CHAPTER 3 — The Billionaire Walked Down the Stairs
The golden button slipped from Valentina’s hand.
It hit the marble floor.
A tiny sound.
But somehow…
Everyone heard it.
Then came another sound.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Coming from upstairs.
Marisol’s heart stopped.
Paulina’s expression changed instantly.
Because she knew that sound.
Diego.
He had been home.
He had heard everything.
The billionaire appeared at the top of the staircase.
His face was unreadable.
But his eyes were different.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Paulina immediately changed her attitude.
“Diego…”
Her voice softened.
“I was just handling a situation.”
Diego said nothing.
He walked down the stairs.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Everyone watched.
Because nobody had ever seen him look that serious.
He passed Paulina.
Ignored her completely.
Then stopped in front of Valentina.
The little girl looked up at him.
Confused.
Diego bent down.
Picked up the golden button.
And then…
The most powerful man in Mexico…
Kneeled.
Right in front of the maid’s daughter.
The servants gasped.
Paulina went completely still.
Diego gently placed the button into Valentina’s hand.
“I think this belongs to you.”
Valentina looked at him.
Then smiled.
“Pretty.”
For some reason…
That single word destroyed his composure.
Because suddenly, he saw it.
The familiar eyes.
The familiar expression.
The same little habit he had.
The way she tilted her head when she was confused.
His hand slowly tightened.
A terrible thought entered his mind.
A thought he had refused to consider.
Impossible.
Until now.
He stood.
Turned toward Paulina.
And said:
“Marisol and Valentina are staying.”
Paulina stared at him.
“Excuse me?”
“They are staying.”
His voice became colder.
“You will not remove them from this house.”
Paulina’s face turned pale.
“You’re choosing a maid over your fiancée?”
Diego looked at Valentina.
And whispered:
“No.”
A pause.
“I’m choosing my family.”
The hallway went silent.
Marisol felt her blood run cold.
Because she knew.
May you like
The secret she had protected for three years…
Was about to come out.
