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The hangover hit Mateo like a freight train at sunrise. Sunlight filtered through the velvet curtains of the luxury hotel suite, burning his eyes. Beside him, Valeria was still asleep, smelling of cheap neon cocktails and expensive perfume. Mateo groaned, reaching for his phone on the nightstand. / Chapter 17 / 20

Chapter 17 - The Mastermind’s Trap

"I didn't make a fool out of you, Mateo," Camila said, her voice dropping to a icy whisper as she slowly walked toward him. "You did that the moment you valued bottle service over human life."

Mateo sneered, pulling out his satellite phone. "Time's up. Say goodbye to your daughter—"

He pressed the call button. But instead of connecting to his mercenary, a child’s lullaby began to play through the phone’s speaker.

Mateo froze. "What... what is this?!"

The door to the master bedroom opened softly.

Walking into the room was Don Hector himself, dressed in a sharp Italian suit, holding baby Sofia safely in a plush velvet blanket. Behind him walked four elite private security officers—all wearing Vance Security badges.

Mateo’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "Hector?! What are you doing?! I gave you the Swiss crypto key!"

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Isabella’s artificial tears gleamed under the soft golden chandeliers of the private VIP suite, her hands trembling with a performance worthy of a grand stage. She gestured wildly toward Khloe, who lay crumpled on the cold marble, her white silk dress torn and stained with drops of spilled champagne. Marcus stood frozen in the doorway,

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Don Hector gently handed the baby to Camila, who pulled Sofia tight against her chest, tears of relief streaming down her face.

Don Hector turned to Mateo, shaking his head with pitiless contempt. "Did you really think a broken dog like you could buy loyalty from a man like me? Alejandro Vance bought my entire cartel syndicate’s debt two years ago. I work for him, Mateo. I’ve worked for him since the day you entered Topo Chico."

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