Chapter 8 - The Manipulation
Diego ignored Lucia completely, fixing his dark, piercing gaze onto Mariana. He softened his expression, adopting the exact warm, gentle tone he had used when he proposed to her five years ago.
"Mariana, look at me," Diego said, stepping closer despite the officer's warning. "Look at your husband. Do you really believe these insane accusations? We built a life together. We have Sofia. Do you want to destroy our family over a mistake made by a plumber?"
Mariana looked into his eyes, searching for the man she had loved, the man who had tucked Sofia into bed every night. But for the first time in her life, the illusion was gone. Behind his handsome features, she saw only a cold, calculating predator who had used her home as a dumping ground for his gruesome secrets.
"You brought her here..." Mariana wept softly, holding Sofia tighter against her chest as the little girl began to whimper softly. "You brought pieces of her into the home where our daughter plays..."
"Mariana... you know who I am," Diego whispered, his steady voice dropping into a dangerous, icy register that dropped all pretense of affection. "Tell them it's a mistake. Right now."
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It wasn't a request; it was a veiled threat, a silent reminder of what he was capable of if she betrayed him.
👉 Read PART 9 to see how Lucia got Mariana and Sofia out of the apartment safely!
