"My little wife, look," he said excitedly. "I have someone excellent. A notary friend. He can come tomorrow. Quick, easy. You sign, and that's it. That way you'll get that weight off your shoulders."
His tone was too cheerful to be love. It was hunger.I put on my best docile face.
"Oh, Diego… thank you. Really. You're so good to me."
He kissed my hand.
"Always, my love."
And I thought: Perfect. Bring it.
The next day, the "notary" arrived. But he didn't have the smell of paper and ink that real notaries do. He was in a hurry. He was smiling.
He was carrying a trap.
I greeted them in the living room with a tray of cookies.
"Sorry if I take a while to read," I said. "Sometimes I have trouble concentrating."
Diego squeezed my shoulder with fake tenderness.
"Don't worry, my little wife. Just sign here and here."
The man opened the folder. The papers were ready, with markers where I "should sign." In the corner, I saw words that chilled me to the bone: broad power, full administration, powers.
My lawyer had prepared me for this. He had told me: "They're going to try the quick and e
