—What trusts?
The lawyer turned a page.
—Mr. Emiliano Cárdenas received access to his years ago. Fernanda’s was kept reserved for a later date. Valeria’s, however, was deliberately concealed.
Patricia let out a sharp exhale.
—That’s not true. We only wanted to protect her. Valeria was always impulsive.
Valeria gave a dry laugh.
Impulsive.
She, the daughter who had paid rent, transportation, tuition, and food while the others lived supported by the family. She, the one who handled alone everything that in that house was considered far too unimportant.
At that moment Emiliano arrived, alerted by the family messages. The second he heard the word “trust,” he went still. Valeria saw him lower his eyes and felt something worse than anger: confirmation.
He knew.
—You knew? —she asked, without raising her voice.
Emiliano took far too long to answer.
—I… thought you did too.
He lied badly. And everyone knew it.
Attorney Salcedo continued.
—In addition to concealing information, there are indications that your parents used financial reports from Valeria’s trust to support financial transactions, obtain credit, and collect management commissions without legal authorization.
Ramiro exploded.
—Everything we did was for this family!
—No —Valeria said, looking at him for the first time with a coldness that pierced his pride—. Everything you did was to control who deserved to live well and who had to be grateful for the leftovers.
Fernanda began to tremble.
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