The next morning, Diego stood outside the Rodriguez estate, ignoring the buzz of his phone in his pocket. Esperanza had called twice already, her warnings from last night still echoing in his mind."Don't go. She made her choice. Let her live with it."But he'd come anyway, driven by something he couldn't quite name. Not love—that had died long ago. Perhaps just the need to see it through to the end.The news had spread like wildfire. Every radio station, every television channel carried some variation of the story: "Biggest Wedding of the Decade Canceled!" "Rising Star Isabella Rodriguez Abandoned at the Altar!" "Groom Vanishes with Millions!"Diego walked through the open front door—security had been abandoned in the chaos—and followed the sound of sobbing to the living room.Isabella sat on the sofa, surrounded by a small group of people he recognized as distant family members and a few close friends. Her face was a wreck—eyes swollen and puffy, bloodshot and rimmed with smudged ma

The underground casino hummed with activity—slot machines chiming, cards shuffling, the murmur of desperate gamblers and cold-eyed dealers filling the smoky air. Located beneath a popular strip club, the establishment catered to those seeking pleasures both legal and decidedly not.Alejandro descended the steel staircase, his heart pounding with nervous excitement. Six duffel bags weighed down his arms, each one stuffed with cash—Isabella's cash, technically, but soon to be his freedom.Two massive bodyguards flanked the entrance to a private room at the back. They recognized Alejandro immediately, their expressions shifting from bored indifference to something almost resembling pity."He's expecting you," one grunted, pushing open the door.The room was elegant compared to the chaotic casino floor—leather chairs, a polished mahogany table, subdued lighting that cast everything in shadows. Vasquez de la Fonté sat at the head of the table, a glass of expensive scotch in his hand, four

Alejandro approached the casino counter with shaking hands, his mind calculating frantically. He'd start conservatively, build his bankroll slowly, minimize risk until he had enough cushion to make bigger moves."Five hundred thousand in chips," he told the cashier.The woman—a bored-looking blonde with too much makeup—counted out the chips with mechanical precision. "High rollers' section is to your left. Good luck."Alejandro gathered the chips, feeling their weight in his hands. Half a million euros worth of plastic discs. His path to freedom or his descent into slavery.He chose blackjack first, settling at a table with moderate stakes. The dealer—a middle-aged man with dead eyes—shuffled and dealt with practiced efficiency."Place your bets."Alejandro started with ten thousand. The cards came—a king and an eight. Eighteen. The dealer showed a six. Alejandro held.The dealer flipped his hole card—a ten. Drew again—a nine. Bust.Alejandro exhaled slowly, collecting his winnings. T

Vasquez de la Fonté descended the hidden staircase beneath one of his legitimate businesses—a high-end nightclub on the city's edge. The passage led to a reinforced bunker, one of several safe houses he maintained for situations exactly like this.He slammed the door behind him, his usual composure cracking. "Three years building that casino. Three years of bribes and connections and careful planning. Gone in one fucking night!"His men stood silently against the walls, knowing better than to speak when their boss was in this mood."How did they know?" Vasquez paced like a caged animal. "How did the police know exactly when to raid? Someone talked. Someone always talks.""Sir, we'll find out who—""Find out?" Vasquez whirled on the speaker. "What good does finding out do me now? The casino is seized, my dealers are arrested, and half the city knows I'm connected to illegal gambling operations!"The door at the far end of the room opened, and Lucia Caruso stepped through, her movements

Diego sat in the passenger seat of Esperanza's sleek Mercedes as she navigated through morning traffic, her attention divided between the road and the phone calls that never seemed to stop."Yes, finalize the contract by noon... No, tell them the terms are non-negotiable... I'll review the presentation when I get to the office."She ended the call and glanced at Diego. "Sorry. It's been chaos since the casino raid went public.""I wanted to ask you about that," Diego said. "The news is everywhere. Alejandro Morales arrested, illegal gambling, money laundering charges. How deep does this go?"Esperanza's expression darkened. "Deeper than most people realize. The loan companies that Alejandro borrowed from—they used to be legitimate when my father controlled them. Reputable, even. But then he made a mistake.""What kind of mistake?""He trusted the wrong person." She turned down a side street. "About eight years ago, my father took on a protégé. Brilliant businessman, ambitious, charism