His Daughter Was Breathing Inside the Coffin

CHAPTER 3 - The Wife Who Wanted the Entire Family

Rafael met Victoria six years after Sofia's death.

She appeared compassionate and patient. She never complained when Rafael spoke about his first wife, and she treated Clara with affection whenever he was watching.

After their wedding, Victoria gradually changed.

She dismissed Clara's longtime nanny.

She discouraged visits from Sofia's relatives.

She told Rafael that his daughter was spoiled, manipulative, and unable to accept another woman in the family.

Every disagreement became proof that Clara needed stricter discipline.

Rafael believed too much of it.

Victoria also pressured him to revise his will.

If Clara died before turning eighteen, Sofia's trust would transfer temporarily to Rafael. Under Victoria's proposed will, she would inherit everything if Rafael later died.

He refused to sign the final version.

That was when Victoria contacted Dr. Cole.

The doctor had accumulated serious gambling debts. Victoria offered to repay them if he helped create two natural-looking deaths.

Clara would appear to die from her heart condition.

Rafael would suffer a fatal medication reaction several months later.

Police found messages describing the plan.

Victoria intended to use Clara's inheritance to purchase controlling shares in Rafael's hotel company. After Rafael's death, she would own the estate and the business.

Maria's supposed theft had also been staged.

The missing necklace was discovered inside Victoria's private safe.

Rafael visited Maria and Oliver in their small apartment.

He apologized for allowing Victoria to dismiss and publicly accuse Maria.

"I will clear your name and repay everything you lost."

Maria looked at him steadily.

"Money will repair my employment record. It will not repair the moment your daughter begged you for help and you chose your wife."

Rafael did not argue.

He had spent years believing that providing Clara with wealth made him a devoted father.

But he had ignored her fear because listening would have forced him to question his marriage.

At the hospital, Clara remained unconscious.

Oliver sat beside her each afternoon and read their favorite adventure stories aloud.

Rafael noticed that Clara's heartbeat became slightly stronger whenever Oliver spoke.

"You saved her," Rafael told him.

Oliver shook his head.

"I only told you the truth."

It was more than Rafael had done.

Dr. Cole was arrested and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. He admitted that Clara had shown signs of life during his examination.

"Why didn't you stop?" Rafael asked during a supervised confrontation.

The doctor looked away.

"Victoria said the dose would finish its work before the funeral."

Rafael lunged forward, but detectives restrained him.

Anger could not erase his own responsibility.

He had accepted a rushed funeral, refused an independent examination, and allowed Victoria to prevent Sofia's family from seeing Clara.

That evening, Clara's condition changed.

Her fingers moved.

Rafael called the nurse.

Clara slowly opened her eyes.

Her first word was not "Dad."

It was Oliver's name.

Then she saw Rafael and began to panic.

"Don't let her come back," she whispered.

"Victoria cannot hurt you anymore."

Clara stared at him with tears in her eyes.

"I told you she was making me sick."

Rafael felt the full weight of his failure.

"I know."

"No, you didn't believe me."

He took one step away from the bed.

Clara had survived the poison and the coffin.

But she no longer felt safe with her father.

Saving Clara's life had taken fifteen minutes; earning back her trust would take far longer.