Chapter 4 - THE MAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
“Who is he?”
Diego’s voice was controlled.
Marisol looked at the photograph.
“His name is Javier.”
Paulina smiled.
“Interesting.”
Diego ignored her.
“Who is Javier?”
“My cousin.”
Paulina’s smile faded.
Marisol continued.
“He took me to prenatal appointments.”
Diego looked at Paulina.
“You investigated her family?”
“I protected you.”
“No.”
Diego handed back the tablet.
“You searched for ammunition.”
Paulina’s jaw tightened.
“You’re being manipulated.”
“Enough.”
Paulina turned toward Marisol.
“Then prove Javier is your cousin.”
Marisol stared at her.
“I don’t owe you anything.”
Paulina laughed.
“There she is.”
Diego stepped forward.
“Leave.”
Paulina looked stunned.
“What?”
“Leave this room.”
“This is my home too.”
“No.”
Diego’s response came instantly.
“It isn’t.”
Silence.
Paulina’s face changed.
Diego continued.
“You moved into my home six months ago.”
“We’re getting married.”
“Were.”
The word landed like shattered glass.
Marisol looked up sharply.
Paulina stopped breathing.
“What did you say?”
Diego looked at her engagement ring.
“I said were.”
Paulina’s hand closed over the diamond.
“You cannot possibly be serious.”
“I watched you threaten my daughter.”
“I didn’t know she was your daughter!”
Diego’s expression hardened.
“That is exactly the problem.”
Paulina blinked.
“You think children deserve kindness only when they belong to billionaires?”
She had no answer.
Diego pointed toward the door.
“Give me the ring.”
Paulina stared at him.
“No.”
“Paulina.”
Her eyes filled with furious tears.
“You are humiliating me for a maid.”
“No.”
Diego glanced toward Valentina.
“I’m ending an engagement because I finally saw who my fiancée becomes when she thinks someone has no power.”
Paulina slowly pulled off the ring.
She placed it in Diego’s palm.
Then leaned closer.
“You will regret this.”
She turned toward Marisol.
“And so will you.”
Paulina walked away.
But she wasn’t finished.
Not even close.
Two hours later, Diego received a message from an unknown number.
It contained one photograph.
His mother.
Isabel Villaseñor.
Sitting in a café.
Across from Paulina.
The date printed in the corner was four years earlier.
Before Diego and Paulina had supposedly met.
May you like
Under the photograph was one sentence.
ASK PAULINA HOW LONG SHE REALLY KNEW ABOUT MARISOL.
