. And I set the lunch table exactly as Daniel had requested. At 11:57, my father sat down in Daniel’s favorite chair, his hands resting peacefully on his cane. Nina waited in the studio with the security officer. I stayed across the street in Dad’s car, watching the living room camera through my phone. At noon, Daniel’s Mercedes entered the driveway. Evelyn came out wearing pearls and carrying a bottle of champagne. “They think they’re celebrating,” Dad said through my earpiece. Daniel opened the door. Her laughter entered the house before they did. “Where is our cheerful hostess?” Evelyn called. Then they saw my father. Daniel stopped so suddenly that Evelyn almost bumped into him. Dad stood up slowly. – Hello, Daniel. The champagne bottle slipped from Evelyn’s hand and shattered on the floor. Daniel’s face turned pale. —Judge Vale. “Retired,” Dad answered. “But he’s still familiar with men who hurt women and forge documents.” Daniel looked towards the staircase. “Where is Mara?” “Somewhere you can’t reach her.” Evelyn quickly regained her voice. “This is a misunderstanding within the private family.” Dad looked towards the undamaged makeup bag visible through the bedroom door. “No,” he said. “This is evidence.”

PART 3 — I LEFT THE MARKS UNCOVERED

Daniel turned towards the back door.

The security officer left the studio before he could reach him.

Nina continued, holding a thick envelope.

“They have served you well,” he said.

Daniel scanned the emergency protection order, the divorce petition, the asset freeze request, and the civil fraud complaint.

“This is ridiculous!” she shouted. “Mara owns nothing without me.”

Nina remained calm.

“The terraced house belonged to Mara before the marriage. Her forged deed was never legally registered. However, her attempt to borrow against the property was fully documented.”

Evelyn pointed at my father.

“You turned it against us!”

Dad’s voice remained even.

“Your son hurt my daughter.”

Daniel’s confidence began to disappear.

“It was an accident.”

That’s when I opened the front door.

They all turned around.

I had turned into a navy uniform.

I hadn’t used makeup.

Every visible mark remained uncovered under the bright light of the corridor.

Daniel looked at me.

“Mara, tell them what happened.”

“What would you like me to say?”

– You fell.

I picked up my phone and played the recording from that morning.

Daniel’s voice filled the room.

“Cover up the bruises and smile.”