Diego stood in the center of the warehouse, surrounded by armed gang members who were trying desperately to maintain their tough façades despite the fear evident in their eyes. They kept glancing at his left hand, at the glove that concealed whatever dark power had dropped their best fighter with a single touch."Let me clarify something," Diego said, his voice cutting through the tense silence. "The thirty-five million I just transferred was what Kenneth owed you. Payment in full for his original debt. Which means Kenneth is now a free man. You have no legal or moral claim on him anymore.""Legal?" The leader laughed harshly. "You think we care about legal?""I think you care about being fair," Diego replied. "Or at least appearing fair to your men. Otherwise, why run an organization with rules about debts and payments? Why not just rob and kill everyone who owes you?"The leader's jaw clenched. "Watch your mouth.""The way I see it," Diego continued, ignoring the warning, "Kenneth a

Esperanza waited in the airport arrivals area, her wheelchair positioned near the exit where she could easily spot Santiago emerging from customs. They'd agreed during a tense phone call two days ago—when he returned from his "business trip" (really just hiding from the fallout of firing Isabella), they would sit down and have a proper conversation. Brother to sister. No fake uncles claiming inheritance. No gold-diggers pretending to love him while stealing his company.Just the two of them, trying to salvage what remained of their family.Santiago appeared through the sliding doors looking haggard but relieved. When he saw Esperanza, something like genuine warmth crossed his face."You actually came," he said, moving toward her."I said I would," Esperanza replied. "Ready to have that talk?""More than ready. I need to apologize for—""Not here." Esperanza gestured toward the exit. "Let's get to the car first. Somewhere private where we can actually discuss everything that's happened

The drive away from Fox City was quiet for the first hour, Kenneth sitting in the passenger seat staring out the window while Diego navigated the highway with practiced ease. The silence between them was comfortable now—the tension that had defined their relationship finally dissolved by Diego's act of mercy.Finally, Kenneth cleared his throat. "I owe you an apology. A real one."Diego glanced at him briefly before returning his attention to the road. "For what? Trying to defraud my wife's family? Impersonating a dead man? Nearly getting yourself killed by the Wahi Gang?""For all of it," Kenneth said quietly. "But mostly for underestimating you. When I first saw you at the Vega estate, I thought you were nothing. Just another useless man feeding off Esperanza's wealth. A crippled leech playing at being relevant.""And now?" Diego asked, though there was no anger in his voice."Now I know you're far more than meets the eye," Kenneth replied, genuine respect coloring his tone. "You're

Diego stood frozen in the doorway of the conference room, his exhaustion from three days of driving evaporating in the face of pure disbelief. He'd just returned from Fox City, from dealing with Kenneth's mess and the Wahi Gang, and now he was hearing that Santiago intended to throw away everything they'd worked for."You can't be serious," Diego said, his voice dangerously quiet. "After everything we discussed. After the contract you signed. You're really going to reinstate Isabella?""I don't have a choice!" Santiago's face was flushed, defensive. "I'm going to be a father, Diego. And I'm going to be the best damn father this city has ever seen. My child deserves to grow up with both parents. With stability. With—""With a mother who might not even be carrying your baby," Esperanza interrupted sharply. "Santiago, have you stopped for even one second to consider that the child might not be yours?"Santiago's jaw clenched. "Of course it's mine. Isabella and I were together for months.

"Both of you, stop!" Esperanza's voice cut through the rising tension like a blade. She wheeled herself between Diego and Santiago, her hands raised. "This isn't helping anyone! We need to calm down and discuss this rationally!"But Diego barely heard her. The rage coursing through his veins was unlike anything he'd felt in years—not since his days as the Ghost, when anger had been a tool to be controlled and directed. Now it was raw, consuming, threatening to overwhelm the careful discipline he'd maintained for so long.Santiago's words echoed in his mind. If Diego leaves, the criminals will leave us alone.The sheer stupidity of it. The willful blindness. The desperate need to believe Isabella's lies over Diego's warnings."Diego," Esperanza said more urgently, noticing something in his expression that frightened her. "Diego, look at me. We can work through this. We just need to—"She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as they fixed on something behind Diego.His left hand.The