Chapter 4 - The Counter-StrikeThe shock on their faces was priceless. Doña Carmen clutched her chest, performing a theatrical gasp that would have won an Oscar, while Ricardo stared at Marcus in utter disbelief.
"You can't do this!" Ricardo stammered, pointing an accusing finger at Valeria. "We are married! Her assets are marital assets!"
Marcus adjusted his glasses, pulling a crisp document from the folder. "Section 4, Paragraph 2 of the prenuptial agreement signed thirty-six hours before your wedding ceremony, Ricardo—which you happily signed without reading because you were too busy planning the open bar—explicitly states that all pre-existing and future business acquisitions remain 100% individual property. Furthermore, forensic accounting shows that over the last three years, you and your family misappropriated over 1.2 million pesos in unauthorized transfers. We are filing criminal charges for fraud and embezzlement by tomorrow morning."
The color drained entirely from Ricardo’s face. He looked at Valeria, his bravado instantly evaporating.
"Valeria... please," Ricardo whispered, his voice trembling as he stepped toward her. "You can't be serious. We have history. We’re husband and wife. Don’t do this over... over money."
"It’s not about the money, Ricardo," Valeria said quietly, looking directly into his cowardly eyes. "It’s about the fact that when I was dying in a hospital bed, struggling to breathe, you didn't ask if I was alive. You asked for insurance papers. You showed me exactly who you are, and I believe you."
Doña Carmen, realizing her son was losing the battle, dropped the act of a refined matriarch and lunged forward like a cornered animal.
"You greedy, heartless witch!" Carmen screamed, clawing at the air. "You’re going to ruin us! You’ll pay for this! We’ll make sure everyone in your company knows what kind of monster you really are!"
Valeria didn't flinch. She simply nodded to the security guards.
May you like
"Get them out," she commanded.
Within five minutes, the penthouse was empty. The suitcases were sitting on the curb outside, and the heavy oak door locked behind them with a satisfying, permanent click. Valeria walked over to the window, watching them scramble into a taxi, and finally took a deep, full breath of air that reached the very bottom of her lungs.
