Chapter 11 - The Millions Offered
A year after the aborted wedding, the state officially announced the new highway expansion, exactly as Arturo had predicted.
Almost overnight, Ramón’s quiet life was interrupted by a parade of aggressive corporate developers. Sleek black SUVs began appearing on the dirt road leading to his property. Men in expensive suits, carrying glossy presentation folders, knocked on his door, offering staggering sums of money.
"Don Ramón," a slick representative from a major commercial firm said one afternoon, leaning against the fence of the cattle pen. "We are prepared to offer you six million dollars USD for the entire thirty-two hectares. You could retire to a penthouse in the city. You would never have to work another day in your life."
Ramón stood inside the pen, calmly brushing down his oldest horse. He wore the same faded pearl-snap shirt and the same scratched Omega watch.
He didn't look at the developer. He looked at the row of massive, beautiful walnut trees swaying gently in the afternoon breeze. He thought about Teresa’s hands packing the dark soil around their roots.
"The land is not for sale," Ramón said simply.
"With all due respect, Don Ramón," the developer chuckled condescendingly. "Everyone has a price. You are sitting on a gold mine. It's foolish to cling to dirt."
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Ramón finally turned to look at the man, his eyes calm but carrying the heavy, immovable weight of a mountain.
"Some wounds," Ramón stated quietly, "cannot be repaired with the exact same money that was used to cause them. Have a good afternoon, sir."
