Chapter 166: Keep Everything Discreet

Paul felt betrayed, and that was very clear: how could Carlos betray him for a few thousand dollars? He looked down disdainfully at his former master.

Meanwhile, Mayara Angelina was desperately calling her father's cell phone.

"Why isn't he answering? Why?"

She sighed, running after answers while her heels echoed on the marble floor at the door of the mansion.

PRESENT TIME - FOOD COURT OF THE MALL - 10:00 AM

Things were not easy at all.

When she saw who had been hit by a bullet, Mayara screamed; her despair was greater. On one hand, she felt relieved it wasn't her, but when she looked again, she found herself in even greater despair. At the five-star hospital - the same one where Diego had been admitted - Celina's condition was uncertain. Cassandra experienced an initial shock and, in tears, rushed to begin the procedures, taking responsibility for Celina. Seeing Mayara there, Cassandra's heart ached. The crying of her estranged granddaughter was heartbreaking, Cassandra admitted to herself. She embraced Mayara impulsively, who recounted in detail what had happened.

When the doctor called the grandmother to handle the more bureaucratic details, the young Spanish girl's phone rang insistently. Upon seeing who it was, Mayara quickly wiped her tears: it was her father. Guilherme sensed his daughter's hesitant tone. He was facing a desperate situation. That voice was not the usual one. An intense and disproportionate noise accompanied it.

In the chaotic room, Sabrina was hugging Madalena, trying to free herself from the ropes, when they brought in someone else who was disoriented: Rafael, Arthur's father. The luck was that Sir Marcus was taking care of the kingdom, being Rafael's father and Arthur's grandfather. Mayara's crying started to become evident. What was happening on the other end of Guilherme's call?

She began to think while dialing her father's number again, the cacophony of screams in the background, glass breaking, and gunfire, along with orders in an indigenous language. Mayara felt the urgency to speak.

"Dad! Where are you?"

"Daddy is busy right now, my angel..." - Guilherme took a deep breath, trying to create excuses, but Mayara was sensing something - "I need you to do something for me..."

"Dad??? Something terrible happened, and I need to tell you."

"I also need to tell you something..."

Both their voices were choked, but Guilherme didn't dare face the rifle pointed at the top of his head while he looked down, tears streaming down his face. He was being watched and held captive by Carlos's men.

"Daughter... whatever it is, be strong! Daddy will be gone for a long time. I know you're off from school, but for God's sake, don't come home today; go visit friends, study, or anything else, but don't come home. Your mother and Aunt Madalena send their love to you. I love you very much, daughter."

"Dad!"

"Just be a good girl and take care of your sister."

There was a pause of seven minutes. Then, on the phone, she could hear screams, things being broken, etc. The phone went silent; she fell to the floor, desperate, redialing her father's number nervously over and over.

"Phone nonexistent."

Suddenly her phone rang with a private number, an unknown caller insisting:

"Hello? Hello?" - she said frantically.

A deep voice, both familiar and unfamiliar to her, resonated:

"Hello, Miss Mayara Halley, I'm sure what we're going to talk about will interest you."

"Who are you? What kind of joke is this?"

"No joke, Mayara Angelina. At the right moment, you will know about me. The current moment you are living is full of pain and anguish. I'm sorry about your sister. Your father is in great danger right now." - there was a pause, the mysterious voice laughed - "Perhaps you are the only one who can help him. There is much at stake right now. Your sister will be fine, I assure you."

"What do you want? Who are you?"

Another pause. Everything seemed to freeze in that minute; Mayara held her breath while she listened to laughter in the background.

"An old enemy of your family. And I want to settle all past matters. There are terrible things to be revealed, Mayara Angelina, things that no one knows."

"What kind of things?" - she inquired, wiping her tears, her voice trembling, holding back her weakness in the situation - "Where are my parents? What kind of secrets?"

"You will know."

"Can I know who you are?"

On the other end of the line, the mysterious man laughed ironically.

"Do you promise to keep secrets, princess?"

He really knew one of Mayara's identities. She thought before speaking.

"I don't betray the trust of others," - she asserted promptly - "You claim to be a rival of my family and know my name."

"I am hunting and being hunted without mercy, Mayara Angelina. And you know very well my name. And what I exactly want."

Pause. Mayara was thoughtful. Everyone's lives were in danger, and her blood pulsed fiercely in her veins while her heart raced quickly. Analyzing the cold, cavernous voice speaking to her sent a shiver down her spine. No, it couldn't be...

"That's right. My name is... Santiago Díaz."

Her voice was a mere whisper, incredulous.

"You?"

"I will contact you as soon as possible. Pay attention. You will have to play my game. Dress for success. Oh, and your boyfriend is not as innocent as he seems, Mayara. What happened to Lady Mikaela... is very macabre... stay away from the royal family, for your own good. Until later, sweetie; I wish your sister a speedy recovery."

Before Mayara could process, he had hung up, leaving her shocked. Santiago had spoken to her. The tears had stopped flowing. At that moment, it was crucial for her to stay strong.

HALLEY MANSION, 11:30 AM

At that moment, everyone was tied up while Santiago opened his arms to Carlos. Carlos kept clapping his hands while Paul watched helplessly. What could happen? All this chaos resulting from... Carlos laughing sarcastically.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you."

"You will be very well rewarded, my friend." - Santiago replied cordially.

Paul bit his lip, thinking of some way to reverse the situation. How dared Santiago... his thoughts were a chaos.