Imagine this. You’re 30 minutes away from marrying the love of your life. Your wedding dress, a couture piece, sparkles in the soft light of the anteroom. 250 of Mexico’s most influential guests await in the majestic metropolitan cathedral. And your heart beats with the promise of a stop

always.
Now imagine that a thin wall is the only thing separating you from your future husband’s voice, as he confesses to his best friend that it’s all a sham. who feels a deep disgust for you and who only marries for your money while his pregnant lover waits for him. Most women

They would cancel the wedding, they would be immersed in humiliation and pain, but not you.
You would decide to do something much, much worse. This is the story of how a broken-hearted bride became the architect of the coldest and most calculated revenge that Mexico City’s high society has ever witnessed. Alejandro’s voice, as soft and seductive as honey

poisoned, filtered through the wall of the sacristy, each syllable an icy thump in Sophie’s breast.
You can’t imagine how disgusted I am to touch it, Javier,” she said, and the contempt in her tone was so palpable that Sofia felt the air escape from her lungs. She was only half an hour away from walking down the aisle to be united in marriage to the man who had just admitted that his very presence had made him

it provoked repulsion.
Every kiss he had given her, every I love you he had whispered in her ear for two years, had been nothing more than a masterful performance, a lie carefully constructed to get to this precise moment. The threshold of his family’s fortune. Sophie’s world, which until that moment seemed to

A perfectly lit fairy tale, crumbled into a deafening silence, leaving her alone with the echo of betrayal. Alejandro, that’s too cruel, brother.
The voice of Javier, the godfather, sounded awkward, a feeble attempt at morality in a conversation that had already crossed all the boundaries of decency. But Alejandro only let out a humorless laugh, a dry, bitter sound that resonated in Sofia’s broken soul. “Cruel.

I’ll tell you what’s cruel,” he replied with a coldness that would freeze hell. It’s cruel to have to feign desire when I kiss her. It’s having to listen to their stupid dreams about our life together, knowing that every second by their side is a torture I only endure thinking about their empire.

father. Money, Javier, the Villanuevas’ access to power. That’s the only aphrodisiac that works with me. It is the reward for putting up with the pathetic little princess.
Sofia put a hand to her mouth, biting her own knuckles to stifle the sob that threatened to tear her inside. Dressed in a dreamy design that had cost a fortune, with the veil delicately placed over her hair and makeup that had taken three hours to make.

 

To perfect herself, Sofia felt like a broken doll.
Every word of Alejandro was a hammer blow that shattered two years of memories, turning moments she treasured like pure gold into simple scenes of an elaborate farce. How had she been so blind? He wondered as tears began to trace silent paths through his

cheeks.
Alejandro Cárdenas, the brilliant lawyer with a disarming smile and impeccable manners, had entered his life like a prince out of a novel, precisely during a charity auction organized by his father, Don Ricardo Villanueva. He seemed so different from the other men that

Suitors surrounded her, whose eyes shone with signs of weight as they looked at her.
Alejandro, on the other hand, seemed genuinely interested in her, in her passion for art, in her opinions on literature, in the small details that made up her being. For months, he courted her with a patience and dedication that completely melted his heart. A heart that always

He had been protected by a Mukukeu. Surround with caution. I sent him sunflowers knowing that he hated red roses because he considered them a cliché.
She remembered every story of her childhood, every dream she shared in the privacy of the night, or at least that was what she believed. Now each of those romantic gestures felt like an expert manipulation, one more piece on the board of his great scam. The blindness of love, he realized,

it was the most dangerous of all disabilities. “But you really don’t feel anything for her?” asked Carlos, the other godfather, his voice tinged with an incredulity that Sofia shared.
Alejandro’s response was a sarcastic laugh that was like a slap in the face. “Of course I feel something. I feel immense gratitude,” he said, his voice dripping cynical. “Sweet little Sofia is my goose that lays the golden eggs. Without his naivety, without his desperate longing for true love, I

he would continue to be up to his neck in debt, owing more than 3 million pesos to guys who do not accept excuses as a form of payment. 3 million pesos agiotistas.
The revelation hit Sofia with the force of a train. Alejandro had always told him that his tight financial situation was an entrepreneur’s struggle, but always under control. He never mentioned dangerous moneylenders. When she, with the delicacy of a woman in love who does not want to hurt the

pride of her man, she asked him about his difficulties, he always changed the subject. “I don’t want to worry you with my problems, my love.
It’s a man’s thing,” he told her, caressing her cheek with a tenderness that was now grotesque. And she, in her naivety, accepted him, admiring his apparent strength and his desire to protect her. What a fool she had been. He had confused secrecy with protection, manipulation with manipulation.

care.
Each of her lies had been a shovel, fitting the hole she was now in, minutes away from marrying a con artist who saw her as a simple ATM. “Was your situation so serious?” Javier’s voice sounded genuinely surprised, as if not even his friends were more likely to be surprised.

knew the depth of Alexander’s well.
Grave is not the word, it was a matter of life and death. replied Alejandro, his voice stripped of any cold and pragmatic emotion. Those guys had given me two weeks to pay them or they’d break my legs or worse. I was desperate looking for a way out, any way out.

And then, like a miracle from heaven, I met the little crown princess at that stupid auction. It was as if I had won the lottery without even buying a ticket. The way she said it, with that mixture of relief and cruelty, made Sofia’s stomach turn. It was not a

Hers was a story of survival, not a love story. And that’s when you realized you had the solution to all your problems, Javier continued, connecting the dots.
Alejandro let out a cruel, triumphant laugh. Exactly. A beautiful, rich woman completely in love with me. She was the perfect trifecta, the solution to my debts, my lack of connections, and my mediocre future. All in one package wrapped in silk and diamonds. I just had to play my part.

Paper, perfectly written. Each word was a dagger twisting in Sofia’s heart.
She remembered that first encounter with painful clarity. He had been so charming, so attentive. They talked for hours about the paintings at the auction, about Siqueiros and Tamayo. She had been impressed by his culture and his apparent sensitivity. All a lie, all calculated.

He didn’t see art; he saw an opportunity. In the two years following that encounter, his plan unfolded with diabolical precision. I managed to pay off the entire debt. I opened my own law firm in the heart of Polanco. I bought the Porsche I’d always wanted and an apartment with a view.

“Spectacular,” Alejandro continued, reveling in his own wickedness, listing his accomplishments like trophies from a hunt. ”
And all thanks to my silly fiancée introducing me to all of Dad’s millionaire friends. I was the perfect son-in-law at every dinner party, every networking event. She opened doors for me, and I just had to walk in and take what I wanted.” Sofia recalled Cecari with a pang of humiliation each time.

Those presentations, feeling proud of how he shone, how he won everyone over with his eloquence.
She believed she was showing the world the incredible man she had fallen in love with, but in reality, she was just hosting her own plunder. Old Ricardo gave me three million-dollar contracts just because I was making his little girl happy. Alejandro continued with pride

The perverse thing that made Sofia feel nauseous was that
Don Ricardo Villanueva, her father, a man who had built an empire from scratch based on trust and his word, had actually offered her a job. Sofia always thought it was because her father recognized Alejandro’s brilliance and professional competence. How naive.

Now she understood the truth. He was simply a loving father, a father who would do anything to see a smile on his only daughter’s face, a smile she now knew had been bought with lies and manipulation. Her father had been swindled just as much as she had, and that thought ignited a fire within her.

A new flame of anger flickered inside her, and she suspected absolutely nothing.
Not even a little? asked Carlos, the other godfather, his tone a mixture of curiosity and a hint of admiration for his friend’s audacity. Alejandro let out a laugh so loud and contemptuous that Sofia feared they might hear it on the other end. Suspect that silly girl, please. Sofia loves me like a

rescued puppy. He believes every word I say.
Just yesterday, during the rehearsal dinner, he told me in front of his whole family that I was the most honest and upright man he had ever met. The tears, which had been silent, now flowed freely, ruining his perfect makeup. It was true. He had said it. He had

She raised her glass and toasted him to his integrity, while he gazed at her with eyes that feigned love and gratitude, knowing full well he was the protagonist of the greatest lie of all.
The memory of that dinner burned inside her. Her father smiling with pride, her mother moved to tears, her friends applauding. They had all witnessed her humiliation, even though at that moment it had seemed like a celebration of love. How could Alejandro have stayed there accepting the

Praise, knowing that every word was a farce? The audacity of his deception was monumental, almost artistic in its perversity.
She realized that he hadn’t just deceived her, but had turned her entire family, her whole inner circle, into unwitting actors in his masterpiece of manipulation. The betrayal wasn’t just personal; it was an affront to everything she loved and stood for. She is so naive that

“He even asked me to choose the jewelry for the family dowry,” Alejandro continued, his voice filled with malicious glee.
“A million pesos worth of diamonds and emeralds that he entrusted to me to keep safe until after the honeymoon. How naive he thinks I am, his personal vault!” Sofia squeezed her eyes shut. The physical pain of the betrayal was almost unbearable. Her grandmother’s jewels,

Heirlooms passed down through generations, treasures laden with history and family love.
She had entrusted them to Alejandro as the ultimate symbol of her devotion and trust. Now, the image of those jewels in the dirty hands of a loan shark or sold to finance her fiancé’s lavish lifestyle made her sick.
“But Alejandro, are you going to marry her in less than half an hour?” Carlos insisted, as if the imminence of the act could awaken some conscience in his friend. “That’s not right.” Alejandro sighed with the patience of a teacher explaining something obvious to a slow child. “You don’t understand.”

He said. And there was a twisted pride in his voice.
The pride of a strategist who admires his own plan. The wedding isn’t the end of the game, it’s just the first phase. I need the marriage to have full and legal access to the Villanueva family businesses. It’s my ticket to real power. Sofia’s heart stopped for a moment.

First phase.
What plan was he talking about? This was much bigger and darker than I had imagined. Once married, I will become part of the inner circle, Alejandro explained as if he were presenting a business plan. In a few years, when I have already secured at least 10 million-dollar contracts to

through his connections and have a significant stake in the family businesses, I’ll get a divorce, and then, finally, I can be with the woman I truly love. The air grew thick, heavy.
Sofia felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. The woman he truly loves. For two years she had lived in the blissful illusion of being that woman, the one, the love of his life. He had told her so a thousand times in whispers at night, in midday texts, in

Handwritten letters.
Each of those declarations of love was now a poisonous lie. “Wait a minute,” Javier interjected, his voice a murmur of shock. “There’s another woman.” Alejandro paused dramatically before dropping the final bombshell, one that detonated the last vestiges of Sofia’s world. “Of course there is. And no

That’s all, Isabela is three months pregnant.
The name hit him like a bullet, Isabela. His secretary, Isabela Morales, the efficient and ambitious young woman he had hired a year ago, remembered her perfectly from the opening of his firm. A brunette woman with a statuesque figure encased in a red dress that

It defied discretion, and a glance toward Alejandro that Sofía had once interpreted as mere professional admiration. How blind, how stupidly blind she had been.
Now, with the blindfold brutally ripped from her eyes, the insignificant memories of the last few months returned to her with painful clarity, forming a mosaic of betrayal. The Jilis, the office’s beloved clients, whom Alejandro always attended to privately, leaving the room.

The frequent late-night meetings that kept him home past midnight, the subtle, lingering scent of women that he sometimes wore and which he casually attributed to someone in the office building elevator. Every excuse, every little lie was now a piece of the puzzle.

A puzzle that revealed the full picture of his deception. He had been living with a stranger, an accomplished actor playing the role of a lifetime.
“Alejandro, you’re completely insane,” Javier exploded. “She’s pregnant, and you’re going to marry another woman right now.” Alejandro’s calmness was terrifying, almost inhuman. “Relax, everything is under control,” he replied with a chilling coldness. Isabela understands perfectly the

situation.
She knows I need to marry the fat cow first to secure our future. She’s an intelligent and patient woman. Fat cow. The offense was so unexpected, so vulgar, that for a moment Sofia’s pain was replaced by a surge of pure fury.

She, Sofía Villanueva, who had always been praised for her elegance and slender figure, which she maintained with discipline and dedication, was reduced to such a crude insult. At 28, Sofía was one of the most admired women in Mexican society. Tall, with a chestnut mane that fell into

With natural waves down to her waist and an innate elegance, she had never had self-esteem issues. In fact, Alejandro had always showered her with compliments about her beauty.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he would tell her. More lies. She discovered in that instant that the insults of a lover hurt a thousand times more than those of an enemy, because they are built on the ruins of intimacy. The image he had of her in private was a caricature.

Grotesque, a monster to be milked before being discarded. And that revelation changed her forever.
Isabela will remain quiet and out of sight,” Alejandro continued, oblivious to the transformation taking place in the woman on the other side of the wall, while I definitively establish myself within the Villanueva family and secure our inheritance.

Then I’ll divorce Sofia in a civilized way and assume my responsibility as a father. I’ll be the hero who returns to take care of his son. The plan was so cynical, so perfectly selfish, that it was almost admirable in its wickedness. He not only planned to rob her, but he also intended

Control the narrative, come out as the victim, or, in the worst-case scenario, as an honorable man caught in difficult circumstances.
“What if Sofia finds out? What if she fights, what if she makes a scene?” Carlos asked, raising the only logical objection. Alejandro laughed with utter contempt, a sound dripping with arrogance. Fight. Her, you know that spoiled little princess. She’s never had to fight for anything in her life. Everything is

They handed it to her on a silver platter. She’s too soft, too weak to be dangerous.
At most, she’ll cry in the corners. She’ll make a bit of a scene with her rich friends at some café in Polanco, but in the end, she’ll get over it. People like her don’t know how to fight; they only know how to buy comfort. And it was there, in that precise moment, that something inside Sofía broke and was reshaped into something else.

Much harder and sharper than steel.
Spoiled princess, how dare she? Sofia had worked at the family business, Corporativo Villanueva, ever since she graduated from university with honors. She had started from the bottom, not out of necessity, but as a matter of principle, because of her father’s desire that she understand the value of work. She spoke four

She was fluent in languages.
She had a postgraduate degree in international business from a prestigious foreign university and was respected in the business world for her sharp intelligence and tireless dedication. But to Alejandro, the man to whom she had given her heart, she was nothing more than a caricature, a stereotype.

Empty. He didn’t see the woman, he only saw the cliché of the rich girl. Moreover, Alejandro continued, sealing his own fate with every arrogant word.
When I get everything I want, Sofia will just be a rich ex-wife who served as a stepping stone to success. She and all that arrogance from her aristocratic family will be an expensive memory, an anecdote I’ll tell while enjoying my fortune. The way he spoke of Isabela, on the other hand,

She was filled with genuine affection, an admiration he had never shown her, not even in their supposedly most intimate moments.
The comparison was torture, irrefutable evidence that for him she was the means and Isabela was the end. “Isabela has worked since she was 15 to help her family,” Alejandro said with a pride that pretended to be noble. She knows what hardship is, what real struggle is.

Survival. Sofia, on the other hand, believes she is special only because she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but deep down she is just a silly girl who has never broken a sweat in her life. She has no idea what the real world is like. At that moment, Sofia’s transformation was

Complete. The devastating sadness evaporated, leaving in its place a gel-like, fairy-like, crystalline fury. Alejandro Cárdenas had made the biggest mistake of his life. He had completely underestimated the wrong woman. You’ll see, Alejandro said, delivering the final blow, the coup de grâce to his own

A career as a con artist.
In five years I’ll be living in Europe with the woman I truly love, with my son, and I’ll be obscenely rich. And poor Sofia, well, she’ll just be a footnote in my biography, a reminder of a very expensive investment that made me a millionaire. I laugh maliciously. I have to admit, it was the

The best investment I’ve ever made. Two years of feigning love in exchange for access to an empire worth hundreds of millions—a surefire deal.
Sofia looked at herself in the full-length mirror that adorned the room. It was no longer sadness that was reflected in her eyes. It was the coldest and most calculated thirst for revenge a betrayed woman could feel. Alejandro had just discovered, without knowing it, that the combination of intelligence

Sharp wit, unlimited resources, and the fury of a humiliated woman was the most dangerous and volatile mix in the world.
Sofia now had less than half an hour to make the most important decision of her life. She could cancel the wedding, expose Alejandro in front of the 250 guests from the Mexican elite, endure public humiliation, and become the talk of society. Or she could do something that Alejandro

Never, not even in her wildest dreams, could she have imagined it.
She could turn the predator into prey. She could show that cruel and calculating man that he had chosen the wrong victim for his macabre game. A chilling smile, the first since the nightmare began, touched Sofia’s lips.

But it wasn’t the innocent smile of a lovestruck bride; it was the smile of a queen who had just decided to declare war, a war that Alejandro Cárdenas would never forget. If he wanted a weak, princess-like figure, she was going to show him what happens when a princess decides to use all her power.

Power, all her intelligence, and all her resources, not to build a kingdom, but to annihilate an enemy.
Alejandro didn’t know it, but at that precise moment, he had become the sole target of the most sophisticated and devastating revenge a betrayed woman had ever orchestrated. And it would all begin in 30 minutes in front of the altar. With hands that no longer trembled, Sofia took her cell phone.

His thumb glided across the screen, his movements quick and precise.
He opened a new message and typed a short but urgent sentence, one that would change everything. “Dad, I need to talk to you. It’s urgent. Come to the bride’s sacristy before the ceremony.” The die was cast. From that moment on, every one of his actions…

He would be guided by a single purpose: the total destruction of Alejandro Cárdenas.
The game had begun, but now she was setting the rules. Don Ricardo Villanueva, a man whose presence commanded respect in any boardroom, was adjusting his silk tie in front of a mirror in the main hall when he felt his cell phone vibrate. It was a message from his daughter.

Strange, he thought. There were only 25 minutes left before the ceremony began. He read the message. Dad, I need to talk to you.
It’s urgent. Before the ceremony, come to the bride’s sacristy. Just something about the laconic tone and the word “urgent” immediately worried him. In 40 years of business life, building an empire from the ground up, Don Ricardo had developed a keen instinct for detecting problems, and that

The message had triggered all his internal alarms.
On his way, he typed a reply and, without a word to those around him, walked quickly and purposefully toward the room where his daughter was getting ready. As he walked through the cathedral’s marble corridors, his mind raced. Countless possibilities, none of them good.

Last-minute nerves, a problem with the dress, a sudden illness. None of those explanations fit the gravity her instincts screamed at her. She knew something was very, very wrong. The joy and excitement she’d felt all morning had dissipated, replaced by

A cold feeling of apprehension. On the other side of the wall, oblivious to the hurricane his words had unleashed, Alejandro continued his cruel confession, reveling in the details of his master plan. And the best part is that after the wedding I’m going to get her to sign

“A power of attorney to manage his assets and sign contracts on his behalf,” he said with a stifled, smug chuckle. “Old Ricardo has it all arranged. He thinks I’m going to look after the family’s interests while we’re on our very long honeymoon in Europe.” What

Naive.
The mention of the power of attorney made Sofia’s blood run cold. She remembered that conversation perfectly. “A power of attorney?” Javier asked, surprised. “Three months in Europe, my friend. Three months with total access to the Villanueva family’s finances and businesses, while they think I’m…”

Here, watching over their inheritance like a responsible and dedicated son-in-law.
By the time they return, I’ll have pulled the necessary strings to divert a small fortune without anyone noticing. Sofia felt dizzy. The three-month honeymoon in the Mediterranean had been Alejandro’s idea. He had insisted so much with such romantic arguments about disconnecting from the

world and connect as a couple, which she ended up convincing her parents was a unique and unrepeatable opportunity. Now she understood the real reason.
It wasn’t to connect with her, it was to disconnect her from her own money. “And what’s going to happen to Isabela while you’re away?” Carlos asked. Always practical. Alejandro made air quotes with his fingers, a tic that Sofía now found repulsive. “Isabela will be going on a trip to…”

“She’ll be visiting her family during those three months,” he explained with a sly smile. ”
Actually, she’ll be staying in a luxury apartment I rented for her in Valle de Bravo, far from Mexico City, resting peacefully during her pregnancy, treated like the queen she is.” The audacity was absolute. Not only was he cheating on her, but he was also planning to finance his lover’s comfortable wait.

With her money. Alejandro, that’s utter madness. You’re playing with fire, Javier warned, shaking his head disapprovingly.
Alejandro looked at him arrogantly. Playing, my friend, I’m being a brilliant strategist, he retorted. In three years, when I divorce Sofia, I won’t just have my freedom. I’ll have already diverted enough from the Villanueva companies to guarantee M Kuna’s future, Isabela’s, and my son’s forever.

I’ll never worry about money again in my life.
The word “divert” echoed in Sofia’s mind. He wasn’t just a gold digger; he was a thief, a potential criminal, planning a large-scale robbery against his own family. “What do you mean, ‘divert’?” Javier asked, visibly uncomfortable with the turn the conversation was taking. Alejandro laughed.

Coldly, as if the question were stupid.
Please, Javier, do you really think I’m going to spend three years of my life pretending to love that little princess just for fun? Of course not. I’m going to take advantage of every day, every contract, every opportunity to access her businesses to transfer small amounts to accounts in tax havens.

Nothing too obvious, of course, just enough to guarantee a few million dollars to start my new life far from here. A few million dollars. Sofia had to lean against the wall to keep from falling. The man she was about to marry would not only break her

She was plotting to embezzle from her family and destroy the legacy her father had worked so hard to build.
At that precise moment, the sacristy door opened gently and Don Ricardo entered. The expression on his face, initially one of concern, transformed into pure alarm at the sight of his daughter. Her perfect makeup was ruined by streaks of tears, but these were not the tears of

The emotion of a bride was replaced by tears of utter devastation, of a pain so profound it seemed to have drained the color from her skin.
“Sofia, my daughter, what happened?” he asked softly, carefully closing the door behind him to ensure privacy. She didn’t respond with words, simply raising a trembling finger and pointing toward the wall, from where the voices of Alejandro and his friends continued to emanate. “Listen,”

He whispered, and in that single word lay a universe of pain.
Don Ricardo remained motionless, concentrating on the conversation that filtered through the wall. “That naive Sofia trusts me so much that she won’t even question the financial transactions,” Alejandro continued in his boastful tone. “She really thinks I’m a business genius.”

A King Midas who turns everything he touches into gold. He doesn’t realize that the gold I’m touching is his own.
Don Ricardo processed what he was hearing. In a matter of seconds, his expression changed from paternal concern to the calculating coldness of a magnate who had survived countless betrayals in the business world. But this was different. This was his daughter, his princess.

“How long have you been talking?” Don Ricardo asked in a whisper. His voice was a stifled growl. “About 10 minutes,” Sofía replied, her voice broken by sobs. “Dad, he doesn’t love me, he just wants our money, and he has a mistress, she’s pregnant.” The words came out in fits and starts.

Fragments of broken glass.
Father Rodon Ricardo captured every detail, every nuance of the cruel revelation. His daughter, the most important person in his life, the light of his eyes, had been cruelly deceived by an unscrupulous con man who had infiltrated the heart of his family, a wolf in sheep’s clothing who was…

“To the point of devouring them from within.” “And that’s not all,
” Alejandro continued from the other side, oblivious to the storm brewing just a few feet away. “The best part is that, as proof of our absolute marital trust, Sofía is going to sign over 50% of her personal assets to me. It was her idea, the incurable romantic.”

Sofia closed her eyes. The humiliation burned her. It was true.
At the height of her infatuation, in a fit of romanticism, she had suggested they put half their assets in both their names as a symbol of their total and absolute union. Alejandro, the consummate actor, had hesitated at first, saying he didn’t want her to think he was…

Interested in his money. What a perfect and twisted manipulation.
Fifty percent of his assets—Carlos’s voice was choked with shock. We’re talking tens of millions of pesos. Alejandro responded with palpable pride, savoring his victory. And he’s going to sign all the papers tomorrow, right before we leave for our honeymoon, as proof of our love.

“Eternal,” he said, mimicking Sofia’s voice in a cruel and mocking way. Don Ricardo clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
He had dealt with many con artists throughout his life, but he never imagined that one of them would go so far, so close, to the point of almost becoming his son. “Dad,” Sofia whispered, her eyes searching for her father’s, desperate for guidance.

“What do I do? Cancel the wedding? How do I explain this to more than 200 people? The humiliation.” Don Ricardo looked at her and in his daughter’s eyes he saw not only pain, but also a new, cold determination that was beginning to form like ice on a stick. Ice cold. Sofia was his daughter. After all,

She had inherited not only his fortune, but also his strategic intelligence and fighting spirit.
“Do you want my opinion as a father or as a businessman?” he asked her in a low voice, his tone serious and direct. “Both,” she replied without hesitation. “As a father,” Don Ricardo said, his voice trembling with barely contained anger. “I want to walk into that room right now and break every bone in that man’s body.”

“You lying worm. I want to drag you through the mud and expose you in front of everyone for the fraud you are.
” He paused, taking a deep breath to control his fury, but like a businessman, he continued, his eyes now gleaming with a calculating light. “I’m telling you, we have a unique opportunity, a golden opportunity to turn the tables completely and destroy you in a way you’ll never forget.”

“How?” Sofia asked, intrigued despite her pain. ”
Sofia, that man is confessing to crimes,” her father explained. “His strategic mind is working at full speed. Conspiracy to commit fraud, embezzlement, a plan to divert funds. This is pure gold. If we manage to record this conversation…” Sofia reacted instantly.

“My cell phone,” she whispered, pulling it from her small bridal purse. “Can I start recording right now?” “Go ahead,” her father ordered. “But there’s more. If you cancel the wedding now, he’ll just deny everything. He’ll run away, disappear with what he’s already taken from you, and we’ll never get anything back. It’ll just become a story.”

Bitter and a financial loss. What if I get married? Sofia asked, the idea sounding monstrous and yet strangely logical.
If you get married, Don Ricardo continued, he’ll feel secure. He’ll believe he’s won, that his plan is foolproof, and we’ll buy ourselves time. Time to prepare a trap so perfect, so elaborate, that it will not only destroy him financially but send him to prison for a very, very long time.

On the other side of the wall, Alejandro continued speaking. “You don’t understand. In two years I’ll be free, rich, and with the woman I love. It’s a perfect plan.” Don Ricardo stared intently into his daughter’s eyes. “You have a choice, Sofia. You can protect yourself now, cancel everything, and lick your wounds.”

Or you can enter a war that will last a few months, but will annihilate this man forever. What exactly are you suggesting, Papa? Sofia asked, her mind racing to catch up with her father’s. Marry him, Don Ricardo said, the words echoing in the silent room.

“Let him think he’s won the jackpot, and then we’ll use every day for the next few months to gather more evidence, to build such a strong legal case, to mount such a devastating strategy that when the bomb explodes, he’ll lose not only everything he tried to steal, but also his

“Reputation, her career, and most importantly, her freedom.” Sofia processed
the suggestion. It was risky, it was painful, but it was also the only path to total revenge, a poetic justice that resonated with the newfound coldness in her heart. “He mentioned a power of attorney, asset transfers, offshore accounts,” Sofia said. Her voice no longer trembled; now it was

Firm, analytical.
If I marry him, as his wife, I’ll have access to all that information. I’ll be able to see his every move. Exactly, her father confirmed. As his wife, you’ll have rights and access that you don’t have as his girlfriend. You’ll be the perfect spy at the heart of his operation. But, Dad, that means I’ll have to

Living with him, pretending I know nothing, I’ll have to act.
The idea of ​​sharing a bed with him, of smiling at his lies, was repulsive. Don Ricardo took her hands. “Sofía, you are my daughter. You carry the Villanueva blood in your veins. You are stronger than you think. If anyone can play this high-stakes game and win, it’s you. He underestimates you and…”

That will be her downfall. Just then, from the other room, Alejandro’s laughter rang out again.
Imagine the look on the little princess’s face when she finally discovers she was just a stepping stone to my success. It will be priceless. She will suffer, but people like her always bounce back. That was the final push Sofia needed. His arrogance, his utter disregard for her feelings, ignited

The last vestige of doubt in her heart.
A cold, calculating determination, so intense it surprised even her father, took hold of her. “I’m going to get married,” she said, her voice as firm as the diamond in her engagement ring. “I’m going to let that wretch think he’s won, and then, piece by piece, I’m going to dismantle his life in a way that…”

“So methodical and thorough that he’ll wish he’d never met me.
” Don Ricardo looked at her with a mixture of pride and concern. “Are you absolutely sure, my daughter? This path will be incredibly difficult.” “Absolutely,” she replied. “He wants to play dirty. Well, let’s play, but it will be on my board and by my rules.”

Sofia activated her cell phone’s recorder and carefully placed it against the wall, making sure the microphone captured every word. Alejandro’s confession continued, each syllable becoming another nail in his own legal coffin. “Dad,” he said, turning to face him, his mind already on

Strategist mode. I need you to discreetly cancel the property transfer that was scheduled for tomorrow.
Tell the notary there’s an error in the documents, that they need review, buy time. I was already thinking of that. Don Ricardo nodded. And I need you to hire the best private investigator in Mexico City. I want every move Alejandro and that Isabela woman makes documented. Photos, videos,

Recordings, all done. Her father replied without hesitation. And Dad.
Sofia paused, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. I want you to prepare the best criminal lawyers in the country. When I decide to attack, I want it to be a massive, coordinated attack. I want him to lose everything. His money, his reputation, his career, and his freedom. Don Ricardo smiled.

For the first time since he had entered that room,
he saw his daughter: strong, determined, relentless when the situation demanded it. He had underestimated his own creation. Sofia wasn’t a fragile princess; she was a lioness. “You know this is going to be difficult, right?” her father said, his tone becoming paternal again for a moment.

“You’ll have to live with him, pretend to love him, be a perfect actress every second of every day.” Sofia turned to the mirror and looked at herself. The woman who stared back at her was no longer the same woman she had been half an hour ago. “Dad, he spent two years being a consummate actor with me,” her voice replied, devoid of

emotion. “Now it’s my turn to act, and I assure you I learned from the best acting teacher I’ve ever known.
” The irony in his voice was as sharp as a scalpel. From the next room, Alejandro continued sealing his fate. And the best part is, when I get divorced, I’ll claim I was the one betrayed. I’ll say I discovered she was only using me to control me financially, that she was possessive. I’ll get out of

This, like the victim. What a scoundrel, Carlos muttered. A clever scoundrel, Alejandro corrected.
In five years, when you see me driving a Ferrari down the French Riviera with Isabela by my side and my son in the back seat, understand that the scoundrel was actually a genius. Sofia turned off the recording. She had more than enough to start the war. ”
Dad, in 15 minutes I’m going to walk down the aisle of this church and marry the biggest con artist I’ve ever known,” she said, her calmness almost frightening, but he doesn’t know that he’s actually marrying the woman who will be his total and utter ruin. Her father hugged her. A hug full of pride.

Love and deep concern. Then, we go to war, he said softly. We go to war, she confirmed.
Outside, the cathedral bells began to toll their solemn sound, announcing that the ceremony was about to begin. Alejandro Cárdenas, smiling and triumphant, walked toward the altar of his own destruction. Dear brothers and sisters, we are gathered here today to unite in holy matrimony

To Sofia and Alejandro.
The priest’s voice echoed through the imposing nave of the metropolitan cathedral. Sofia had chosen this place, the historical and spiritual heart of the city, for what was meant to be the happiest day of her life. Now she felt like she was on the stage of a Greek tragedy, and she was the protagonist.

who longed for the catharsis of revenge.
Alejandro awaited her at the altar, dazzling in his designer tuxedo, with a smile that projected to the world the image of the most in-love and fortunate groom on the planet. The 250 guests, the crème de la crème of Mexican society, watched him with admiration. “What a charming man!”

“They make a perfect couple,” they murmured. “If only they knew.”
Sofia walked slowly down the long hallway, her arm intertwined with her father’s. Each step was a work of art of self-control, each breath a calculated meditation. The dress that had once seemed like a dream now felt like armor, a costume for the most important performance.

of her life. “You can do it,” Don Ricardo whispered, his voice a murmur just for her.
“Remember, daughter, you’re in charge now. He’s the one walking into the trap, isn’t he? You.” Those words were the anchor she needed. She lifted her chin, a soft, radiant smile lighting up her face, a mask of perfect happiness that concealed the icy storm within.

Alejandro watched her approach, and in his eyes, Sofia could decipher beneath the layers of feigned adoration a cruel and triumphant satisfaction. He didn’t see his future wife. He saw an asset, a bank account with legs, millions of pesos walking toward him in the form of a woman. “Disgusting,” she thought.

His smile widened. The priest asked the ritual question.
“Who gives this woman in marriage?” “I, her father, give her away,” Don Ricardo replied firmly. He kissed his daughter on the forehead, and as he placed her hand in Alejandro’s, he leaned forward and whispered something only the three of them could hear. “Take good care of her, Alejandro, because if you don’t, you’ll regret it.”

The rest of your miserable life.
The tone wasn’t a friendly warning, it was a sentence. Alejandro, oblivious to the double meaning, smiled with his usual charm. Don’t worry, Don Ricardo. I’ll make your daughter the happiest woman in the world. Liar, scoundrel, thief. The words screamed in Sofia’s mind as the world read

She returned his gaze with pure devotion. The moment for the vows arrived.
Alejandro took his, his eyes fixed on hers, and began his speech, a piece of fiction so moving that some guests were already reaching for their tissues. My dearest Sofia, two years ago you entered my life like an angel. You showed me what true love is, pure goodness. I promise

To love you, to honor you, and to protect you every day of my life.
Each word was a stab in the back, a mockery of her feelings. But she was also an actress. Now, when it was her turn, Sofia took a breath, allowing perfectly acted tears to well up in her eyes. Her voice trembled with restrained emotion. Alejandro, she began, “You are the man

” The most honest, upright, and wonderful person I’ve ever known.
You’ve taught me to love without fear. I promise to be your partner, your support, and to love you unconditionally forever.” The word “honest” tasted like poison in her mouth, but she watched it land on Alejandro with visible satisfaction. He smiled, probably thinking about how easy it was to manipulate her, how…

How profoundly naive she was.
She had no idea that she was playing the same game, only much better. Alejandro Cárdenas, do you take Sofía Villanueva to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish her in wealth and in poverty, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? Alejandro’s response

It was a firm and resounding “I do.” Of course she did. She was accepting a future of luxury, power, and freedom. She was accepting access to an empire.
Then the question was for her. “Sofía Villanueva, do you take Alejandro Cárdenas to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Sofía paused. One second, two, three. Silence filled the cathedral. She could feel everyone’s eyes on her, the slight confusion on Alejandro’s face. It was a pause.

Calculated, a small act of power. Finally, with the sweetest smile, she said, “I do.
” But her words held a hidden meaning. She wasn’t agreeing to love him; she was agreeing to destroy him. “By the power vested in me by the Church, I now pronounce you husband and wife. May you kiss the bride?” Alejandro took her by the waist and kissed her with theatrical passion. A kiss for the cameras.

for the public.
And Sofia returned the kiss with the same feigned intensity, a kiss that is called not marriage, but a pact of war. The 250 guests erupted in applause, believing they were witnessing the happy beginning of a fairy tale. In reality, they were witnessing the start of the most ruthless revenge.

a calculated and spectacular affair, the likes of which Mexico City had ever seen.
The prey had just married the hunter, and the hunter hadn’t the faintest idea. During the lavish reception at the bankers’ club, Sofía played her role as the perfect bride with a mastery that would have made any film director proud. She smiled for every photograph, toasted with

Each guest who approached Fel was invited to dance the first waltz with Alejandro as if floating on a cloud of happiness.
Her body moved with grace and joy, but her mind was a cold and calculating military operations center, planning every move, every strategy for the months to come. My wife whispered Alejandro in her ear during the waltz. “Don’t you think it sounds incredibly good?” “It sounds perfect.”

“My love,” she replied, resting her head on his shoulder with feigned tenderness. “
Now we’re a real family.” The word “family” sent a wave of disgust through her, but her face reflected only love. As they moved through the room, Sofia discreetly observed her new husband. She watched him interact with the guests, not like a happy groom, but like a predator of

networks.
He memorized names, professions, business opportunities. Every conversation was a strategic transaction to expand his network of contacts at the expense of the Villanueva family’s prestige. He overheard him talking to one of the country’s most important builders. “Mr. Fernández, now that I am

“Part of the family, I’d love for us to have lunch next week.
I have access to some very interesting land for developing a new project. Access that, of course, I didn’t have yet.” The audacity of selling a future she planned to steal was astonishing. At one point during the party, Sofia took his arm and led him to a more secluded corner under the pretext of a

“A moment of intimacy.
Love,” she said in a sweet, innocent voice. “Do you remember we talked about the documents for transferring my assets to our names?” Alejandro’s eyes gleamed with barely concealed greed. “Of course, my love. Do you still want to do it? It’s a very important decision.” She

He caressed her cheek. “Of course I want to.
I want everything to be ours, without distinctions. You’re my husband now, and I trust you more than anyone in this world. You would never hurt me, would you?” The question, laced with an irony only she understood, struck him hard. Never, Sofia. You’re the most precious thing I have in my life, he lied.

Looking her straight in the eyes with a manufactured sincerity.
The ease with which she lied was chilling. “Then, tomorrow, before we leave on our trip, we’ll go to the notary to sign everything,” she said with an angelic smile. “I want to start our life together with that proof of total union.” Alejandro could barely contain his euphoria. “If that’s what you

“What you want, my love, is exactly what I want,” she replied, sealing the deal with a kiss.
What he didn’t know was that his father, Don Ricardo, had already spoken with the family notary. The documents would be prepared, yes, but an unexpected technical problem would delay the final signing for a few days. Enough time for Sofía to execute the next phase of her plan.

Later, during the cake cutting, Sofia noticed a presence at the edge of the room, near the service entrance. It was a brunette woman in a dark blue dress, watching the scene with an eerie intensity. Isabela. The mistress was there, witnessing as the man who supposedly…

The one she loved was marrying someone else.
For a fleeting second, Sofia felt a pang of something akin to pity. Isabela was also being deceived, believing in the promise of a strong future that Alejandro was building on the ruins of another person’s life. But the pity evaporated as quickly as it came. Isabela knew that

Alejandro was engaged when she got involved with him.
She was an accomplice, not a victim; she deserved what was coming. Deborah, her maid of honor and best friend, approached discreetly. “Sofia, did you see that woman over there?” she whispered. “The one in the blue dress. She’s been looking this way for a while now, in a really strange way. Do you know her?” Sofia remained calm, her face a

mask of indifference. “She must be some acquaintance of Alejandro del Trabajo,” she replied matter-of-factly.
“You know he knows a lot of people. If Débora knew that this acquaintance was expecting the groom’s child, the party would have ended in a scandal of epic proportions. But the scandal would come anyway, it would just happen when and where Sofía chose, it would be a spectacle directed by

The party continued until the early hours of the morning .
Alejandro drank the most expensive champagne, laughed heartily with his friends, and received congratulations from all sides. He was on top of the world, euphoric, believing he had pulled off the perfect heist, that he had fooled everyone and secured his

future.
When they finally said goodbye to the last guests, he whispered in Sofia’s ear, “My love, I can’t wait to get to the hotel.” He was referring to the presidential suite she had booked, another luxury he thought he had conquered. “Me neither,” she replied, kissing him softly. “It will be

“Our first night as husband and wife.
” The phrase sounded like a promise in the air, but for each of them it meant something completely different. In the armored car taking them to the hotel, Alejandro was exultant. “Didn’t you think everything was perfect? ​​My wedding was the wedding of the year. It was perfect,” Sofía conceded, looking at the city lights.

to pass like a blur. Especially your vows were so sincere.
He squeezed her hand. They came straight from the heart. Sofia. Lie. Ah, back to lying. Sofia decided to push a little harder, to enjoy the twisted game. Alejandro, can I ask you something? Anything, love. She turned to him. You really love me. Not for my money, not for my family. Only for me,

Because of who I am.
He looked at her with the most serious and devoted expression he could muster. Sofia, you are everything to me. I would love you just the same even if you didn’t have a penny to your name. The lie was so big, so blatant, that Sofia almost laughed. What a relief to hear that, she said with a smile.

They arrived at the luxury hotel, and following tradition, Alejandro carried her in his arms across the threshold of the presidential suite. “Welcome to our honeymoon, Mrs. Cárdenas,” he said, gently setting her down and kissing her. “Mrs. Cárdenas, how I hated that last name. Now she felt

Like a brand, the name of her enemy.
“Our first night as a married couple,” he murmured, beginning to kiss her neck with feigned urgency. Sofia closed her eyes and for a moment allowed herself to imagine what it would be like if it were all real, if Alejandro’s love weren’t a farce, but the memory of his cruel words, the disgust he fills me with,

Touching her jolted her back to reality. She gently stepped back. Alejandro—he looked at her, confused.
“What’s wrong, my love? I’m exhausted,” she said, her voice a tired whisper. “It’s been an incredibly long and exciting day.” Frustration briefly crossed his face, but he quickly disguised it as understanding. “Of course, my love, I understand perfectly.” No, he didn’t understand anything. “You

Does it matter if we take separate baths? I need to relax a little alone, process everything.
” “Of course not. Go ahead,” he replied. “I’ll take the opportunity to check some urgent emails from the office.” Perfect. While he immersed himself in his digital lies, she could begin the first phase of her counteroffensive. In the luxurious marble bathroom, with the door locked,

Sofia finally allowed herself to break down.
But these weren’t tears of sadness, but of pure, incandescent rage. Rage at having been so stupidly blind, at having wasted two years of her life with a pathological liar, at having believed every sweet word and every empty promise, but above all, rage at the fact that he

He thought he was clever enough to fool her forever. He looked at himself in the mirror, seeing the woman with a face smeared with mascara and fury.
Alejandro Cárdenas had just married his own downfall, and Sofía, now Mrs. Cárdenas, was eager to begin the demolition. Three weeks later, the Riviera Maya sun bathed the presidential suite of Cancún’s most exclusive hotel. But for Alejandro, paradise wasn’t in the

White sand beaches or turquoise seas. It was on his laptop screen.
The honeymoon, or rather the perfect alibi, was a resounding success. While Sofia spent her mornings shopping in luxury boutiques or at the spa, he closed deals remotely, using the prestigious Villanueva name as his calling card. Each

Each transaction, each preliminary contract, was another shovelful of dirt on the financial grave he was digging for his wife’s family, the naive woman who slept beside him every night. “Honey, are you sure you’re not coming to see the Tulum ruins?” he asked.

Sofia that morning, dressed in an elegant white linen dress and a wide-brimmed hat. I would love to, my love, but I have to finish some urgent things at the office. It’s a very important international client, Alejandro replied without looking up from the computer Sofia had

given as a wedding present. Have fun, my queen, then tell me how it goes.
She smiled sweetly at him and kissed him on the forehead. Of course, darling. Business comes first, right? If Alejandro had paid even the slightest attention, he would have noticed the ironic steel edge in her voice, but he was too busy calculating the profits from the two new

Contracts he had secured, using Don Ricardo’s reputation as collateral.
As soon as the suite door closed, Alejandro allowed himself a smile of pure and ostentatious satisfaction. Three weeks into his honeymoon, he had already managed to siphon off almost 5 million pesos through inflated invoices and commissions to shell companies. The plan was working even

Better than he had dreamed in his most optimistic projections. He took out his personal cell phone, the one Sofía didn’t know about, and dialed Isabela’s number.
He did this every day at the same time as soon as Sofía left. “Hello, my love,” she said, her voice transforming, filling with a tenderness and longing that were completely genuine. “Alejandro, my love, I was waiting for your call,” Isabela’s voice said. It sounded sweet and expectant on the other end of the line.

“How’s the trip going? Are you suffering a lot?” Alejandro burst out laughing. “It’s a living hell, my queen.
Three weeks pretending to be fascinated by this spoiled little princess and her empty conversations. I can’t wait to get back to Mexico City and have you in my arms.” The contrast between how he treated each of them was abysmal.
For one, contempt disguised as love; for the other, a love built on betrayal. “Does she suspect anything? Doesn’t she realize anything?” Isabela asked, a hint of insecurity in her voice. Alejandro scoffed. “Suspect, please? Sofía is living in her own fairy tale.”

She thinks I’m the husband of the century.
Last night she thanked me with tears in her eyes for being the most loving and attentive husband in the world. If she knew that while she was fast asleep beside me, I was sending you love messages and planning our future together on WhatsApp, she’d have a heart attack. The cruelty of her

The deception seemed to amuse him. It fed his ego in a perverse way. On the other side of the ocean of lies, Isabela laughed too.
Poor thing, she really doesn’t realize anything. It’s incredible how those rich people live in a bubble, don’t you think? They think everyone is as honest and transparent as they are. Exactly. I agree, Alejandro. They live in a world of illusions.
They believe in the inherent goodness of people because they’ve never had to face true evil. Their naiveté is my greatest asset. It’s what finances our future, my love. The conversation continued. Each word a confession, each sentence further proof of their conspiracy. What

Alejandro didn’t know—something he couldn’t have imagined even in his worst nightmares—that Sofía was listening to every syllable of their conversation.
She hadn’t gone to Tulum; she had left the suite, taken the main elevator down, and five minutes later had returned via the service staircase, a route she had meticulously studied in the first few days. Now she stood barefoot on the cold marble of the hallway, her ear pressed against the wall.

At the door of her own suite, she recorded the entire conversation on her cell phone with perfect clarity.
The sound of her husband’s voice, so full of love for another woman, was torture, but necessary torture. Every word was another brick in the prison she was building for him. “And how is our baby?” Alejandro asked, his voice changing again, filling with paternal affection.

which I had never shown to anyone or anything. He’s growing strong and healthy, Isabela replied. I had an ultrasound yesterday.
Dr. Dick said everything is perfect. Do you want me to send you the picture? Of course I do. Send it to me right now! he exclaimed with genuine joy. I can’t wait to meet my champion, to be a real father. The dagger twisted in Sofia’s heart.

He wasn’t just stealing her money and her dignity; he was building the family he had promised her with another woman, using the foundation of his lies. Isabela then expressed a doubt. “Alejandro, sometimes I worry. What if Sofía finds out about us, and what if she doesn’t accept the…”

a peaceful divorce. Her family is very powerful. They might try to hurt us.
Alejandro let out such a loud and arrogant laugh that Sofia had to grit her teeth to keep from screaming. Isabela, my love, you really don’t know that girl. She’s as soft as a marshmallow. When she finds out about us, she’ll cry a river of tears. She’ll make a scene like rich women do.

She loves to do it, but in the end, she’ll accept any deal to avoid a public scandal.
People like the Villanuevas hate bad press more than anything in the world. “Are you absolutely sure?” Isabela insisted. “Totally and absolutely sure,” he affirmed. “Sofía was raised to be a porcelain doll, to be displayed in a glass case. She doesn’t even have the courage to fire an employee.”

Domestic.
Can you imagine her facing me in a serious legal battle? She’d crumble in the first round. Porcelain doll. Sofia’s anger was now a solid block of ice in her chest. She was going to thoroughly enjoy the moment that porcelain doll shattered and from the pieces emerged

The nightmare of his life. Moreover, Alejandro continued, every word a death sentence for his own future.
When the time comes to file for divorce, I will play the role of the misunderstood victim. I will claim that I discovered she is a possessive and controlling woman, who only wants to use me as a decorative puppet in her family’s business. Lia, stifling my own potential. Public opinion

She’ll be on my side. The premeditation was astounding.
He not only had an escape plan, but also a public relations strategy to destroy her reputation in the process. Isn’t that a little cruel? Isabela asked, showing a fleeting moment of conscience. Cruel, my queen. I’ll tell you what’s truly cruel, Alexander replied, his voice

lowering to an intimate whisper, heavy with a chill that pierced through the door and Sofia’s skin. Cruel it is to have to kiss her every night. Cruel it
is to have to pretend I enjoy her company, knowing that you are the only woman I truly love and desire in this world. Every second with her is a sacrifice I make for our future. Every word was being documented. Every perverse confession became further proof for

the total annihilation she was meticulously planning.
Isabela, I love you so much it sometimes physically hurts, Alejandro said with a peace and sincerity. One that Sofia had never heard directed at her, not even in the early days of their romance. You are the only authentic woman I have ever known in my life, not like this artificial princess who only

She worries about manicures, pedicures, massages, and expensive clothes. You’re real, you’re a fighter.
The irony was that he was describing an accomplice in his scam as authentic, while the woman he was betraying embodied a strength he was unable to see. I love you madly too, Alejandro, and our son will grow up knowing he has the most wonderful father in the world.

“World,” Isabela replied, completely seduced by the charade. “I can’t wait for us to be a real family, far from this ridiculous charade you’re forced to live through.
” “When do you think you’ll be able to get rid of it for good?” she asked. “At most, two years,” he replied. “I need to accumulate at least 5 million dollars in safe accounts before making the final move. With that amount, we can live like royalty anywhere in the world without depending on anyone else.”

“Isn’t it risky to steal so much money?” Isabela asked. “Steal is a very ugly word, my love,” Alejandro replied with utter cynicism. “I prefer to call it compensation for psychological damages.” Well, the payment for having to pretend to love each other all these years is only fair, don’t you think? Sofia

She turned off the recorder. She’d had enough.
She quietly returned via the service staircase, passed through the hotel lobby with a radiant smile for the employees, and 15 minutes later took the main elevator. When she entered the suite, Alejandro was still in front of his laptop, pretending to work. “How were the Tulum ruins, my

“Life?” he asked without looking at her, probably deleting the call and message history. “Wonderful,” she lied with a perfection that had become second nature.
“But you know what? I got terribly homesick for you, so I decided to come back so we could spend the afternoon together, just you and me.” He gave her a fake smile. “How lovely you are, my queen. I missed you too, liar.” He was clearly irritated by the interruption, but his

His act of being a devoted husband didn’t falter. Sofia approached and hugged him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder.
“Alejandro, can I ask you something very sincere?” she whispered. “Anything, my love. Are you truly happy with me, genuinely happy, from the bottom of your heart?” He stopped typing, turned in his chair, and looked at her with that rehearsed expression of sincerity he had mastered.

Sofia, I’ve never been happier in my entire life. You are the woman of my dreams, the reason for my existence. The ease with which the lies flowed from her lips was both fascinating and repulsive. Sometimes I feel you’re distant, as if your mind is elsewhere, on business, on the

“Cell phone, anywhere but with me,” she said, playing the insecure wife to perfection.
He stood up and hugged her with award-winning theatricality. “Forgive me, my love, it’s just that I’m working twice as hard to make our future even more incredible. Everything I do, every effort, is thinking of us, our family, for us. What a cruel joke. Everything I did was

for him and his other family.
I understand, and I admire your dedication, she said, melting in his arms. It’s just that sometimes I’m afraid. Afraid of what, my love? Don’t talk nonsense, he interrupted, kissing her forehead with feigned tenderness. I would love you madly even if you had absolutely nothing, even if you lived under

A bridge. Alejandro Cárdenas’s 1,000th lie.
“What a relief to hear that,” she whispered, “Because sometimes I have horrible nightmares where I dream that you’re only with me for my family’s money.” He laughed, a sound meant to be reassuring. “You’re paranoid. I love you for the woman you are, not for what you have.” At that precise moment

In an instant, looking him in the eyes, Sofia made a decision.
She had gathered enough evidence. It was time to move on to phase two: returning home and building the final trap. “Alejandro,” she said with a new spark in her eyes, “what if we go back to Mexico City tomorrow?” He blinked in surprise.

Tomorrow, but our honeymoon is three months long. I know, darling, she replied, but I’m terribly homesick, missing our routine. And you seem so eager to get back to your businesses and get all those projects underway. I want to support you. Let’s start our married life.

“Really, in our home.”
Alejandro tried to hide the immense relief he felt. Returning sooner meant accelerating his plans. “Well, if that’s what you truly want, my love, it’s what I want.” The trap was about to be set. On the first-class flight back to Mexico City, Sofía pretended to be asleep.

Throughout the journey, she wore a silk mask over her eyes, but beneath that appearance—ah, that air of calm—her mind was a hive of activity, meticulously planning every step of Alejandro’s systematic destruction.
She had spent the last few weeks not only recording conversations but also discreetly photographing documents he left scattered around the suite, copying files from his laptop while he showered. She knew about every fraudulent contract, every illegal transfer to his accounts.

personal.
She knew every lie, every betrayal, and every crime. Meanwhile, Alejandro slept beside her, probably dreaming of the glorious day he would be rid of her forever. They landed on a rainy afternoon in Mexico City. Alejandro could barely hide his anxiety to return to the

routine, which really meant running into Isabela’s arms. ”
Love, I need to stop by the office today,” he said as soon as they set foot in her luxurious penthouse in Polanco. “Three weeks away, there must be a mountain of urgent matters.” “Of course, darling, go ahead. I’ll take advantage of the time to unpack and get everything in order,” she replied with the

A knowing wife’s smile. He gave her a quick kiss and practically ran out. The moment the door closed, Sofia’s mask slipped.
The coldness of a general on the eve of the final battle took hold of her face. She picked up her phone and dialed. “Dad, we’re here. Time to get started.” Meanwhile, Alejandro was speeding down the highway toward Valle de Bravo, where Isabela was waiting for him in the love nest he

He had financed it with his wife’s money.
When he arrived, Isabela greeted him at the door. Her four-month pregnancy was already visible beneath her dress. “My love,” he hugged her, kissing her with desperate passion. “How I missed you! How I missed our baby!” “I was dying to see you too,” she melted in his arms.

How did you endure three weeks with that woman? “Hell on earth,” he replied, “but it was worth every second for the millions I managed to siphon off.” The word “millions” made Isabela’s eyes light up. “Five million pesos are already safely in Swiss bank accounts,” he boasted. “And I think in less than six…”

Months, much sooner than planned, we’ll have enough time to disappear off the map and start over wherever we want.
We’ll be free and millionaires, my queen. They laughed together, complicit and happy, completely unaware that their lives were about to implode in a spectacular way. They didn’t know that every word, every move, was being watched, documented, and used to…

weaving the web that would soon close around them, with no possibility of escape.
On the other side of the city, in a discreet and luxurious law office, Sofía was in a secret meeting with Mateo Herrera, the most feared and respected criminal lawyer in Mexico. “Mrs. Cárdenas,” Mateo said after analyzing for almost an hour the dossier of evidence she had

compiled.
“What you have here is not just a legal goldmine, it’s a nuclear arsenal. We have irrefutable proof of embezzlement, fraud, forgery, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy. Your husband is an artist, but a very careless one.” Sofia nodded. Her

An impassive face. What’s the maximum penalty for all this, sir? Mateo adjusted his glasses.
If we play our cards right, we could be talking about between 12 and 15 years in prison, plus full restitution of all the stolen goods, which with fines and interest could amount to an astronomical sum. We’ll leave him completely ruined. Perfect. Sofia said with a chilling composure that was striking.

“To the lawyer.
When do we start?” “We could file the charges tomorrow,” Mateo replied. “But if you’ll allow me, I suggest a more devastating strategy, one that will not only imprison him but humiliate him so completely that he’ll never be able to hold his head high again.” Sofia leaned forward, her eyes

Shining. Explain yourself, sir. You have my full attention. You mentioned that he expects to sign a power of attorney in the next few days.
Is that correct? Mateo asked. Correct, Sofia confirmed. So we wait, we give him the power of attorney, we give him more rope to hang himself. We let him use that power of attorney to commit an even bigger fraud, one that we can control from Prink and Pio with even more solid and spectacular evidence. How much

The higher you fly, the harder you fall. The idea was diabolical and brilliant. Sofia loved it.
“And how do we control that without losing real money?” Mateo asked. He smiled. “Simple. We set up a controlled operation, we’ll create an irresistible business opportunity, bait they can’t refuse—say, a shell company in Holland interested in a 15,000 real estate investment.”

Millions of euros in the Riviera Maya.
Her husband will believe he’s diverting that money to his accounts, but in reality, the money will never leave an account controlled by us here in Mexico. He’ll be stealing phantom money, but leaving a trail of very real crimes. Sofia was fascinated. Explain that to me.

We’ll create sham contracts, fake bank statements, emails from nonexistent executives. He’ll think he’s pulling off the heist of a lifetime, but in reality, he’ll just be acting in a movie. We’re the directors, and the ending is his own death sentence. How much

“How long would it take to set all this up?” Sofia asked. “Two months, three at most,” Mateo replied. ”
Attorney Herrera, I love this plan,” Sofia said with an icy smile. “We’ll let Alejandro Cárdenas dig his own grave and then send him the bill for the shovel and the land.” Meanwhile, in Valle de Bravo, Alejandro was telling Isabela about the power of attorney he was about to execute.

“Receive. My love, in two weeks I’ll have full access to the Villanueva accounts.
We’ll be able to accelerate our plan in ways you can’t imagine.” He didn’t know that Sofía had already reviewed that document with her lawyer, altering crucial clauses that turned it into a legal trap. At that moment, Isabela gave him news that filled him with happiness. “I went to the doctor today. He said that…”

It’s a boy. We’re having a boy, Alejandro.
He exploded with joy, swept her into his arms, and twirled her around the room. A boy, an heir. We’re going to have a prince, he shouted. I’ve already chosen the name, Alejandro Cárdenas Junior. My son will grow up having everything I never had. He’ll be a king. They were so absorbed in their bubble of

A fraudulent happiness that went unnoticed by the private investigator’s discreet telephoto lens, photographing the scene from a parked car across the street.
Every kiss, every hug, every celebration was being documented. Hours later, Sofia would receive the photos on her cell phone. Alejandro passionately kissing Isabela’s belly. Alejandro kneeling, speaking to his lover’s stomach. Alejandro leaving one of the most expensive jewelry stores in the

city, where, according to the investigator’s report, he had just bought a diamond engagement ring.
“Interesting,” Sofia murmured to herself, analyzing the images with chilling calm. “He’s going to propose to his mistress while he’s still married to me. This man has no limits.” Each new piece of evidence was only more fuel for the fire of her revenge. That night when

Alejandro arrived at the penthouse beaming.
“How was your day at the office, love?” Sofia asked as she served dinner. “Excellent. I resolved several very important pending matters,” he lied. “You look very happy.” “I am,” he replied. “You know that feeling when you feel like all the pieces of your life are finally falling into place? If so

He only knew that the pieces that fit together were those of the trap she was setting for him. Sofia decided to throw out the bait. ”
Hey, Alejandro, about that power of attorney,” his eyes gleamed with anticipation. “Yes, my love. What about it? It’s all ready and approved by my father,” she said matter-of-factly. “You can start signing contracts on behalf of the company starting next week.” Alejandro could barely

To conceal her euphoria.
Are you sure, Sofia? Don’t you want to think about it a little more? Absolutely sure. I trust you more than anyone in this world, she affirmed. You won’t regret it, my love. I’m going to multiply the family businesses. Multiply them for their own benefit. Of course, by the way, she continued, as if it were a well-intentioned idea

Last minute news. My father received a very interesting proposal from a Dutch investment company.
They want to invest 15 million euros in a luxury development on the Riviera Maya. Alejandro almost choked on his wine. 15 million euros. Exactly, said Sofia. And since you’ll have full power of attorney, my father thought it would be the perfect first big project for you to manage on your own.

So you can demonstrate your leadership skills. If it goes well, you could take charge of all the company’s international business.
Alejandro was over the moon. Fifteen million euros, a sum he could funnel entirely into his own accounts. It was more than he had ever dreamed of. “When can I start negotiations?” he asked, trying to contain his excitement. “I’ll give you all the contacts next week.”

That night, Alejandro couldn’t sleep, overcome with excitement. Beside him, Sofía also slept, but not from excitement, rather from the cold, patient anticipation of the revenge that was about to be carried out. A week after the transfer of the counterfeit 15 million euros, Alejandro walked the world

With the arrogance of an emperor,
he believed he had pulled off the masterstroke, the heist of the century, and was already planning the final steps to get rid of Sofia and start his new life. That Friday morning, he woke up especially animated. It was the day he would ask for a divorce.

He sat down at the breakfast table, where Sofia was serving him eggs Benedict, which Zdero had ironically learned to make because they were his favorite. “Sofia, my love, I need to talk to you about something important,” he said with practiced seriousness. “Of course, darling. Tell me,” she replied, her face a

Mask of innocence. I’ve been thinking a lot about us, about our marriage, about our future, he began, setting the stage for his breakup speech. Has something bad happened? she asked, feigning concern she didn’t feel.

It’s not that anything specific happened, it’s just that I think we’ve grown in different directions. I feel like we’re incompatible. Incompatible. What do you mean, Alejandro? I don’t understand. He took a deep breath, the actor preparing for his final scene. Sofia, you’re a wonderful woman, but

I need more freedom to grow professionally. I feel like our goals are no longer aligned.
Are you asking me for a divorce? she asked, her voice trembling, her eyes filling with perfectly fake tears. The performance was so convincing that for a moment she almost felt sorry for herself. I’m suggesting we talk about an amicable separation, no fighting, no drama, something

civilized between two mature people who respected each other.
Sofia broke down in a staged cry worthy of an Oscar. But I love you. What did I do wrong, Alejandro? Tell me, what did I do wrong? You didn’t do anything wrong, Sofia. The problem is me. I’m the one who’s changed. Is there another woman? she blurted out. He feigned hurt indignation. How could you think that of

Me? I would never betray you. How cynical.
At that very moment, Isabela, five months pregnant, was waiting for him in Valle de Bravo. “Please, Alejandro, don’t give up like this. We can go to couples therapy,” she pleaded. “My decision is made, Sofía,” he said with cruel firmness. “Okay, I’ll contact my lawyer.”

“He said that if there was no response, everything could be resolved very quickly. Sofia got up from the table, pretending to be completely devastated. I need time. I need space to process this. I’m going to my parents’ house for a few days. I think it’s a good idea,” he said barely

hiding her relief. “Just promise me one thing,” she added, “What? That you won’t touch any of our belongings until we talk to the lawyers? I need to understand the whole financial situation. Of course, my love, I won’t touch a thing. Liar.” The night before she had

He transferred another 2 million pesos. Sofia left the penthouse dragging a suitcase, playing her part as the abandoned wife to the very end. When her car turned the corner, Alejandro let out a shout of jubilation. He was free. As soon as Sofia left, he called Isabela. “My love, I did it. I asked her for the…”

Divorce.
Really? And how did she react? she asked excitedly. Exactly as I predicted. She cried, she begged, but in the end she agreed. In two weeks we’ll be legally free, my queen. I can’t believe it. We’re finally going to be together. And there’s more, he said. She went to her parents’ house. We have the penthouse for

Just the two of us. Come right now. It’s not risky.
What does it matter? In a couple of weeks everyone will know anyway. Come celebrate our freedom. What Alejandro didn’t know was that Sofia hadn’t gone to her parents’ house. She was checked into a suite at a luxury hotel just five blocks away, the headquarters from where

She would direct the final operation.
From her hotel, Sofia made a call. Mateo took the bait of the divorce. We can strike. Perfect, the lawyer replied. The Financial Intelligence Unit and the Federal Police are ready. We have the search warrants, the freezing of all his accounts, and the warrant for his preventive arrest.

The Federal Revenue Service is also on board.
They’ve already identified all the suspicious transfers. They must be calculating a tax evasion fine that will leave you reeling. “When do we execute it?” Sofia asked. “Monday morning. We’ll catch you completely by surprise. I suggest you don’t be present.”

Dangerous. Sofia smiled coldly. Not at all, sir. I want to be there.
I want to see your face when you realize you were fooled by the porcelain doll. Hey. That same afternoon, Alejandro took Isabela to the Penthouse. It’s even more luxurious than I imagined, she exclaimed, admiring the artwork and designer furniture. Soon all this will be ours, he replied

He was hugging her from behind.
But won’t she get everything in the divorce? He laughed. My love, you underestimate me. By the time the lawyers start talking, most of the fortune will already be safely in our accounts. I’ve transferred over 22 million pesos, in addition to the 15 million euros from the Dutch business.

We’re millionaires, Isabela, we did it.
They commemorated making love in the bed that Alejandro had shared with Sofía. They were unaware that every corner of the apartment was now equipped with miniature cameras and microphones that Sofía had had installed the day before. From her hotel suite, Sofía watched the

Images on her laptop with an expression of profound disgust. Every caress, every kiss between Alejandro and his lover was being recorded to be used as evidence in the divorce trial.
“Pig,” she muttered, closing the laptop. At least I don’t have to pretend I feel anything but repulsion for this man anymore. Saturday and Sunday were a dream for Alejandro and Isabela. They lived like a happy couple, making plans for their future in Europe, choosing names for the baby, drinking

Expensive champagne.
“Alejandro, do you think Sofía is causing trouble?” Isabela asked Sunday night. “Impossible,” he scoffed. “She’s too soft. Besides, what can she do? She has no proof of anything.” The irony was almost poetic. Monday morning, Alejandro woke up early. It was cleaning day.

The end. He was going to the bank to transfer the last funds from their joint accounts before the lawyers froze them.
He kissed Isabela, who was still asleep, and left the apartment at 7 a.m., whistling into what would be the last day of his life as a free man. At 8 o’clock, while Alejandro was at his bank branch, 10 federal police agents knocked on the door of the penthouse.

Isabel opened the door in her bathrobe, still sleepy. “Federal police, we have a search and arrest warrant for Mr. Alejandro Cárdenas and for you, Ms. Isabela Morales.” “What? There must be some mistake,” she stammered. “You are under arrest for criminal association, fraud, and money laundering.” Isabela

He fainted.
At the bank, Alejandro was standing in front of the manager authorizing the last transfer, feeling like he was on top of the world. Suddenly, he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. Alejandro Cárdenas, he felt faint, turned around, and saw two men in suits showing him their badges. “Federal Police, are you under arrest?” “Under arrest.”

“Why? This is a ridiculous misunderstanding,” he protested. “Fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, tax evasion.
Do you want me to go on?” Alejandro went pale as a sheet. “How, how do you know about that? Perhaps you can explain the 22 million pesos you diverted from the Villanueva corporate accounts or the fake account in the Netherlands, where you tried to deposit 15 million euros.” His blood ran cold. “Fake account.”

His world collapsed, and that can also explain why his wife has recordings of him confessing to each and every one of these crimes. Rebecca was Rebecca.
As the officers handcuffed him, the bank’s glass doors opened, and Sofia entered, flanked by her father and the lawyer, Mateo Herrera. She approached him with an icy smile. “Hello, dear. Surprised to see me.” Sofia. “I—I can explain,” he stammered with a sharp accent.

“Explain that Alejandro,” she asked, her voice soft but sharp as a diamond. ”
That you called me a fat cow, that you felt disgusted when you touched me, or that you stole from my family while looking me in the eyes and telling me you loved me?” He tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. “Oh, and before you ask,” she continued, “Isabela has also been arrested, but don’t worry.”

Fine. Your child will be born in prison, but he’ll be born healthy. He’ll have a criminal mother and a thief father. A great start.
Sofia, please listen to me, he begged. No, now you’re going to listen to me, she said, leaning closer so only he could hear her. Did you think you were dealing with a silly little princess? Did you think you were smarter than a family that’s built an empire? Every transfer you made was

Monitored. Every call with your lover was recorded. Every lie you told me was recorded.
I have enough evidence to keep you in jail for the next 15 years. If it’s your life. I’m sorry, I regret it. He groaned. Too late, she declared. You learned that a rich, educated woman is not the same as a foolish, helpless woman. Lesson learned. As they led him away, the flashes

The reporters already crowding outside blinded him.
He had lost, he had been totally and utterly annihilated. The porcelain doll had shattered, and its fragments were sharper than any knife.