Chapter 2: The Empire Begins to Collapse News travels faster than lies. Especially when cameras are involved. By noon... The surveillance footage had become the center of the investigation. Although investigators kept the recordings confidential... Someone leaked still images. One photo showed Sofia crawling into the hallway. Another showed Carmen entering the honeymoon suite with five women. The internet exploded. Television stations interrupted their programming. "Prominent Businesswoman Investigated After Wedding Night Assault." Sponsors immediately distanced themselves. Board members demanded emergency meetings. Investors wanted answers. The Alvarez family company lost millions in market value before sunset. Inside the detention center... Javier finally understood the seriousness of the situation. He asked for his lawyer. Instead... Alexander walked into the interview room. Not as his attorney. As the attorney representing Sofia. Javier lowered his eyes. "I never wanted this." Alexander remained standing. "You watched." "I was scared of my mother." Alexander's expression never changed. "My daughter was scared of dying." Silence. Then Alexander placed a thick folder on the table. Medical reports. Photographs. Witness statements. Forensic evidence. Every page destroyed another excuse. "You had one job." Alexander said quietly. "Protect your wife." "You failed." Javier whispered, "I'm sorry." Alexander leaned closer. "Apologies don't erase fingerprints." Then he walked away. That afternoon... One of the five women accepted a plea deal. She confessed everything. The meetings. The plan. The forged property transfer documents. The intention to isolate Sofia after the wedding. The assault wasn't spontaneous. It had been planned for months. Every detail had been rehearsed. Every participant knew exactly why they were there. The case was no longer about domestic violence. It had become organized criminal conspiracy. And prosecutors were just getting started.

5 chapters