Chapter 6 - The Mother Who Took Barrett Money
Sofia Ruiz arrived with Barrett attorneys and claimed Elena’s father forced her to sign the transfer. She said Mateo cared more about the labor movement than his wife and child. Elena refused to choose an easy hero. “If he used you, he answers for it. If they bought you, you answer too.” Sofia admitted Harrison paid her to disappear and testify that Mateo was unstable. She accepted because the Barretts threatened to evict every family in worker housing. Cole smiled. “Everyone has a price.” Elena replied, “Powerful people create desperation, then blame the desperate for choosing survival.” The worker council removed both Mateo and Sofia from automatic leadership while investigating their roles. Cole was suspended from the arena. Then veterinary experts examined the bull and found a tracking chip registered to a foundation owned by Sofia. She had secretly controlled the breeding program for twelve years.
