Minutes later, Mr. Eduardo Mendoza appeared in the main hall, dressed in a silk robe, his eyes red from being abruptly awakened. His annoyance turned to surprise when he saw his daughter with her hands tied, accompanied by Tomás. “What does this mean?” his voice roared.
filling the entire room. We found your daughter fleeing with that slave. Sir, the sergeant explained. Apparently, they had planned to escape together. Don Eduardo looked at Isabella as if he didn’t recognize her. Isabella, what are you doing? Isabella raised the
chin tucked with desperate dignity. Father, there’s something you need to know. The main hall of the San Rafael hacienda had been transformed into a makeshift courtroom. Don Eduardo Mendoza, his eyes bloodshot and his face red with rage, paced back and forth like a lion
caged. Isabelle stood in the center of the room, her hands still bound, while Tomas knelt on the floor, flanked by the two soldiers. “Explain,” roared Don Eduardo, his voice echoing off the marble walls. “Explain to me why my daughter, the jewel of my family,
