PART 2 — THE YELLOW ENVELOPE

The announcement echoed through the ballroom.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may we have the immediate families join us near the stage for a special presentation.”

Teresa immediately grabbed Patricia’s arm.

“Come on. We need to look happy.”

I stayed where I was.

Emiliano stood beside me, still holding my hand.

His cheek was red.

His little eyes were swollen from crying.

Daniel approached.

“Laura, please. Just let tonight finish peacefully.”

I looked at him.

“Peacefully?”

He glanced at our son.

“I know what happened was wrong.”

“Then say it.”

Daniel lowered his voice.

“Not here.”

That was when Emiliano tugged my dress.

“Mom.”

I crouched beside him.

“What is it?”

He looked toward the stage.

“Can I tell them now?”

Daniel’s face changed.

“Tell them what?”

Emiliano looked at his father.

“About the yellow envelope.”

Teresa suddenly stopped walking.

Patricia turned around.

For the first time that evening, both women looked genuinely frightened.

Daniel noticed.

“What yellow envelope?”

Emiliano pointed toward his grandmother.

“Grandma had it.”

Teresa quickly stepped forward.

“Sweetheart, you must be confused.”

“No.”

He shook his head.

“I heard you.”

My heart began pounding.

“What did you hear, honey?”

He looked at me.

“Grandma said the money was already hers.”

Teresa’s face went pale.

Patricia stepped forward.

“Children misunderstand adult conversations.”

Emiliano shook his head again.

“She said Aunt Patricia couldn’t tell you because you would ask for your money back.”

The room became silent.

I looked at Daniel.

He stared at his mother.

“What is he talking about?”

Teresa’s voice became sharp.

“Nothing.”

But Emiliano wasn’t finished.

He looked at me.

“And Grandma said the yellow envelope had your signature.”

I felt the blood drain from my face.

My savings.

The money I had transferred for the wedding.

The money I had spent five years building.

“What signature?” I asked.

Teresa grabbed Patricia’s arm.

“Get the envelope.”

Patricia froze.

Everyone saw it.

She had just confirmed that the envelope existed.

Daniel stepped in front of her.

“Where is it?”

Neither woman answered.

Then my sister-in-law’s new husband walked toward us.

“What is going on?”

Daniel looked at him.

“My mother and sister apparently have an envelope containing my wife’s signature.”

The groom looked confused.

“Why?”

Nobody answered.

I finally spoke.

“Because I never signed anything.”

A murmur spread through the ballroom.

Teresa suddenly shouted:

“Enough!”

She pointed at Emiliano.

“This child is confused and you’re using him to destroy Patricia’s wedding!”

I stared at her.

“No.”

I looked around the room.

“You slapped my five-year-old because he ate a cupcake.”

My voice shook.

“But this isn’t about the cupcake anymore.”

I turned toward Daniel.

“It’s about my money.”

He looked at me.

“What did you give them?”

“Two hundred eighty thousand pesos.”

His expression changed.

“I thought you gave them a loan.”

“I did.”

Teresa interrupted.

“It was a family contribution.”

I looked at her.

“You asked for a loan.”

Patricia finally spoke.

“Laura, everyone knew the money was for the wedding.”

“That doesn’t make it yours.”

Then a man near the back raised his hand.

It was the wedding accountant.

“I need to say something.”

Everyone turned toward him.

He looked uncomfortable.

“I was instructed to record that money as a gift.”

I stared at him.

“By whom?”

He looked at Teresa.

“By Mrs. Vargas.”

Daniel slowly turned toward his mother.

“You told him it was a gift?”

Teresa said nothing.

Then the accountant added:

“And there was a second transfer.”

I froze.

“What second transfer?”

He opened a folder.

“Another one hundred twenty thousand pesos.”

I stared at him.

“I never gave you another one hundred twenty thousand.”

Patricia suddenly started crying.

“Mom…”

Teresa snapped:

“Don’t say anything.”

That was the moment Daniel understood.

His mother hadn’t simply borrowed my money.

She had been moving money around without telling him.

But there was still the yellow envelope.

And whatever was inside it was about to make everything much worse.

PART 3 — WHAT WAS IN THE ENVELOPE

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