"You weren't there for them either," she spat out, desperate. "You left them with just anyone."
The blow was direct.
And the worst part was that it was partly true.
Emiliano lowered his gaze.
For the first time, the millionaire who bought entire buildings couldn't come up with an excuse.
He had built towers, hotels, plazas.
But he hadn't seen fear within his own home.
That afternoon, Patricia left the mansion without a ring, without a wedding, and without a smile.
She wanted to take three suitcases, but Rubén only allowed her to take her documents and personal belongings. The rest was held until inventories, videos, and access records could be reviewed.
Two days later, Emiliano's lawyer presented the recordings.
Not only did the planted bracelet appear, but...
It was also discovered that Patricia had transferred payments to an account in a cousin's name using Emiliano's corporate credit cards.
There were fake invoices.
Gifts bought with money from the house.
And messages where he called Daniela and Martina "burdens with bows."
The scandal didn't reach the magazines because Emiliano stopped it with his lawyers.
But within the Duarte family, everyone knew the truth.
Emiliano's mother, who adored Patricia, arrived furious to confront him.
"You're humiliating a decent woman for an employee."
Emiliano showed her the video.
When the woman saw Martina trembling as Patricia snatched the rabbit away, she didn't say another word.
She just sat down.
And wept.
Rosa, meanwhile, tried to quit.
She left her uniform folded on the maid's bed and apologized for "causing problems."
Emiliano found her in the kitchen.
"Rosa, you didn't cause anything."
She shook her head.
"Sir, I don't want them to think I took advantage of the girls' affection."
"Affection isn't stolen," he replied. "It's earned."
Rosa wept for the first time.
Daniela appeared in the doorway.
"Dad, if Rosa leaves, I want to leave too."
Martina lifted her rabbit.
"Me too."
Emiliano then understood the whole truth.
Rosa hadn't taken anyone's place.
She had only filled the void he had left.
That night, Emiliano didn't check emails.
He didn't answer calls.
He didn't close any deals.
He sat on the floor of the playroom with his daughters, ordered quesadillas through an app, and listened for three hours to things he should have known all along.
That Daniela hated piano lessons.
That Martina had nightmares when he traveled.
