Chapter 1 - The Echoes of the Past
The silence in the marble hallway was completely suffocating.
Diego stepped closer to Marisol, his dark eyes searching her terrified face for a lie.
Marisol instinctively pulled Valentina tighter against her chest.
She wanted to run, but her legs felt like they were cast in solid lead.
"I tried to tell you," Marisol whispered, her voice breaking.
Diego shook his head, his expensive suit shifting as he crossed his arms.
"I never received a single call or letter from you after you left."
Marisol felt a hot tear slide down her cheek.
"I came to your office four years ago when I found out I was pregnant."
"I stood in the pouring rain for three hours, begging to see you."
Diego's expression shifted from anger to sheer confusion.
"My head of security told me you were busy planning your engagement to Paulina," Marisol continued.
"He handed me an envelope of cash and told me to disappear."
Diego's face turned completely pale as the pieces finally clicked together.
His trusted advisor, Arthur, had been the head of security back then.
Arthur had built a wall around Diego, filtering every single person who tried to reach him.
Diego looked down at Valentina, who was still clutching the golden button.
The little girl had his exact same eye shape, the same stubborn jawline.
"Arthur paid you off to hide my own flesh and blood," Diego said, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl.
Marisol nodded slowly, trembling as the truth finally hung in the open air.
Diego gently reached out and touched Valentina's soft cheek.
"I am going to destroy the man who stole four years of my life," Diego vowed.
A sudden, sharp clap echoed from the top of the marble staircase.
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Paulina was standing there, holding a sleek silver smartphone with a wicked smile on her face.
"Arthur is already on his way here, Diego, and he is bringing the police."
