The applause lasted almost a minute.
Mariana took the microphone.
—My grandmother always said that money doesn’t change people. It just takes away the need to pretend.
Rodrigo tried to move on.
—Mari, darling, let me explain.
She raised a hand.
Seven years ago, I married a man who used to eat tacos with me outside a hospital and who swore he’d never let anyone make me feel inferior. I hid my last name because I wanted a husband, not a business partner. I wanted a family, not a transaction.
Ophelia stood up.
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— It’s all a misunderstanding.
Mariana pointed to the screen.
—So let’s clear up any misunderstandings.
Falsified balance sheets, forged invoices, and loans obtained through inflated contracts emerged. Then came transfers totaling 86 million pesos to XL Consultores, a company owned by Ximena.
Ximena turned to Rodrigo.
—You told me these were authorized bonds.
Rodrigo squeezed her wrist.
-Silence.
Mariana continued.
—My husband used anonymous ransoms to obtain loans and siphon off funds. His mother signed as a witness in four transactions. His sister received $9 million for non-existent campaigns. And his father was included as a guarantor without his knowledge.
Arthur looked at Ophelia, who was pale.
—You told me these were insurance documents.
Ophelia didn’t answer.
Tomás came on stage with a red folder.
Rodrigo had offered as collateral the 15% of the shares of Corporativo Cárdenas that, according to him, Mariana had acquired during the marriage.
But those shares belonged to a trust created 12 years before the marriage. They were untouchable.
To get the loan, Rodrigo forged his wife’s signature.
“Someone set a trap for me!” he shouted.
Tomás opened the folder.
—We have appraisals, emails, and the video requesting the contract modification.
Rodrigo appeared on the screen
in his office.
“Mariana doesn’t check anything. She signs where I tell her to. If she asks, I’ll tell her they’re family documents.”
Rodrigo’s face darkened.
Two officers walked towards their table.
Then Ximena took a USB stick out of her bag.
“I saved some audio recordings,” she said, trembling. “Rodrigo promised to divorce me, but then he threatened to blame everything on me.”
Rodrigo tried to take it off, but the officers intervened.
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