Chapter 6 - THE ATTORNEY WITH BLOOD ON HIS HANDS“Put the gun down, Victor.”
Rafael's voice was steady, but Elena saw the tension in his shoulders.
Victor Aranda smiled.
“You always did think you could give orders to everyone, Rafael.”
Nicolás moved slightly in front of Elena.
Victor pointed the pistol toward him.
“Don't be foolish, Your Highness.”
Nicolás stopped.
The chapel seemed unnaturally quiet.
Outside, workers continued moving equipment across the courtyard, unaware of what was happening inside.
Victor glanced at the metal box.
“I wondered where Isabella hid those papers.”
Elena held the adoption agreement tightly.
“Did you kill my mother?”
Victor's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“Your mother was an unfortunate woman who became involved in matters beyond her understanding.”
“That's not an answer.”
“It's the only answer you're entitled to.”
Elena looked directly at him.
“You were in the photograph. Mateo remembered you.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Mateo should have kept his mouth shut.”
Rafael stepped forward.
“You arranged the accident.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Careful.”
“You tampered with Isabella's car.”
“I arranged for a problem to disappear.”
The words hung in the air.
Elena felt sick.
Victor continued, almost conversationally.
“Your mother believed exposing financial misconduct would save the monarchy. She never understood that institutions survive because certain truths remain buried.”
Rafael's hands curled into fists.
“She was a mother.”
“And she was reckless.”
Elena's voice rose.
“She was trying to protect people.”
Victor looked at her.
“And now you're making the same mistake.”
Nicolás glanced toward the side entrance.
Victor noticed.
“Don't.”
He raised the pistol slightly.
“Put the box on the altar.”
Rafael complied.
Victor approached.
He reached for the documents.
Then Elena spoke.
“Was Lucía your sister?”
Victor froze.
His expression became unreadable.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Elena lifted the photograph.
“She was Adrián's mother.”
Victor stared at the image.
For the first time, his composure cracked.
“Give me that.”
“Why was she declared dead?”
Victor's breathing changed.
“Because she had to disappear.”
Rafael looked at him sharply.
“Lucía is alive?”
Victor said nothing.
Elena felt a sudden surge of hope mixed with dread.
“Where is she?”
Victor lowered the pistol a fraction.
“Somewhere she can't destroy everything I've built.”
Nicolás stepped forward.
“You imprisoned your own sister?”
Victor turned toward him.
“I protected her.”
“From what?”
“From herself.”
Elena shook her head.
“No. You protected your secrets.”
Victor's face hardened.
He reached for the photograph.
At that moment, the chapel's main doors burst open.
A security officer shouted.
“Drop the weapon!”
Victor spun.
A sharp crack echoed through the chapel.
Elena instinctively ducked.
The pistol discharged into the stone wall.
Nicolás grabbed her arm and pulled her behind a pew.
Two officers rushed forward.
Victor struggled.
Then the weapon clattered across the floor.
Within seconds, he was restrained.
Rafael hurried toward Elena.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Nicolás was breathing heavily.
Elena looked at him.
“You saved me.”
He gave a strained smile.
“I think we're both tired of this family pretending cruelty is tradition.”
Victor was dragged toward the entrance.
But as he passed Elena, he stopped.
His eyes were cold.
“You think arresting me changes anything?”
Elena stood.
“It changes something.”
Victor laughed.
“You don't understand. The documents you found aren't the originals.”
Rafael went still.
“What?”
Victor smiled.
“Those are copies Isabella made before she died.”
Elena tightened her grip around the box.
“Where are the originals?”
Victor leaned closer.
“Ask Beatriz.”
Then he whispered something only Elena could hear.
“Ask her what happened to the real king.”
Elena stared at him.
“What real king?”
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Victor's smile widened.
“The one whose death certificate was signed seventeen years before he actually died.”
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