Chapter 3 - The Cold Light of DayThe emergency room at Denver Health was loud, bright, and smelled heavily of antiseptic.
I sat on the edge of the examination bed while a kind doctor named Dr. Evans cleaned the wound. The shards of ceramic had sliced deep into my scalp, requiring eight stitches. Each pierce of the needle sent a sharp, throbbing pain through my skull, but I welcomed it. It was a reminder that I was alive, that I was free, and that I was finally awake.
"You're very lucky, Valerie," Dr. Evans said gently, tying off the final stitch. "A few inches lower and that plate could have permanently blinded you or caused a severe concussion. I’ve documented everything, took photos of the laceration, and sent the forensic report directly to the police database."
"Thank you, Doctor," I said.
The curtain pulled back, and my best friend, Clara, rushed in. Clara was not just my closest confidante; she was also a brilliant, ruthless family law attorney. The moment I had called her from the ambulance, she had dropped everything.
"Oh my god, Val," Clara gasped, rushing to my side and carefully hugging me. Her eyes took in my stained shirt and the bandage on my head. "Those absolute monsters. I should have known they would resort to this. Are you okay?"
"I'm clear-headed for the first time in five years, Clara," I said, my voice steady. "I need you to do something for me."
"Anything. Name it."
"I want a divorce. And I want a permanent restraining order against Diego, Victoria, and Richard. I want them completely cut out of my life, and I want to protect my assets. Every single penny."
Clara pulled a tablet from her bag, her professional demeanor instantly taking over. "We can file an emergency temporary restraining order first thing in the morning. Since Diego was arrested for felony domestic violence, the judge will grant it without question. But Val... we need to be smart. Diego's family has immense resources. They will hire the best defense attorneys in Colorado. They will try to drag your name through the mud to save their family reputation."
"Let them try," I said, a cold smile touching my lips. "They think they own Denver because of their last name. They think my apartment is just a piece of property they can bully me into giving up. But they don't know who I really am. They don't know what I've kept hidden."
May you like
Clara looked at me, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
I leaned back against the hospital pillows. "Before I married Diego, I did a lot of consulting work for commercial developments. I know how his father’s real estate firm operates. I know about the offshore accounts, the dummy corporations, and the cutting of corners on their luxury builds. I kept quiet because I wanted to be a supportive wife. But now? The gloves are off."
