Armando paced back and forth in his office, his mind clouded with frustration, anger, and a hint of something he refused to acknowledge—hurt. He wasn’t a man who tolerated disobedience, especially not from those closest to him. Yet Jessica had tested him in a way no one else had dared. Her attempt to leave with Alvaro, to slip out from under his control, struck him in a way he hadn’t expected. He’d known from the start that she was unhappy with the life he led, but he’d always believed she would stay. She’d become his, as much a part of his world as his reputation, his wealth, and his power. And yet, she’d tried to escape it all.
He clenched his fists, jaw tightening as he relived the confrontation. He remembered her defiance, the way she looked at him with such bitterness, her eyes fille
