had happened. He slept all night under the ceiling fan that Mariana had paid, in the bed that Mariana had chosen, inside the house that had never been his own.
Now he was there, impeccable, with a white ironed shirt, a dear scent and that smile he used when he wanted to convince the world that he was a good husband.
“My mother wants the rest of the ground floor,” he continued. I already told you that you can bring your furniture this afternoon.
Mariana looked up at the mirror.
– You told him that without asking me?
Alejandro let out a little laugh.
– Don’t start again. You’re very sensitive. You always make everything bigger than he is.
She did not answer.
For 3 years, her mother-in-law, Graciela, had entered and left this house as if she owned it. He criticized the curtains, moved the ornaments, checked the pantry and said phrases like:
A woman without a family should be grateful that someone has accepted it.
Mariana was an orphan at the age of 24. His father, Don Esteban Rivas, left him a house on the lake in Valle de Bravo, 2 rental buildings in Toluca and a family account managed by a trust. Alejandro never asked for too much. He only learned to say “our properties” at meals with his friends.
Graciela called him “the lucky orphan.”
Alejandro called her “my fragile wife.”
Both believed that Mariana’s silence was fear.
But they didn’t know that his father had taught him to keep every receipt, every contract, every audio, and every signature.
Alejandro leaned over her.
– I’m coming at 12 o’clock with my mom. You’re going down dressed, you’re going to serve the food, and you’re gonna apologize to him for being disrespectful.
Mariana opened the makeup bag. Base. Corrector. Dust. A red lipstick, the same shade she had worn at her wedding.
“How thoughtful,” he murmured.
Alexander smiled, believing that he had won.
He didn’t see the mobile phone hidden under the clean towel, recording every word. I didn’t know the cameras in the hallway captured everything from 3 angles. He did not know that at 4:18 a.m., while he was sleeping peacefully, Mariana had sent the videos to his lawyer.
I also didn’t know that the answer had come before dawn:
“Let him come back. Do not confront him alone.”
Mariana took the concealer.
“Don’t worry,” he said in a calm voice. For the meal, everything will be covered.
Alejandro left the bathroom convinced he was still in charge.
But Mariana looked at her bruised face in the mirror and, for the first time in years, felt no shame.
He felt clarity.
At 9h43, while Alejandro had already left for the office, Mariana went down into the kitchen. The house was silent. The windows reflected the lake, the trees and the white facade that his father had built brick by brick.
On the table, Graciela had left a handwritten list on her last visit:
“Office change for sewing room.”
“Master Paint Suite.”
“Delete photos of Esteban.”
Mariana passed her fingers on her father’s name.
Then he picked up the phone and made the first call.
She didn’t cry.
He didn’t scream.
He just said:
– Mrs. Ortega, I’m ready.
On the other hand, his lawyer replied:
– So it’s ending today.
At 11h58, Alejandro entered the subdivision with Graciela sitting next to him, ready to take possession of a house that never belonged to him.
And when the door opened, they both saw something that took their breath away.
Alexander’s clothes lay in the garden.
Their suitcases are open.
His shoes on the lawn.
Their costumes were hanging on the fence.
And Mariana stood at the door, the shots in sight and the keys in her hand.
They couldn’t believe what was going to happen.
PART 2
