Chapter 1 - MY DAUGHTER
Carmen Robles had one hand locked around Sofia Morales’s upper arm when she slapped her across the face.
The sound cut through the ballroom.
Sofia’s head snapped sideways.
She stumbled into a banquet table, caught the edge of the linen, then dropped onto one knee.
Her split lip stung.
A tiny smear of blood touched her lower lip.
The white wedding dress she had spent months choosing was torn along one sleeve.
Javier stood three feet away.
Her husband of less than six hours.
He did nothing.
Carmen yanked Sofia upright.
“Later, when the chairman gets here—”
She pointed toward the ballroom entrance.
Her gold bracelets flashed beneath the chandeliers.
“—trash like you will be thrown into the street.”
Sofia stared at Javier.
“Say something.”
He looked away.
That hurt more than Carmen’s hand.
Then the ballroom doors burst open.
Adrian Reyes entered in a black suit.
People turned instantly.
Carmen straightened.
The anger disappeared from her face and became a social smile.
She had been waiting all evening for Adrian Reyes.
Chairman of Reyes Group.
The man whose approval could open doors Carmen had spent years knocking on.
Then Adrian saw Sofia.
Bruised arms.
Swollen cheek.
Torn dress.
Tears.
His face changed.
He ran.
Not walked.
Ran.
He dropped beside Sofia and pulled her carefully into his arms.
“My daughter! Are you okay?”
The entire ballroom went silent.
Carmen stepped backward.
Javier went pale.
Sofia gripped the back of Adrian’s jacket.
For one second she was eleven again, shaking in a hospital corridor while Adrian promised she would never be alone.
Carmen pointed at her.
“How the hell can she—”
Adrian rose slowly and moved Sofia behind him.
Carmen’s voice cracked.
“—be your daughter?!”
Adrian looked at her.
Cold.
Then looked at Javier.
Something in his expression changed again.
Recognition.
Not surprise.
“You knew,” Adrian said.
Sofia froze.
Javier’s eyes dropped.
Carmen turned toward her son.
“Knew what?”
Adrian did not answer Carmen.
He kept looking at Javier.
“You stood there and let your mother hit her even though you knew exactly who she was to me.”
Sofia slowly turned toward her husband.
Javier whispered:
“Sofia, I can explain.”
Her hand slipped from Adrian’s jacket.
Because now the wedding had two betrayals.
May you like
Carmen had not known.
Javier had.
