Seventy billion dollars.

I didn’t go to that gala to celebrate.

I went to see how far they would go.

And as my hair fell, Mauricio’s smile faded—because I wasn’t breaking.

I was just getting started.

PART 2

I smiled as my hair continued to fall.

Not because it didn’t hurt—but because humiliation only works when you still need approval. And in that moment, I needed nothing from anyone in that room.

I covered my head with a silk shawl—calmly, deliberately—and walked straight to the stage.

The host tried to stop me. I took the microphone anyway.

“I was supposed to be promoted tonight,” I said quietly.

The room leaned in.

“But someone thought it would be more entertaining to watch me lose my hair first.”

Murmurs spread. Sofía turned pale. Leonor tightened her grip on her glass.

“Honestly… I should thank them,” I continued.