Diego kept the phone pressed to his ear, his expression unchanging despite Alejandro's screaming on the other side of the glass."I don't want your help!" Alejandro's voice was raw with fury. "I don't want anything from you! Not your pity, not your money, nothing!""You're in prison facing years of charges, Alejandro. Your pride isn't going to get you out of here.""My pride is all I have left!" Alejandro slammed his fist against the glass again. "You took everything else! My reputation, my fiancée, my future—you destroyed it all!""I didn't destroy anything," Diego said calmly. "You did that yourself. Every choice you made led you here. I just tried to warn people before you dragged them down with you.""Warn people? You poisoned Isabella against me! You sabotaged my relationship!""I told her the truth about your debts and your intentions. The fact that she didn't believe me says more about her than about me."Alejandro's laugh was bitter and broken. "You're so self-righteous, aren'

She leaned up, and he met her halfway, their lips finding each other with an urgency that spoke of weeks of building tension. The kiss deepened quickly, Esperanza's hands sliding up to tangle in his hair, Diego's arms wrapping around her waist and pulling her flush against him.They broke apart only to catch their breath before kissing again, this time with even more heat. Esperanza's fingers worked at the buttons of his shirt while he navigated the zipper of her dress."Upstairs," she managed between kisses. "Now."They stumbled toward the staircase, shedding clothing along the way, unable to keep their hands off each other. By the time they reached her bedroom, restraint had been completely abandoned.The night dissolved into tangled sheets and whispered names, passion and tenderness mixing in equal measure. Hours passed in a haze of connection—physical, emotional, something that went deeper than either of them had expected.When they finally lay still, Esperanza curled against Dieg

"Then we accelerate the process. Focus on the essentials—energy manipulation, basic combat forms, mental discipline." Lucia stepped closer to Santiago. "I'm not asking you to make him a master. I'm asking you to give him tools that will transform him from a weak, pathetic gambler into someone capable of standing beside us."Santiago studied her face, seeing the determination there. "Why is this so important to you?""Because I refuse to partner with weak men." Her voice dropped to something almost dangerous. "Alejandro has connections, knowledge, motivation. But without strength—real strength, not just bravado—he's useless. The mystic arts will give him an edge. Make him formidable.""Or kill him if he's not careful," Santiago warned. "The techniques are dangerous. Channeling energy incorrectly can destroy someone from the inside.""Then teach him carefully." Lucia's smile was razor-sharp. "But teach him nonetheless. We'll need every advantage when the time comes to move against Vasqu

"Two years ago, my daughter was gravely ill," Ricardo continued, his expression growing serious."The doctors had given up hope. I had given up hope. And then a remarkable man entered our lives and saved her through means I still don't fully understand."More applause, this time directed at Diego, who nodded in acknowledgment."But Diego Herrera didn't just save my daughter's life," Ricardo's smile widened."He gave her something even more precious—happiness. True, genuine happiness. The kind a father dreams of seeing in his child's eyes."Esperanza wiped at her eyes, clearly moved."I remember when Esperanza was five years old," Ricardo said, his voice warming with nostalgia."She came to me one day and announced she was going to run the entire world. Not just a company—the entire world. I asked her how she planned to do that, and she looked at me with complete seriousness and said, 'Daddy, I'll just work really, really hard until everyone says yes.'"Laughter filled the ballroom. Es

The event culminated with Diego and Esperanza taking the stage together, the spotlight illuminating them as the orchestra played something romantic. The crowd quieted, watching with warm smiles as the couple stood face to face."I love you," Esperanza whispered, her eyes shining."I love you too," Diego replied, pulling her close.Their kiss was met with applause and cheers, cameras flashing, capturing the moment for posterity. To everyone watching, it was a perfect ending to a perfect celebration.But Diego's mind remained elsewhere, replaying Alejandro's words, analyzing the threat, preparing for what was coming.Alejandro pushed through the entrance of a popular strip club on the city's east side, ignoring the bouncer's attempt to check his credentials.He moved with purpose through the main floor—dancers gyrating on poles, music pounding, patrons drinking and shouting—and headed straight for a door marked "PRIVATE."Down the stairs, through another locked door that opened at his a