Chapter 7
Yunifer’s health had been fragile since prison. With no family left, she’d once confided in him that she wanted a child–someone to make her feel like she belonged somewhere again.
Yet the moment she discovered her pregnancy, he’d forced her to end it, ignoring her heartbroken
pleas.
The truth–one he’d barely admitted to himself–was that losing the baby had gutted him too.
But that hadn’t stopped him from succumbing to temptation with Laria in his office that very night…
He’d brought Yunifer’s mother home on her birthday, hoping to surprise her with something special.
But when everything went to hell, he’d walked away with Laria in his arms while Yunifer knelt
sobbing over her bleeding mother.
For Laria’s sake, he’d demanded endless sacrifices from Yunifer.
And she had complied–silently, completely. So why was Laria now gleefully twisting the knife when Yunifer wasn’t even here to defend herself?
His eyes hardened into shards of ice as he stared at Laria.
“That’s enough,” he said, his voice cutting like a blade through ice.
“We’ve known Yunifer for years, Laria. Let’s drop the act. You and I both know exactly how brilliant she once was–and precisely how she ended up destroyed.”
“You’ve been basking in the spotlight that should have been hers, while secretly tearing her down behind her back. It’s disgusting. I never realized what a vicious little parasite you really are.”
He took a shaky breath, rage barely contained. “I see it now–what I’ve been too blind to admit. I fell
in love with Yunifer somewhere along the way.”
“I’ve done everything I could for you, And now get out of my house and don’t ever show your face here again.”
“Richard,” he barked at the housekeeper, “escort Ms. Winter off my property. Now.”
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Chapter 7
Laria’s face crumpled into practiced sobs, clearly expecting him to fold as he always had. But this
time, Hektor didn’t even glance in her direction.
When the house finally fell silent, he noticed a black USB drive among the scattered ashes.
With trembling hands, he plugged it into his laptop.
It contained two videos and an audio file.
The first video showed him and Laria in his office, naked and entangled on the night after Yunifer’s
abortion.
The second captured Laria deliberately provoking both Yunifer and her mother–the vicious, calculated words pouring from her mouth a stark contrast to her usual fragile persona.
The moment Yunifer’s mother reacted, Laria smashed the vase over her head with shocking
violence.
From this angle, the blood spreading beneath the older woman’s head was sickeningly vivid, while Yunifer begged and sobbed beside her.
The audio file was his conversation with Nate in the car–his own voice confessing to framing
Yunifer, destroying her career, and sending her to prison.
Hektor’s face drained of all color. His heart felt crushed in an invisible vise, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
With shaking fingers, he called Nate.
“I need confirmation on something,” he rasped. “Find out if Yunifer’s mother actually died at the
hospital.”
“What? Isn’t she at Lakeside Care Facility?” Nate asked, confused.
Hektor’s voice broke entirely, raw emotion bleeding through.
“I brought her home for Yunifer’s birthday. There was an… incident with Laria. She hit Yunifer’s
mother with a vase. I–I didn’t think it was serious.”
Nate understood the urgency immediately. “I’ll check right now and call you back.”
Hektor sat paralyzed, barely breathing, praying that the death certificate was just Yunifer’s twisted
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Chapter 7
revenge plot.
After what felt like hours, Nate called back, his voice heavy with confirmation.
“It’s true, Hektor. Yunifer’s mother died two days ago from massive internal bleeding and hemorrhage. The doctors couldn’t save her because she arrived too late for treatment.”
His friend paused before continuing.
“I’ve been telling you for years that Laria isn’t who you think she is. What kind of person watches you destroy someone’s life and reputation, then stands by while their mentor bleeds out without shedding a single fucking tear?”
“Yunifer knows everything now. After what she’s endured, I doubt she’ll ever forgive you. I wouldn’t.
As the call ended, Hektor stared at the divorce certificate in his hands, the paper warping in his
white–knuckled grip.
“I’ll find you, Yunifer,” he whispered. “Wait for me. Please.”
Chapter 8
