Chapter 9 - The Terms of Grace
Valeria walked over to the glass cabinets, looking at the pristine crystal her father had collected. She traced her fingers along the smooth wood of the piano.
"You won't be on the street, Mom," Valeria said, turning back to face her. "The trust has a clause for that, too. My father knew your heart was fragile, even if he didn't foresee Mauricio. There is a small, fully funded apartment in San Ángel that belongs to the trust. The utilities are paid, and you will receive a modest monthly stipend for food and healthcare."
Graciela looked up, hope flashing through her tears. "I can stay here with you?"
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"No," Valeria said, the single word dropping like a stone between them. "You chose his daughter over me. You stood by while she took my clothes, my money, and my safety. And then you threw boiling soup in my face to keep her happy. The physical burn will heal, Mom, but the trust is broken. You can live in San Ángel, but you cannot live in my life."
Graciela closed her eyes, bowing her head as the crushing weight of her choices finally settled over her. She stood up slowly, clutching the photograph of her late husband, and walked out of the house, leaving her daughter alone in the quiet grandeur of the villa.
