Because any other reaction to Valentina Muniz would be a massive mistake.
And yet somewhere deep in my mind, against my will, something had already decided that maybe…
it wouldn’t be such a terrible mistake after all.
TWENTY-ONE
VALENTINA MUNIZ
My fingers tightened hard around the waistband of my black skirt as I stared at the scuffed white floor of the small waiting room in the courthouse.
My heart was beating so fast I could feel it in my throat, and no matter how many times I told myself to breathe, the anxiety kept climbing with every passing minute.
“Hey. Breathe,” Júlia whispered beside me, reaching for my hand and lacing her fingers through mine. “It’s going to be okay, Val.”
I looked up at her and tried to smile, but what came out was a weak, worried grimace.
“I don’t know if it will,” I admitted quietly, hating how vulnerable my voice sounded. “Enrico isn’t playing. He wants my daughter, and he’s not willing to negotiate.”
“He can refuse to negotiate all he wants,” Júlia said, squeezing my hand tighter, giving me the steadiness I desperately needed. “He doesn’t get to decide this by force. Clara is cared for. She’s happy. She’s safe with you. No judge is going to change that just because Enrico Ferrara is powerful.”
I wanted to believe her more than anything.
But it was impossible to forget that since Enrico reappeared, my entire life had become unstable—uncertain, shifting under my feet.
And now the one thing I had always been sure of—Clara—was being threatened by him.
“I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose her,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I won’t survive it.”
“Hey.” Júlia cupped my face and forced me to meet her eyes. “You’re not losing anyone. Clara is your daughter. You raised her, you love her, and no court can erase that. Do you hear me?”
I nodded, swallowing hard, trying to absorb her certainty like medicine.
Júlia was trying to help. I knew that.
But I also knew the justice system wasn’t always just.
The waiting-room door opened abruptly, making me jump. My attorney appeared in the doorway, professional and serious.
“Valentina, they’re ready to begin,” he said. “Are you ready?”
I took a deep breath and squeezed Júlia’s hand one last time before standing.
“No,” I admitted honestly. “I’m not. But we’re going in anyway.”
Júlia gave me an encouraging smile as she stood too.
“I’ll be right here outside,” she said. “It’s going to be okay. You’ll see.”
I returned a small, grateful smile and followed my attorney down the hall, each step making the pressure in my chest tighter.
When we reached the courtroom and I walked through the doors, my eyes found him immediately.
Enrico.
Impeccable, as always.
A dark suit tailored perfectly to his tall, elegant frame. Hair combed back with precision. That beautiful, arrogant face carved into a mask that didn’t crack.
