“Mr. Santos, why didn’t you answer your phone? Your mother... she tried to take her own life—her head...”
I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I rushed out, hailed a cab, and raced to the nursing home.
Outside the room, the nurse stood pale-faced, hand over her mouth, gagging uncontrollably.
“Mr. Santos... the scene inside is... horrifying. Please, prepare yourself...”
Inside, blood was everywhere.
My mother’s body was kneeling in front of a charred and exploded microwave, her head reduced to an unrecognizable, bloody mess above the neck.
“Why... why would she do this?!”
“We don’t know either,” the nurse stammered. “Last night, some men came by. Said they were friends of Mr. Delgado and had been sent to visit your mother. They wouldn't allow us to stay in the room while they were there.”
“President Contreras told us that Mr. Delgado’s instructions were as good as hers. We didn’t dare disobey. They stayed there for a long time... and left late. When I came this morning to change your mother’s bandages, I saw her with her head inside the microwave. I thought she was looking for something. Just as I was about to go in—it exploded...”
A terrible thought struck me. I rushed to the corner of the room and found the pinhole camera.
Because of Cindy’s threat yesterday, I’d used a bathroom break as cover and asked the nurse to help me install a hidden camera in my mother’s room. I helped her in the past, so while she didn’t dare openly go against Cindy, she quietly did me this one favor.
I connected the camera to my phone and began reviewing last night’s footage.
What I saw made my blood boil and my vision blurred with rage.
They humiliated my mother.
They even threatened her.
“Old hag, we recorded everything we did to you. Want to guess what will happen if we leak those videos? Think your son would have any dignity left?”
“President Contreras only cares about Eugene now. She didn’t even blink when he killed your granddaughter. And she’s already forcing your son to destroy all the evidence.”
“If you don’t want your son publicly ruined, you’d better talk him into divorcing Cindy and walking away with nothing. Otherwise, we’ll make sure your entire family gets wiped off the internet—and maybe off this earth.”
My mother sat in silence all night on the bed. Then, just before dawn, she turned on the microwave.
As if she knew there was a camera watching, she looked straight at the lens and gave a soft, gentle smile.
“Vance... Mom has never done anything to be ashamed of. I’m not afraid of their threats. But I know Cindy is using me to control you.”
“I don’t care about gossip or disgrace... but I won’t be your burden any longer.”
“I’m going to take care of Louise now, so you must protect yourself. Stay away from those monsters."
"I’m sorry. I dragged you into this…”
I couldn’t bear to watch anymore.
Clutching my mother’s body, I broke down in heart-wrenching sobs.
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.
“Hello? I found your daughter’s smartwatch. It was outside the Starlight Tower. Can you come pick it up?”
My heart skipped a beat.
Louise’s smartwatch had a built-in video recorder.
It was a birthday gift I’d given her. She never took it off unless she absolutely had to. Could she have left behind evidence for me?
After arranging for my mother’s body to be taken to the funeral home, I rushed to Starlight Tower and retrieved the watch.
There were hundreds of video clips stored inside—all documenting how Eugene had abused Louise.
Including footage from the day she died.
Rage consumed me, searing through every vein. Without hesitation, I dialed the number of Cindy’s business rival.
“You once told me your company doors would always be open for me. Does that offer still stand?”
A woman’s pleasant voice came through the line, tinged with delight.
“Of course. As it happens, my team and I are currently in New Haven negotiating a deal. Name your terms.”
“Good. I need your help with something.”
...
After the call ended, I packed my resignation letter and divorce papers, and headed for the company.
As I passed the break room, I overheard Eugene on the phone, his voice full of smug arrogance.
