I couldn’t believe what was about to unfold.

PART 2

For a few seconds, no one spoke.

Then, as always, Ofelia tried to regain control by raising her voice.

“Don’t invent things! The whole family is here! You have no right to do this!”

“I’m not the one causing a scene,” I replied. “You started it the moment you decided to break into my home and go through my personal documents.”

Sergio tried to step in.

“Mariana, please… let’s talk privately.”

I let out a dry laugh.

“Oh no. Everyone gets to hear this. Because everyone came ready to celebrate in a house you and your mother were already planning to take from me.”

Whispers spread.

One aunt asked what I meant. A cousin muttered something under his breath. Ofelia began calling me ungrateful, exaggerating, claiming they had always treated me like family.

So I told them everything.

“Eight days ago, I caught Sergio searching through my property documents. Not casually—he was looking for exactly what you needed to transfer ownership. And I’m not guessing. My lawyer already has messages, recordings, and screenshots of your conversations.”

“Lies!” Ofelia shouted.

“Lies?” I said calmly. “Then what about the audio where you told him: ‘Once that house is in both your names, she’ll finally understand who’s in charge’?”

Chaos broke out.

Voices questioned her. Someone said her name sharply. Sergio whispered mine, defeated.

“My mom didn’t mean it like that…”

“I don’t care what she meant. I care that she said it. And that you agreed.”

The silence that followed was heavy, uncomfortable.

Then I added the final blow.

“And I didn’t change the locks just in case. I changed them because my house was broken into last week.”

A sharp gasp.

“The cameras recorded everything. You and Sergio entering the office. Opening drawers. Searching documents.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Sergio muttered—but his voice faltered.

“Yes, I do. I saw you holding my yellow folder. I saw you opening the drawer with the deeds. I saw your mother rushing you.”

Now they were arguing among themselves.

Some questioned her.

Some stepped back.

But Ofelia still tried to defend herself.

“I was protecting my son!”

“Forcing your way in isn’t protection,” one sister said.

“You should’ve told us the truth,” another added.

Then Sergio spoke, cornered:

“What do you want to do?”

I looked at the screen.