It was a much simpler dwelling than the Los Encinos Hacienda.
It didn’t have a lake.
Nor huge lamps.
Not even a garden decorated with imported flowers.
But it was the place where Margarita and I had built our life.
We raised Daniel there.
We celebrate modest birthdays there.
And there we learned to be happy without needing great luxuries.
I helped my wife sit down on the sofa.
Then I prepared an infusion for her.
Daniel remained standing by the door.
He seemed unsure if he could stay.
“Mom, Dad, I want to apologize.”
Margarita slowly raised her gaze.
“Daniel…”
Our son started to cry.
“No, Mom.”
He knelt in front of her.
“For months I let Vanessa treat you badly.”
Her voice broke.
“And today, when I saw you fall, my first thought was to avoid an argument with my wife.”
Margarita began to cry.
Daniel continued.
“I’m ashamed of having done that.”
I felt my heart being squeezed.
My son looked up at me.
“Dad, I know you’re disappointed.”
I took a deep breath.
“A lot.”
Daniel nodded.
“I understand.”
We remained silent for several seconds.
Finally I said:
“Your mother and I didn’t teach you that you have to choose between respecting her or loving your wife.”
My son lowered his head.
“I know.”
“We teach you that no one has the right to humiliate another person.”
Daniel started to cry.
“You’re right.”
I watched him for several seconds.
“What you do next will be important.”
He nodded.
“I want to do better.”
Margarita extended her hand.
Our son took it carefully.
I observed them.
I wanted to believe that we could still recover some of our family.
But he also knew that an apology couldn’t erase that afternoon.
And that we still needed to clarify the documents related to the wedding.
The next morning Esteban, the director of the estate, called me.
Her voice sounded tired.
“Mr. Montes, I wanted to inform you that we are preparing the reconciliation of the services.”
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
“We have also kept the additional requests that you are unaware of.”
I took a deep breath.
“I want to review them with advice.”
“Of course.”
Esteban remained silent.
“There’s another important matter.”
I felt an immediate unease.
“What’s happening?”
“Vanessa’s father requested that the final invoice be issued in your name.”
I remained motionless.
“Of all the expenses?”
“Of the services provided during the celebration.”
I took a deep breath.
“The original contracts are in my name.”
“Yeah.”
“But I haven’t authorized the extensions.”
“We understand.”
He remained silent.
“That’s precisely why we need to review the different items.”
I felt a small relief.
I did not intend to stop paying legitimate obligations.
The suppliers had prepared the celebration.
They had bought food.
Hired personal trainer.
And worked for weeks.
I didn’t want them to suffer the consequences of what happened.
But he was also not going to acknowledge expenses that he had never approved.
“I want a detailed list of the services provided and the cancellations applied.”
“We’ll send it to you.”
“And also the copies of the applications where my signature appears.”
“Of course.”
After hanging up, I called a lawyer I trusted.
Her name was Elena Robles.
She had worked with me on some estate matters and knew the importance that Margarita and I placed on keeping our commitments.
I explained the situation to him.
He listened attentively.
Then he replied:
“Tomás, we need to separate the assault from the contract review, even though both things happened during the same celebration.”
I nodded.
“I understand.”
“We also need to distinguish between services already provided and additional services that you are unaware of.”
I took a deep breath.
“That’s what I want.”
Elena continued.
“And keep the medical document and any testimony about the fall.”
I felt a deep sadness.
“There were almost two hundred people.”
“Therefore, it is necessary to identify those who directly witnessed what happened.”
I thanked him.
Before we finished, I asked him something that had been worrying me for hours.
“Can we stop paying for the outstanding services?”
The lawyer responded cautiously.
“We need to review each contract and its cancellation terms.”
I nodded.
“I don’t want to breach valid obligations.”
“Precisely.”
He remained silent.
“But you also shouldn’t recognize authorizations that you didn’t give.”
That afternoon we received several calls.
Some family members wanted to know how Margarita was doing.
Others had witnessed the fall and were outraged.
A cousin of my wife explained to us that she had seen Vanessa approaching from behind.
Another guest recalled hearing an unpleasant comment before the shove.
But I didn’t want to turn those stories into an improvised accusation.
We ask that those who witnessed something directly preserve their memories and, if necessary, share them through appropriate channels.
