Chapter 3: The Festival Ends

The piano festival never happened.

At least not the way everyone expected.

Tomás descended the staircase slowly.

Every relative turned to look at him.

The house was decorated with flowers.

Crystal glasses sparkled beneath warm lights.

A banner reading "Congratulations Renata" hung across the wall.

And standing proudly in the center of it all was Don Ernesto.

Smiling.

Laughing.

Enjoying the attention.

Tomás walked directly toward him.

The room gradually grew quiet.

Don Ernesto noticed.

"Where's my little pianist?" he asked cheerfully.

Tomás stopped only inches away.

The old man smiled.

Then the smile vanished.

Because of Tomás's eyes.

"Get out."

The room froze.

Don Ernesto frowned.

"What?"

"Get out of my house."

A nervous laugh escaped from one of the relatives.

Surely this was a joke.

It wasn't.

"Tomás..."

Don Ernesto straightened his posture.

"Watch your tone."

Tomás stepped closer.

"No."

The businessman looked around.

Embarrassed.

Confused.

Angry.

"You seem upset."

Upset.

The word nearly made Tomás laugh.

Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

Earlier, while speaking to Renata, he had quietly started recording.

The room filled with a child's trembling voice.

"...Grandpa Ernesto."

Every guest turned toward the staircase.

Renata stood there beside her mother.

Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

The room held its breath.

Tomás pressed play again.

"...Since March."

Then another recording.

"...Mom knows."

The silence became deafening.

Don Ernesto's face drained of color.

One aunt covered her mouth.

A cousin began crying.

The old man immediately pointed at Renata.

"She's lying."

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

For the first time in his life, Don Ernesto seemed uncertain.

"You believe a child over me?"

Tomás took one step forward.

"Yes."

The answer landed like thunder.

Then another voice interrupted.

Sofía's.

"I believe her too."

Every head turned.

Sofía walked slowly down the staircase.

She looked at her father.

The man she had feared her entire life.

And finally said the words she should have spoken years ago.

"You did it to me too."

The room exploded.

People gasped.

Several relatives began arguing.

Others stared in disbelief.

Don Ernesto looked trapped.

Cornered.

Exposed.

For the first time, nobody saw a respected businessman.

They saw exactly what he was.

A frightened old man whose power depended on silence.

And silence had just ended.