"My mother struck her," Alessandro continued, his voice firm. "She was overwhelmed by what happened to Camilla, and—"
He never finished the sentence. Santiago's fist struck him across the face with enough force to send him stumbling backward. Alessandro lost his footing and staggered several steps before catching himself against the wall, his hand immediately going to his mouth as shock spread across his features.
"Alessandro!" Valeria cried out and rushed toward her son, while several members of the Villarreal family moved forward instinctively.
The Shadow Team reacted just as quickly. Two guards stepped directly between Santiago and the Villarreal family, while others moved closer with their hands near their concealed weapons. Luciano immediately pulled Matías and Adrián farther behind him, shielding them from the confrontation, while Thiago stepped forward with a warning look that made it clear nobody should make the mistake of escalating the situation.
