Chapter 15 - Breaking the Silence
For the next two hours, Room 402 transformed into a confessional of horrors. Prosecutor Ortiz typed meticulously on her tablet, capturing every agonizing detail, while Dr. Mendoza stood silently by the window, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might shatter.
I told them how the fairy tale had rotted from the inside. I detailed the financial abuse, the isolation from my parents, the first slap in the car, and the relentless psychological torment that convinced me I was worthless.
"When did the severe physical beatings begin?" Elena asked softly, never breaking her supportive gaze.
"When he found out I was pregnant," I sobbed, clutching the hospital sheets. "He became obsessed. He said the baby made me lazy. If the house wasn't immaculate, he would punish me. He stopped hitting my face to avoid suspicion. He aimed for my ribs, my back, my stomach."
I pointed a trembling finger at the black fabric on the bedside table.
"Doña Carmen brought me that girdle," I explained, the bitter taste of betrayal thick on my tongue. "She saw the massive bruises Diego left with his leather belt. Instead of stopping him, she bought me that orthopedic corset. She told me to strap it tight to hide the marks from the neighbors, warning me that if I ruined her family’s reputation, she would destroy me."
Elena stopped typing. A look of absolute, icy determination settled over her features.
"What happened last night, Valeria?" she asked.
I closed my eyes, reliving the nightmare. "He came home drunk. He was furious because his blue silk shirt wasn't ironed. He dragged me out of bed by my hair. He took off his belt and beat me on the floor while I curled up to protect my belly. He told me I was a parasite."
Silence filled the room, broken only by the steady heartbeat of my unborn son.
Elena Ortiz stood up, her posture radiating absolute authority. She closed her tablet with a sharp snap.
"Thank you for your immense bravery, Valeria," she said. "Your statement is fully consistent with the forensic evidence. With this, I am not only keeping Doña Carmen behind bars, but I am requesting an immediate arrest warrant for Diego Villalobos for the crimes of Aggravated Domestic Violence and Attempted Femicide."
"Attempted Femicide?" I repeated, stunned by the weight of the legal term.
"Yes," Elena confirmed grimly. "Beating a pregnant woman with a weapon, endangering both her life and the fetus, elevates the charge. He will not get bail."
Before I could even process the magnitude of her words, a sudden, explosive noise erupted from the hallway outside my room.
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"I don't care about your damn rules!" a furious, arrogant male voice echoed through the corridor. "I am Valeria's husband, and I demand to see her right now!"
Diego was here.
