Inside the villa, the fireplace crackled warmly. Herminia leaned back against the plush sofa, rubbing the space between her eyebrows.
Ignacio walked over holding a steaming cup of chamomile tea. He placed it gently on the table. Noticing she was shivering slightly, he picked up a thick cashmere shawl from the armrest. He stepped close and draped it carefully over her shoulders.
Herminia looked up and gave him a tired, grateful smile. "Thank you."
At that exact moment, a deafening crash exploded from the front of the house.
The heavy solid wood door was kicked open with brutal force. A gust of freezing wind and dead leaves blew into the living room. Bradley stood in the doorway, his silhouette dark against the light, fury twisting his face.
His eyes locked onto the two figures on the sofa. From his angle, Ignacio's arms looked wrapped around Herminia in a tight embrace.
Rage blurred his vision. He stepped inside, body radiating raw, violent energy, and walked straight toward them with heavy, rapid steps.
Herminia's smile vanished. She shot to her feet, body rigid.
Ignacio frowned. He stepped forward, shielding Herminia behind him. "What gives you the right to break into my house?"
Bradley didn't even look at him. He grabbed Ignacio by the collar of his expensive sweater and shoved him violently to the side. Ignacio crashed into the coffee table. Hot tea spilled everywhere.
Bradley lunged forward. His massive hand clamped down on Herminia's wrist like an iron vise.
The crushing pain made her gasp. She tried to yank her arm back. "Let go of me!"
Instead, Bradley pulled her hard. She crashed into his rock-hard chest. He leaned down, his voice a vicious, guttural growl in her ear. "You couldn't even wait three days to find a new bed?"
Herminia shook with fury. She raised her free hand, aiming a hard slap at his face. Bradley caught her wrist mid-air. He twisted both her arms behind her back, pressing her flush against him, completely trapping her.
Ignacio scrambled to his feet, rushing forward to help. Before he could take two steps, three massive bodyguards in black suits flooded into the room and slammed Ignacio against the wall, pinning him by the neck.
Bradley stared at the actor with dead, venomous eyes. "If you want to keep your career in Hollywood, stay out of my business."
Ignacio struggled against the guards. "We're just friends! Let her go, you psycho!"
Bradley let out a dark, cruel laugh. "She is my wife. She will always be my wife."
Ignoring Herminia's screaming and struggling, Bradley bent down and threw her over his broad shoulder like a sack of dirt. She pounded her fists into his back, but hitting his solid muscles did nothing.
Bradley carried her out of the villa, strides long and angry. He shoved her roughly into the back seat of the Maybach. He climbed in after her and slammed the door shut, cutting off the outside world.
"Lock the doors and drive," Bradley ordered. The Maybach shot forward into the dark mountains.
