Chapter 2
Julian stood in the middle of the bedroom.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't think.
His eyes kept moving between Mariana and his mother.
The two people he trusted most.
One was crying.
The other was silent.
And that silence told him everything.
"Mom..."
His voice was low.
Almost unrecognizable.
"Tell me I'm wrong."
Doña Carmen lifted her chin.
A small defensive smile appeared on her face.
"Julian, don't be ridiculous."
She walked into the room calmly.
"Your wife is emotional because of the pregnancy."
Mariana looked at her.
The pain in her eyes returned.
Because those words were familiar.
Too familiar.
"You always do this."
Carmen continued.
"You make everyone think I'm the problem."
Julian stared at his mother.
"Are you saying those injuries aren't real?"
Carmen immediately answered.
"I'm saying you don't understand what happened."
That sentence made Julian's blood run cold.
Because she didn't deny it.
She explained it.
Mariana lowered her head.
Months of fear finally came back.
She remembered every moment.
Every warning.
Every threat.
The day Carmen grabbed her arm after an argument.
The day Carmen pushed her against the kitchen counter.
The day she whispered:
"Nobody will believe you over me."
"I raised Julian."
"I know how to make him choose."
Mariana had been terrified.
Not just because of the pain.
Because she believed Carmen was right.
Julian loved his mother.
He trusted her.
And Mariana was afraid that if she spoke...
She would lose everything.
But now...
Julian was looking at his mother differently.
For the first time in his life.
He wasn't seeing the woman who raised him.
He was seeing the woman who hurt his wife.
"How long?"
Julian asked.
Carmen frowned.
"What?"
"How long has this been happening?"
Silence.
Mariana closed her eyes.
She didn't want to answer.
But Julian gently took her hand.
"Mariana."
His voice softened.
"I'm here."
Those words broke something inside her.
Because for months...
She had felt completely alone.
"It started six months ago."
Her voice trembled.
Julian looked devastated.
"Six months?"
She nodded.
"I tried telling you."
Julian froze.
"What?"
Mariana looked at him with tears.
"Three times."
The room became silent.
"You remember when I suddenly wanted to leave your mother's house?"
Julian nodded slowly.
"You said you were overwhelmed."
"I was scared."
Her voice cracked.
"I was trying to tell you."
Julian looked down.
Because he remembered.
He remembered those moments.
And he remembered choosing to believe his mother.
"I thought you were just stressed."
Mariana whispered:
"I know."
The pain in her voice was worse than anger.
Because she wasn't blaming him.
She was telling him how alone she felt.
Julian turned toward his mother.
"Why?"
Carmen looked away.
"Why would you do this?"
For the first time...
Her confidence started disappearing.
"Because I was protecting you."
Julian stared.
"Protecting me?"
"Yes."
She pointed toward Mariana.
"She changed you."
"Before her, you listened to me."
"Before her, you were focused."
Julian couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You hurt my wife because you thought she was a distraction?"
Carmen became defensive.
"I did what was necessary."
Mariana covered her mouth.
The words hurt.
Not because they surprised her.
Because they confirmed everything she already knew.
Julian slowly walked toward his mother.
His expression was filled with disappointment.
"You were supposed to protect her."
Carmen remained silent.
"She was carrying your grandchild."
Another silence.
"And you hurt her."
Carmen's face changed.
A small moment of guilt appeared.
But it disappeared quickly.
"You don't understand what she was doing."
Julian frowned.
"What?"
Carmen looked at Mariana.
"She was always trying to turn you against me."
Mariana looked shocked.
"I never did that."
Carmen smiled coldly.
"Of course you would say that."
Julian looked at Mariana.
Then back at his mother.
And finally...
He understood.
His mother wasn't sorry.
She was trying to escape responsibility.
Julian took out his phone.
"What are you doing?"
Carmen asked.
"I'm calling someone."
"Who?"
"My lawyer."
Carmen's expression changed.
"Julian."
His voice was calm.
But final.
"You hurt my wife."
"You endangered my child."
"And now you will answer for it."
For the first time...
Doña Carmen Rivera looked afraid.
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Because she realized her son was no longer protecting her.
He was protecting Mariana.
