Chapter 13 - The Indestructible Heir
Valeria’s mocking smile finally, permanently vanished. The realization hit her like a speeding train. "No..." she whispered, taking a step back. "No, that's impossible."
Alejandro looked at her with an expression of pure, unadulterated triumph mixed with disgust.
"And tonight," Alejandro declared, his voice echoing in the silent hall, "you forced us to reveal it. You forced us to trigger the public acknowledgement of the trust in front of two hundred witnesses, the international board of directors, and every high-definition security camera in this estate."
Carlos Mendes put a trembling hand over his face. He looked like a man who had just watched his empire burn to the ground. "Valeria... my god, what have you done?"
She stepped back, her hands shaking wildly. "I didn't know... I had no idea..."
"Exactly," I said.
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My voice cut through the chaos like a blade. Everyone in the ballroom turned to look at me. I could feel the tears still wet on my cheeks, but my voice was no longer trembling. The frightened, invisible wife had vanished.
"You didn't know who I was," I told Valeria, stepping toward her with deliberate, terrifying calm. "You only knew that you could humiliate me, because you arrogantly believed I had no one to protect me."
