Chapter 6 - The Fall of the Free-LoadersWe checked into a high-end service apartment near my corporate headquarters downtown.
It was quiet, sunlit, and immaculate. Within two hours, Victoria had arranged for a private nanny service—a verified, certified early childhood professional named Clara—to take care of Camila while I managed the fallout from my office.
By 11:00 AM, my phone was ringing incessantly.
I sat behind my massive mahogany desk at Vance Marketing Group, looking out over the city skyline, taking a slow sip of hot chamomile tea.
The caller ID displayed DANIEL.
I tapped the speaker button. "Speak."
"Mariana! You have to stop this!" Daniel’s voice shrieked through the speaker, frantic and hyperventilating. "My dad’s heart medication ran out this morning! I went to the pharmacy to pick up his prescription and the pharmacist said my credit card was declined! Then I tried to transfer money from our joint savings account and it says 'ACCOUNT RESTRICTED'! He needs his pills!"
"Then I suggest you take some of that lobster your mother gorged on last night, pawn it, and buy his pills," I replied coldly.
"Mariana, he could die!" Daniel yelled, weeping into the phone. "How can you be so heartless?!"
"Heartless?" I let out a dry, bitter laugh. "For three years, Daniel, I gave your mother thirty-five thousand pesos every single month. I gave you twenty thousand in pocket money. Where did all that money go? Why don't you have a single peso saved in your own bank account to buy your own father’s medication?"
Silence hung heavy on the line.
Because Daniel had never worked a real day in his life. He worked a fake 'consulting' job at his friend's firm where he showed up twice a week for two hours, spending his entire paycheck on designer shoes, luxury cigars, and golf club memberships.
"I... I spent it on our lifestyle!" Daniel stammered, trying to make excuses.
"No, you spent it on your lifestyle," I corrected sharply. "If your father needs his medication, take your custom Tag Heuer watch—the one I bought you for your birthday—and go to a pawn shop. You have two hours before the pharmacy closes."
"Mariana, please..." Daniel sobbed. "Mom is crying, Valeria is packing her bags in trash bags because she can't afford boxes, and my dad is furious at me! Just transfer ten thousand pesos! Just ten thousand!"
"Every peso I own is currently frozen under court supervision, Daniel," I said smoothly. "If I give you ten pesos, I'd be violating a judge's order. Good luck at the pawn shop."
I hung up the phone.
Before I could set my mug down, my assistant knocked on my office door, leaning her head in with a nervous expression.
"Mrs. Vance? There's a young woman in the lobby demanding to see you. She says she’s your sister-in-law, and she’s making a massive scene with security."
I smiled, adjusting my blazer. "Call the building security team and have her escorted off the premises for harassment. If she refuses to leave, call the police."
My assistant blinked, shocked by my coldness, but quickly nodded. "Right away, ma'am."
I leaned back in my leather chair, pulling up my email.
A notification popped up from my financial forensic investigator, whom Victoria had hired three hours ago to audit all accounts linked to Daniel and his family.
Subject: URGENT - FINANCIAL AUDIT FINDINGS: GERALDINE ENTERPRISES & SECRET TRANSFERS.
May you like
My eyes narrowed. I clicked the email open.
What I read next made my blood run colder than the night air on that balcony.
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