Chapter 3

Madrigal Mansion

In front of a luxurious mansion, a black Rolls-Royce was parked. Armand, the second son of Señor Alejandro and Señora Minerva Madrigal, personally opened its door.

"Welcome back, Your Highness!" The young man bowed as Avrielle stepped onto the red carpet.

Under the bright lights, Avrielle’s beauty shone even more. Her feet, now in stilettos, had been wearing rubber shoes earlier. She had changed them while inside the car. Now, she felt like a princess returning to her palace.

"Brother Armand, how is everything here?" she asked as they walked into the mansion.

"We're good… but things feel different now that you're back. By the way, did you like my birthday present to you? I heard it went viral on social media!" Armand’s face was filled with excitement and joy.

Avrielle’s face lit up as she recalled the fireworks display. "Of course, Brother Armand! I really loved it. I even heard whispers earlier on the cruise that the woman who received that must be incredibly lucky. They said the person who ordered that display must be insanely rich. They even called him a ‘diamond-studded mongrel’… Wow! You’re on another level, brother!" Avrielle teased, clapping her hands.

Instead of being annoyed, Armand just pulled Avrielle into a tight hug.

"Don’t ever leave us again, okay?"

"I won’t, brother. I’ve been hurt enough by what he did… What reason do I have to stay there?" Avrielle felt a sense of peace in her brother Armand’s arms. "You know, brother, I feel so ashamed of myself in front of all of you. I gambled for three years, but I got nothing in return. I gave everything… and yet he left me in the end. I even thought I’d go crazy from the sadness."

Avrielle laughed faintly after speaking, but deep inside, she felt worse than bitter melon. She almost cried from the pain whenever she remembered her ex-husband but held back her tears. She had vowed to herself that the moment she left Brandon’s house, she would never cry again. She decided he didn’t deserve her tears.

"That shameless man! What right does he have to treat you like that? By tomorrow, I’ll have Ricafort Group of Companies investigated! I can also ask Alex to have Brandon kidnapped!"

Armand’s veins bulged from his temples in anger, while Anton stood by with a sly smile, whispering “Amen” as he pressed his palms together.

"You, Brother Anton, when will you ever be serious? Is that how a future pastor is supposed to act?" Armand scolded irritably.

Avrielle managed a bitter smile as she looked at her two brothers.

"Can’t we just love each other and stop arguing?" Avrielle pleaded with them.

"Why don’t you talk to Brother Anton? I don’t know what happened to him that he suddenly became spineless!"

After their sibling talk, they headed to their father Señor Alejandro’s room.

Now that she was face-to-face with her father, she couldn’t stop her palms from sweating.

"After wandering for three years, now you come back like you’re trying to give me a heart attack? You really are something, my child!" With flaring nostrils, their father sarcastically exclaimed.

To ease the tension, Avrielle forced a sweet smile. "Thanks for the compliment, Dad."

Señor Alejandro was about to speak again when Anton interrupted, "Dad, now that Avrielle is back, it’s time to put some things on the agenda. I’ve decided to step down as CEO of Madrigal Corporation and let Avrielle take over."

Avrielle’s eyes widened in shock at what Anton had just said. Meanwhile, their father’s face darkened even more, practically steaming in anger.

"What nonsense are you talking about, Anton?!"

"I only promised to serve the company for three years. It’s now time for me to return to serving the church. You know my heart is there, and being a pastor has always been my dream," Anton explained calmly.

"If you can’t handle it, why not let Armand take your position?" Señor Alejandro asked authoritatively.

"Oh no, Dad! I can’t do that. Being involved with a major corporation would ruin my political career. I might even get investigated out of nowhere," Armand immediately declined.

Señor Alejandro felt his blood pressure rising in frustration. He silently questioned what he had done to deserve sons with no interest in the family business.

Year by year, he felt himself weakening. He was aging and could no longer manage the company. He wanted to retire, but when he looked at the three before him, he didn’t know whom to entrust with their livelihood.

It wasn’t that he didn’t love Avrielle or trust her… He simply believed that the company should be led by a man.

"Who says a woman can’t lead, Dad? I can do it! So from now on, I’m the president," Avrielle declared confidently to her father.

"Do you think it’s that easy? Madrigal Corporation is not a game. How can someone as young as you command respect from the employees? Do you even understand the ins and outs of the business?" Señor Alejandro’s disappointment was evident on his face.

"And besides, I can’t trust you. You leave whenever you want and gallivant far away without a word. Do you even know how worried we were here? We even thought you were dead!"

Avrielle was hurt by his words. Her eyes began to sting, and tears started to well up.

Despite their father’s strictness, she knew he had the right to learn about her secret marriage to Brandon. She still needed to ask for his forgiveness.