20
Tony’s expression was priceless. His hand tightened around his phone as he ended the call, his face drained of
color His line parted as if he wanted to cau comething but all he did was abaka bie baad cuttering to himself
The Dr
color. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but all he did was shake his head, muttering to himself.
“No… my father must be mistaken,” he whispered, his voice hollow.
I couldn’t help the bitter laugh that escaped my lips. “Mistaken? You really think that?”
He turned to me, eyes blazing with confusion and anger. “This–this is ridiculous. You? The Salvador heiress?
That can’t be true.”
*If you hadn’t kidnapped me, maybe you would’ve been surprised when I was officially introduced,” I said,
I
watching his reaction closely.
His jaw tightened, his fingers curling into a fist. “Why the hell would anyone invite me to that party after what happened? This has to be a setup. A way to humiliate me.”
I smirked. “Feeling paranoid, Tony, I invited you to the fucking party!”
“Shut up!” he snapped, his voice sharp with frustration. “You’re talking nonsense,”
He stormed across the room, grabbing the remote and switching on the television. I leaned back, watching as the news played.
The screen flickered to life, and the image of a reporter standing outside a grand estate appeared. Her voice was calm, but the urgency in her words was undeniable.
“Breaking news: The long–awaited reveal of the Salvador heiress has taken a shocking turn. Ciara Salvador, who was set to reclaim her rightful place as the leader of her family’s empire, has reportedly been kidnapped during the event. Authorities are investigating the sudden disappearance, and sources suspect Tony Reeds may be involved.”
Tony’s grip on the remote tightened. The camera cut to footage of me at the party earlier, standing beside
Zaverio. Then, an image of Tony confronting us outside on our ice cream date.
*The tension between the Salvador heiress and Tony Reeds was evident just days ago when she was seen publicly with her new husband, Zaverio Guerrilo–the mysterious leader of the Guerrilo cartel. Sources have
confirmed that Guerrilo is, in fact, the illegitimate son of Stefano Reeds. Decades ago, Stefano fathered a child with
his housemaid and attempted to force her to terminate the pregnancy. Fearing for her life, she fled and gave birth to Zaverio in secret. Now, after years in the shadows, he has returned to claim his place in the criminal world.”
I turned to look at Tony, whose face had gone blank. He barely seemed to be breathing. The weight of the revelation crushed down on him like a collapsing building.
“This isn’t real,” he muttered under his breath.
The reporter continued.
*Ciara Salvador, who disappeared from the public eye seven years ago in pursuit of love, has now returned to Mexico under shocking circumstances. After a failed marriage to Tony Reeds, she reclaimed her birthright, only to vanish again–this time, under far more sinister circumstances. Given her recent confrontation with Tony Reeds and his father’s ties to the Guerrilo cartel leader, suspicion has fallen heavily on him.”
Tony slammed the remote down on the table, cutting off the broadcast. His breathing was uneven, his face
twisted with disbelief
He slowly turned to face me. “You were the Salvador heiress this whole time,” he said, his voice eerily calm And yet, you stayed with me.”
I crossed my arms, meeting his stare without hesitation. “And do you really think all of your business successes were yours alone?” I scoffed. “I was pulling strings in the shadows, ensuring you thrived, while you were busy plotting how to get rid of me and replace me with Hailey.”
His eyes flickered with something unreadable. Then, he chuckled–low and dark. “So, all this time, I had the heir to an empire in my bed, and I didn’t even know it”
I clenched my fists. “And all this time, I was blind to the man you really were.
Tony smirked, shaking his head. “You think you’ve won? You think you’re finally getting your revenge?” He
stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous. “You’re forgetting one thing, Ciara.”
I didn’t move, didn’t flinch. “And what’s that?”
He leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. “I have you now. The Salvador heiress, the wife of my so–called half–brother. And if I know anything about power, it’s that your family and your precious Zaverio will do anything to get you back *
I felt my stomach tighten as his words sank in.
Tony tilted his head, his smirk deepening. “Including surrendering everything”
My heart pounded. I could see it now–the calculation in his eyes, the gears turning in his head.
This wasn’t just about revenge anymore.
Tony had something far more dangerous in mind.
And I was right in the middle of it.
