Chapter 14 - The Garden TrapThe garden party was Leonor’s idea.
Not a party, she insisted. A small family lunch. A way to show the court-appointed supervisor that the Velasco household could behave normally.
Sofía hated the plan immediately.
“Normal people do not prove normal by hosting formal lunches during investigations,” she said.
Leonor bristled.
Nicolás looked at Sofía. “She has a point.”
Leonor looked offended enough to combust.
Valeria surprised everyone by agreeing.
“A small lunch is fine if Mateo stays inside and the guest list is approved.”
Dr. Torres approved with conditions.
No perfumes.
No flowers with heavy pollen.
No scented candles.
No touching Mateo without washing.
No gifts made of fabric.
Leonor looked physically pained by every rule but accepted them.
Progress, Sofía thought, often looked like an angry grandmother biting her tongue.
The lunch took place in the open courtyard under white umbrellas. Guests included only legal advisors, Dr. Torres, the court supervisor, and two elderly relatives too harmless to do more than gossip.
For one hour, nothing went wrong.
Mateo stayed inside with Valeria and a trained caregiver. Nicolás attended the lunch because appearances mattered. Sofía checked Mateo every fifteen minutes.
On her third check, she noticed the window latch in the clean room was open.
Only slightly.
But open.
Her body reacted before her thoughts formed.
She lifted Mateo from the play mat.
“Valeria,” she said quietly, “step into the hallway.”
Valeria saw her face and obeyed.
“What is it?”
“Window.”
A soft hiss came from behind the curtain.
Sofía turned.
A small canister rolled beneath the window seat.
White vapor curled from it.
Not thick. Not dramatic.
Just enough.
Valeria gasped.
Sofía shoved Mateo into her arms.
“Run.”
They ran.
Behind them, the clean room filled with chemical mist.
Alarms screamed seconds later.
Nicolás reached the hallway before security did.
He saw Valeria holding Mateo, Sofía coughing, and the white vapor seeping from the room.
His face became something terrifying.
“Medical team!” he shouted.
Sofía grabbed his sleeve.
“Don’t go in.”
“My son—”
“Is out. I got him out.”
That stopped him.
Mateo cried, frightened but breathing.
Sofía’s own throat burned.
Dr. Torres rushed in, checked the baby, then Sofía.
“What was it?”
“I don’t know,” Sofía rasped. “Aerosol. Irritant maybe.”
Nicolás turned to security.
“Lock the grounds.”
This time, they found the man.
The gardener.
He made it as far as the service gate before guards tackled him. In his pocket was a disposable phone and a second canister.
Under questioning, he gave one name.
Not Rafael.
Not Bianca.
Leonor.
The household went silent.
Leonor stood in the courtyard, face white.
“No.”
Nicolás looked at her as if something inside him died.
“No,” Leonor repeated. “I did not.”
The gardener insisted.
“Doña paid me.”
Sofía watched him closely.
His fear was real.
But so was the script in his voice.
“What exactly did she say?” Sofía asked.
He blinked.
“She said put it in the baby room.”
“What words?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Where did she pay you?”
“Cash.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Where?”
He faltered.
Nicolás noticed.
Sofía stepped closer.
“You were told to say Leonor’s name if caught.”
The gardener looked at her.
Sweat gathered at his temple.
Nicolás’s security chief searched the phone.
There was one outgoing message.
Placed.
The reply:
Blame the old woman.
Leonor sat down slowly.
For once, no pride saved her.
Rafael and Bianca had understood the family perfectly.
Leonor’s guilt made her believable.
Her past harm made her the perfect villain.
Nicolás looked at his mother.
Something complicated moved between them. Anger. Grief. History. A door not yet opened but no longer locked.
“I did not do this,” Leonor whispered.
Nicolás answered quietly.
“I believe you.”
Leonor closed her eyes.
That mercy broke her more than accusation would have.
Sofía’s coughing worsened.
Nicolás turned instantly.
“She needs a hospital.”
“I’m fine.”
“You inhaled something meant for Mateo.”
“I said I’m—”
Her knees buckled.
Nicolás caught her before she hit the floor.
The last thing Sofía heard was Mateo crying.
May you like
Then Nicolás’s voice, no longer cold, no longer controlled.
“Stay with me, Sofía. Do you hear me? Stay.”
