THE HOUSEKEEPER SCREAMED, “WAKE UP!” The Stepmother Drugged the Baby—But Rosa Refused to Let Him Disappear

“Who gave it to him?”

Rosa’s tongue went numb.

Valeria’s voice echoed in her mind: Nobody will believe you.

Then the paramedic lowered his voice—not accusing, not cruel.

“I need the truth to help him,” he said.

Rosa took a breath.

Then she stepped off the cliff.

“Valeria,” she said. “His stepmother.”

No shock in the paramedic’s eyes.

Just a tired anger, as if he’d seen too much of this world.

They loaded Santi carefully, moving with a speed that made Rosa’s stomach drop.

Rosa tried to climb in.

A paramedic stopped her.

“Mom?”

Rosa shook her head. “Nanny.”

“I’m sorry,” the paramedic said, his voice not unkind. “Family only.”

The doors slammed shut.

The sirens took the baby away.

And Rosa stood in the mansion doorway, suddenly empty-handed, staring at the place that had almost swallowed a child whole.

She could run.

She could grab her suitcase and disappear before Valeria came back.

But Rosa looked toward the nursery camera monitor on the counter—its screen showing the empty crib, the little teddy bear Rosa had repaired, the mobile still turning like the world hadn’t noticed what happened.

Rosa made a decision right there.

She stayed.

Because if she ran, Valeria would write the story.

And Rosa was done being invisible.

7:30 PM: VALERIA COMES HOME TO THE TRUTH

A car pulled into the garage.

Heels clicked on marble like gunshots.

Valeria walked in carrying shopping bags, hair flawless, perfume expensive, face bored.

She paused when she saw Rosa sitting rigidly in the living room, eyes red, lip trembling.

Valeria frowned. “You’re still here? I thought you would’ve left.”

Then Valeria glanced around.

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