The video froze.
But it didn't need to continue.
Because Veronica had already seen enough.
The air grew heavy.
Dense.
Unbreathable.
She didn't blink.
Didn't move.
Didn't think.
Because that…
That didn't make sense.
— No…
Her voice came out weak.
Almost a whisper.
She leaned a little closer to the screen.
As if that could change anything.
As if she was seeing it wrong.
But she wasn't.
The face.
That face.
— It can't be…
Her hands started to shake.
Slightly.
Then more.
Because that man…
Was someone who should never be there.
Someone who had always been close.
Someone she… trusted.
The video came back for a second.
Just enough to confirm.
And then it went black.
A black screen.
But the image…
Stayed.
Inside her.
— This is a lie…
She whispered.
The screen flickered.
Another message appeared.
"Still think so?"
Her heart raced.
— Who are you?!
She typed.
Now with force.
Anger.
Fear.
The answer came quickly:
"Someone you've known your whole life."
The world seemed to tilt.
— That doesn't make sense…
"It does."
Another line appeared:
"You just never looked closely."
She leaned back in the chair.
As if it was too much.
And maybe it was.
Because in that moment…
She started remembering.
Small details.
Things that once felt normal.
Conversations.
Looks.
Silences.
Everything… different now.
— No…
She stood up quickly.
As if she needed to leave.
Breathe.
Escape.
But she couldn't.
Because she was in the middle of it.
And now…
There was no pretending anymore.
— Tell me who you are!
Silence came.
Longer this time.
Heavy.
Calculated.
And then—
"You already know."
Her heart stopped.
— No…
"Say it."
The word appeared on its own.
Challenging.
Forcing.
Veronica stood still.
Staring at the screen.
Her breathing failing.
And then…
She said it.
— …Henrique.
The silence exploded.
The screen replied:
"Finally."
The world collapsed.
She stepped back.
Then another.
— No…
"I waited for you to get here."
— You… lied.
"No."
— You said you wanted to end this!
"And I do."
Her heart pounded.
— Then why are you controlling it?!
The answer took longer.
But it came.
Heavy.
Irreversible.
"Because someone had to take over after your father."
The air disappeared.
— You…
"He didn't finish it."
— So you continued?!
"I perfected it."
Silence fell.
Heavier than ever.
— You destroyed people…
"I balanced things."
— That's not balance!
"It's survival."
Her breathing was out of control now.
— And now?
"Now you choose."
— I already chose!
"No."
A short pause.
But enough.
"You still don't understand the price."
Her heart tightened.
— What price?
Silence.
Long.
And then—
The screen changed.
Another video.
She froze.
— No…
This time…
It wasn't old.
It was now.
Real time.
A camera.
Shaky image.
And then…
She saw.
Leon.
On the ground.
Again.
But not alone.
Men.
Armed.
Daniel trying to react.
And failing.
— NO!
She rushed toward the screen.
Desperate.
— STOP THIS!
The message appeared:
"You choose to destroy?"
She trembled.
"Or to save?"
The world stopped.
— What do you want?!
"Take control."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Irreversible.
"Or they die."
Her breath stopped.
Her heart…
Broke.
And in that moment…
Veronica understood.
It wasn't about power.
It was about sacrifice.
And now…
She had to choose.