Jose shot up from his chair the instant he heard the rumble of a car speeding


    down the street.


    "It''s William''s car."


    He rushed to the back door, hoping to find Josephine, but all that greeted him was


    a pile of garbage she had been about to throw out.


    His stomach dropped.


    "That fucking bastard! He took her!" Jose''s rage shook his voice.


    He stormed into the house, heading straight for the keys to his truck.


    "Where are you going?" Lucia asked, rm shing in her eyes.


    "William kidnapped Josephine. That bastard''s gone too far!"


    "Don''t be too harsh with him," Lucia warned softly.


    Jose spun on her, eyes burning.


    "Harsh? This is on you!" Jose roared.


    "You spoiled him, coddled him, sheltered him from every damn consequence. Look at what you''ve made-he''s no man, he''s a goddamn monster! I warned you -one day he''ll kill you, and he''ll take the rest of us down with him!"


    He yanked the drawer open, ripped out his gun, and mmed the cylinder full of bullets, his hands shaking with rage.


    "I''m done cleaning up his messes. He''s not my adopted son anymore!"


    Lucia stood frozen. "Jose... he''s still young. He''s our only son."


    Jose''s gaze cut into her. "Listen to me. He wanted to kill Josephine! Do you want to let him? Do you want her dead? Now choose-Josephine or William!"


    The words hit her like a de.


    She opened her mouth, but nothing came out-only silence and the weight of a truth she couldn''t speak.


    "You''ve known this for a long time, Lucia," Jose pressed, his voice low and hard.


    "We can''t let this monster grow anyrger. Josephine''s protected me from him twice-and we''ve only just met her."


    Jose marched toward the door.


    "Even if he''s not our son anymore," Lucia finally cried, her voice breaking, "don''t kill him. Let him live, Jose. Please."


    Jose''s hand tightened on the doorknob. He didn''t look back. "That depends on what he does to me."


    He strode out, climbed into his truck, and turned the key. Just then Alex slid into the passenger seat.


    "Doctor, you don''t need toe. Josephine will be safe," Jose growled.


    Alex''s eyes burned with rage. "Shees with me. I''m going to save her. Do you know where he''s taken her?"


    Jose sneered. "That fool''s predictable. I know exactly where he is."


    Meanwhile, Josephine stirred awake.


    Her head throbbed. She blinked to find herself inside a luxurious mansion lit by shing lights, bodies swaying to pounding music.


    Men and women were draped in drugs, liquor, and sex.


    She tried to stand, but a hand yanked her hair back hard. William grinned down at her. "Finally awake."


    "You bastard," she spat, eyes scanning the debauchery around her.


    William chuckled, eyes glinting with malice. "I''m going to fuck you tonight-and


    film it. I''ll post it online for the whole world to watch."


    He lunged, ripping at her clothes-but Josephine''s hand darted faster.


    She grabbed a ss bottle and smashed it across his face. Blood sprayed.


    William staggered, cursing, clutching his cheek.


    "I am not your whore," Josephine hissed, standing tall.


    William''s roar cut through the music. "Grab her! Hold her down! We''ll gang bang her!"


    Six men lurched forward, their eyes zed, teeth shing in cruel grins.


    "Pretty little thing," one slurred.


    "Tonight, you''re our party," another sneered, backing her into the corner.


    "Stop!" A thunderous voice split the chaos. Jose stood in the doorway, gun at his side, face carved in stone.


    "The party''s over. Get out of my house."


    The young men turned, sneering at the older man. "Who the hell are you, old


    man? You think you can stop us? The night''s just getting started."


    Jose lifted his gun and fired a single shot into the ceiling.


    The crack of gunfire silenced the music, froze theughter, and shattered the haze of drugs.


    Everyone went still.


    "Leave now," Jose said coldly, his voice carrying like a death sentence. "Or you''ll never walk out of here alive."


    Panic rippled. Partygoers bolted, grabbing bottles and bags as they scrambled for the door. Even the young men scattered, muttering curses under their breath.


    William, face streaked with blood, red at Jose. "What the hell are you doing here?"


    "You kidnapped this woman. You''ve crossed every line there is," Jose said, stepping closer.


    William sneered, blood dripping from his chin. "That bitch hit me. Don''t you think she owes me an apology?"


    Jose''s voice cut like steel. "Starting tonight, William, I don''t want to hear another word of your bullshit."


    "You''re no son of mine. Not by blood, not byw, not by anything. You''re nothing to me. Now get the hell out of my house."


    Williamughed, his voice sharp and cruel. "So here you are again, trying to y the big man, old man? Keep


    bal call Mom and let''s see


    what she does to you."


    "Go ahead, call her," Jose said tly, his hand steady on the gun. "She''s sick of your pathetic whining anyway."


    William jabbed his phone, sneering. "Mom, the old bastard just kicked me out. Do something! Teach this fool a lesson-"


    Lucia''s voice came through the speaker, tired and heavy.


    "Son... we''re finished. We''ve covered for you long enough-your lies, your fights,


    the people you''ve hurt. I can''t protect you anymore. This is the end."


    The line went dead.


    William''s face drained of color, then twisted with fury.


    His eyes went cold, dangerous. He snatched up a bottle from the table and hurled


    it at Jose.


    "You rotten bastard! How many times do I have to smash your skull before you finally stay down and die?"


    Jose sidestepped, the bottle shattering against the wall. His gun barked, a shot cracking into the floor inches from William''s feet.


    "I promised Lucia I wouldn''t kill you," Jose growled, his eyes like steel.


    "That''s your one mercy. Test me again and I swear I''ll put you in the ground."


    For the first time, William saw the truth in his eyes. Jose wasn''t bluffing.


    "You''re a real bastard," William spat, his voice trembling with rage.


    "You''d kill your own son. No wonder your daughter never came back-who would want a father like you?"


    Jose fired again, closer this time, the bullet burning the air beside William''s leg.


    His voice thundered.


    "Push me one more step and there''ll be no mercy."


    William froze, then slowly lifted his hands.


    "Fine. You think I''m grateful? For being adopted by trash like you?"


    His lip curled into a snarl. "Everyone says the great governor of Vind is kind, humble. But you''re nothing but a fraud. A bastard who tortures his own son." Jose leveled the gun at his chest. That was enough to shut William up.


    He backed away, muttering curses, then stormed out of the house.


    Jose''s shoulders sagged. He let out a bitter sigh. "That monster... I


    should''ve ended him here. But ne


    Lucia-she loved him too much, coddled him until he grew into this."


    Josephine, watching from the side, saw the pain carved deep into the old man''s eyes.


    She stepped closer, her voice soft. "Sir... thank you. Thank you for saving me.”


    Meanwhile, back at the house, Lucia heard the crunch of tires on gravel. Her heart leapt as she hurried to the door.


    She barely had it open before William shoved his way in. His hands shot out like ws, wrapping around her throat.


    "You!" he roared, his face contorting, spit spraying with every word.


    "You should''ve stopped him! You should''ve kept that bastard from throwing me out! The governor''s seat is mine—it''s all I''ve ever dreamed of! You promised it to me!


    And now you dare let him ripot


    ripit away


    from me?"


    Lucia''s face went white. She wed at his hands, gasping for breath, pping at


    him with trembling palms. "Let me speak... please..."


    William loosened one hand, his grip still crushing. Killing her would be effortless,


    and he knew it. His voice dripped arrogance.


    "So, are you finally ready to beg for my forgiveness? Ready to crawl back and


    take me in again?"


    Lucia''s eyes brimmed with tears. Her voice trembled, but it carried a strange


    strength.


    "I only want one answer. One thing I''ve carried in my heart for years. Tell me the


    truth, and I''ll give you everything you want."


    William''s sneer curled into a grin. "Now we''re talking."


    Lucia looked into his eyes, her own filled with hurt. "Did you kill Maria?"


    For a heartbeat William froze.


    Then, slowly, a dark smile spread across his lips. His eyes gleamed with cruel


    satisfaction.


    "She should''ve nevere back. She tried to take what was mine. And I made


    sure she paid for it."