Book 3: Chapter 32

Esmeralda’s face betrayed a flicker of surprise. She hadn’t even thought to check, given the rush of the morning and the impending meeting. She reached for her bag, but Diego, noticing her motion, held out his phone toward her.

“Here,” he said, a glint of something close to satisfaction in his eyes. “You can see for yourself.”

Esmeralda took the phone hesitantly, her heart pounding as if it had already guessed the storm she was about to witness. Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened the image gallery, immediately confronted by the unmistakable sight of Santiago entangled with a woman, her arm wrapped possessively around his shoulders, her face turned toward him in a flirtatious smirk.

The images were candid but unmistakable in their intimacy. Santiago’s expression looked distant, almost detached as if he were simply going through the motions, but that did little to quell the sting of betrayal that erupted within her.

Her hand tightened around the phon