FAZER LOGINDON EDUARDO’S MANSION – SEVILLE, SPAIN – MORNINGDon Eduardo’s phone buzzed on the table.Catalina’s face lit up the screen perfect smile, dark hair, and eyes that always looked like they were planning something.He picked up immediately.“Mi hija,” he said warmly. “What’s going on? You only call this early when something is wrong.”“Father…” Catalina’s voice trembled like she was crying. “I need your help. Please.”Don Eduardo’s expression changed at once. His voice turned sharp.“What happened? Tell me.”“It’s Amelia Stone,” she said, sniffing loudly. “She’s trying to destroy me. She’s spreading lies about me everywhere saying I’m a liar, a cheat. She’s stealing our contracts too. Every day I lose another deal because of her.”He slowly set his glass of whiskey down.“Are you sure about this?” he asked coldly. “This isn’t just a misunderstanding?”“I have proof,” Catalina replied quickly. “She’s meeting our clients behind my back. Offering them cheaper deals. Turning them against
DOWNTOWN MEDICAL CENTER – TWO HOURS LATERThe hospital waiting room smelled like hand sanitizer and pure panic.White walls. Bright lights buzzing overhead. Hard plastic chairs that made your back ache after five minutes.Valentina sat squeezed in the corner, hands twisting in her lap like she was trying to wring out her own nerves. Her knees bounced up and down so fast they looked like they had their own heartbeat.Amelia sat on her left, calm but tight-lipped. Katherina sat on her right, arms folded so hard her knuckles went white.Ariana had stayed home with the boys, promising to guard the pastries like they were gold.“I can’t do this,” Valentina whispered, voice cracking.“You can,” Amelia said, bumping her shoulder gently. “You’re tougher than you think.”“I really can’t.”“You’re already doing it,” Katherina said, grabbing her sister’s hand and squeezing. “You showed up. That’s the scary part over.”A nurse popped her head in. “Valentina Rodriguez?”Valentina’s stomach flipp
The Favino penthouse felt heavy that evening, like the air itself was holding its breath. Amelia sat curled on the big cream couch, clutching the note in her trembling hands. She had read it so many times the words were burned into her mind: I just wanted to see my son.Alejandro stood by the tall windows, arms folded tight across his chest. The city lights sparkled far below, but his eyes were fixed on nothing. His jaw looked like it was carved from stone.“He was at Leo’s school,” Amelia said quietly, her voice cracking. “Just standing there, watching him. Like a shadow. Like some creepy stalker.”Alejandro’s hands curled into fists. “I’ll kill him,” he growled.“No.” Amelia looked up fast, her eyes fierce even through the tears. “You won’t. That’s exactly what Damien wants a big fight, some violence he can use in court. He’ll paint me as unstable and you as dangerous. We can’t give him that.”“I don’t care what he wants,” Alejandro snapped.“Well, I do!” Amelia stood up, her v
LEO'S SCHOOL – AFTERNOONThe school looked warm and bright, like something out of a happy movie. Red brick walls, white columns, and a playground full of screaming, laughing kids chasing each other on squeaky swings and shiny slides.Damien Blackwood stood across the street, half-hidden behind a thick old oak tree. His best friend, Marcus, leaned against the same tree beside him, arms crossed, looking uneasy.Damien’s eyes were locked on one little boy racing across the grass.“Look at him, man,” Damien whispered, voice cracking. “That’s Leo. My Leo. Running like he owns the whole damn world.”Marcus glanced over, then back at his friend. “He’s fast, bro. Got your legs, that’s for sure. But that smile… that’s all Amelia, huh?”Damien nodded slowly, eyes shining with tears he refused to let fall. “He’s got her face. But those eyes? Those are mine. I see it every time he laughs.” His voice dropped, thick with pain. “I missed everything, Marcus. First steps. First words. When he lear
Katherina spun around and snapped at her sister, “Will you shut up and sit down?” Then she turned back to Nicholas, her eyes blazing with hurt and rage. “So you’ve been hiding for almost a year? Not one visit. Not one call. Not even a single text. Nothing.”She stepped closer, voice shaking. “I lost our baby, Nicholas. Our baby. And you were gone. I sat in that hospital room all by myself. I signed the papers alone. I went home to an empty apartment. Do you have any idea how that felt?”Nicholas stared at the floor for a second, then looked up with that calm, smug face he always wore when he thought he was smarter than everyone. “Katherina, I didn’t know how to face you. You always turn everything into a big drama.”Katherina gave a bitter laugh. “Drama? You stood in front of God and my whole family and promised to love me. Now you’re dating my sister?”Nicholas’s head jerked up. “I didn’t know you were sisters! Valentina told me her last name was Sterling, then Rodriguez. You use B
"I'm asking you to choose a side," Amelia said, her voice steady but sharp.Katherina's eyes narrowed. "And if I say no?""Then get out of my building. Get out of my life. And don't you ever come back."Katherina stared at the floor for a long moment. Then she lifted her gaze to Amelia, then dropped it again. The silence stretched between them like a tightrope."Fine," she whispered at last. "I'll do it."Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Fine?"Katherina lifted her chin, eyes shining with fresh tears. "Fine. I'll be there tonight. I'll testify. I'll help you burn them both to the ground."Amelia gave a slow nod, watching her carefully."Why now?" she asked softly. "After everything... why now?"Katherina looked up, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Because I'm tired, Amelia. I'm so damn tired of being angry all the time. Tired of being broken. Tired of waking up every single morning and picking revenge instead of peace."She took a shaky breath and walked toward the door."I don't know if w
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES ~ NEW YORK Katherina’s office was quiet when Damien walked in.Too quiet.She was standing by the window, arms crossed, watching the city below like it had personally offended her. She didn’t turn around when she heard the door close.“Well?” she asked coolly. “Did she take th
ALEJANDRO MASTER BEDROOM ~ NEW YORK The phone had been buzzing nonstop.Alejandro walked into the master bedroom, holding it up. “Mi reina, your phone has been ringing non-stop.”Amelia pushed herself up against the pillows, exhausted. “My phone? Are you serious? I thought I had it with me all alo
THE FAVINO GRAND MANSION ~ SPAIN The echo of Amelia’s final words—“You do not fucking own me”—hung in the dining room like gun smoke. For a full ten seconds, no one moved, no one breathed.Ariana was the first to move.“Amelia—” she said sharply, already on her feet.Her chair scraped against the
ALEXANDER MANSION~ NEW YORKAlexander Blackwood stormed through the marble halls of his mansion, his anger practically vibrating through his steps. The maids and staff froze as he passed, their whispers trailing behind him. He reached the Master bedroom, flinging the door open.“Vivian!” he shoute







