Chapter 2 - FORTY-EIGHT HOURS EARLIER
The divorce ended on a Tuesday morning.
Michael signed the final decree without reading the last page carefully.
That had always been his habit.
He read headlines.
He read account balances.
He read documents only when he believed they could flatter him.
Mariana sat across from him in a quiet courtroom, her wedding ring already removed.
The marriage had lasted eleven years.
The final hearing lasted nineteen minutes.
Michael kept the downtown apartment held in his company’s name. Mariana retained the white house because her father’s trust had purchased it before the marriage.
Each party became responsible for personal debts and accounts after the decree.
All spousal authorizations ended immediately.
Michael’s attorney whispered something to him before he signed.
He glanced toward Mariana.
“You’re really doing this?”
“You filed first.”
“I didn’t think you’d become hostile.”
Mariana looked at the page.
“Ending your access to my accounts isn’t hostility.”
“They’re family accounts.”
“My family.”
His jaw tightened.
For years, Michael had referred to Gustavo’s financial support as “our capital” whenever he needed it.
When discussing success publicly, it became “my strategy.”
Celeste sat behind him with her handbag on her lap.
She leaned forward.
“Mariana, there’s no reason to punish him financially because the marriage failed.”
Mariana turned.
“The decree says Michael keeps what belongs to him.”
Celeste smiled thinly.
“You know what I mean.”
Yes.
Mariana knew exactly what she meant.
The Centurion cards.
The private aircraft account.
The Sapphire Room membership.
The luxury-car leases.
The household staff.
The charge account at Celeste’s favorite department store.
All had originated through Reyes Family Holdings.
Michael and Celeste had been authorized users.
Nothing more.
After the hearing, Michael approached Mariana in the marble corridor.
“You’re emotional right now.”
“No.”
“You’ve barely slept.”
“That doesn’t make me confused.”
“I’ll give you a week to calm down before we discuss the cards.”
“There is nothing to discuss.”
His expression softened into the smile he once used to convince her that his decisions were their decisions.
“You don’t want to be the bitter ex-wife who destroys everything.”
Mariana finally understood.
Michael still believed her love for him was stronger than her ability to protect herself.
He believed the divorce had broken her.
He was partly right.
She had cried every night for three months.
But pain did not prevent her from sending one message to Gustavo’s chief financial officer.
TERMINATE EVERY AUTHORIZED USER AT MIDNIGHT.
The reply arrived within seconds.
INCLUDING MICHAEL AND CELESTE?
Mariana looked at the man who had just called her bitter.
YES. EVERYONE.
At 12:01 a.m., the first card stopped working.
At 12:04, Celeste attempted to purchase a $14,000 handbag.
At 12:11, Michael charged champagne at the Sapphire Room.
Both transactions were declined.
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By sunrise, Mariana had thirty-seven missed calls.
👉 Michael believed Mariana had acted from heartbreak, but she had discovered the cards were connected to something far more dangerous than luxury spending.
