The Daughter He Never Should Have Touched
Chapter 2 — The Daughter He Never Should Have Touched
Nobody spoke.
The sound of Ricardo Salazar's footsteps echoed across the marble floor as if the mansion itself recognized who had just entered.
He wasn't surrounded by bodyguards.
He didn't need them.
Behind him stood only his longtime attorney, Helena Ortiz, and an elderly man carrying a slim leather briefcase.
That was somehow more frightening.
Santiago recovered first.
He forced a smile.
"Mr. Salazar... I think you've misunderstood—"
"I have understood far more than you realize."
Ricardo's voice remained perfectly calm.
His eyes never left the bruise forming beneath my cheek.
For one unbearable second...
No one moved.
Then Ricardo looked at me.
"Valeria."
I hadn't heard him call my real name in over three years.
My throat tightened.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
His expression softened only for an instant.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
Then he turned back toward Santiago.
"You do."
Beatriz stepped forward, still holding her wineglass.
"I'm afraid this is a private family matter."
Ricardo smiled.
"No."
He nodded toward the silver clock sitting quietly on the fireplace.
"That became a criminal matter approximately forty-six minutes ago."
Santiago frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Helena opened the leather briefcase.
Inside sat a tablet.
She pressed one button.
The room filled with Santiago's own voice.
"If you don't sign tomorrow... your baby is going to grow up without a mother."
The recording continued.
Every threat.
Every confession.
Every insult.
Beatriz's smile disappeared.
"You recorded us?"
"No," Ricardo answered.
"You recorded yourselves."
Silence crashed over the room.
Santiago suddenly lunged toward the clock.
The elderly man moved before anyone else.
He caught Santiago's wrist with surprising strength.
CRACK.
The billionaire dropped to one knee.
His wrist hung at an impossible angle.
"I wouldn't," the old man said quietly.
"I used to train special forces."
Nobody had expected the harmless old accountant to speak.
Nobody had expected him to break Santiago's arm in less than two seconds.
Beatriz screamed.
"You assaulted my son!"
Ricardo never even looked at her.
"No."
"He prevented the destruction of evidence."
Police sirens suddenly echoed outside.
Red and blue lights flashed across the windows.
Santiago laughed.
Actually laughed.
"You think you've won?"
He slowly stood despite the pain.
"You don't know what you've walked into."
He reached into his jacket.
Everyone froze.
Instead of a weapon...
He removed a sealed envelope.
"My insurance."
He tossed it onto the marble floor.
Helena picked it up.
Her face lost every trace of color.
She looked at Ricardo.
"...Sir..."
"What is it?"
Her voice barely came out.
"They already filed guardianship papers."
Ricardo frowned.
"For the baby?"
Helena slowly shook her head.
"No."
"They filed them..."
May you like
"...for Valeria."
The room fell silent.
