A month passed.
The world moved on, but inside the Rosanera estate, silence echoed.
Melitza had locked herself in her room. Curtains drawn. No lights. Barely any food. She hadn't spoken to anyone—not even Auntie Elsa.
I expected a tantrum. I didn't expect this.
Still, I gave her space. I kept my word. I hadn't touched the boy—Leone. But every day I didn't, I fought the urge. I wanted to find him. To break his legs. To remind him what it meant to touch a Rosanera.
But I didn't.
Because Melitza mattered more.
She's growing up, becoming a woman. A future heiress. Everything I'm doing—all of it—is for her. I'm not just rebuilding the family for power. I'm building it to give her a life of peace. Of legitimacy.
One day, I'll shut down every illegal tie and pass it all to her: clean, powerful, respected. I'll vanish to a quiet village somewhere far away, finally free of blood and secrets.
But not yet.
Not while danger still lurks.
Construction on the new Rosanera front started three days ago. A clean enterprise. A new beginning. We were lucky to secure the land—another domino in our future legacy.
Yet something was off.
A new organization moved into town three weeks ago. Quiet, methodical, threatening.
No one knew who they were. No names. No faces. Only rumors and fear. They went door to door, intimidating our allies, warning them: "We're here. We're watching."
Not a single attempt to contact me directly.
That told me everything.
Either they feared me—or worse, they didn't see me as a threat.
I sent spies. None came back. Not even Antonio's best scouts could retrieve intel. No photos. No locations. No names.
And that terrified me.
I've spent millions on cyber defense, employed the world's best engineers and hackers. If I couldn't track them, they were beyond dangerous. If another group surpasses me in strength and tech, the other families will abandon me. They'll unite against me.
A knock.
Antonio entered.
"Any updates?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Nothing yet."
"Even you couldn't find a trail?"
He sighed. "I reached out to an old contact in France. He once warned me about a rising force selling military-grade weaponry. They swept through Europe, bankrupting old families. I think this could be the same group."
"Then why are we waiting?"
"He's on a mission in Switzerland. He promised to get back in 48 hours—three days at most."
I exhaled slowly. "At least it's something."
But hope was short-lived.
My secretary, Lea, barged in, pale and breathless.
"Ma'am—we have a problem. The construction site shut down. Everyone walked off the job. I called the Martinez secretary… he said the deal is off."
My heart dropped.
"Did he give a reason?"
"No. He hung up immediately. We've tried reaching out again, but they've cut all communication."
I stayed calm, but inside, fire raged.
"Thank you, Lea. You may go."
Antonio stayed.
"What now?" he asked.
"I'll call him myself."
I dialed. He answered. Barely.
"I want an explanation," I said flatly. "And don't insult me with excuses about resources. You were committed a month ago. What changed?"
Silence. Then his voice, shaken.
"My life was on the line. Two days ago, a gang stormed my facility. They took my family hostage. Killed half my guards. Tortured me for two days. I only survived by promising to walk away from you."
My blood turned cold.
This wasn't random. It was war.
"You think abandoning me keeps you safe?" I asked.
"I'm warning you," he said. "These people—they'll come for you next. You need allies, Aurora. Not more enemies."
I laughed, cold and sharp. "You think I fear them?"
"I think you're alone."
"Martinez," I said, voice like steel, "from this moment forward, you are a dead man. I will spend every resource I have to destroy you. Not just you—your bloodline. Your legacy."
More silence.
"You'll regret this," he whispered. "We should be uniting. They're planning to—"
I hung up.
He didn't deserve to finish.
I turned to Antonio. "Prepare the men. We're going after Martinez."
"You're sure?"
"I made a threat. I'll follow through."
"And my contact in Switzerland?"
"Get him here. Now. I want everything he knows about this group."
As expected, the Martinez family vanished overnight. Hiding like rats.
He was already targeted by the organization. Now he had me after him too.
That was a death sentence.
I thought the worst was behind us.
Until Antonio called again.
"Melitza's gone," he said.
"What do you mean gone?"
"We have footage. She slipped out through the kitchen and climbed over the wall."
"She ran away?"
"Positive."
"Track her," I ordered. "And if she went to see that boy—bring him to me. I don't care if you have to break his legs to do it."
"Understood."
The call ended.
I stared at the window. Storm clouds were rolling in.
She broke her promise.
I gave her time. I gave her space. I kept my word.
And this is how she repays me.
She'll leave me no choice.
After this, I'll send her away.
Far away.