The woman who had thrown a banknote in the dust to humiliate Lucia ended up being dragged across the marble floor of the country’s most luxurious hotel, her dress torn and her face disfigured.
Emiliano didn’t stay to celebrate anything.
He took off his bow tie, left through the service door, and drove all night back to Hidalgo.
Dawn found him once again in front of the hut.
This time he didn’t hit.
The door was ajar.
Lucía was sitting on the edge of the mattress, rocking Leo. Mateo was asleep next to her.
Emiliano entered, left a thick folder at his feet… and knelt down again.
“It’s over,” he whispered. “Valeria is in prison. Rodrigo too. The whole world knows the truth. And here are the documents: everything is in your name and our children’s. I don’t want to give you money to buy your forgiveness. I want to give you back what was always yours.”
Lucia looked at him for a long time.