—Old papers. That’s all.
Leonardo stared at her.
—I want you to return what isn’t yours. I want to clear my mother’s name.
Ramona’s gaze hardened.
—Do you really think you can destroy me so easily?
Raghav slid in evidence of money laundering.
Ramona didn’t flinch.
—That proves nothing.
Leonardo breathed deeply.
—What about the fact that my mother is alive? That she murmurs my name every time she sees me?
For a moment, Ramona trembled.
Mario interjected:
—We have medical records and witnesses proving you institutionalized her illegally.
Ramona clenched her jaw.
—What do you want? —she spat—. To humiliate me? Ruin me?
Leonardo didn’t hesitate.
—I want justice.
Ramona stood abruptly.
—You don’t know who you’re dealing with. I have power.
Raghav responded calmly:
—It ends here. Either a settlement… or a criminal trial.
Ramona glared at him, then at Leonardo.
—You’re making the biggest mistake of your life, Leo.
—The mistake was trusting you —he replied.
Ramona stormed out, slamming the door. The office shook.
Raghav looked serious.
—She’ll play dirty. Be ready.
Leonardo nodded. He was ready.
That same day, he went to the old-age home.
—I didn’t come to visit —he told the director—. I came to take my mother.
He walked through the damp hallway until he found Carmen by the window. When he approached, she blinked several times, as if something inside her mind was stirring.
Leonardo knelt, taking her hands.
—Mom. You’re not alone anymore. I’m bringing you home.
Tears filled Carmen’s eyes.
He called a private doctor. Within an hour, Carmen was on her way to a modern, bright clinic.
Doctors ran tests. Diagnosis: moderate cognitive impairment, but recovery was possible.
Leonardo accepted everything. He didn’t care about the cost.
Days were difficult. Sometimes Carmen couldn’t remember, sometimes she was frightened, sometimes lost in her own world.
Leonardo never left her side. He attended all her therapies, read her books, spoke to her as if every word could trigger memory.
One afternoon in the garden, Carmen grasped his hand firmly.
—Leo —she whispered.
He knelt beside her.
—I’m here, Mom. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.
For the first time in weeks, a part of her awoke.
—My boy… —she said, her voice trembling but clear.
Leonardo felt a lump in his throat. He hugged her tightly, desperate to protect her from lost time, from pain, from all the years apart.
It was the first big step.
Doctors were amazed. They called it a huge breakthrough: recognizing faces, forming words, showing strong emotions.
Leonardo didn’t leave her side. He brought childhood photos, played songs she sang to him, and scents from their old home to trigger memories.
Slowly, Carmen improved. Small victories: a timid smile, a word, a direct gaze.
One afternoon, sitting in the garden, she took his hand again.
—My home? —she asked softly.
Leonardo looked surprised.
—Do you want to go home, Mom? —he asked, moved.
Carmen nodded weakly.
He almost cried again but held back. He promised her they would soon have a home together—not the old haveli filled with lies, but a new place full of truth.
That day he realized that even if she didn’t remember everything, her heart knew where it belonged.
Next, he had to move her to a safe home, continue her recovery, and remain vigilant.
Ramona was still out there, and if she had proven anything, it was that she wouldn’t give up easily.
Leonardo looked at his fragile but brave mother, gritted his teeth. The war had only just begun.
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