And then I spoke. Calm, deliberate. “Álvaro, I need the files for the company accounts. I want to review everything before the end of the month.”
His face froze. His hands trembled slightly. He stammered. “Uh… I… well… they’re… in the office… with the accountant…”
I didn’t let him finish. “No, Álvaro. I want them here. On my desk. Now.”
Renata’s eyes widened. Álvaro turned pale. I saw the fear that had been lurking beneath his arrogance. This was the first time he realized the rules had changed. I wasn’t the powerless, trusting wife anymore.
That night, he confronted me. “Jimena… what are you doing? You can’t just—”
I cut him off. “I’ve been doing what you’ve been doing for years: watching, learning, recording. Only now, I’m using it to protect myself and our son.”
His face twisted with anger and disbelief. “You don’t understand! You can’t just—”
“Yes, I can,” I said softly. “And I will. Every lie you told, every scheme, every plan to cheat me or manipulate our life, it stops now. The money is safe. Our son is safe. And you? You’ll get nothing if you continue this.”
He lunged toward me once, but I didn’t flinch. I was no longer afraid. I had already consulted lawyers; I had everything covered. He couldn’t touch a thing.
For the first time in years, he realized that I wasn’t just his wife. I was a force he had underestimated.
