From abandoned girlfriend to tycoon’s lover (Copy)

💍 Chapter 3 — Business, Betrayal and Bargains

I took the documents from Antonio’s hands and flipped through them carefully.

Everything looked legit. The shares were being transferred to me. Just like he said.

But I wasn’t done.

“The company is one thing,” I said, glancing at him sideways. “But you also took my wedding dress. Shouldn’t you pay for that too?”

Antonio frowned, clearly taken aback by what he probably thought was my “pettiness.”

“How much?” he asked, trying to sound calm.

“Friends and family price,” I said, crossing my legs. “One hundred thousand dollars.”

Marta gasped as if I’d just committed murder.

“María, that’s daylight robbery!”

“Señora,” I replied sweetly, turning to her with a smile that could freeze lava, “do you want your son to remind you how much my designs cost in the fashion world?”

She fell silent. Antonio too.

“Of course,” I continued casually, “you’re free to decline the offer.”

Then I leaned forward slightly, letting my voice turn colder.

“But we both know Isabel won’t want just any dress. She wants mine. The one I made with my own hands. So trust me, Mr. Martínez will pay whatever it takes.”

Antonio looked at me, stunned. In that moment, I could see it in his eyes—he finally understood.

This wasn’t about a dress. It was about control. And it was about Isabel’s sick obsession with taking everything that was mine.

Just as I expected, Antonio hesitated for only a moment before answering.

“Fine. One hundred thousand.”

“What? Are you crazy?” Marta snapped at her son. “You’re going to throw away money just like that?!”

“Mamá, stay out of this,” he muttered, not even looking at her.

He turned back to me. “Isabel isn’t well enough to go shopping for the wedding. She said, since you already picked out the jewelry, maybe you could give her that too.”

The audacity made me choke back a laugh.

“Antonio,” I said slowly, with mock sincerity, “if Isabel asked for my head, would you hire a hitman and hand it to her gift-wrapped?”

“No! María, don’t be like that. You’re misunderstanding her. She’s not well—she just can’t handle all the preparations. You’re not using the jewelry anymore, right?”

I stared at him for a few long seconds, my lips curling into a bitter smile.

“Do you remember what you promised me?”

He shifted in place. “I do. I promised I’d never betray you. That I’d love you forever.”

I nodded, then said with venomous calm, “And now you’re here begging for my wedding set… for my sister.”

“She’s dying, María,” he whispered. “She’s two years younger than you. She just wants to feel like a bride before she goes. Isn’t that… heartbreaking?”

A memory flashed through my mind.

Isabel, ten years old, laughing while she smeared something disgusting all over my bed.

I chased her, determined to shove it back in her mouth. She fell down the stairs during the chaos.

And I paid the price—my father and Carmen beat me so badly I couldn’t walk properly for a week.

Later, when no one was looking, I snuck into her room and cut all her clothes to shreds.

Back then, we were both little monsters.

But as the years passed, I had no one. They had each other. And in the end, I was the one who lost.

No one could ever understand how much I hated Isabel. And Carmen.

So, was I sad she was dying?

No.

I laughed quietly to myself and then replied in a soft, ironic voice, “Yes… poor thing. So young and already fading. Your mother must be devastated. What a tragedy.”

They didn’t catch my sarcasm. Their expressions turned sorrowful.

“Yes,” Marta whispered, her eyes glistening. “No mother wants to outlive her child…”

“Careful, mamá. Your heart,” Antonio warned, guiding her gently back to her seat.

Then he turned back to me with a pleading look.

“María, I’ll marry Isabel to fulfill her last wish. But once she’s gone… I promise you a wedding a thousand times more beautiful. One worthy of everything you dreamed of.”

His words disgusted me.

Wait—what?

“Are you saying… you’ll marry her now, and then marry me after she dies?” I asked, stunned.

He didn’t reply, just looked at me like it made perfect sense.

I burst out laughing.

Me. María Navarro.

Not the favorite child, sure. But still the top of her class, the darling of the fashion world, respected and admired.

And he really thought I’d wait around… just to be his second wife?

I could have any man in this city.

And he thought I’d accept this?

“Antonio,” I said sweetly, “the jewelry? That’ll be another hundred thousand dollars.”

“When I see the transfer in my account, I’ll personally deliver the entire set to the hospital. Maybe even bring a little gift for my dear sister.”

I tossed the agreement onto the table and stood up, motioning toward the door.

“Now leave. Both of you. I need to rest. And take your trash with you.”