Chapter 8 - THE FALSE DIAGNOSIS
Plan B appeared the next morning.
At nine fifteen, Judge Ernesto Villarreal signed an emergency order.
The order declared Valeria temporarily unfit to care for Lucía.
It relied on statements from Dr. Mena, two nurses, Rebeca, and Sebastián.
Sebastián stared at the document.
“I never gave a statement.”
Mateo pointed to the attached declaration.
Sebastián’s electronic signature appeared at the bottom.
According to the declaration, Valeria had threatened to harm herself during pregnancy.
She had supposedly refused medication.
She had accused family members of imaginary crimes.
The final paragraph claimed Sebastián feared leaving the baby alone with her.
Valeria read the document without speaking.
Sebastián could see her withdrawing behind her silence.
“I didn’t say this.”
She handed it back.
“But you said similar things.”
He wanted to deny it.
He could not.
Months earlier, during an argument, he told Dr. Mena that Valeria was impossible to understand.
He said pregnancy had made her paranoid.
He complained that she saw enemies everywhere.
Mena had transformed those careless words into a legal weapon.
A court officer arrived to remove Lucía from the room.
Mateo stood in the doorway.
“This order is being challenged.”
“The order is active,” the officer replied.
Dr. Navarro refused to release the baby without verifying the medical authorization.
The argument spread into the corridor.
Reporters began gathering outside the hospital.
Someone had leaked the story.
Television headlines described Valeria as the unstable wife of a prominent businessman.
Anonymous sources claimed she had experienced a dangerous breakdown after childbirth.
Sebastián watched the report in disbelief.
His mother appeared on camera.
She looked heartbroken.
“Our only concern is the safety of our granddaughter,” Rebeca said.
“We love Valeria, and we pray she accepts the help she needs.”
Valeria turned off the television.
“She has already won.”
“No.”
Sebastián faced her.
“She has the court, the press, and the hospital.”
“Then I’ll take them away from her one by one.”
Valeria looked at him.
“You still think this is a business fight.”
“It isn’t.”
“This is my life.”
“Our daughter is not a company you can recover after a bad quarter.”
Sebastián lowered his eyes.
She was right again.
Mateo entered holding a report from an independent toxicology laboratory.
The sedative found in Valeria’s blood had been prescribed under another patient’s name.
The prescription came from Dr. Mena.
But the patient listed on the record had died eleven months earlier.
Mateo placed the report beside the court order.
“We have enough to reopen the custody ruling.”
Mariana appeared behind him.
Her face was pale.
“No,” she said.
“You need more.”
She looked at Sebastián.
“The original trust is still inside Casa Alcázar.”
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“And your mother is burning documents.”
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