Chapter 7: The Checkmate in the Lobby
"What are you talking about?!" Mauricio wept, gesturing wildly toward the cameras. "Look at what he's doing! He froze my bank accounts while my wife is dying! He threw me off our boat! He’s trying to destroy me because he's jealous of our marriage!"
Beatriz Robles stepped forward, her heels clicking sharply against the marble. She didn't raise her voice, but her clear, authoritative tone cut effortlessly through Mauricio’s theatrics.
"Mr. Serrano," Beatriz said, turning slightly so the reporters could hear every syllable. "As of 6:00 AM today, the Fourth Federal District Court of Nuevo León has granted an emergency asset seizure and a permanent injunction against you."
"On what grounds?!" Mauricio screamed, scrambling to his feet. "You can't steal my company!"
"Your company was insolvent three years ago," Beatriz stated coldly. "You operated a Ponzi scheme using Aguilar Global's corporate guarantee as collateral. When Don Ernesto revoked that guarantee last night, your creditors called the debt. You are currently eighty million pesos in default. Every property, every vehicle, and every bank account bearing your name has been legally liquidated to pay your bondholders."
The reporters began murmuring, pens scribbling frantically. The 'grieving husband' narrative was disintegrating on live television.
"That’s a lie!" Mauricio spat, his face twisting with panic. "Vale will stop this! As soon as she wakes up, she’ll tell you—she loves me! I am her husband!"
"You lose your marital rights when you attempt to murder your spouse," Ernesto said.
The entire lobby gasped. Even the cameramen lowered their rigs for a fraction of a second in shock.
Mauricio froze, the blood draining entirely from his face. "What... what did you say?"
"You heard me," Ernesto said, taking a step toward him. "You thought because she was quiet, because she loved you, that she was weak. You thought you could fracture her skull, delay her surgery by claiming you were 'praying in the chapel,' and collect her life insurance before the autopsy report was filed."
"It was an accident!" Mauricio shrieked, backing away toward the automatic doors. "She fell down the stairs! I wasn't even near her!"
"Iván," Ernesto said quietly.
Iván Torres stepped forward, holding a wireless speaker connected to his tablet. He pressed play.
Across the silent hospital lobby, Mauricio’s own voice echoed from the speakers: "I’m in the chapel... On my knees. Begging God to save Vale."
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Followed immediately by the loud background bass of the yacht party and the mistress shouting: "Mau, forget the phone, the shots are getting warm!"
The reporters erupted, cameras flashing blindingly as they captured the absolute devastation on Mauricio's face.
