Chapter 4 - The Public Ruin
By the end of the month, the scandal had reached a boiling point. The video footage of Diego’s arrest—captured by a neighbor’s security camera and leaked anonymously to the local news—had gone viral on social media. The headlines were brutal:
"CHERRY HILLS ROYALTY ACUSED OF BRUTAL ASSAULT OVER DOWNTOWN CONDO"
Valerie stood in the lobby of her architecture firm, Vanguard Design, watching the local news segment play on the wall-mounted screen. Her colleagues stood around her, offering quiet words of support, their admiration for her strength evident in their eyes.
"Valerie, the board of directors just called," the senior partner, David, said, stepping up beside her. "They want to let you know that the firm stands behind you one hundred percent. And... we’ve received some interesting calls."
"From whom?" Valerie asked.
"The City of Denver," David smiled. "They’ve been reviewing the proposals for the new public library and cultural center in Capitol Hill. They saw your work, and they saw how you handled this situation. They want to award the primary design contract to you, Valerie. A twelve-million-dollar project."
Valerie felt a warm, golden wave of relief wash over her. For years, she had let Diego convince her that her success was secondary, that her career was just a "hobby" compared to his family’s grand real estate legacy. But now, her talent was being recognized on its own merits.
But the Sandovals weren't finished.
That afternoon, as Valerie was leaving the office, Victoria was waiting for her near the parking garage. The older woman looked disheveled, her expensive designer sunglasses failing to hide the dark circles under her eyes.
"Valerie!" Victoria called out, rushing toward her. "Please, we need to talk!"
Valerie didn't run. She stood by her car, her hand resting on her phone, ready to dial the police if Victoria stepped past the one-hundred-yard boundary of the restraining order.
"Keep your distance, Victoria," Valerie said, her voice cool and clinical. "You are violating a court order."
"I don't care about the order!" Victoria cried, her voice cracking with a desperate, pathetic humility. "They are going to take the house, Valerie! The bank is foreclosing on Cherry Hills! Arthur’s health is failing, and Diego... they’re talking about sending him to a maximum-security prison! Please, drop the civil suit. We will give you whatever you want! We’ll pay you back!"
"With what money, Victoria?" Valerie asked, looking at her with a calm, unwavering pity. "You don't have any money. You never did. You built your entire life on the illusion of superiority, stepping on anyone you thought was beneath you. You threw a plate at my head because you thought my hard work belonged to you."
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"It was an accident!" Victoria sobbed, reaching out her hands. "Diego was just stressed! He loves you!"
"Diego loves himself, and he loves your approval," Valerie said, opening her car door. "But today, the bill has come due. Tell your son I’ll see him at the sentencing hearing next week."
