The aftermath of the wedding debacle lingered like a storm cloud over the Cruz estate. Guests had dispersed quietly, their hushed whispers carrying fragments of scandal and betrayal. Sanchez retreated to his study, the grandeur of the room offering little solace as his thoughts spiraled. The truth about Susan's hidden children gnawed at him, intertwining with the looming threat posed by Pedro, Loiz, and Pierre.
Susan sat alone in the guest quarters, staring at a framed picture of her twins, Mia and Adrian. Their innocent faces stared back at her, a reminder of the love she had fought to protect. She felt as though she had failed them—and Sanchez. He deserved to know sooner, but fear had kept her silent. Now, everything hung in the balance.
---
Late into the night, Sanchez finally emerged from his study, his expression unreadable. He found Susan sitting in the dimly lit garden, the soft glow of lanterns casting shadows across her face.
"We need to talk," he said, his voice even but heavy with emotion.
Susan nodded, bracing herself. "I know."
He took a seat across from her, studying her face. "Why didn't you tell me? All those years, Susan... I had a right to know."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to look away. "I know I made a mistake, Sanchez. At first, I thought I was protecting you. Then I thought I'd missed my chance. And the longer I waited, the harder it became."
Sanchez's jaw tightened. "Do you have any idea how much I've suffered, thinking you left me because I wasn't enough? And now I find out it wasn't just you I lost, but my children too?"
"I thought I was doing what was best for everyone," Susan said softly, her voice breaking. "But I see now that I was wrong. I'm sorry, Sanchez. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you if I have to."
He let out...