Diego had always been Antonio's best friend, more like a brother. But as Antonio sat there, the revelation felt unreal, and a storm of questions raged within him. Could Diego truly betray him in such a way? Could his best friend be the one to have a relationship with his girlfriend, leading to her pregnancy?The thought of Diego's betrayal cut deep. Antonio acknowledged that Diego came from a more privileged background, but the idea of his best friend being part of this deceit was hard to comprehend. His anguish was less about Sofia and more about the deep sense of betrayal by someone who had grown up alongside him, who had witnessed his struggles without ever extending a helping hand, and had now chosen to add to his misfortune.Antonio's heart raced, and he felt a sharp, piercing pain deep within his chest. He lay down in front of Sofia's door, his eyes heavy with weariness, yet he fought back the tears threatening to escape. After a while, he summoned the strength to stand, though

"If you say so, go and get him settled in," André said. Maria returned to Antonio, who was waiting at the door. She led him to a spacious room that left him in awe. Antonio entered the room with his mouth agape. "This place is five times bigger than my entire house," he exclaimed with a wide grin. Maria couldn't help but laugh at his amazement. "It's all yours, this is your room," she replied. Antonio raced to the bed and leaped onto it like an excited child. "First time on a bed?" Maria teased, not meaning it literally. "Sadly, yes," Antonio admitted, his excitement turning into contemplation as he reflected upon all the experiences he had missed out on. "You know what? Just rest. I'll get the cook to make something for you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me," Maria said before leaving Antonio to ponder his new surroundings. Andrés, Maria's father, found himself caught in a heated power struggle with his brothers. Despite Andrés currently holding the CEO position,

Antonio, while sipping his wine, nearly choked upon hearing Maria introduce him that way. "Are you okay?" they all inquired as Antonio struggled to regain his composure.“Ermm, yes, I am,” he managed to say. He gave Maria a stern look, but Maria didn't meet his gaze.“Carlos, Lucia, meet my fiance, Antonio,” Maria continued the introduction. Antonio felt a mix of confusion and disbelief.“Antonio, meet my niece, Lucia, who is opening this gallery tonight, and her husband, Carlos,” Maria said with a warm smile.“Awww? Happy for you, sis,” Lucia chimed in. “Nice to meet you, Antonio.”Antonio could sense the fakeness among them but managed to smile. He shook Carlos's extended hand, all the while wondering about the kind of situation he had been pulled into. The questions in his mind continued to multiply."Make yourselves comfortable while I attend to my other guests, including you, our 'fiance'," Lucia said still smiling before excusing herself."See you around," Carlos added befor

Resting his back against the wall, Pedro declared, "We're here for Antonio."Mrs. Torres, initially frightened, recognized the loan shark. "Why?" she inquired.Pedro, growing impatient, advanced closer to her. "Don't ask me questions. Is he in?" he repeated.She sighed in response. "I haven't seen Antonio in days."Pedro let out a loud laugh, then turned to his men and signaled with a nod. "Search the house."His men barged past Mrs. Torres, shoving her aside, and commenced their search. They ransacked the room, scattering items in their haste. Mr. Torres, in his drunken stupor, was incapable of intervening, and Mrs. Torres' pleas fell on deaf ears.The search extended to the bathroom, and then they proceeded to check the backyard, in case Antonio had escaped through a window. When their thorough search was complete, they reported back to Pedro. "She's right, he's not here," they confirmed.Pedro's anger flared, and he paced back and forth, fuming. "Where is he?""I've been te