The atmosphere in the Garza family was toxic. Mateo’s mother-in-law, Doña Leticia, a woman from Monterrey’s high society who cared only about appearances, never stopped pressuring him.
“Mateo, for God’s sake!” she had yelled at him one afternoon in the living room. “Those children are a burden. Send them to that specialized clinic in Houston. They’ll be cared for there behind closed doors. You can’t have them here, ruining your life. They have no future!”
Mateo had kicked her out of the house that day, but deep down, exhaustion was consuming him. Dozens of nurses and caregivers had come and gone from that house. Some left after three days because they couldn’t handle the pressure. Others simply looked at them with a pity that made Mateo’s stomach churn.
That’s why, when the agency sent him a young woman named Elena, Mateo took extreme measures. Elena arrived one Monday morning in a torrential downpour. She was 22 years old. She wore well-worn sneakers, a simple uniform, and her face was free of makeup. Unlike the others, she didn’t gape at the crystal chandeliers or ask about the salary in the first five minutes. When Mateo led her to the room, Elena ignored the millionaire and immediately knelt on the floor to be at the same level as the three children. She gave them such a warm and sincere smile that Mateo felt a lump in his throat.
However, his suspicious side won out. That same afternoon, he hid cameras in every corner of the playroom. He wanted to see who that woman really was when no one was watching. He wanted to know if she would mistreat them or ignore them like the others.
