Chapter 9 - The Matriarch's Awakening
Isabella stood by the grand staircase, wrapping her silk robe tightly around her shoulders as she watched the security team sweep the grounds. For the first time in her life, the formidable matriarch felt genuinely terrified. Her pristine world of galas, alliances, and perfect reputations had been violently invaded by raw, desperate criminality.
She looked at Lucía, who was sitting on the bottom step, breathing heavily, entirely focused on shielding the hallway that led to Sofía's room.
Isabella walked over slowly. The disdain she had held for the young nanny just days ago felt incredibly foolish now. She had judged Lucía for her modest clothing and quiet demeanor, while blindly trusting a monster wrapped in designer labels.
"She left a pill on the path," Alejandro said, walking back inside, his face pale with fury. "It was a psychological attack. She wants us to know she can get close."
Isabella looked at Alejandro, then down at Lucía. "Did you really see her, Lucía? Or was it just shadows in the fog?"
"I saw her eyes, Ma'am," Lucía said softly, looking up. "She wasn't hiding. She wanted to be seen. She wanted to show us that the gates and the guards don't matter."
Isabella nodded slowly. The denial was finally, entirely gone. She reached out and placed a surprisingly gentle hand on Lucía’s shoulder.
"I owe you a profound apology," Isabella said, her voice carrying a rare, vulnerable sincerity. "I let my pride blind me to the truth. I prioritized a social alliance over the safety of my own granddaughter. If you hadn't been here... if you hadn't been vigilant..." Isabella choked back a small sob.
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"You don't need to apologize, Ma'am," Lucía replied kindly. "We all want the same thing now. To keep Sofía safe."
Isabella straightened her posture, the old fire returning to her eyes, but this time, it was directed at the right enemy. "Yes, we do. Valeria Montenegro thinks she can terrorize my family. She is about to learn what happens when you cross the Reyes bloodline."
