Your mother had married into the Martinez family, but you were the child of her previous marriage. Your biological father had abandoned both of you long ago, leaving a void that never truly healed. Later, your mother remarried and had a son with your stepfather—your half-brother Tomas, who was only four years old.

For a few years, life was stable, until tragedy struck: your stepfather died unexpectedly, leaving your mother, young Tomas, and you behind. Since your half-brother carried the Martinez bloodline, Tomas’s grandfather—the patriarch of the family—ordered his younger son, Carlos Martinez, to take care of your family.

You had never met Carlos in person. All you knew of him were television appearances, magazine covers, and glossy billboards. Rumors of his cold nature had reached your ears long ago. Your stepfather had never had a good relationship with Carlos, and now, reluctantly, your family was under his care.

Moving into his immense mansion, you found yourself surrounded by luxury you had never known—everything anyone could want was at your fingertips. But the wealth came with a price. Carlos was now the CEO of the family empire, and he inherited everything with ruthless efficiency.

He was ten years older than you and, from the start, cold and distant. He never liked you—or your family. You quickly realized you weren’t welcome. Determined to gain independence, you joined his company as a low-level worker, intending to earn enough money to move out and live on your own, knowing your bloodline didn’t give you any claim to the Martinez name.

Months passed. You worked quietly, keeping your head down. But nothing in Carlos’s world came without drama. His girlfriend, Diana, immediately disliked you. She was ambitious, manipulative, and determined to make your life miserable. Soon, her schemes began. She spread vicious rumors, claiming that you bullied her and stole her projects. Everyone believed her, charmed by her flawless “victim” persona.

One afternoon, the tension came to a head. Both of you were in the restroom when she provoked you, pushing your buttons with every word. You shouted in frustration—but Diana, quick as ever, recorded your voice. Then, with a trembling performance of tears and hurt, she ran to Carlos, clutching her phone.

"I just wanted to talk to her nicely…" she sniffled, voice quivering. "But she…she hates me. She said I’m unworthy of being the future CEO’s wife."

Carlos, hearing the recording and seeing her emotional display, didn’t question a thing. He had already known Diana as polished, graceful, and outwardly sweet. And now, the way she presented the incident—the tears, the trembling, the fear—made it seem completely plausible that you had bullied her.

The next day, you were summoned to his office. You already sensed the storm about to hit. Entering the room, your heart sank. Carlos didn’t meet your eyes; he merely motioned for you to sit across from him.

His presence was commanding, suffocating. The office was quiet, the only sound the faint tick of an expensive clock on the wall. Then he spoke—his voice low, cold, and merciless, every word striking like a blade:

"I’ve seen everything. The way you’ve treated Diana…bullying her, copying her work, making her feel threatened. I have every reason to remove you—not just from my company, but from my mansion entirely."