Marks on the Inside: How a Locked Door Exposed My Wife’s Cruel Secret

While Daniel fought in the boardroom, a different battle was unfolding at the Garza family estate.

Valeria had arranged for two armed, private security guards to guard the villa while forensic technicians finished sweeping the property for hidden recording devices. Mateo sat on the patio steps, watching a team of workers replace the ruined oak door of the pantry with solid steel.

Sofía sat beside him, quietly drawing in a sketchbook.

"Mateo?" Sofía whispered, not looking up from her paper.

"Yeah, Sof?"

"Is Mom... is Lucía ever coming back?"

Mateo looked at his younger sister. The bruise on her cheek was fading into a dull yellow, but the fear in her eyes was deeply ingrained. "No. Dad made sure she can't touch us again. The police have her."

"Then why are those men still looking at the walls?" Sofía asked, pointing toward two men in plain suits walking around the perimeter of the garden with metal detectors.

Mateo stood up, his instincts instantly on high alert. He walked toward the edge of the patio. "Hey! Who told you to search the back garden? The forensic team already finished."

One of the men stopped, turning his head. He wore a dark cap pulled low, and a small radio earpiece glistened in his ear.

"Secondary sweep, kid," the man said, his voice flat, devoid of the local accent. "Orders from headquarters."

Mateo’s stomach dropped. He reached into his pocket, his hand closing around his phone. He dialed Valeria’s direct line.

"Valeria," Mateo whispered as soon as she answered. "There are two security guys in the backyard. They say they're doing a secondary sweep."

"What?" Valeria’s voice cracked over the speaker. "Mateo, get inside the house right now! I didn't send a secondary team! All our guards are stationed at the main gate!"

Mateo didn't hesitate. He grabbed Sofía’s arm and yanked her up. "Inside! Now!"