“I never wanted your money, Alvaro,” I said.

He stared at me, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion.

“That is a lie,” he said. “Everyone wants the money.”

“I wanted security,” I said. “And I wanted my children.”

“They are my children too,” he said, his voice rising again.

“They are triplets who barely know their father’s face,” I said.

“I provided for them,” he said. “They have everything.”

“They have a father who is about to go to prison for fifteen years,” I said.

The headlights of the first police car swept across the high stone walls of the study.

Blue and red lights flickered through the slats of the wooden shutters.

“You set this trap,” he said, his hands trembling.

“I simply gave you the rope,” I said. “You chose to tie the knot.”

“I will fight this,” he said. “I have the best lawyers in Spain.”

“They will not work for free,” I said. “And by tomorrow morning, your accounts will be frozen.”

He looked at the blue folder on the desk.

“What is in there?” he asked.

“An agreement,” I said.