Chapter 8 - THE TOAST THAT EXPOSED THE MARRIAGE
Dinner began with Rodrigo describing Grupo Ibarra’s future.
He spoke about clean energy, urban development, and thousands of employees depending on the company’s success.
Renata listened.
He sounded confident.
For a moment, she remembered why she had once believed he could build something worthy of her family’s support.
Then Valeria stood to make a toast.
“To Rodrigo,” she said, raising her glass. “The man who carried this company while others questioned him from a safe distance.”
Several guests looked toward Renata.
Rodrigo shifted in his chair.
“Valeria—”
She continued.
“Leadership requires courage. It also requires knowing who belongs in the room when difficult decisions are made.”
Renata placed her napkin beside her plate.
One investor frowned.
“Mrs. Ibarra is not involved in the company?”
Valeria answered immediately.
“Renata prefers social responsibilities.”
Rodrigo said nothing.
Renata looked at him.
He could have corrected the lie with one sentence.
He chose silence.
The Mercer Ridge executive smiled into his wineglass.
After the main course, Valeria distributed the asset-sale proposal.
She gave Renata a shortened version missing the final pages.
Renata compared it with the photographs on her phone.
“Page thirty-two is missing,” she said.
Valeria’s smile tightened.
“This copy is intended for nonvoting guests.”
“I would like the complete agreement.”
“You are not part of the transaction.”
An investor across the table asked, “Why not? She owns family shares, doesn’t she?”
Rodrigo started to speak.
Valeria placed one hand on his shoulder.
“Renata has never held an operating role.”
The gesture was intimate.
Possessive.
Renata looked at the hand.
Then at her husband.
“Remove it,” she said.
Valeria laughed.
“You cannot walk into a serious dinner and behave like a jealous spouse.”
“This is not jealousy.”
“Then stop creating a scene.”
“I asked for a complete contract.”
“And I told you no.”
Renata reached toward the folder beside Valeria’s plate.
Valeria grabbed her wrist.
“Do not touch confidential documents.”
“Take your hand off me.”
Rodrigo stood.
“Valeria.”
But again, he was too slow.
Valeria released Renata’s wrist and struck her across the face.
The sound cracked through the penthouse.
Glasses stopped halfway to mouths.
Renata remained still for one second.
Then she returned the slap.
Valeria collapsed sideways against her chair.
The room froze.
Renata’s cheek burned.
Her voice did not shake.
May you like
“Ask me again where I belong.”
👉 Valeria believed the slap would reduce Renata to a humiliated wife, but it gave Renata the perfect moment to reveal who controlled the company’s last chance of survival.
