MasukVALERIA'S OFFICE â CONFERENCE ROOM â 9:00 AMThe office was modern and sleek. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the Manhattan skyline. Valeria sat at the head of the table. Her hair was pulled back. Her suit was sharp. She was ready for battle."Okay," Valeria said, opening a file. "Let's review where we stand. The DA is reviewing the evidence we submitted. If they agree, we file a motion to vacate Amelia's conviction. We need to be prepared for every possible scenario."Daniel nodded. "The recording is our strongest piece of evidence. Marisa admitted to planning the poisoning. Gabriella admitted to framing Amelia. That's huge."Sarah leaned forward, her expression thoughtful. âWhat about Claraâs testimony? Is it solid enough?âValeria nodded. âYes. Clara has agreed to testify in person. Sheâs currently in witness protection, but sheâs willing to come forward when the time comes. Her testimony, combined with the recording, should give us enough evidence to go after Gabriella and Mar
FAVINO PRIVATE AIRPORT â 7:15 PMAlejandro walked beside Gabriella through the private terminal, one hand resting protectively against her back. She had cleaned the blood from her face, but her nose was still swollen from Serenaâs punch. She looked exhausted, angry, and more than ready to leave everything behind.When they reached the waiting area, Gabriella slowly lowered herself into a chair and rubbed her stomach. âI still canât believe Serena attacked me on my wedding day,â she complained, looking at Alejandro. âWhat kind of person does that?âAlejandroâs face remained cold. âForget Serena. Youâve had enough for one day. You need to rest.âGabriella studied his face for a moment before reaching for his hand. âDo you really believe me?â she asked quietly.Alejandro looked at her. His expression gave nothing away. âI believe you told me what happened.âGabriella gave him a small smile and leaned against his shoulder. âI just want to get away from this place.ââWe will,â Alejandro s
âYou heard me,â Serena snapped. âYou were the last person with Elena, and now sheâs dead. Donât stand there and insult my intelligence by expecting me to believe that she just happened to slip and fall while she was alone with you.âGabriella folded her arms across her stomach and looked Serena up and down. âI would never hurt Elena. I have no reason to kill her, and unlike you, Iâm not going to accuse someone of murder simply because Iâm angry.âSerena laughed bitterly. âYou expect me to believe that?ââI expect you to believe the truth.â Gabriellaâs voice became sharper. âYour sister slipped and fell. I was there when it happened. I tried to help her. I screamed for help, I held her while she stopped breathing, and I have been standing here trying to process what I witnessed. Yet instead of asking me what happened, you walk in here and start calling me a murderer.âSerenaâs eyes remained fixed on her. âI donât trust you. Not even a little. Ever since you came into this household, yo
Everyone turned when Aunt Cordelia entered the bathroom. She walked slowly toward them, her silver hair falling around her shoulders and her eyes moving from Elenaâs body to Gabriella. She stopped a few feet away, gripping the rosary in her hand.âThis wedding,â Cordelia said quietly. âThis marriage⊠it is cursed.âGabriellaâs face went pale. She instinctively placed a hand over her heavily pregnant stomach. âWhat are you talking about?â she asked.Cordelia looked at her for a long moment before speaking again. âIn our tradition, when death surrounds a wedding like this, it is not something we should ignore. A wedding is supposed to begin with happiness and blessings. But this one began with death.âAlejandroâs expression hardened. âEnough.âCordelia looked at him. âAlejandro my nephew, listen to me. There are signs that should never be ignored. Your sister died on the day you married this woman. That is not normal.âAlejandro let out a cold laugh. âNot normal? My sister slipped, hit
SAINT VICTORIA HOSPITAL â NICU â 6:30 PMAmelia was wheeled into the NICU. The room was quiet, filled with the soft beeping of monitors. Tiny babies lay in incubators, connected to tubes and wires. And there, in the corner, was Mateo.Her heart swelled as She slowly got out of the wheelchair and walked to the incubator. Mateo was still small. Still fragile. But he looked stronger. His skin was pinker. His breathing was steadier.Amelia pressed her palm against the glass. "Hello, my little warrior," she whispered. "Mama's here."Mateo's tiny fingers moved. His eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he looked at her.Amelia smiled through her tears. "I love you, Mateo. I love you so much."Ariana stood beside her, tears streaming down her face. Valeria watched from the doorway, her eyes soft. "He's beautiful," Ariana whispered.Amelia nodded. "He's perfect." She stayed there for an hour, just watching him breathe. Just watching him fight.She had lost so much. But she still had him. She sti
Gabriellaâs face crumpled as she looked at Alejandro. âI donât know what happened,â she said through her tears. âElena came into the bathroom to speak to me. We were talking normally, and then she said she was going back downstairs.âAlejandro stared at her. âThen what happened?ââShe turned to leave, but she suddenly slipped.âGabriella pointed toward the bathroom, her voice trembling. âShe fell so hard that her head hit the floor. I rushed over to her immediately and tried to wake her, but she wasnât responding.âAlejandro looked at his sisterâs body, his eyes filling with tears. âYouâre saying she just fell?ââYes,â Gabriella whispered. âI swear. One moment she was standing there, and the next she was on the floor.âShe wiped her cheeks and continued, âI called her name over and over, but she wouldnât answer me. I was terrified, Alejandro. I didnât know what to do.âAlejandro looked down at Elena, his face filled with disbelief and grief. âShe was perfectly fine a few minutes ago.â
Marisa jabbed a finger at Amelia. âYes. You.âThe room went quiet.Alejandro tensed. âMother, donât.ââNo,â Marisa said, her voice cold. âYou donât get to shield her. Let me speak.âShe stepped closer to Amelia. âYou show up here⊠and suddenly the Guerras strike. You have ties to the Blackwoods. To
THE FAVINO ESTATE â LATE MORNINGThe house felt different after Marisa left.Amelia noticed it first.The servants moved softly, avoiding eye contact. Phones were kept on silent. Even the sunlight pouring through the tall windows felt restrained, like it didnât want to interrupt whatever storm was
KATHERINA APARTMENT ~ NEW YORKRyanâs voice dropped, turning cold. âGood. Iâll send you a secure line. Nobody can know weâre working together. Not Damien. Not the board. No one.âKatherina smirked and leaned back in her chair.âPlease. Damien has so many problems piled on his head, he wouldnât noti
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES~NEW YORK Vivian was signing documents when Mia burst into the office without knockingHer voice shook. âVivian⊠heâs here.âVivian didnât even look up. âWho? Ryan again? Security knows what to do.âMia shook her head fast, eyes huge. âNo. Harrison Cole.âVivian stopped moving







