For Her Sake, He Blew Our Family Apart novel
I used to believe that getting rid of herthe woman who slipped into our marriage like poisonwould bring back the peace Id been clawing for. I sent her away, thinking distance could fix everything. Instead, it ignited the fuse that destroyed everything we built.
The message came firsta video call that lit up my phone in the middle of the night. Marcos face was emotionless, all sharp lines and shadows. He slid his phone toward the camera, revealing the worst sight Id ever seen: Sofia and Mateo, bound to chairs, bombs strapped to their small bodies, a red digital timer blinking between them.
Forty-nine minutes, Isabella, he said evenly, his voice almost soothing. Where is Natalia?
I couldnt move. Couldnt think. Nataliathe woman who turned my husband into a stranger. The woman who whispered her way into our lives until Marco started looking at me like a lie he wanted to erase.
Hed asked me that question before. The first time, it was a warning. The second time, a threat. But this timethis time it was war.
Marco, please, I whispered, my throat dry, hands trembling. Theyre your childrenour children.
He let out a small, humorless laugh. No, your children, he hissed. Natalia told me everything. She told me about Milan. About the man who came before me. You tricked me into raising someone elses blood.
Thats not true, I said, desperate. You held them, Marco. You taught Mateo how to fight. You sang Sofia to sleep. You know theyre yours.
He leaned in close, the edges of his voice cracking. Then tell me where she is, Isabella. Youve got thirty-two minutes before I let one of those bombs do its job.
Something inside me broke that night. Because the man standing in front of me wasnt my husband anymore. Whatever love we once hadwhatever warmth existedwas long gone. All that was left was something cold, shaped in her image.
---
There was a time I used to think Marco Cortez was untouchable. He was the kind of man people crossed the street to avoidthe son of the Cortez empire, heir to everything ruthless and corrupt in the city. Power followed him like a shadow. His name was a threat disguised as a prayer.
And somehow, he chose me.
I was nobody. A quiet girl from a forgotten town, born into a family that never had enough. But he made it feel like that didnt matter. He courted me the way legends are writtengrand, ridiculous, unforgettable.
The night he proposed, the sky above the city exploded in fireworks spelling out my name. G, marry me. People cheered. Cars stopped. For that one night, I was his entire world.
I thought I was living a fairytale. The kind you grow up dreaming aboutthe one where love conquers everything. But fairy tales born in the underworld always end in ash.
When I told him we couldnt work, that I wasnt made for his kind of darkness, he didnt argue. He just waitedday after day, rain or shine, outside my building. The most feared man in the city waiting for a nobody like me.
When I finally said yes, I thought the storm was over. I thought Id found peace.
Then I got pregnant. He cried when he first touched my belly. Theyre ours, he whispered. You, me, them. Thats all Ill ever need.
I believed him. God, I really did.
But then came her.
---
The first time I heard the name Natalia Jenner, it was in passing. Luca, Marcos right hand, mentioned her at a partya woman whod made a scene at one of their auctions. Shed tripped in front of Marco, claimed her heel broke. Everyone laughed about it later.
I didnt. Something about her name stuck.
A week later, I heard it againthis time from Marcos lips.
We were togetherhis breath warm against my neck, the world silent around us. Then he whispered her name.
Natalia.
It was so soft I thought I imagined it. But when I confronted him the next morning, he didnt even flinch. He just pulled me into his arms like nothing was wrong.
She doesnt mean anything, he said, voice low, too calm. Every man in our world has someone. But I come home to you, Isabella. Youre the wife. Thats what matters.
And I was supposed to accept that. Pretend it didnt hurt. Pretend it wasnt killing me from the inside.
But it didnt stop there. He stopped pretending. He brought her into the open. Let her haunt every corner of our lives until there was no space left for me to breathe.
So I did the only thing I could think of. I made her disappear.
I sent Natalia awayfar from the city, far from us. I thought if she vanished, maybe wed find our way back. Maybe hed see me again.
Instead, I set fire to everything.
---
When Marco strapped bombs to our children, I knew the man I loved no longer existed. Natalia had hollowed him out and left a monster behind.
And that night, as the timer ticked down and his rage filled the room, I realized I wasnt just fighting for my children.
I was fighting for the last piece of my soul that still remembered what love felt like.
He lavished her with diamonds, bought her the kind of jewelry that glittered like betrayal, and handed her a penthouse in the citys richest district. They attended private parties together, always in the spotlighther neck heavy with gold and stones that sparkled while I sat at home trying to piece together excuses for our six-year-old twins. His children.
They used to ask me why Daddy didnt tuck them in anymore, why his voice only lived in phone calls and not in bedtime stories.
And when I finally brokewhen I screamed, cried, and begged him to come back to usto remember what we once hadhe didnt even blink. He looked at me like I was a stranger. Empty. Soulless.
Stop being so damn dramatic, Isabella, he said flatly.
That was all.
In his eyes, I wasnt his wife anymore. Just an inconvenience that wouldnt stay quiet.
So I did the only thing a cornered woman could think to do.
I made her disappear.
Natalia vanishedgone without a trace, erased from our lives before she could rip apart what little remained of our family.
I believed that would fix everything. That maybe hed see clearly again.
But instead, Marco retaliated in the cruelest wayhe took our twins.
Shes in Monochalie, I stammered, voice trembling. The villa under my name. The one by the lake in Klarevia.
For a long moment, he didnt speak. He just stared at methose dark, merciless eyes locked on mine. I couldnt read him. I couldnt even tell if he was breathing.
Then he picked up his phone.
He didnt step outside. Didnt even turn his back to me. Just muttered a few words in Italian, hung up, slipped on his jacket, and headed for the doorcalm, collected, determined to go fetch his precious Natalia.
I caught his sleeve, my hands trembling. What about the twins? Marco, please!
He paused halfway, his profile sharp and cold.
Theyre at the old hospital, he said, voice flat as glass. Eastwood District. Go get them yourself.
My heart stopped. My knees nearly gave out.
I didnt wait for anything else. I just ran.
The drive blurred into chaos. I barely remember the streetsjust headlights, the screech of tires, the horn of a truck I almost collided with at an intersection. My pulse thundered. My hands gripped the wheel so tight they ached. I was already there in my mindalready holding my children, already saving them.
When I reached the hospital, the world felt like it had stopped breathing. Rust clung to the gates, windows shattered like spider webs, machines rusted and forgotten. The air smSofiad of dust and ghosts.
And then I found them.
Mateo and Sofia.
Tied to chairs. Mouths gagged. Bombs strapped to their small chests.
My knees hit the ground before I realized Id fallen.
Sofias cheeks were soaked in tears, her tiny body trembling. Mateos eyes met mine, steady and eerily calm. He shook his headagain and againas if warning me not to move.
No, no, sweetheart, hold on My hands shook so violently I could barely undo the ropes. The timer on the bombs ticked louder than my heartbeat. 03:12.
Sofia whimpered beneath the gag. I managed to free her first. Run, baby, go! I told her, and she obeyed, stumbling away in tears. Then I turned to Mateo. My brave boy didnt flinch.
He looked straight at me, and in his eyes, I saw peace. Resignation.
Then he whispered, voice barely audible through the gag, I love you, Mommy. Tell Daddy I love him too.
Before I could react, he lunged forwardslamming his little body into mine, knocking me backward. My head hit the floor, my palms scraped raw.
Mateo! I screamed.
He didnt stop.
He turned toward the bomb and threw himself at it.
Mateo!
The explosion swallowed my scream. The blast hurled me across the room. My skull hit concrete. Everything rangmy ears, my lungs, my soul. Smoke filled my mouth. Blood dripped from somewhere. I could taste iron. I couldnt hear anything. Not even his voice.
---
When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital bed. Tubes in my arm. The room smSofiad like disinfectant and death. Sofia lay beside me, tiny body bandaged, hooked to wires, her chest rising and fallingalive.
But Mateo wasnt there.
The doctor said we survived. But not all of us.
I knelt beside Sofias bed, resting my forehead against the mattress. Tears fell faster than I could wipe them away.
Im so sorry, baby I whispered hoarsely. Mama chose wrong. I thought hed protect us. I thought he loved us.
Her eyes fluttered open, her voice weak, fragile. You dont have to be sorry, Mama Youre here now.
That broke me. I pressed her tiny hand to my face and sobbed until I couldnt breathe. Until I couldnt see. Until grief was the only thing left inside me.
Mateo was gone.
My boy. My brave, gentle boy. The one who called me soldier mama whenever I patched up his scraped knees. The one who hummed lullabies to his sister when nightmares came. The one who threw himself at death to save us both.
And I wasnt fast enough. I wasnt strong enough.
I had let Marco Cortez into our livesinto my heartbelieving he could be the father he promised to be.
When I discovered Natalia, I shouldve walked away. I tried. Three times I drafted divorce papers. And three times, he tore them up right in front of me.
Dont be dramatic.
She means nothing, Isabella.
You belong to me. Always.
I begged him to let me go. He never did.
Until now.
Because this time, I had something hed forgotten. Something he signed without realizing what it wasback when he still trusted me enough to not read before signing.
A single document. My one advantage.
---
It happened months ago, right after the twins were accepted into the prestigious academy for mafia heirs children. Marco was sitting behind his grand desk, flipping through piles of documentssigning one after another with one hand while sipping whiskey with the other.
Then Natalia walked in wearing my silk robe, sliding onto his lap like she belonged there. She kissed him, right there in front of me, as if I was invisible.
And maybe I was.
So, I slipped the divorce papers quietly into the stack. Just one more sheet among the rest.
When I handed him the pen, I said, The school needs your signature for a field activity permit.
He frowned. Didnt I already sign something for them?
Just one more, I said smoothly. Calm. Steady.
Natalia giggled, pulling at his collar. Come on, Nic. Let her finish her little chores. Weve got plans.
He rolled his eyes, scrawled his signature without reading, and waved me off.
Go. Im busy.
He never even noticed.
---
Weeks later, after we buried Mateono flowers, no condolences, just me and Sofiawe walked into the lawyers office hand in hand.
Sofia sat beside me, her small fingers curled around mine as the lawyer flipped through the documents. His brows rose in surprise.
This is valid, he finally said. Legally binding. His signature is here. The divorce is finaleffective immediately.
The lawyer informed me that the process to erase our identities would take two weeks. I only nodded, pretending calm. Two weeks that was all Sofia and I needed.
We left the lawyers office that very afternoon, right after we laid Mateo to rest.
Now, we were back at the Cortez estate, performing our final act as the perfect family. Every smile, every word rehearsed. Because if Marco caught even a whisper of what I was planning that Sofia and I were preparing to disappear he would never let us leave alive.
The household staff still watched me with that same hollow pity. I didnt bother returning their looks. They werent the reason I stayed.
On the first day, I began removing every trace of him from our lives quietly, systematically. His favorite mug vanished from the cupboard. Every playlist hed ever made me, deleted, including the one wed danced to at our wedding.
By the second day, I painted over the bedroom walls, stripped the sheets, replaced the curtains, moved the bed to a different corner. Every piece of him erased, every memory repainted.
On the third, I opened the safe. Inside rested the antique watch I had given him on our first anniversary the one he once swore would be passed down to our son. I took it and sold it to a collector abroad. It wasnt about the money. It was the satisfaction of knowing he would never touch it again.
When I returned to the mansion, Sofia was waiting in the foyer. But she wasnt alone. Marco sat there and beside him, Natalia.
She looked fragile and delicate, draped on the couch beside him like a doll made of glass. Her fingers curled possessively around his arm as if she belonged there, her expression painted with sickly sweetness.
I tightened my grip on Sofias hand and started walking past them without saying a word.
Stop.
His voice was cold, sharp a command that sliced through the air.
I halted but didnt turn.
Wheres the bastard boy? Marco asked.
My hand twitched, but I kept my mouth shut. Not in front of Sofia. Not here.
Wheres Mateo? he pressed again, his tone heavier, darker.
I still didnt respond. Sofias tiny hand gripped mine tighter. I looked down her face was too calm for her age. Too practiced. I bent to her level, brushed a strand of hair away from her face, and whispered, Lets make something to eat, sweetheart.
We turned for the kitchen. Before I could reach the doorway, his hand clamped onto my arm and yanked me back.
Dont ignore me, he snarled. You think you can act like nothing happened? Tell me where my son is!
I tore my arm from his grasp.
You told me he wasnt yours, I replied coldly. So why ask now?
His eyes darkened, fury swirling behind them but before he could speak, Natalias soft, pitiful voice broke the silence.
Marco, please youre scaring her.
I turned to see her still playing the part her hand clutching his sleeve, the other pressed to her chest as though the moment pained her fragile heart.
He softened instantly, brushing her hair back. You always get anxious when I raise my voice, he murmured gently. You should rest.
Then he kissed her forehead. Right there. In front of me.
Sofia didnt move. Didnt make a sound. Just stood silently beside me a ghost of a child.
I turned away again.
Isabella, Marco said, his tone smooth now, deliberate. Apologize to her. Shes been suffering since you abandoned her in Monochalie. She couldnt eat, couldnt sleep. You went too far.
That stopped me.
I faced him, empty-eyed. And if I dont?
Natalia straightened slightly, feigning humility. Its fine, Marco I dont mind, she said sweetly, lowering her gaze. Isabellas still the lady of the house.
Her voice trembled like a saints, but I caught the smug satisfaction beneath it.
Youre too kind, Marco whispered, pressing another kiss to her forehead. From now on, Ill make sure you get everything you deserve.
Pathetic.
A maid entered quietly, carrying a cup. Chamomile tea for Miss Natalia, she said politely.
Her favorite. Of course.
I stood there, numb, detached, frozen in place. Then Marcos phone rang.
You always get headaches when I talk business, he told Natalia gently. Ill take this outside. Drink your tea.
And he left.
The moment the door clicked shut, her entire act dissolved. Sofia hid behind my leg. Natalia sat upright, eyes sharp, a smirk twisting her face.
You see? she said, her tone light, amused. You sent me away, but he still chose me.
I said nothing.
He holds me now. Loves me now. Youre just a ghost wandering his house.
I met her gaze, calm and unflinching. If you want him, Natalia, I said evenly, then take him.
Her face hardened. I dont need your permission, she hissed. Ill have it all him, this mansion, his name. Everything.
Her voice cracked with anger just as Marcos footsteps echoed outside. In a flash, she grabbed the cup of scalding tea and poured it over her chest.
Her scream split the air. Sofia cried out too, clutching me in terror.
Marco burst through the door seconds later. Natalia was on the floor, sobbing, drenched, clutching at her clothes.
His eyes snapped to me. Isabella!
I didnt touch her, I said, my voice flat. There are cameras. You can check.
His face twisted with rage, but before he could speak, Natalia whispered through trembling lips, Its not her fault, Marco. I probably spilled it myself I shouldnt have come here. Ill go.
She tried to step away dramatically, but he caught her wrist. Youre not leaving. I searched the world for you, and now you think you can walk out again? You want to kill me?
Then he turned on me, voice sharp with command. Lock them both in the basement.
My heart dropped. I stepped in front of Sofia, arms wide. Pleasedont punish her! Marco, shes just a child! Shes been through enough!
He didnt even glance at me.
Natalia whimpered, clutching his arm like a broken doll. You saw how she looked at me, she whispered. I cant live like this. Im scared shell hurt me again.
Youre lying! I shouted. You staged the whole thing!
Enough! His roar silenced everything.
Check the cameras, Marco! I begged. Please. Youll see the truth.
Theres no need, he said coldly. Shes the only one I trust.
My stomach turned to ice. Sofias tiny hand trembled in mine.
Natalias eyes gleamed. Take them downstairs, she said quietly. No food. No water.
Wait! I screamed. Not Sofia! Do anything to me, but not her! Shes your daughter
Shes not, he interrupted, his voice a dead weight.
I froze. Two guards grabbed me from behind. Sofia screamed, clinging to me as they dragged us away.
Mama! Dont let them take us!
Im here, baby, I whispered through tears. Im not letting go.
But they pulled harder. My knees scraped against the floor, my arms aching as I held onto her.
The basement door creaked open dark, cold, unforgiving.
They shoved us in without a word. The metal slammed shut behind us, sealing us in the dark.
The next morning, the basement door creaked open, letting in a thin sliver of light that stung my eyes. Sofia was trembling against my chest, her lips cracked, her skin ghostly pale. I was barely awake myself, running only on the primal urge to keep her breathing, to keep her safe.
Two guards stood at the doorway, expressionless as statues. One of them spoke flatly, his voice stripped of anything human.
The boss says next time, you wont walk out of here on your own legs.
I didnt respond. I simply clutched Sofia tighter, whispering soft encouragements as we climbed the stairsone agonizing step after another. Every part of my body felt heavy and hollow. My throat burned with thirst, my head throbbed, and my pride had already turned to dust. But Sofia was still alive. That was enough.
When we reached our room, I wrapped her in every blanket I could find, pulling her close as I wept silently. My tears soaked her hair.
Im sorry, I kept whispering. Im so sorry, my love. Mamas so sorry
Her small eyes looked up at medull, weary, but fierce in their quiet courage. I kissed her forehead and murmured against her skin, Well make it through this. I promise. Just hold on for a few more days, okay?
She gave the faintest nod. And that broke me all over again.
By late afternoon, I made the hardest choice Id ever faced. I arranged for Sofia to stay with Dr. Mel Reyes, an old friend from my university daysone of the last people I still trusted. Mel lived outside city limits, in a quiet, secure house with her own children. She had warmth, safety, and peaceall the things Sofia deserved.
At first, Sofia refused to leave me. She clung to me, tears streaming down her cheeks. I promised her it was only for a short time, that I would come for her soon. When she finally nodded and hugged me goodbye, it felt like she took my soul with her.
That evening, Marco summoned me. Taylor arrived with a package: a gown of blood-red velvet, open-backed with diamond straps that glittered like mockery. Inside the box was a note written in Marcos sharp, cold handwriting:
Auction. Mafia-only. Dont embarrass me.
No apology. No explanation for locking his daughter and me in a basement. Just another order. So I went.
The event was held on the top floor of one of his hotelsforty stories high, wrapped in gold and guarded by thirty armed men in black. Every person inside reeked of power and corruption, their wealth dripping with sin. I entered the ballroom carrying his name like a collar around my neck.
Then I saw her.
Natalia. Draped in designer silk, her curls falling perfectly over her shoulders, her lips painted the softest red. She wore confidence like perfume and around her neckmy necklace. The same one Marco had once bought for me, swearing it would be Sofias heirloom one day. She wore it as if she owned my place in his life.
I froze just beyond the doorway. Marco stood beside her, sharp in a black suit, hands in his pockets. When he noticed me, that familiar, cruel smirk curved his lips.
Shes here too? I said, keeping my voice even. Then tell mewhy am I here?
He shrugged, tone lazy and dismissive. Didnt plan to bring her. But she insisted. Begged me, actually. What was I supposed to do? Say no?
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping low enough for only me to hear. Dont be dramatic, Isabella. This isnt the time for your games.
My hands curled into fists so tight my nails dug into my palms. Games? I was standing in a den of murderers and traffickers while my husband flaunted his mistress beside him like a prizeand I was the one playing games?
Natalia gave a gentle, knowing laugh, linking her arm through his as though shed always belonged there. Whispered voices rippled across the room.
Isnt that Marcos wife?
Yeah, but thats the mistress beside him. They say he treats her like a queen. Poor wife doesnt even share his bed anymore.
A man turned toward me awkwardly. Sorry, I thought she was Mrs. Cortez. Shes wearing the diamonds, after all.
I didnt flinch. I just walked to my seat, back straight, face blank, absorbing every word, every whisper.
The auction began soon after. I bid occasionallyon antiques, rare art, nothing extravagant. But each time I raised my paddle, Natalia lifted hers a second later, raising my bid by a single dollar. Over and over.
The audience began to laugh softly. Never seen a mistress taunt a wife in public before.
I didnt even blink.
When the next item appeared, I lifted my paddle again. Open bid, I said clearly. The room went still. Natalias confident smirk faltered.
She turned to Marco, voice small and trembling. Marco I really want that one.
He sighed, irritation flickering across his face. Isabella, he warned through gritted teeth, just let her have it.
I turned my head slightly, meeting his gaze. She cant open-bid, I replied evenly. Only I can. Because Im your wife. Our assets are shared. Then I looked directly at Natalia. No matter how much he gives you, sweetheart, youll never be me.
Her cheeks flushed with rage. She shot up from her chair, covering her face with her hands. I get it, she sobbed theatrically. Youre the wife. Im nothing but a secret. I shouldnt have come. I just wanted to feel loved. Then she turned and ran from the room, all trembling fragility and crocodile tears.
Marcos face darkened. He grabbed my wrist so hard I felt a sharp crack of pain.
You just couldnt help yourself, could you? he hissed. I told you this thing with her would fade, but you had to provoke her.
I pulled free, forcing my voice to stay level. Her tantrum isnt my concern.
His jaw tightened. Storms brewed behind his eyes. Then, without another word, he turned and followed her out, leaving me alone in a room thick with whispers and thinly veiled laughter.
---
The shrill buzz of my phone tore me from uneasy sleep hours later. My vision blurred as I grabbed it, the screen glowing with a breaking news alert in bold letters:
BREAKING: 299 PRIVATE PHOTOS OF Cortez CEOS MOTHER-IN-LAW TO BE AUCTIONED TONIGHT!
My body froze. My chest constricted, my fingers went numb. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. Only one word echoed in my mindMom.
Hands trembling, I dialed Marcos number. It rang twice before his voice answeredcool, bored, unbothered.
Already up? he drawled. Didnt expect you to see it so soon.
I could barely speak. Did you do this? My voice cracked. Those photostheyre of my mother.
He laughed softly, the sound like venom sliding from his tongue.
You enjoyed the last auction, didnt you? he taunted. Thought Id give you something with sentimental value this time.
I felt the floor tilt beneath me. Those photos were taken decades ago, I choked out. She was working at a club before she got pregnant with me. She quit, started over, worked herself to death just to raise me!
He cut in, voice sharp and emotionless. And now shes gone. She wont care. Besides, people pay good money for vintage.
Then another voice entered the linesoft, syrupy, poisonous.
Natalia.
Marco is that Isabella again? I I should go. She sounds upset. I dont want to be here when she calls,
Natalias nervous whisper carried through the line.
Hey, dont talk like that, Marco replied softly, his tone far too tender for someone speaking about another womans husband. Youve suffered enough. Let me handle her, alright? Ill take care of it.
Then came a sound Id never forget the faint brush of lips. A kiss. Maybe on her cheek, maybe on her mouth. Either way, it was enough to make me sick.
And then the call ended.
I sat there, frozen. My lungs forgot how to work. My thoughts scattered like shattered glass.
My mother, the same woman whod died three years ago of heart failure, had been my strength through everything. She was the type to wash dishes long after midnight, to fall asleep sitting upright at the table, to hide her tears when there wasnt enough money for my prom dress. And now, Marco my husband had dragged her through the mud, desecrated her memory, and turned her into a mockery. All for Natalia.
---
I dont remember the drive to the auction house. I only remember the moment I stepped inside, my knees nearly giving way.
Then I saw her face.
Younger. Frightened. Forced to pose under unforgiving lights, trying to smile while men circled like vultures. Photos of her from her days working in a club before I was even born filled the screens. They were displaying her like she was a collectible, not a person.
Thats the wifes mother? one man murmured.
Back then, she mustve been quite the catch, another chuckled.
Guess it runs in the blood, someone else sneered.
Each word cut like glass. Their laughter drowned out the pounding of my heart.
Then, the auctioneers cheerful voice sliced through the noise:
Lot Number One The legendary Sapphire Queen in her prime! Opening bid: three thousand dollars!
Sapphire Queen. That was what they used to call her because of the blue gem she wore at the club. Shed never told me why she kept it now I knew. It wasnt jewelry. It was armor.
I forced back the bile rising in my throat and raised my paddle.
Every time someone bid, I went higher. Every dollar spent felt like another piece of my soul torn away. By the 299th photo, my hands were trembling, my stomach hollow. Id reclaimed every image of her but at what cost?
When I stumbled outside, my phone rang.
I didnt want to answer. But I did.
Marcos voice slid through the receiver, cruel and mocking.
So? How was it? Did you enjoy the show? Youve always loved auctions was this one as exciting?
I said nothing. My fingers ached from how tightly Id been gripping the paddle.
He sighed, irritated. Come on, Isabella. Dont tell me youre thinking of leaving me over this.
Wouldnt I have every reason to? I whispered hoarsely.
He laughed a cold, empty sound. You cant divorce me. Not without my consent. You know how this works.
Silence.
Hed forgotten.
Forgotten that hed already signed the divorce papers months ago.
Then his tone softened, almost playful. Consider today a warning. You act up, I remind you whos in charge. Oh, and my grandfathers wedding anniversary is tomorrow night. Be ready. Youre coming.
Before I could respond, the line clicked dead along with whatever was left of my love for him.
---
The following evening came dressed in silk and menace. The Cortez wedding anniversary the familys sacred gathering was less a celebration and more a demonstration of dominance. Under the chandeliers and crystal glasses were men whod killed, bribed, and built empires from blood.
Marco arrived in his black Maserati, didnt bother opening the door. I slid into the passenger seat on my own.
His gaze flicked over me, detached. Youve lost weight. Like bamboo too thin, but hard to break.
Didnt bring Natalia? I asked, my tone flat.
He tapped his fingers on the wheel. Not tonight. Ill keep her away from you from now on. Youve embarrassed this family enough.
A small, bitter smile touched my lips. He wasnt protecting me from her. He was protecting her from me.
As we curved along the highway, he asked, almost casually, Where are the twins? The old men are bound to ask.
I didnt even blink. Mateos gone. Dead. The bomb. You remember that, dont you?
He gave a short, cruel laugh. Still milking that story? Playing the grieving mother thats rich.
I turned my face toward the window, watching the trees smear into green streaks.
There was nothing left in me to grieve. Hed already killed the part of me that could feel pain. He could mock, taunt, desecrate my sons memory all he wanted.
Id buried my sorrow.
And soon, Id bury him too without ever getting my hands dirty.
+++
The party itself was a theater of masks silk gowns hiding secrets, polished smiles concealing vendettas. The Cortezs thrived on reputation, legacy, and silent rivalry.
Marco held my hand the moment we entered, pretending affection for the crowd.
His grandfather rose when he saw us, moving slowly but smiling wide.
Isabella, my dear girl, he said, kissing both my cheeks. Still the finest woman in the room. Marcos lucky, though he doesnt deserve you.
I smiled faintly. Thank you, Grandpa.
Then came the matriarch his wife, her sharp eyes raking over me like she was inspecting a stain on her favorite gown.
You look tired, she said, sweetly venomous. Try to take better care of yourself, dear. People notice these things.
Marco stayed silent, as always when his family belittled me.
We hadnt even reached the dining table when Natalia entered, her parents flanking her like proud escorts. She wore white silk a mockery of purity and her head tilted just so, the perfect picture of humility.
Her mothers smile was polished and poisonous. Mrs. Cortez, she greeted. You look resilient. We were just saying how admirable your strength is.
Her husband nodded. Youve been juggling so much. Especially after everything Natalias endured. But she insisted on being here. Such a compassionate girl, isnt she?
She has no bitterness in her heart, her mother added softly. An example to all of us.
Natalia lowered her gaze, the perfect portrait of innocence.
I didnt dignify them with a word.
I simply walked past my silence louder than anything I could have said.
An hour crawled by, and I sat alone at our table, my fingers curled around a half-empty glass of wine. Across the grand ballroom, Marco was twirling Natalia under the chandeliers light a dazzling display of charm and deceit. They looked like a magazine spread from hell, the kind of image that ruined people quietly.
I took another sip, the taste sharp against my tongue. But behind my eyes, I saw Mateo. His laughter echoed that sweet, airy giggle that once filled our kitchen. I could still see him there, barefoot on the tiles, frosting smeared across his cheeks as he proudly showed me his messy cupcakes.
Mama, look what I made!
My chest tightened.
I swear to you, Mateo, I thought, Ill make them pay for everything. But first, I have to walk out of this prison alive.
Another glass, Mrs. Cortez? The waiter leaned closer, bottle in hand. I nodded absently but Marco noticed.
From the dance floor, he froze mid-step, his hand dropping from Natalias waist. His stare cut through the crowd and locked on me. It wasnt love in his eyes it was ownership. Fury. Fire.
Within moments, he was crossing the marble floor, abandoning Natalia without a glance. His grip closed around my arm, hard enough to bruise.
What the hell do you think youre doing? he hissed, his breath hot against my ear. Youre my wife, not some spoiled brat flirting with the help.
I slipped my arm free and met his glare evenly. Maybe if youd remembered I was your wife before tonight, we wouldnt be here.
Then I turned on my heel and walked off, my pulse steady but burning with rage.
I pushed into the powder room, closing the door behind me. The silence was heavy, broken only by my shallow breathing until it wasnt.
The door creaked open again. Natalia stepped in, shutting it quietly behind her.
Well, if it isnt the queen of ruins, she said sweetly, her voice dripping with mock pity. Still pretending anyone in that room listens to you?
I didnt answer.
She smirked, eyes glinting. You couldnt even protect your own child. What kind of mother lets her son die like that?
My hand twitched at my side.
He was, what six? she continued, her tone almost playful. He mustve screamed when the timer started. Did he call for you? Did he beg you to save him?
That was it. The last crack in my restraint. I lunged but before my hand even connected, she moved faster.
Natalia slapped herself. Hard. Then again, leaving red streaks on her own face. She clawed at her collarbone, dragged her fingers down her neck, then flung herself against the sink with a scream that could split glass.
Help! Somebody help! she shrieked. Isabellas gone mad!
The door burst open moments later, but she was already halfway out, sobbing hysterically.
When I stepped out behind her, chaos had already bloomed. Natalia was on the ballroom floor, tears streaking her ruined makeup, the red marks on her skin glowing under the lights. She looked like a victim straight out of a crime scene.
Marco reached her first, catching her before she fell. What happened? he demanded, his voice sharp, panicked.
Sheshe attacked me! Natalia gasped between sobs, clutching his jacket. She slammed me into the mirror! Look at my face!
Marcos expression darkened, jaw tightening. Smith! Take Isabella out of here. Now.
Two of his men stormed in, seizing me by the arms. I didnt struggle. There was no point. My heels scraped against the marble as they dragged me forward.
Every head turned. Every whisper grew.
The music had died, replaced by murmurs and gasps. Some guests looked scandalized; others watched with a hunger for gossip. Even those pretending to ignore it couldnt look away.
Natalia lay trembling in her mothers arms, her sobs pitifully rehearsed.
My poor baby! her mother cried dramatically. What kind of monster would do this?
Her father shook his head, voice booming for everyone to hear. Shes suffered enough! Always too forgiving. Too kind.
Marcos grandmother strode forward, her face twisted with disgust.
Disgraceful! she spat. You humiliate this family before our allies on our anniversary, no less! Youve shamed our name beyond repair!
Then came Marcos grandfather, striking his cane hard against the marble floor.
Ive tolerated your coldness long enough, he roared. But this? Hurting an innocent guest? Youre done, Isabella. You are no longer one of us!
I lifted my head slowly, heart hammering, chest tight. Then I snapped.
Innocent? My voice cracked through the silence like lightning. You want to talk about innocent?
I turned straight to Marco, my eyes blazing. Shes the reason Mateos dead.
The entire room froze. The silence was suffocating heavy, unbreathing. Even the musicians had stopped moving.
She told you he wasnt yours, I continued, trembling but unbroken. She poisoned you against your own son. She despised him. And now hes gone because of her.
Marcos brow furrowed, confusion warring with disbelief.
Then Natalia struck again, voice slicing through the air. Shes lying! I saw Mateo earlier today! she cried. He was fine running around a friends house! Shes gone insane! Shes saying her son is dead just to make me look guilty!
She turned to the crowd, tears streaming. Look at what she did to me! Look at my face! This woman needs help!
That was all it took.
Marcos rage erupted. He stormed toward me, and I didnt move.
The first slap came hard and fast.
Smack.
Then another.
Smack.
By the third, my head snapped sideways. The fourth blurred my vision.
The fifth sent me crumbling to the marble floor.
Blood filled my mouth, my cheek blazing with heat. I barely caught myself with one trembling hand, eyes fixed on the polished floor as Marco lifted Natalia into his arms and carried her out.
Applause. Whispers. Disgust. Pity. I couldnt tell anymore.
I stayed where I fell.
+++
I dont remember leaving the hall. One moment I was lying on cold marble, and the next, I was staring at the ceiling of our bedroom. My face throbbed, my lip split open. But none of it matched the ache hollowing my chest.
That night marked the end. The last time I shed tears for Marco Cortez.
Just one tear. One breath. That was all hed ever get from me again.
Then my phone rang.
I almost ignored it until I saw the unknown number.
Hello? I murmured.
A mans voice, polite but cheerful, answered. Good evening. Am I speaking to Miss Isabella Reyes Cortez?
Yes.
Wonderful! Your father will be thrilled to hear this.
My heart stopped. My father?
Yes, maam, the man said warmly. Im his lawyer and personal secretary. Hes been searching for you for years. We finally found you.
My lips parted, but no sound came out.
When youre ready, Miss Isabella, he continued, Ill send you his number and address. Hes been waiting a long time to see you.
The line disconnected, and I just sat there phone still in hand, pulse racing.
For the first time in years, something deep inside me stirred again.
Not grief. Not pain.
Hope.
After what felt like a lifetime of silence, I finally forced myself to move. My reflection in the mirror was a strangerblood-streaked, eyes hollow. I cleaned the dried crimson off my face, dabbed at the split in my lip, and swallowed back the tears that threatened to rise again. My entire body ached from the beating Marco gave me, every bruise a reminder of what Id lost. Yet none of that compared to the pain festering inside my chest. My heart wasnt just broken anymoreit was decaying, piece by piece.
The room sat in heavy stillness. Until the peace shattered.
The door burst open with a violent slam, and Marcos men flooded in. Their faces were stone, their eyes hollow, their silence deafening. I didnt even have the chance to stand before one seized my arm, fingers digging into my flesh. Another clamped onto my wrist as if I were some criminal caught red-handed.
Whats happening? I tried to ask, but my voice barely left my throat. No one replied.
They dragged me out like trash, barefoot and stripped of any dignity I once had. My body was hauled through the hallways of the house I used to call home, the marble floors cold beneath my feet.
Outside, a black SUV waited. I was shoved inside, doors locked immediately. No words, no glancesjust silence and the faint hum of the engine as we drove to a private medical facility bearing the Cortez family name.
By the time the elevator doors opened to the top floor, I already knew I wasnt going to like what I would find. They threw me into a private suite, and what greeted me made bile rise in my throat.
Natalias parents lay in twin hospital beds, both swathed in white bandages. Her mothers face was entirely covered except for her eyesone bloodshot, one glassy. Her arms were mummified in gauze, and when she spoke, her voice was little more than a rasp slipping through a breathing tube.
She she tried to kill us, she croaked, voice trembling. We were in the car when it exploded we barely made it out alive.
Her husband stood by the bedside, his arm in a cast, face pale and tear-streaked. I dragged her out myself, he declared hoarsely, staring past me and straight at Marco, who had just entered the room. Shed be dead if I hadnt.
Then I noticed the three unfamiliar men kneeling on the floor. They were sobbing uncontrollably, snot and tears dripping down their faces.
Im sorry, Maam Isabella! one of them blurted out between sobs. We just followed your orders!
You said to burn the carto make it look like an accident! another howled.
My entire body froze. My lungs forgot how to breathe. It didnt make sensenone of it. How far were they willing to go to bury me?
And then I saw her.
Natalia sat in the corner, clutching her elbows like a fragile little girl, tears streaking her cheeks and mascara smudged just enough to look artfully tragic. Her trembling voice filled the air, the picture of false innocence.
Why, Isabella? she whispered. Why would you hurt my family? Just because I love him? What did I ever do to deserve this?
I didnt respond. There was no point. The trap had already been set.
Marcos steps echoed as he moved forward, his expression carved in stone, his jaw twitching with restrained rage. He didnt bother asking for my side of the story. He didnt need to. His mind was already made up.
Youre a fucking monster, he hissed. I gave you everythingand this is what you turn into?
My mouth opened to defend myself, but before I could speak, a sharp sting exploded across my cheek. Grandma Cortez had slapped me hard enough to make my head whip to the side.
You think well let you keep disgracing this family? she snarled. You should be ashamed of yourself! If you want to stay under our name, then kneel!
I looked at Marco. He just stood theresilent, unmoving, soulless. I didnt kneel. So she shoved me down herself, her bony fingers digging into my shoulders until my knees hit the cold tile.
I stared up at himmy husband. Or at least, the man who used to be. His eyes didnt even flicker.
Then chaos struck again. Natalias mother gasped, clutching her chest. Her head lolled to the side, and she muttered something inaudible before her body went limp.
Doctor! Hurry! Shes crashing! Natalia screamed, tears streaming down her face.
The door burst open, and a man in a lab coat ran in with a stethoscope bouncing against his chest. Blood pressures collapsing. Shes hemorrhaging internally, he announced, tone clipped and urgent. We need a transfusion now. Her blood type is AB negativeextremely rare. Check the database.
Everyone froze.
Thats a near-impossible match, the doctor added grimly. Only a handful of donors are compatible.
Natalia pressed a delicate hand to her stomach. Im AB negative, she whispered, voice trembling, but I cant donate.
The entire room turned toward her.
Im pregnant, she said faintly, her gaze flicking toward Marco, as if seeking comfort. I cant risk the baby. Its Marcos.
A cold wave rolled through me. My stomach twisted violently.
Grandma gasped, covering her mouth. A child an heir she murmured, voice quivering with sudden joy.
Grandpas face hardened, but his eyes gleamed with pride. Marco looked at her like she was the miracle hed been waiting for.
Not one of them looked at me.
Then the doctor broke the silence. Theres another match, he said. Isabella Reyes Cortez. Shes compatible.
Marcos expression darkened instantly. His boots pounded against the floor as he stalked toward me. His hand clamped around my arm like a vise. You heard the doctor.
I jerked back. Shes lying! I shouted. Shes faking everythingshes not pregnant, this is all staged!
Marcos grip tightened. I said take her blood! he barked. As much as it takes.
Two men pinned me down as I kicked and screamed. Dont touch me! Shes lying! Youre letting her destroy us!
Shut her up! Grandma shrieked. Get it done!
Leather straps bit into my wrists as they forced me into the chair. The metallic scent of sterilized instruments filled my nostrils. A needle pierced my vein, and the blood began to flowtoo fast, too much.
Shes turning pale, the doctor muttered nervously. We should slow it down
Marco shot him a cold glare. Continue.
My head started spinning. My vision blurred at the edges. Across the room, Natalia stood by the bed, one hand resting on her stomach, crocodile tears painting her cheeks. When our eyes met, her lips twitched ever so slightlyan almost-smile.
Shes losing color, a nurse called out.
My arms felt like ice. My fingertips went numb.
Shes about to crash! another voice shouted.
The room tilted. The ceiling swam. The machines blared beside me, a chorus of urgent beeps.
Shes going into shock! Move her to the emergency wing! someone ySofiad.
My breath came shallow and uneven. My body refused to respond. Only one thought echoed in my mind as the world faded to gray:
Theyre going to kill me before I ever get out of here.
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