Ricardo's eyes bored into Luca like drills seeking stone. "What did you mean by an 'unfortunate accident'? Explain. Now."Luca shifted his weight, arranging his features into something that might pass for embarrassment. His gaze dropped to the floor, and he rubbed the back of his neck. "I... I really don't want to say, Ricardo. For dignity's sake. You understand.""Fuck dignity." Ricardo's voice cut through the air like a blade. The nurses in the hallway froze mid-step. "You tell me what happened to my daughter right now, or I promise you'll be in more trouble than you can possibly imagine. I don't care about your family name or your money. Talk."Santiago paled further, if that was even possible. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.Luca's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. He shrugged, the gesture infuriatingly casual. "If you insist." He paused, as if gathering courage, then met Ricardo's eyes with manufactured regret. "Esperanza and I... we were making ou

The grand hallway of the Vincent estate echoed with silence as Diego's uneven footsteps faded into the distance. Sir Alex stood frozen in his study doorway, staring after the limping figure with an expression that bordered on awe."Did that just happen?" he murmured to himself. "Did he actually turn down everything?"Draya moved beside her father, her face a mixture of hurt and determination. "He rejected me. Me."Sir Alex shook his head slowly, a strange smile forming on his aristocratic features. "In forty years of business and politics, I have never—never—met a man like that. He turned down a fortune. Turned down my daughter. Walked away from everything most men would kill for." He looked at Draya with something approaching reverence. "Your mother always said I'd know a true man of honor when I saw one. She was right.""Father, you're not actually admiring him for rejecting me, are you?" Draya's voice rose with indignation."I'm admiring him for having principles stronger than gree

"Am I?" Luca raised an eyebrow. "Ask the ambulance crew. They picked her up from my office. Ask the security footage showing her entering willingly, practically running to the elevator. Your wife came to me, Herrera. And she wanted it rough."The photos. The restaurant. The doctor. Now this.History repeating itself like a nightmare. Isabella all over again.Diego spun on his heel, unable to breathe, unable to think. His vision blurred—whether from rage or tears, he couldn't tell. His feet carried him away from the waiting area, away from Luca's poison, away from the wreckage of his marriage.Not again. This couldn't be happening again."Diego, wait!" Ricardo's voice called after him, but Diego kept walking.His leg screamed in protest, nearly buckling twice before he reached the main corridor. The exit signs glowed like beacons, promising escape from this fresh hell.Behind him, Santiago watched with mounting horror. Unlike his father, unlike Diego, he knew the truth. He'd heard Espe

"I won't stop," Ricardo said, misunderstanding. "Not until you agree. Diego, I know you're hurt. I know you're angry. But even if—" his voice caught. "Even if what Luca said was true, even if Esperanza made a terrible mistake, is that reason enough to let her die? To let my daughter die?"Yes. It is. She betrayed you. Made you a fool. Again."The photos could have been manipulated," Ricardo continued desperately. "Luca has money, connections. He could have staged anything. And my daughter—Diego, I've known her all her life. She loves you. Completely. Absolutely. I've seen the way she looks at you, the way she fought for you against everyone. Including me, at first. She wouldn't betray you."Lies. All lies. Isabella looked at you the same way. Remember? Remember how she swore she loved you? Remember finding her in bed with Alejandro?The dark mist reached Diego's elbow now, crawling up his arm like infection spreading through veins. His breathing came in ragged gasps as he fought for c

"An accident, as I've said repeatedly." Luca's expression remained infuriatingly calm. "One that Esperanza herself was partly responsible for. But that's beside the point. The point is, Diego Herrera has no business being in that room. Not when Esperanza explicitly told me she wanted nothing to do with him.""She never said that," Diego growled."How would you know? You weren't there." Luca smirked. "Oh wait, that's right. You were off somewhere else while your wife came to me for comfort. For satisfaction. For everything you couldn't give her."Diego took a step forward, and for a moment, Luca genuinely feared for his life. The look in Diego's eyes was pure murder."Diego, don't," Ricardo warned, grabbing his arm. "He's trying to provoke you. Don't give him ammunition.""Smart advice," Luca agreed. "Assaulting me in a hospital corridor would definitely support my argument about you being dangerous. Nurse, I'm formally requesting that security be notified. This man should not be allow