Chapter 2: Everything Falls Apart
Victor's father tore open the envelope.
Inside was a formal termination notice.
Every partnership.
Every supply agreement.
Every investment.
Canceled.
Effective immediately.
The old businessman staggered backward.
"No..."
"This has to be a mistake."
The attorney calmly shook his head.
"There is no mistake."
"Your construction company receives nearly eighty percent of its projects from Mariana's father's holding group."
One executive sitting among the wedding guests quietly stood.
"So do we."
Another executive followed.
"Our company will also withdraw."
A third businessman closed his phone.
"The banks have already received notification."
Victor grabbed the attorney's arm.
"Please... there has to be something we can do."
"There was."
"You could have married the woman you claimed to love."
Victor turned toward Mariana.
For the first time, arrogance disappeared from his face.
"I'm sorry."
"I was confused."
"I made a terrible mistake."
"Please... let's start over."
Mariana looked at him for a long moment.
Then she smiled.
It was not a smile of revenge.
It was a smile of freedom.
"You didn't reject a poor woman."
"You rejected my character."
"And that is something no amount of money can repair."
She removed her engagement ring.
Without anger.
Without tears.
She gently placed it on the altar.
"Our story ends here."
She walked toward the church doors.
May you like
This time...
No one tried to stop her.
