Chapter 2: Everything Falls Apart
One of Ricardo's attorneys placed a tablet on the coffee table.
Without saying a word, he pressed play.
The living room filled with Santiago's own voice.
"You're nothing without me."
The slap.
Beatriz laughing.
"If you don't sign those papers tomorrow..."
"...your baby is going to be born without a mother."
Every word echoed through the mansion.
Santiago stared at the screen in horror.
"How..."
Ricardo answered.
"The silver clock."
"The one you've ignored for months."
"The entire assault was livestreamed."
Another attorney opened a second folder.
"Financial Crimes Division."
Inside were forged medical reports.
Fake psychiatric evaluations.
Fraudulent insurance claims.
Illegal custody documents.
Every page carried Santiago's signature.
Every witness had been recorded.
Every crime documented.
Then Ricardo made a single phone call.
"Execute Phase Three."
Within seconds Santiago's phone exploded with notifications.
One after another.
Accounts frozen.
Credit lines suspended.
Investors withdrawing.
Banks terminating agreements.
Grupo Rivas stock plummeted as emergency investigations became public.
The television in the living room switched to breaking news.
"Authorities have launched criminal investigations into the Rivas Group..."
Santiago could barely breathe.
"My company..."
Ricardo interrupted him.
"It was never your company."
"You survived because I quietly guaranteed your debts."
"I signed the papers that kept your empire alive."
He paused.
"I also signed the papers that ended it."
Outside, police vehicles surrounded the estate.
Detectives entered carrying arrest warrants.
Beatriz collapsed into a chair.
"This can't happen..."
One detective approached Santiago.
"Santiago Rivas, you are under arrest for domestic violence, conspiracy, fraud, attempted coercion, document forgery, and conspiracy to unlawfully remove parental custody."
As handcuffs closed around his wrists, Santiago looked at me.
"Valeria..."
For the first time—
He sounded desperate.
"I loved you."
I met his eyes without anger.
"No."
"You loved control."
May you like
"And today..."
"You lost it."
