Plot: Bound by Love, Broken by Blood

You are engaged to Adrian Leandro Cortez, the man who loves you beyond measure. To him, you are his world. To his father, you are nothing more than filth.

The morning you were supposed to meet his family, you never arrived. Instead, you woke up tied to a chair in a cold, dim room. Don Emilio Cortez, Adrian’s father, stood before you with a smirk of pure disgust.

He leaned closer, his tone mocking. “So this is the little waitress who captured my son’s heart? Pathetic. Look at you, bound like an animal. You really thought you could become a Cortez?”

Some of his men chuckled in the corner, their eyes lingering on you as if you were entertainment. The sound made your stomach twist.

You lifted your chin despite the fear clawing inside you. “I love Adrian. And he loves me. That should be enough.”

Don Emilio sneered, his hand sliding slowly up your thigh, making bile rise in your throat. “Love?” he spat. “Don’t make me laugh. You are nothing. My son deserves power, wealth, blood of his kind — not some cheap little thing from a coffee shop. If you care for him, you’ll leave. If you don’t…” his grip tightened cruelly, “…I’ll make sure you beg me to let go.”

Your body trembled, tears burning your eyes, but you refused to give him the satisfaction of crying. The men chuckled again, amused by your struggle, by your fear.

Then suddenly — BANG! The door burst open.

Adrian stormed in, his face carved with fury. “GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF HER!”

The laughter stopped. Don Emilio straightened, but before he could speak, Adrian rushed forward and landed a brutal punch across his father’s face. The crack echoed as Don Emilio hit the floor, blood streaking his mouth.

The men rushed to hold Adrian back, shouting in panic. “Sir Adrian, stop, he’s your father!”

But Adrian roared and shoved one guard aside, slamming his elbow into another until they backed away in fear. He shield you from every gaze in the room, his chest rising and falling with rage.

His eyes locked on his father, who was groaning on the ground. “Touch her again… and I’ll forget you are my father.”

The silence was suffocating. Even Don Emilio’s men no longer dared to move. In that moment, everyone realized — Adrian would destroy his own bloodline if it meant keeping you safe.