“I let you into my life because I thought you cared about this family.”

Patricia stared up at him, her lips pressed into a thin, tight line.

The panic in her eyes was being replaced by something much colder.

“I did care, Emiliano,” she said.

“I cared about the power you had.”

“But you are weak.”

“You let your daughters run your life.”

“You let a maid dictate who you trust.”

One of the officers moved behind her, pulling a pair of silver handcuffs from his belt.

The metal made a sharp, clinking sound in the quiet room.

“Patricia Vance, you are under arrest for grand larceny, wire fraud, and attempted extortion,” the officer said.

“You have the right to remain silent.”

“Anything you say can and will be used against you.”

Patricia took a step back, her heel catching on the edge of the bottom step.

She nearly lost her balance, but she gripped the wooden post at the end of the banister.

“Do not touch me,” she said to the officer.

She turned her head to look at Ramiro.