I was eight months pregnant when my millionaire husband lifted his hand to hit me one more time. "You're nothing without me!" he snarled.
Chapter 2 — The Man Santiago Should Never Have Crossed
No one spoke.
Not even Beatriz.
The only sound came from the slow click of Ricardo Salazar's polished shoes against the marble floor as he walked toward me.
His eyes never left my face.
Then they lowered to the fading bruise beneath my sleeve.
His jaw tightened.
For a man who had built one of Mexico's largest business empires, Ricardo Salazar was famous for never showing emotion in public.
Tonight, every person in the room saw something few ever witnessed.
Pure rage.
He stopped beside me.
Without saying a word, he removed his overcoat and gently draped it over my shoulders.
His hand rested carefully against my swollen stomach.
"My grandson?" he asked quietly.
I nodded.
"He's all right."
My father's voice trembled almost imperceptibly.
"Not for much longer if I had arrived five minutes later."
He turned.
The warmth vanished from his face.
Santiago finally found his voice.
"What the hell is this?"
Ricardo looked at him with complete indifference.
"My name is Ricardo Salazar."
Silence.
Beatriz's wineglass slipped from her fingers and shattered across the marble floor.
Santiago frowned.
"The Ricardo Salazar?"
"The only one."
The color drained from Santiago's face.
"No..."
His eyes darted toward me.
"Valeria..."
I met his stare.
"My full name is Valeria Salazar."
For nearly thirty seconds, no one moved.
Everything Santiago believed about his marriage collapsed in front of him.
"You lied to me," he whispered.
I almost laughed.
"You forged medical records."
"You planned to steal my baby."
"You threatened to murder me."
"And you're upset because I didn't tell you my last name?"
One of Ricardo's attorneys stepped forward and placed a thick folder on the dining table.
"There are thirty-seven documented incidents of domestic violence."
Another folder.
"Financial fraud."
Another.
"Insurance fraud."
Another.
"Forgery."
Another.
"Conspiracy to unlawfully imprison Mrs. Salazar."
Santiago's confidence disappeared one page at a time.
"You can't prove any of that."
My attorney smiled.
"Oh..."
"We don't need to."
He placed a tablet on the table.
The screen lit up.
Video.
The hidden camera.
Everyone watched Santiago threaten me only minutes earlier.
Everyone heard Beatriz calmly instruct him not to leave bruises where the gala guests might notice.
The room became unbearably quiet.
Ricardo spoke only four words.
"Call the police."
Santiago lunged toward the tablet.
Security intercepted him before he made two steps.
May you like
For the first time in his adult life...
Someone stronger had taken control.
