Chapter 10 - The Aftermath
The investigation dominated the local news cycle for nearly nine months.
It was a spectacular, highly publicized downfall for the Montes family. When investigators dug into Arturo’s "real estate consulting" firm, they discovered a labyrinth of forged deeds, shell companies, and predatory contracts targeting elderly and vulnerable landowners across the state.
Valeria, realizing the absolute hopelessness of her situation and facing severe prison time, turned state's evidence against her own parents.
During her depositions, she confessed that her initial approach to Mateo at the vineyard had been entirely orchestrated by her father, who had already identified Ramón’s land as a prime target for future development.
She insisted, however, through tearful testimonies, that her feelings for Mateo had eventually become genuine.
Mateo never publicly disputed her claim. He never attended her hearings, and he never responded to the letters she sent him from custody. He understood a painful, immutable truth: a love mixed with calculated treason does not become clean simply because a portion of it was sincere.
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Arturo and Beatriz were eventually sentenced to prison for racketeering, fraud, and forgery. The Montes family was completely bankrupted by the legal fees and the restitution ordered by the courts to repay their previous victims.
Their glass-and-steel mansion in Juriquilla was seized and sold at auction.
