Point of view: Jessica Jones Vilma and Ressell Vargas Monteverde
The next day, police continued to surround the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde campus; the buildings were bathed in red and blue lights all morning.
Students wept, teachers argued, and fear became part of their daily routine.
The death of Lucía Castro Herrera shattered the remaining silence within the school.
I watched everything from the main entrance; no one seemed safe—not even the adults.
A few meters away, Luisana Morales was speaking with some teachers while María de Vera stood beside her, reviewing emergency documents.
Then, something unexpected happened: Rafael Aquino stepped out in front of everyone.
He was impeccably dressed, as always, smiling as if nothing had happened—as if the killings inside the school he led weren’t taking place.
“We need to remain calm,” he said evenly.
Teachers exchanged glances; some lowered their heads, but María de Vera walked straight up to him, and before anyone could react…
*SLAP!*
The sound of the slap echoed through the hallway, breaking the silence.
Rafael stared at her, stunned.
María pointed an angry finger at him.
“Don’t you ever go near my children.”
No one moved.
No one spoke.
For the first time, some of the teachers seemed to be shedding their fear.
“Enough,” one of them said.
“Students are dying.
“Someone needs to be held accountable for this.”
Luisana took a deep breath.
Then, she made her decision.
—I will officially call for Rafael Aquino’s resignation while the investigations are ongoing.
Rafael smiled.
But that smile was cold—empty—and in an instant, I felt him looking directly at Bella, as if he recognized her, as if he knew who she truly was; and that was what terrified me.
Flashback—Four years ago.
Rain poured down on the road.
A car sped past.
Inside the vehicle, an injured young girl lay hidden beneath black blankets.
Josefina Chávez couldn’t hold back her tears.
Andrew Reyes gripped the steering wheel, constantly checking the mirrors.
He knew they were being followed.
—Promise me you’ll protect her— Josefina whispered.
Andrew nodded.
Without hesitation.
—Even if I have to die for her.
The young girl was barely conscious.
But she heard those words, and she never forgot them.
The memory faded as I heard a voice behind me.
—Jessica.— I turned around; it was Christian Reyes.
Bella was beside him, looking nervous and afraid—as if she could sense what was about to happen.
María de Vera watched the scene from a distance, tears streaming from her eyes.
Jeremiah Jones remained silent.
Luis.
Ressell.
Ana María.
They were all there.
Christian took a deep breath.
—I can’t keep this hidden anymore.— Bella slowly looked up.
—Hiding what?
Christian took a step toward her.
His hands were trembling.
—For years, I thought keeping the secret protected you.— The silence was heavy…
—but I can’t do it anymore.
Bella began to feel her heart pounding.
—Christian…
—Bella…
She swallowed hard.
And he spoke the words that would change everything.
«I am your real father.»
It was as if the world had stopped; Bella was stunned.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
—What…?— Christian was crying, too.
—I’m sorry.
—All this time…?
—Yes.—
Bella stepped back, trying to make sense of it all.
Trying to accept something she had never imagined—suddenly, Jessica approached and hugged her; Bella remained motionless for a few seconds before finally breaking down in sobs.
Christian also stepped forward—for the first time in years, father and daughter embraced, and even though the pain was still there…
There was also a strange sense of hope—but as everyone watched the emotional scene unfold…
Ressell felt something unsettling, because from the other side of the schoolyard…
Rafael Aquino was still watching them, smiling—as if that revelation were part of a much larger plan—and in that moment, I realized something terrifying: the war against Mark Aquino was just beginning.