Chapter 22 - The Empty Mansion
Miles away, in the most exclusive zip code of the city, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The sprawling Cabrales mansion was bathed in a cold, unforgiving light. The grand foyer, usually bustling with domestic staff and the clinking of expensive crystal, was eerily silent.
Élida Montserrat de Cabrales sat at the long, polished dining table, her posture rigid, though her hands trembled uncontrollably around a cold cup of tea. She wore a designer silk robe, but the fabric suddenly felt heavy and suffocating against her skin.
Bernardo Cabrales walked into the room, holding a stack of legal documents that looked thicker than a phone book. His face was entirely ashen, the permanent stress lines around his eyes carved deeper than ever before.
"They are freezing everything, Élida,"
Bernardo said, his voice entirely devoid of hope.
"Villanueva Capital has initiated the hostile asset seizure. The bank accounts, the offshore trusts, the investment portfolios... it is all gone. The auditors are arriving tomorrow."
Élida slammed her delicate fist against the mahogany table.
"This is absurd! We are the Cabrales family! We built this city!"
She shrieked, her voice cracking with pure panic.
"They cannot just wipe us out because of a minor misunderstanding at a wedding!"
"It was not a minor misunderstanding,"
Bernardo snapped, his own suppressed rage finally breaking through.
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"You humiliated the only child of our sole creditor. You threw wine on the woman who was shielding us from bankruptcy. You brought this upon us, Élida. All of it."
Élida stared at her husband, her arrogant facade finally cracking as the terrifying reality of utter ruin settled over her like a suffocating blanket.
