Chapter 2: The Family's Lies Began to Collapse
The moment the police officers entered the dining room, every confident smile disappeared.
Officer Ramirez looked around at the broken porcelain scattered across the white tablecloth, the streaks of blood on Valeria's temple, and the frightened faces pretending nothing had happened.
"Who called 911?" he asked.
"I did," Valeria answered calmly, still holding the phone.
The paramedics immediately approached her.
One of them gently examined the cut on her head while another photographed the injury.
Officer Ramirez turned toward Diego.
"Sir, please keep your hands where I can see them."
Diego forced a nervous laugh.
"It was an accident."
Before the officer could respond, Doña Graciela hurried forward.
"My son would never hurt his wife. They were arguing, and the plate slipped."
Officer Ramirez looked around the room.
"There are twenty witnesses here."
Silence.
No one wanted to speak.
Until Mariana stepped forward.
"It wasn't an accident."
Everyone turned toward her.
She swallowed hard.
"Diego threw the plate at Valeria on purpose."
Doña Graciela gasped.
"Mariana! Think carefully about what you're saying."
"I already have."
She looked directly at the officers.
"I saw everything."
One by one, several relatives lowered their eyes.
A teenage cousin quietly whispered,
"I saw it too."
Then another uncle nodded.
"It wasn't accidental."
The carefully rehearsed family story shattered within seconds.
Officer Ramirez placed handcuffs on Diego.
"You are under arrest for domestic assault."
Diego stared in disbelief.
"You can't arrest me because of one argument!"
The officer replied calmly,
"We're arresting you because multiple witnesses observed you assault your wife."
As Diego was escorted toward the patrol car, he looked desperately at his parents.
"Mom!"
"Do something!"
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For the first time in his life...
No one could rescue him.
