Chapter 3: The Woman Who Raised a Monster
The knife trembled slightly in Daniel’s hand.
Not because he was afraid.
Because somewhere deep inside him…
A part of the man he used to be was still fighting.
Rosa saw it.
She had known Daniel longer than anyone in that room.
She had seen him take his first steps.
She had wiped his tears when he was a child.
She had stayed awake beside his bed during thunderstorms because he was terrified of the sound of lightning.
She remembered the boy who once said:
“Rosa, when I grow up, I’ll protect you.”
Now that same boy was standing in front of her.
Holding a knife.
Ready to destroy the only person who had ever truly loved him.
“You don’t have to do this, Daniel,” Rosa said quietly.
His eyes narrowed.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Move.”
“I said no.”
The room became silent.
Teresa watched from behind him, impatient.
“Daniel.”
Her voice was sharp.
“Don’t let an old servant make you weak.”
Rosa looked at Teresa.
And suddenly, everything became clear.
“You always did this.”
Teresa frowned.
“Did what?”
“You took everything good inside him…”
“And convinced him it was weakness.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Stop.”
Rosa continued.
“When Daniel was six years old, he broke a vase in this room.”
She pointed toward the corner.
“He was terrified.”
“He thought his father would punish him.”
“So he hid under the stairs.”
Valeria listened silently.
Daniel looked away.
“You don’t need to tell stories.”
But Rosa continued.
“I found him.”
“He was crying.”
“He said, ‘Rosa, my mother hates me when I make mistakes.’”
For a moment…
Daniel’s grip loosened.
Teresa’s face darkened.
“Enough.”
“No.”
Rosa looked directly at Daniel.
“You need to remember.”
“You were not born cruel.”
“You were taught to be.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Stop pretending you know me.”
“I know you better than anyone.”
She took a step forward.
“You were the boy who gave his lunch to a homeless child outside the school.”
“You were the boy who cried when your first pet died.”
“You were the boy who promised me he would never become like your father.”
A painful silence followed.
Valeria looked at Daniel.
She wanted to believe there was still something good left.
“Daniel…”
Her voice shook.
“Look at me.”
Slowly…
He did.
“Think about our baby.”
For a second, his eyes moved toward her belly.
And Rosa noticed.
The hesitation.
The tiny crack.
But Teresa noticed too.
And she immediately stepped forward.
“Daniel.”
Her voice became colder.
“Remember why we are doing this.”
He looked at her.
“The company.”
“Yes.”
“The inheritance.”
“Yes.”
“Our future.”
Daniel swallowed.
Teresa approached him.
“You spent your entire life trying to prove you were worthy.”
“You finally have the chance.”
Rosa whispered:
“Don’t listen to her.”
Teresa turned.
“Do you know why Daniel became successful?”
She smiled.
“Because I taught him one important lesson.”
She looked at her son.
“Feelings make people weak.”
Daniel stared at the floor.
“And weakness gets people destroyed.”
Valeria shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Love is not weakness.”
“Your child is not your enemy.”
“He is your family.”
Daniel’s eyes flickered.
But Teresa’s voice cut through again.
“Enough.”
She pointed toward Rosa.
“Do it.”
Daniel stepped forward.
The knife moved closer.
Rosa raised the candle holder.
Her hands were trembling.
But she refused to run.
“Daniel.”
Her voice became softer.
“If you do this…”
“You will never be able to look at yourself again.”
Daniel stopped.
For one moment…
The mansion disappeared.
He was no longer a powerful businessman.
He was a frightened child standing in a dark hallway.
And Rosa was there.
Holding him.
Protecting him.
But then Teresa screamed:
“NOW!”
Daniel suddenly moved.
The knife came down.
CLANG!
The blade hit the metal candle holder.
Rosa blocked the attack.
Valeria screamed.
Daniel pushed forward.
The strength difference was obvious.
Rosa was older.
Her arms shook.
She was losing.
“Run!” Rosa shouted.
Valeria looked toward the door.
“It’s locked!”
“There is another way!”
Daniel pushed Rosa backward.
She fell against the sofa.
The knife slipped from his hand for a second.
It landed beneath the table.
Valeria moved.
But Teresa grabbed her arm.
“You’re not leaving.”
Valeria struggled.
“Let me go!”
“You ruined everything!”
Teresa shoved her.
Valeria crashed against the wall.
Pain shot through her stomach.
She immediately covered her belly.
“My baby…”
Rosa’s face changed.
“VALERIA!”
She grabbed the candle holder and swung it.
CRACK!
It struck Teresa’s arm.
Teresa released her.
Rosa helped Valeria stand.
“Can you walk?”
Valeria nodded weakly.
“We need to leave.”
Rosa pointed toward a painting near the hallway.
“Behind that painting.”
“There is a hidden key.”
Valeria looked confused.
“What?”
“Your husband’s grandfather built emergency exits throughout the mansion.”
“He never trusted this family.”
Daniel heard.
His face changed.
He rushed toward them.
“No!”
Rosa pushed herself forward.
She grabbed his legs.
Daniel lost balance.
The knife remained under the table.
Valeria ran.
She reached the painting.
Pulled it away.
Behind it…
A small golden key.
She grabbed it.
But before she could reach the door—
Teresa caught her hair.
“You really thought you could escape?”
Valeria cried out.
Teresa pulled her backward.
“You have no idea what this family is capable of.”
Valeria struggled.
“Why?”
“Why would you do this?”
Teresa leaned close.
“Because everything I built belongs to my son.”
“And your baby would take it all away.”
Suddenly—
A weak sound interrupted them.
A small cry.
Everyone looked down.
The white cat.
The animal that should have been unconscious.
Was slowly moving.
Dragging itself across the floor.
Toward Rosa’s bag.
Rosa stared.
“No…”
The cat reached the bag.
Its paw touched something inside.
A phone.
The screen was glowing.
A call was still active.
Daniel froze.
Teresa froze.
Rosa smiled.
“I told you…”
“I didn’t come alone.”
Daniel rushed toward the phone.
But before he reached it—
A voice came from the speaker.
“Security team approaching the mansion.”
Everyone stopped.
Rosa looked at Daniel.
“Your father installed emergency security protocols.”
“And when I called…”
“I left the line open.”
The color disappeared from Daniel’s face.
Because everything had been heard.
Every word.
Every confession.
Every plan.
Teresa suddenly screamed:
“Destroy the phone!”
Daniel moved.
But before he could—
BANG!
A powerful knock hit the front door.
Then another.
A voice shouted from outside:
“SECURITY! OPEN THE DOOR NOW!”
The mansion erupted into chaos.
Daniel looked at Teresa.
“What do we do?”
Her eyes became cold.
“Finish it.”
Daniel looked back at Valeria.
The knife was still on the floor.
The security team was seconds away.
But Teresa whispered:
“One more step.”
“One more solution.”
Daniel slowly turned toward the medical bag waiting near the entrance.
The bag prepared for Valeria’s hospital trip.
Rosa noticed.
And her blood ran cold.
Because she understood.
The milk…
May you like
Was only the beginning.
To be continued…
