Lucía slowly pulled the zipper of her dress down to her shoulders. In the courtroom, several people instinctively looked away, thinking they were witnessing a gesture of despair. But when she finally let the fabric slide down, a stunned silence immediately fell over the courtroom.
His arms, back, and part of his shoulders were covered in old scars. Some were long and faded with age. Others were more recent, still dark under the cold light of the room. Clear burn marks were visible, as were deep, cable-like cuts, and most notably, the irregular scar that ran from his left collarbone to the top of his chest.
The judge sat up abruptly.
Even Alejandro’s lawyer was stunned.
Lucía wasn’t crying.
“That’s what ‘the mule’ was wearing,” she said calmly.
Alejandro immediately turned pale.
“Your Honor…” he attempted.
But Lucía continued without looking at him.
“For nineteen years, this man told everyone that I was strong. That I could endure anything. He said I was born to work, to obey, to carry his things on my shoulders. What he never said… was how these marks appeared.”
In the back rows, someone stifled a horrified breath.
Lucía then picked up a thick envelope that was lying in front of her.
“I brought medical reports from three different clinics. Dated photos. Testimonies from former hacienda employees. And most importantly… the audio recordings.”
This time, Alejandro jumped up.
“That’s false!”
But Mariana had already handed a USB key to the clerk.
A few seconds later, Alejandro’s voice echoed throughout the room.
A cold voice. Violent. Unrecognizable to those who saw him smiling in magazines.
“If you open your mouth in front of investors again, I swear no one will find your body in this land.”
Then another recording.
“You work until I say stop. You belong to me.”
Alejandro’s face completely fell apart.
The judge immediately ordered the hearing to be stopped.
But Lucía hadn’t finished.
She finally turned to her husband. For the first time since the start of the trial, she looked him straight in the eyes.
“You wanted everyone to see the woman who could carry anything? Very well. Now they’ll also see the man who rode on her back to build his empire.”
At that precise moment, several journalists present at the back of the room hurriedly left their seats to call their newsrooms.
In less than an hour, Alejandro’s name was already circulating throughout Guadalajara.
And what he thought was a simple divorce… had just become the beginning of his downfall.
