During breakfast, my husband threw boiling coffee in my face because I refused to give my bank card to his sister. He told me, “Either you obey or you leave.” I went to the hospital, put away the medical report, and when I returned, I left my wedding ring on the table… without imagining what he would find later.

And for his sister, Rebeca Salazar, it was a source of money… although it was almost never his, but rather that of the wife whom they could always exploit.

Rebecca never asked for anything small.

First it was an imported perfume.

Then a designer jacket.

Then he borrowed two hundred and fifty thousand pesos “for just one week”.

Later, she wanted to use Valeria's credit card to pay for a nail course, a new television, and a trip with her friends to Cancun.

Every time Valeria said no, Alejandro's tone changed.

—Stop being so stingy.

—That's what family is for.

—You're too cold to understand.

—My sister has suffered a lot.

That morning, while they were having breakfast, Alejandro read a message from Rebeca and gave the order without even looking up from his phone.

—Rebeca needs your card. A payment she made was declined.

"No," Valeria replied firmly. "I've already lent him money three times and he's never paid me back a single penny."

Alejandro slammed the cup against the table.

—I'm not asking you.

—And I'm not negotiating.

That's when the coffee flew out.

As the cold water continued to fall on her face, Valeria caught a glimpse of her blurry reflection in the kitchen window.

The skin was completely red.