Chapter 2 – The Mask Begins to Fall
The engagement dinner ended early.
Guests quietly excused themselves.
Many deliberately stopped beside Mariana before leaving.
One by one...
They thanked her for the wonderful evening.
Some even apologized for remaining silent.
Renata noticed every interaction.
Each polite smile directed toward Mariana felt like another insult.
Once the mansion emptied, she confronted Santiago in his study.
"You embarrassed me."
He calmly loosened his tie.
"No."
"You embarrassed yourself."
Her expression hardened.
"You're choosing a maid over your fiancée?"
"I'm choosing basic human decency."
Renata laughed bitterly.
"So that's what this is?"
"Because she lives here?"
"Because that little girl calls your house home?"
Santiago looked directly into her eyes.
"You insulted a hardworking woman simply because you believed she couldn't defend herself."
"And then a three-year-old had more dignity than anyone in this room."
Renata's face turned pale.
She realized she wasn't winning this argument.
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For the first time...
She felt Santiago slipping away.
