“Rodrigo was not always like this,” he said. “That is not an excuse. It may not even be true anymore. But there was a time when he knew shame. Rebeca trained it out of him.”
Isabel sat slowly. “Why did you leave?”
Don Ernesto looked toward the window.
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“I didn’t. I was pushed out, then erased. Rebeca and I separated when Rodrigo was seventeen. She wanted money, name, appearances. I wanted him to learn work, humility, responsibility. She told him I chose another family. Then she told society I was unstable. By the time I fought back, Rodrigo had chosen the easier lie. He had his mother, the house, the parties, and a story where he was the abandoned son. I became useful only as a bank account.”Family
“Did you know he married me?”
“Yes.”
Isabel looked up sharply.
“I saw the notice. I sent a gift. It was returned.”
“He told me his father was dead.”
Don Ernesto nodded. “Rebeca controls information like other people control locks.”
“Then why appear tonight?”
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His mouth tightened. “Because my attorney told me Rodrigo filed preliminary divorce papers last week and that Rebeca was pushing to transfer family assets before his next wedding.”Office Supplies
“Next wedding?” Isabel whispered.
Don Ernesto said nothing.
That silence answered.
Isabel felt nausea rise in her throat.
“They planned this before they threw me out.”
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