Chapter Thirty-Two: Shadows of Deception.

The grand halls of the Cruz Oil headquarters buzzed with activity, yet Sanchez felt an ominous stillness as he strode through the corridors. The board meeting was due to start in an hour, and every instinct told him that Pedro was planning something drastic. The man's smug demeanor during their last encounter had been a warning, a foreshadowing of the chaos he was preparing to unleash.

As Sanchez settled into his office, Hedro entered with an urgent expression. "We've uncovered something," Hedro said, placing a folder on the desk. "Pedro's been forging signatures on key documents. He's trying to redirect funds from the company into offshore accounts."

Sanchez's jaw tightened as he flipped through the pages. The evidence was damning. Pedro's greed knew no bounds, but this move was bold even for him. "How far has this gone?"

"Not far enough to cripple us," Hedro reassured. "But he's been using Loiz's network to cover his tracks. If we don't act quickly, it could escalate."

At the mention of Loiz, Sanchez's thoughts darkened. Her reappearance had been nothing short of a nightmare. She had once been a woman he thought he could trust, but now she was an accomplice to his uncle's schemes. Her manipulations had grown more sinister, and Susan had sensed it too.

---

That evening, as Sanchez shared the day's developments with Susan at home, she frowned, her intuition sharpening. "Pedro and Loiz working together? That can't end well. And what about Pierre? He's the one pulling the strings, isn't he?"

Sanchez nodded, his hand brushing hers reassuringly. "Pierre is too careful. He's using them as pawns, but it's only a matter of time before he reveals himself. For now, we need to focus on neutralizing Pedro's threats."

Susan hesitated, her eyes clouded with worry. "Sanchez, I trust you, but don't underestimate Loiz. She's vindictive, and she knows how to hit where it hurts."

"I know," Sanchez said softly. "But I have something she doesn't—a reason to fight. You and the kids are my everything."

---

The following day, the boardroom was tense as Pedro made his entrance. His smug grin and falsely confident tone grated on Sanchez's nerves. Pedro presented a proposal for a "strategic merger" with an overseas company—a shell entity Sanchez immediately recognized as part of the offshore scheme.

"I've reviewed your proposal," Sanchez said, his voice calm but cutting. "And I must say, it's impressive how far you're willing to go to undermine this company."

Pedro's smile faltered. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Sanchez gestured to Hedro, who handed out copies of the forged documents to the board members. Gasps filled the room as the implications sank in. "This is your handiwork, Pedro," Sanchez continued. "Forgery, embezzlement, and fraud. You've been caught red-handed."

Pedro's face turned crimson. "You have no proof!" he snarled.

"Oh, but we do," Hedro interjected. "The digital trail you left behind is quite illuminating. And I've already contacted the authorities."

As security escorted Pedro out of the building, Sanchez felt a wave of relief, but he knew this wasn't the end. Pierre was still out there, and Loiz was an unpredictable wild card.

---

That night, as Sanchez and Susan sat by the fireplace, she leaned against him, her voice a soft whisper. "You did it. You took the first step."

Sanchez wrapped an arm around her, his gaze thoughtful. "One battle down, but the war is far from over. Pedro's downfall will only make Pierre more desperate. We need to stay vigilant."

Susan nodded, her determination matching his. "Whatever comes next, we face it together."

And together, they braced for the storm yet to come.

I am so sorry for not updating chapters , I have been busy with classes but I will make it up to you guys .

I love you all .