Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Eve of the Battle
That evening, a false, suffocating stillness blanketed the house.
Renata, euphoric because she believed her plan was flawlessly executing and that Andrés was completely oblivious, drank far too much wine. With her inhibitions lowered by the alcohol, she revealed her true colors without hesitation.
Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, she waved her hand dismissively, speaking of her mother-in-law as if she were a malignant tumor:
"You know, Andrés, your mother is truly a massive burden. She always looked down on me, treating me like I was beneath her. But just watch, tomorrow it all ends. I will finally have an official legal document to silence her forever and lock her away where I don't have to look at her."
Andrés, holding his wine glass, kept his voice perfectly steady, bringing up the detail he had noticed:
"What about the bruises on her wrists? They look very strange to me."
Renata leaned across the table, her eyes glassy from the wine, getting close to his face, entirely unaware that the recorder taped beneath the table was diligently capturing every single word.
"Oh please, don't worry about nothing. Nobody is going to believe an old woman locked in a room. The doctors, the neighbors, everyone believes me. I've spent months convincing everyone she is insane, that she screams, lies, and forgets everything. She could scream until her throat bleeds, and it would be useless."
Andrés offered a slight smirk and raised his glass.
"A toast to tomorrow, Renata. Everything will be brought to light."
Meanwhile, on the second floor, in her dark prison, Doña Teresa sat quietly on the bare mattress. She was already dressed in a simple but elegant navy blue suit, her hair neatly combed. She held a framed photograph of her late husband tightly in her hands.
When Andrés sneaked in to bring her some food, he held her hand:
"Are you ready? Are you absolutely sure you want to do it this way?"
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The old woman sat up perfectly straight, her eyes blazing with the resilience of a woman who had weathered many storms in life.
"I am certain, my son. She chose to use a psychiatric evaluation to destroy me, so it is only fair that a doctor finally evaluates the right person. I will show her who is truly crazy."
