Tall. Immaculate. Dangerous in her elegance. She wore a fitted black dress, her pale skin flawless, her emerald eyes sharp with suspicion.
“You’re still not finished, María,” she said coolly.
“I’m just about done, señora.”
Helena bent to lift Leo. The baby shrieked instantly, reaching for María instead. Helena’s jaw tightened, jealousy flaring unmistakably.
“Take him back to his room. I’ve had enough of the noise.”
María gathered Leo into her arms. He quieted at once.
“Shh… it’s alright,” she whispered. “Why are you so afraid of her, little one?”
That evening, Eduardo Rivelles returned from a business trip to Valencia. At fifty-six, he was commanding—silver-haired, impeccably dressed, a self-made tycoon worth over €120 million. His first wife, Sofía, had died years earlier, leaving him with two sons: Leo and Daniel, the eldest, a cardiologist.
Helena greeted Eduardo with wine and a flawless smile.
“I missed you,” she said sweetly.
“Long trip,” he replied, collapsing onto the sofa. “Where’s Leo?”
“Asleep. María put him down.”
Eduardo nodded, too tired to notice the tension pulsing beneath the surface.