Chapter 2 - The Broken Ring
Footsteps echoed sharply from the top of the grand staircase.
Paulina had not stayed in her room as Diego had ordered.
She stood on the landing, her face twisted in an ugly mix of sheer disbelief and burning rage.
"Is this a joke?" Paulina shrieked, her voice echoing shrilly off the high ceilings.
"You are actually believing the lies of a pathetic, scheming maid?"
Diego slowly stood up, turning to face the woman he was supposed to marry.
The warmth that had just been in his eyes completely vanished, replaced by an absolute, freezing darkness.
"Do not speak to her like that," Diego warned, his tone dangerously low and lethal.
Paulina marched down the stairs, her silk robe billowing behind her like a storm cloud.
"She is obviously trying to trap you, Diego!" she yelled, pointing a manicured finger directly at Marisol.
"She probably slept with half the staff, and now she wants to pin her bastard child on the billionaire!"
Before Paulina could say another word, Diego closed the distance between them.
He didn't raise his voice, but the sheer fury radiating from him made Paulina physically step back.
"Take off the ring," Diego commanded, his voice cold as ice.
Paulina’s eyes widened in absolute shock.
"What?" she gasped, her hands instinctively flying to cover her chest.
"I said, take off the ring, Paulina," Diego repeated, not breaking eye contact for a single second.
"The wedding is off, the engagement is over, and you have exactly one hour to pack your belongings and leave my house."
"You can't do this to me!" Paulina screamed, tears of pure anger streaming down her perfectly made-up face.
"My family will destroy your reputation in this city!"
Diego let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Let them try," he challenged her, his jaw set in a hard, unforgiving line.
"But if you ever come near Marisol or my daughter again, I will make sure your family is left with nothing."
Paulina trembled with rage, her chest heaving as she stared at the man she thought she controlled.
With a dramatic cry of frustration, she yanked the massive diamond ring from her finger and threw it hard against Diego’s chest.
It bounced off him and clattered onto the marble floor, spinning into a dark corner of the hallway.
"You will regret this, Diego Villaseñor!" Paulina spat venomously.
She turned and stomped up the stairs, leaving a heavy, tense silence in her wake.
Diego took a deep breath, running a hand through his dark hair before turning back to Marisol.
May you like
"She is gone," he said softly, his eyes searching Marisol’s tired face.
"Now, it is time for you and Valentina to come out of that tiny room."
