“I don’t want Mom to know. She wouldn’t understand. For me, saving lives is a responsibility.”

Although worried, Mariana supported him. She began working overtime and even took on freelance jobs to cover the shortfall. But Mrs. Álvarez knew nothing of this. To her, Mariana was just a “useless” wife, always busy with her job and neglecting her husband.

The phrase “Everyone pays for what they spend” originated in an argument between Alejandro and his mother. When Mrs. Álvarez accused him of spending recklessly and leaving no inheritance for the family, Alejandro smiled sadly and said,

“Mom, everyone pays for what they spend. I live to save lives, not to save money.”

Mariana, who was out of the room at the time, etched those words into her memory.

Back in the present, Alejandro’s surgery had taken longer than expected. The doctors came out with serious faces: Alejandro had overcome the immediate risk, but he had severe brain damage and the chances of a full recovery were low. Mrs. Alvarez nearly collapsed, wh