LOGINCatalina’s eyes widened for a second in pure shock.Then the shock disappeared. Rage replaced it instantly.“Take your hand off me right now,” she snapped.Amelia’s grip tightened around Catalina’s arm.“Not until you tell me everything,” Amelia shot back furiously. “You don’t get to walk in here, destroy my peace, throw accusations at my sisters, and then leave like nothing happened.”Catalina tried pulling away, but Amelia held firm.“What do you know about Valentina and Katherina?” Amelia demanded. “Talk.”Catalina laughed bitterly. “You’re scared now, aren’t you?”“Answer me!”The shout echoed through the office.Papers still floated across the floor from the mess they had made moments earlier. Coffee dripped slowly off the desk. The broken lamp lay shattered beside them like the remains of a small explosion.Catalina finally jerked her arm free.“I don’t know every detail,” she spat angrily, rubbing her wrist. “But I know enough.”Amelia’s eyes burned into her.Catalina stepped
STONE INDUSTRIES – THE NEXT MORNINGAmelia pushed open the heavy glass doors to her office with her coffee cup in one hand and her tablet tucked under her arm.For the first time in weeks, she actually felt lighter.Yesterday had been a victory.Don Eduardo had backed down.Reyes Shipping had publicly restored business ties.The board had finally stopped breathing down her neck for one damn night.As sunlight poured through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire office glowed gold. The city below looked alive and powerful, like New York itself was finally bowing to her again.Amelia took a slow sip of coffee and smiled to herself.Maybe today would finally be normal.Maybe today she could breathe for five minutes without someone trying to destroy her life.Then she looked up.And froze.Catalina was sitting in her chair.Not just sitting. Relaxing, Her Legs crossed elegantly.One arm resting on the armrest.Perfect red lipstick. Perfect black dress. Perfect smile.Like she
“It’s a nuclear bomb,” Rebecca said from across the room, her voice calm but serious. “If even half of this gets leaked, Don Eduardo is finished. Not just his business—his entire life. Prison. Scandal. His family name destroyed forever.”Amelia slowly lifted her eyes from the papers.“Then we don’t leak it,” she said quietly.Rebecca blinked in surprise. “What?”“We hold it.”Rebecca frowned. “Amelia, this could end the war today.”Amelia stood up suddenly and started pacing across the office like a restless tiger.“No,” she said sharply. “Destroying him is easy. Controlling him is smarter.”Rebecca watched her carefully.Amelia stopped walking and turned around.“Call Don Eduardo,” she ordered. “Tell him I want a meeting. Face-to-face. At his mansion in Spain.”Rebecca raised an eyebrow. “Today?”“Today,” Amelia snapped. “And tell him if he refuses, the first file goes public in one hour.”Rebecca immediately grabbed her phone and dialed.The line connected.“Mr. Reyes,” Rebecca sa
Alexander lifted his hand. “No more questions. The decision has been made. Thank you.”But Catalina wasn’t finished.She grabbed the microphone again before anyone could stop her. Her eyes filled with tears so perfectly timed they looked real enough for the cameras.“You think Amelia can destroy me?” she shouted. “She has no idea who she’s dealing with. I will bury her. I will take everything she loves and crush it.” Her lips curled into a cold smile. “Tell her that. and I’m making sure the whole world is aware.”The reporters exploded with questions.Flashlights flickered nonstop.Don Eduardo stepped beside his daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder. It looked protective, almost fatherly but everyone in the room could feel the threat behind it.The cameras loved every second of it.Meanwhile, Alexander stood quietly beside them, looking weaker and smaller by the minute.As the crowd slowly left the hall, Catalina leaned close to her husband and whispered with a smile, “Smile
DON 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
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES~NEW YORK Vivian was signing documents when Mia burst into the office without knockingHer voice shook. “Vivian… he’s here.”Vivian didn’t even look up. “Who? Ryan again? Security knows what to do.”Mia shook her head fast, eyes huge. “No. Harrison Cole.”Vivian stopped moving
Alejandro leaned in close.“Call your warden. Tell him Alejandro Favino is here. And if this gate isn’t open in thirty seconds—”He lifted his phone slowly.“—I’ll call the Governor, the Mayor, the Board of Corrections, and every donor who keeps this place alive.”He stepped even closer.“This gate
FAVINO ESTATE, ITALY — ALEJANDRO’S VINEYARDThe sun climbed slowly over the green hills of Favino Estate, the biggest and most feared wine company in southern Italy. Workers moved between the vines, lifting crates, checking barrels, and trying not to draw attention to themselves.Alejandro crossed
Mia stared. “Like… physically?”Vivian opened the door.“Oh yes,” she said sweetly. “Straight into the nearest wall.”And she walked out, hair swinging, mood deadly.BLACKWOOD BOARDROOM – NEXT MORNINGVivian walked into the room like she owned it. Dark suit, sharp heels, and a look that warned ever







