The rain fell in sheets, drenching the streets of Culiacán in silver. It painted the night with reflection—headlights, red neon, and shadows dancing between truth and treachery.
Valentina stood alone under a metal awning outside an old chapel, her phone pressed to her ear.
"Where did you say she's being treated?" Her voice was tight, sharp.
"San Miguel Clinic, west district," Mateo said. "She's alive, Valentina. But it's complicated."
Valentina's heart twisted.
Isabella… my baby sister…
The Sister That Shouldn't Exist
At the clinic, Valentina wore a nurse's scrubs and surgical mask. She didn't trust anyone—not even the walls.
She peeked into Room 403.
There she was. Isabella.Nineteen. Slim. Tired eyes. Bandages wrapped her ribs. Her arm was in a sling.
Valentina's breath caught.
She survived. After all these years… she survived.
She didn't step inside. She couldn't. Not yet.
The doctor approached. "She doesn't remember much about the night. But she kept asking about someone named Val."
Valentina clenched her fists. She thinks I'm dead…
Tangled Threads
Back at her estate, Valentina sat with Alejandro Reyes in her study. The golden light from a chandelier flickered across her face.
"You knew about Isabella, didn't you?" she asked.
Alejandro's mouth twisted into a grin. "I know more than you think. About your mother… and Xavier."
"Say it," Valentina demanded.
"She wasn't just Xavier's enemy. She was his obsession. And your father? Rafael Veracruz? He didn't just leave the cartel. He stole from it. That's why they died."
Valentina's mind reeled. So much blood. So many lies.
"Why help me?" she asked.
Alejandro leaned closer. "Because you're the only one ruthless enough to take Xavier down… and smart enough to replace him."
Underneath the Mask
That night, Diego stood outside Valentina's nightclub in Cancún, blending in with the crowd. A wire buzzed in his ear. His team waited.
But he didn't care about the mission anymore.
He just wanted her.
Inside, Valentina moved through the VIP section like fire in silk. Her eyes met Diego's across the dance floor.
A silent pull.
He approached, careful not to say her name.
"You've been busy," he said.
"You've been watching," she replied, smirking.
They stood inches apart—chemistry hot and electric.
"You're not who you pretend to be," Diego murmured.
"Neither are you," she whispered back. "So what happens now?"
Their lips met—desperate, hungry, dangerous.
One kiss. One lie wrapped in passion.
Neither knew who would betray who first.
Closing Scene – Queen Moves First
Later that night, Valentina stared at an encrypted drive hidden in her father's old toolbox.
She inserted it into her laptop. The screen flickered, then unlocked:
PROJECT ZAFIROAccounts. Photos. Names. Xavier's entire empire.
Valentina's eyes gleamed.
Checkmate is coming…