CHAPTER 6 — THE TRUTH BEHIND THE BETRAYAL
Three weeks had passed since Mariana left the Whitmore mansion.
Three weeks since the slap.
Three weeks since she walked away from the life everyone thought she wanted.
But for Andrew, every day felt longer than the last.
He no longer woke up surrounded by assistants waiting for his commands.
He no longer received invitations to exclusive events.
He no longer saw his name printed beside words like "successful" or "powerful."
The world had moved on.
And for the first time, Andrew was forced to face himself without the protection of money.
He moved into a small apartment owned by one of his former employees.
Nothing about the place reminded him of his old life.
No marble floors.
No private elevator.
No expensive artwork.
Just silence.
And memories.
Every morning, he passed the empty chair where Mariana used to sit while reviewing business reports.
Every night, he remembered how many times she tried to talk to him.
And how many times he ignored her.
But the memory that hurt the most...
Was not the mansion.
Not the company.
Not the money.
It was the moment she looked at him after he slapped her.
There had been no anger in her eyes.
Only disappointment.
As if she had finally accepted that the man she loved no longer existed.
Meanwhile, Mariana continued rebuilding her life.
The Escalante headquarters was busier than ever.
But despite her success, something inside her remained unsettled.
Clara noticed.
"You haven’t slept much."
Mariana looked up from her documents.
"I’m fine."
Clara smiled slightly.
"You always say that."
Mariana looked out the window.
"I spent four years building someone else’s dream."
"And now?"
"Now I’m trying to remember what my own dream was."
Clara sat across from her.
"You know you don’t have to forgive him."
Mariana was quiet.
"I know."
"Then why do you keep thinking about him?"
Because the answer was complicated.
Because Andrew had hurt her.
But he had also once been the person who made her believe in love.
Before the money.
Before the status.
Before the betrayal.
There had been a time when he held her hand and promised they would face everything together.
She missed that man.
Not the man who humiliated her.
Not the man who chose Brenda.
But the man she thought he was.
That afternoon, Mariana received an unexpected call.
The number belonged to Andrew’s former chief financial officer, Thomas.
She answered.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Escalante."
She immediately recognized his voice.
"What happened?"
Thomas hesitated.
"I found something you need to know."
Mariana became serious.
"What?"
"There was someone else involved."
She frowned.
"Explain."
Thomas lowered his voice.
"Andrew wasn’t the only one making decisions behind your back."
Mariana sat up.
"Who?"
A pause.
"Brenda."
The name alone changed the atmosphere.
"What are you saying?"
Thomas continued.
"Before she came into Andrew’s life, she was already investigating Whitmore Enterprises."
Mariana listened carefully.
"She knew about the financial problems."
"She knew Andrew was vulnerable."
"And she knew you were the reason the company survived."
Mariana’s expression hardened.
"How?"
"She had access to private information."
Thomas opened a file.
"She wasn’t just an affair."
"She had a plan."
For a moment, Mariana said nothing.
The betrayal suddenly felt deeper.
Because Brenda had not simply taken advantage of a broken marriage.
She had targeted it.
"Send me everything."
"I already did."
After ending the call, Mariana opened the files.
The information inside changed everything.
Messages.
Financial records.
Private conversations.
Proof that Brenda had carefully positioned herself beside Andrew.
She had encouraged his arrogance.
She had convinced him that Mariana was holding him back.
She had repeatedly told him that he deserved someone "more suitable."
Someone from his world.
Someone like her.
Mariana closed the file.
For the first time since leaving...
She felt something other than sadness.
She felt clarity.
That night, Andrew received a visit.
Thomas arrived at his apartment.
Andrew looked surprised.
"What are you doing here?"
Thomas handed him a folder.
"You need to see this."
Andrew opened it.
Within seconds, his expression changed.
"No."
Thomas remained silent.
Andrew flipped through the pages.
"No..."
The evidence was undeniable.
Brenda had been manipulating him.
The entire relationship.
The entire betrayal.
The entire destruction of his marriage.
Suddenly, every conversation made sense.
Every moment she criticized Mariana.
Every time she pushed him to separate from his wife.
Every time she reminded him that Mariana was "not his equal."
Andrew sat down.
His hands shook.
"How long?"
Thomas answered quietly.
"Almost from the beginning."
Andrew closed his eyes.
The truth hurt more than losing his fortune.
Because he finally understood something.
He had blamed Mariana for being distant.
He had blamed her for changing.
But the person who truly changed...
Was him.
He had allowed another person to destroy the woman who loved him.
And now he had to live with that.
The next morning, Andrew made a decision.
He would not chase his company.
He would not chase his money.
He would not chase his reputation.
There was only one thing left he needed to do.
May you like
Face Brenda.
And uncover the full truth behind the betrayal that destroyed his marriage.
