Chapter 4: The Fall to Their Knees
By evening, Andrew arrived at Escalante headquarters.
Not in a luxury car.
But in a borrowed one.
His suit wrinkled.
His confidence gone.
Brenda was nowhere to be seen.
Margaret followed behind him, no longer proud—only desperate.
They were escorted into a private room.
Mariana entered last.
Calm.
Untouched.
Untouchable.
For the first time since they met…
Andrew couldn’t look her in the eyes.
Margaret broke first.
“You’ve made your point,” she said stiffly. “Restore everything.”
Mariana didn’t move.
Andrew swallowed hard.
“…please.”
The word barely escaped him.
It wasn’t enough.
Mariana stepped closer.
“Do you remember what you told me last night?”
Silence.
“You told me to kneel.”
Her voice didn’t rise.
But it cut deeper than any slap.
Andrew’s hands trembled.
Then slowly…
He dropped to his knees.
Margaret gasped—but didn’t stop him.
Because she knew.
May you like
They had lost.
Completely.
