Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Mask Drops
Don Ricardo frowned, thoroughly confused by the sudden shift in the younger man's demeanor. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Diego’s gaze shifted to Valeria. For the first time in their entire relationship, she saw what had always been hiding beneath his polished exterior: absolute, unadulterated contempt.
"What I mean," Diego said, his voice dripping with venomous clarity, "is that I did not come this far, play this exhausting game for this long, just to have some sentimental, overprotective old man ruin my plan at the finish line."
The small room descended into a suffocating silence.
Valeria clutched the fabric of her skirt. "Plan?" she breathed.
Diego didn't even bother to pretend anymore. With a slow, arrogant motion, he reached up, untied the perfect silk bowtie from his collar, and let it fall carelessly onto the table among the ruined flowers.
"Did you honestly think I was marrying you for love?" he asked, tilting his head mockingly.
Valeria’s face drained of the last remnants of color. She looked as though she had been physically struck.
Seeing his daughter's profound pain, Don Ricardo let out a roar of primal anger and lunged at Diego. But Diego, younger and anticipating the move, was faster. He sidestepped the older man’s grasp, grabbed Don Ricardo roughly by the lapels of his suit, and shoved him violently against the hard plaster wall.
"Let him go!" Valeria shrieked, rushing forward.
Clara backed further away, her weeping turning into hyperventilation as the situation spiraled out of control.
Don Ricardo struggled against Diego's surprisingly strong grip. "You are nothing but a wretched coward," he spat directly into Diego's face.
Diego leaned in, his breath hot against Don Ricardo’s cheek. "No. I am a man who is incredibly tired of smiling at a family of spoiled aristocrats who don't even realize how easy it is to open the door and let a wolf inside."
Valeria was trembling violently, her mind refusing to process the monstrous stranger standing before her. "Diego, please... what are you doing?"
He turned his head slowly to look at his bride. "What I should have done from the very beginning to ensure cooperation."
May you like
Without taking his eyes off her, Diego reached his free hand inside his tailored tuxedo jacket.
When his hand emerged, it was clutching a heavy, black semi-automatic pistol.
