After the divorce, my former mother-in-law showed up at Easter with the entire family, ready to mock what they thought was my downfall—but the moment they stepped through my private gate, they realized far too late: “Trash gets taken out today. You can leave.” By that night, everything they thought they owned was already slipping away.

The bank representative stepped forward, handing a thick folder to Alejandro.

“Mr. Mendoza,” the representative stated officially. “Due to recent restructuring and a pull-out of primary investment capital by Varela Enterprises, your family’s credit lines have been frozen. The corporate properties in Guadalajara are now under review for foreclosure.”

Alejandro dropped the folder, the papers scattering across the pristine floor. He looked at Elena, his eyes filled with absolute panic. “Elena, please… we can talk about this. We’re family.”

“We were family,” Elena corrected him sharply. She looked past him to the thirty-two stunned, terrified faces of the Mendoza clan who had come to mock her.