Chapter 4 — The Collapse of Power
Chapter 4 — The Collapse of Power
Santiago snapped.
He lunged forward—but he never reached my father.
Security moved instantly.
Controlled.
Precise.
Santiago was restrained in seconds, his arms pinned without violence, his pride breaking louder than his bones.
“You can’t do this!” he shouted.
“I built this empire!”
My father didn’t even look at him anymore.
He was already speaking to his attorney.
“Freeze all Rivas holdings. Effective immediately.”
Beatriz stepped forward, voice trembling for the first time.
“You’ll destroy everything.”
My father finally turned to her.
“You destroyed it yourself,” he said.
Then he looked at me again.
And his voice softened.
“Valeria… come home.”
The words shattered something inside me.
Because I hadn’t realized how far I had been from home until that moment.
I took one step.
Then another.
Santiago struggled against the guards.
“Valeria!” he shouted. “You need me!”
I stopped.
Slowly turned.
Looked at the man who had once convinced me I couldn’t survive without him.
And for the first time…
I didn’t feel fear.
May you like
“I survived you,” I said quietly.
Then I walked away.
