Chapter 2 - The Serpent’s Counter-AttackPaulina Robles was not a woman who accepted defeat quietly. Within ten minutes of being banished to her room, she had mobilized her entire network.
Downstairs, Diego stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the study, his tablet glowing in the dim light. The headline on Reforma blazed in crimson letters: VILLASEÑOR GROUP ON THE BRINK: MILLIONS EMBEZZLED OR MISPLACED IN GHOST SUBSIDIARIES.
Beside the text was a high-resolution photo of Paulina’s father, Senator Robles, standing alongside a prominent board member of Villaseñor Construction.
"It's a hostile takeover disguised as a family scandal," Diego muttered, his jaw clenching so hard a muscle twitched violently in his cheek. He looked up at Marisol, who was standing awkwardly near the door with Valentina asleep against her shoulder. The exhaustion of four years of poverty had finally caught up with the little girl.
"They planned this," Diego realized aloud. "Paulina didn't just stumble into my life six months ago. Her father’s company was bleeding out. They pushed her into my path to force a merger. And if I broke off the engagement..." He stopped, his eyes darkening. "...they planned to ruin me publicly."
Marisol felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "You need to let us go, Diego. Right now. Take me and Valentina to the bus station. If these people are as dangerous as you say, keeping us here will only give them a weapon to destroy you completely."
Diego took two long strides across the Persian rug and grabbed Marisol by her trembling shoulders.
"Destroy me?" A dark, dangerous smile touched the corners of his mouth. "Let them try. For four years, I've lived in a gilded cage built by corporate sharks and socialites who only loved my bank account. I forgot what it felt like to fight for something real." He looked down at Valentina, his expression softening into an expression of fierce, protective agony. "And nobody—nobody—touches my blood."
Before Marisol could answer, the heavy oak front doors of the mansion echoed with a deafening bang.
May you like
Heavy footsteps swarmed the foyer. Shouting voices pierced the grand hall.
Senator Robles had arrived, flanked by four burly private security guards and a battery of television reporters he had smuggled past the estate gates.
