11/18/2025
Who would believe that an elderly woman, the mother of one of the most powerful men in Jalisco, would end up tied up amidst piles of garbage because of the very woman she once called her daughter? But at that moment, the silence of the landfill was broken by the roar of an engine.
A black SUV screeched to a halt, raising a cloud of dust and the stench of decay. The door was violently opened. Emiliano Vargas, the businessman admired for his fortune and feared for his power, got out with a fury no one had ever seen in him. “What have you done, Regina?” he shouted, his voice trembling with rage and fear.
Before him, Regina Salgado, his wife, stood motionless. Her hair was disheveled, her face pale, her expensive perfume mingled with the stench of the landfill, and behind her lay the woman who had given him life. Doña Tomasa was lying on the ground, tied up, tears and dirt plastered to her face.
The wind blew fiercely, stirring the plastic sheeting and the memory of what had once been love. “I asked you what you did,” Emiliano repeated. Each word laden with disbelief. Regina didn't answer, only stared at him with a coldness that cut through the air. Emiliano's heart pounded in his chest, dust blurred his vision, and the smell of fear mingled with the stench of garbage.
And it was there, among the world's refuse, that the truth began to emerge. But to understand how a story of love, power, and perfect appearances ended in that hell, we must go back in time. Every dawn at the Vargas mansion in Zapopan was like clockwork: automatic gate, the aroma of Colombian coffee, hurried footsteps, and a silence heavier than the marble floors.
Doña Tomása Medina would wake up before everyone else. She liked to cut the flowers from the garden and place them in a vase in front of the window. It was her way of reminding herself that she could still care for something alive. From the kitchen, Lupita, the most loyal employee, watched her tenderly. "Doña Tomasa, you should sleep a little longer." "Rest comes on its own," my daughter replied with a tired smile. "But life is something you have to seek out." The sound of heels interrupted the calm. Regina Salgado de Vargas came downstairs wearing expensive perfume and a practiced smile. "Good morning, mother-in-law. I have a meeting at the foundation today. Don't wait for me for lunch." "May God be with you, my daughter," Tomasa replied with the kindness one uses when hope has been lost.
A few minutes later, Emiliano crossed the living room with his cell phone pressed to his ear. "I'll call you later, Mom. I'm running late, even if it's just for a coffee, son." "I can't, really." The gate closed, the motor roared, and silence returned to the house. Lupita sighed from the kitchen. "This house feels sad, doesn't it?" "No, Lupita," Tomasa said, looking at the garden. "Sadness isn't felt."
She settled in on the dining room television. Regina appeared smiling in a local interview. The Vargas Light and Future Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to the most vulnerable families. Sweet words, a flawless smile, and those eyes that Doña Tomasa knew all too well, the eyes of someone who has mastered the art of pretending. That midday, the Vargas mansion was quieter than ever.
The sun shone through the windows, and everything shone with such perfect order that it hurt. On the television, Regina's words kept repeating like a hypocritical echo. The Vargas Light and Future Foundation believes in the dignity of all human beings. Doña Tomasa turned off the television. Her reflection remained on the dark screen, as alone as her life.
Lupita came in with a tray of freshly baked bread. "I brought you coffee, Doña Tomasa." "Thank you, my dear. Do you believe what Mrs. Regina says?" Lupita hesitated for a second. "I believe in good deeds, not speeches." Tomasa smiled slightly. "Then we think alike." At that moment, the sound of the front door broke the calm.
Regina returned with a determined stride and an expression that always mixed haste and superiority. “Has Emiliano arrived yet?” she asked without greeting anyone. “No, ma’am, he’s still in the office,” Lupita replied. “Perfect. I need no one to touch my desk. Absolutely no one.” Regina’s voice had that false sweetness that warns of danger. She ascended the stairs with her designer handbag, the click of her heels marking a sharp rhythm on the marble floor.
Doña Tomás watched her from the dining room. There was something about that woman that seemed stranger to her each day. A cold, calculated energy, something in her gaze that reminded her of someone who felt above the world. Hours later, Emiliano arrived. He was tired, but still talking about business on the phone. “Yes, confirm the meeting for tomorrow,” he said before hanging up.
“Good afternoon, son.” Tomasa’s voice was soft, almost fearful. “Hi, Mom. I’m sorry, it’s been a long day. Are you eating here?” No. Regina prepared something with the foundation's board. I have to go with her. Tomasa nodded, feigning understanding. When he left, silence filled every corner once more. Lupita walked past her and noticed the woman's lost gaze. "Is something bothering you, Doña Tomasa?"