Chapter 3 - The Golden Cage Crumbles
By midday, news of the scandal had broken across every media outlet in the country. Headlines screamed: Tycoon Rejects 17 Calls From Dying Wife For Mistress.
Released on bail after paying a minor fine, Mateo stormed into the headquarters of his investment firm, Garza Capital. He needed money. He needed lawyers. He needed to spin the narrative before the board of directors panicked.
"Get me my chief legal counsel!" Mateo shouted as he burst into the executive suite.
His secretary didn't look up. She was packing her desk into a cardboard box.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Mateo yelled.
"The board froze your access, Mr. Garza," she said flatly. "Mr. Vance arrived two hours ago with a court order. It turns out 70% of the initial capital for Garza Capital came from Camila’s family trust. Since she declared you unfit due to spousal abuse and fraud, the trust has pulled every cent."
Mateo’s phone vibrated in his hand. It was his bank.
"Mr. Garza," the manager’s voice was robotic. "We are notifying you that your personal cards, credit lines, and corporate accounts have been frozen pending a federal audit for misappropriation of estate assets."
Panic, real and suffocating, seized Mateo's throat. He was ruined. In less than twelve hours, he had gone from a billionaire king to a penniless suspect.
He rushed to his private apartment—the secret penthouse he had bought for Valeria. He slammed the keycard into the door and marched inside. "Valeria! Get your things! We need to pull whatever cash we have in the safe and—"
He stopped short.
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The safe in the bedroom closet was wide open. Empty.
Valeria was standing near the window, packing designer bags into two massive suitcases. Standing beside her were two private security guards wearing badges from Alejandro’s security firm.
