Chapter 3 — The Fall of the King

Richard rushed toward Lucia.
"Please... don't do this."
"I made a mistake."
"It was just..."
Lucia raised one hand.
"For fifteen years..."
"I stood beside you."
"I believed in you when no one else did."
"I gave you everything."
"You gave me humiliation."
She glanced toward the suitcases standing by the front door.
"You told me to leave."
"I think you should follow your own advice."
The security director entered the ballroom with two guards.
He walked directly to Richard.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"We've received new instructions from the owner."
"You no longer have authorization to remain on this property."
Richard stared at the guards.
"You can't remove me from my own house!"
The security director quietly answered,
"It has never legally been your house."
Camila suddenly grabbed Richard's arm.
"You said you were rich!"
Richard pulled away.
"I can fix this!"
But Camila took one final look around the ballroom.
The mansion.
The guests.
The woman she had tried to replace.
Then she picked up her purse.
Without another word...
She walked out.
Alone.
She had never loved Richard.
She had loved the life she believed he owned.
Now that life no longer existed.
Neither did she.
Richard collapsed into a chair.
For the first time...
No one came to save him.