But they carried twenty-eight years of fatherly love.

Valeria finally allowed herself to cry.

"I'm sorry, Dad."

Ricardo shook his head.

"You have nothing to apologize for."

He slowly removed his overcoat and draped it over her shoulders.

Then he turned toward Santiago.

"You touched my daughter."

It wasn't a question.

Santiago straightened his posture.

"This is a misunderstanding between husband and wife."

One of Ricardo's attorneys quietly placed a tablet on the dining table.

The screen displayed a live recording.

Every threat.

Every insult.

Every blow.

Everything had been streamed in real time.

Ricardo's voice remained calm.

Chapter 2 — The Empire Built on Borrowed Time

Beatriz stepped forward first.

"You have no right to interfere in our family."

Ricardo looked at her with quiet disappointment.

"For two years..."

"...you believed my daughter was alone."