Chapter 10: The Secret Ally
1085 Words
Three weeks had passed since Freya and her mother, Carmen, were forced out of the Delos Santos mansion.
Three weeks since they left behind the luxurious life they once knew.
Though the pain of their loss still lingered in every corner of their existence, they had no choice but to keep moving forward. Carmen, though visibly struggling, tried her best to adjust to their new reality. She spent her days doing simple household chores, preparing meals from whatever little they had, and occasionally stepping out to buy essentials. Freya, on the other hand, took on various part-time jobs—anything that could help them survive.
Their new home, a small and modest rental apartment, was a far cry from the grandeur of their former mansion. The walls were bare, the furniture minimal, and the entire space felt like it could barely contain the weight of their grief. But despite the simplicity of their new life, Freya could not find peace.
Something was wrong.
The more she thought about it, the more certain she became—Lysandra had not acted alone. Someone had helped her. Someone had ensured that their downfall was swift and absolute.
The thought gnawed at her mind like an unrelenting parasite.
One afternoon, after finishing her shift at a small bookstore, she made her way home. The streets were busy, with people rushing past her, too preoccupied with their own lives to notice the turmoil that raged within her.
She sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. The exhaustion of working multiple jobs was beginning to take its toll, but it was nothing compared to the burning desire inside her—to uncover the truth, to reclaim what was rightfully hers, and to make Lysandra pay for everything she had done.
Just as she was about to cross the street, a black car suddenly screeched to a halt in front of her.
Freya froze.
Her heart pounded violently as the car door swung open. A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out, his movements precise and deliberate.
Miguel Vargas.
The name rang in her head like a distant memory.
He was her father’s former lawyer—a man she had only met a few times during her childhood. Back then, she had known him as a respectable and trustworthy figure, someone Gustavo Delos Santos had often relied on for legal matters.
But what was he doing here now?
"Freya," he called out, his tone urgent yet composed. "We need to talk."
A wave of hesitation washed over her. She barely knew him. And after everything that had happened, trusting anyone felt like a dangerous gamble.
But something in his eyes—something raw and serious—told her that this meeting was important.
After a brief pause, she gave him a small nod.
"Alright," she said.
He gestured towards a small café just across the street, and without another word, they headed inside.
The place was quiet, with only a few customers occupying the wooden tables. The scent of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, but Freya hardly noticed.
Once they were seated, Miguel wasted no time. He pulled out a folder from his bag and placed it in front of her.
"Freya," he began, his voice low but firm, "there’s something I need to show you."
She hesitated for a moment before reaching for the folder. Her fingers trembled slightly as she flipped it open.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Her eyes widened as they landed on the words printed on the document.
Last Will and Testament of Gustavo Delos Santos.
Her father’s will.
But something was wrong.
This was not the same document Lysandra had shown them in court.
With shaking hands, she scanned the contents. The words blurred for a moment before the truth finally sank in.
Her name.
Her name was there.
Freya Delos Santos—the rightful heir to all of Gustavo’s properties and assets.
She felt her entire world tilt.
This was it.
The proof she needed.
This document confirmed that her father had intended for her to inherit everything. But if this was the real will, then what had Lysandra presented in court?
Her hands curled into fists.
She looked up, meeting Miguel’s gaze. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Why wasn’t this shown in court?"
Miguel’s jaw tightened.
"I tried," he said. "I fought to bring this forward as evidence. But a few days before the trial, I was suddenly removed as your father’s lawyer."
Freya’s chest tightened.
"What?"
"Someone—someone with significant influence—filed a legal complaint against me. It was fabricated, of course, but it was enough to keep me from representing your family. I was forced to step away, and before I could do anything, another lawyer took over… one who was clearly working with Lysandra."
The pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place.
Freya’s entire body trembled with rage.
Lysandra had orchestrated everything.
She had manipulated the legal system, silenced those who stood in her way, and ensured that no one would question the legitimacy of her claim over the Delos Santos fortune.
Miguel leaned forward.
"I know it’s hard to believe, but I have every reason to suspect that Lysandra wasn’t acting alone. Someone else is pulling the strings—someone powerful enough to make people disappear, alter legal records, and ensure that you and your mother were left with nothing."
Freya swallowed hard.
She had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed sent a wave of nausea through her.
"Then what do we do?" she asked, her voice firm despite the storm raging inside her.
Miguel studied her for a moment before speaking.
"If you want to take back what’s rightfully yours, you’re going to have to fight, Freya."
She exhaled sharply, her hands tightening around the document in front of her. The weight of it was heavy—not just because it was a legal document, but because it was proof.
Proof that her father had not abandoned her.
Proof that Lysandra had stolen everything from them.
Proof that she had every reason to fight back.
She met Miguel’s gaze, her determination burning brighter than ever.
"I’m ready," she said.
Miguel nodded, a hint of approval in his expression.
"Then we begin immediately. Lysandra thinks she’s won… but she has no idea what’s coming for her."
Freya’s fingers curled tightly around the folder.
Lysandra Suarez had destroyed their lives.
But Freya would make sure she paid for every last bit of it.
- Writer
