The heavy silence in the ballroom still lingered, broken only by low, uneasy whispers that refused to die completely. Guests remained frozen in place, unsure whether to leave or keep watching. The projector screen had gone dark, but the tension it left behind had not. Then the main doors opened again. Alicia walked in first, briefcase in hand, followed by two uniformed officers, a man in a suit carrying a medical bag, a sharp-eyed woman who was clearly a lawyer, and several of my own men who immediately took positions near the exits. “Madame Xavier, I’m here with the people you asked for,” Alicia said as she approached me. “Thanks for your hard work, Alicia.” I gave her a short nod, then glanced toward the officers. The two policemen scanned the room with measured calm. Their eyes stopped on Samantha, whose cheek was already visibly swollen. I addressed the doctor first, keeping my voice steady. “Dr. Perez, please check on my woman. Her cheek is g
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