If money could talk, the Rodriguez family would never be silent.
For generations, the name 'Rodriguez' echoed through corridors where power was whispered, wealth, and influence. They were not merely wealthy. They were untouchable. Consistently ranked among the top three most influential families in the world – and permanently seated at number one in Europe – the Rodriguez family was not a dynasty.
It was an empire.
…
At its helm stood 'Mr. Martin Rodriguez', a man whose name alone could open borders, silence opposition, and bend markets to his will. He was the formidable owner of 'Rodriguez Diamond Enterprise', a corporation whose glittering reach spanned Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany.
And that was only the beginning.
In recent years, the empire had expanded aggressively into Asia – China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and India – leaving behind a trail of wealth, contracts, and quiet domination wherever it went.
But diamonds were merely the foundation.
Under Martin Rodriguez's ruthless intelligence and visionary ambition, the family's interests spread like wildfire: advanced technology, global infrastructure, banking and investments, energy and power systems, pharmaceuticals, luxury brands, and real estate. Their properties dotted every major continent, monuments of glass and steel declaring who truly owned the world.
His personal net worth stood at €543.1 billion.
Veldez Global Holdings – the umbrella corporation controlling his assets – managed approximately €780.2 billion.
And yet, despite all this unimaginable wealth, influence, and power…
Martin Rodriguez lacked something money could never buy.
Family.
He had once been married.
Once loved.
Once believed he had everything.
That illusion shattered when his wife mysteriously disappeared just months after giving birth to their daughter. Authorities searched. Investigations were launched. Years passed.
Still Nothing.
No body.
No answers.
No closure.
Her absence carved a hollow into Martin Rodriguez's life – a wound that never healed, only hardened.
And so, he had only one child.
His daughter.
She had turned twenty just last month.
Her name was 'Annabella Rodriguez'.
As the only daughter – and sole heir to the Rodriguez empire, Annabella was raised not as a child…
…but as royalty.
From the moment she learned to walk, the world bent itself to her will. She never lacked anything. In truth, she rarely even had to ask. Desires were anticipated, fulfilled before her lips could shape the words.
Luxury cars slept in her private garage. Designer clothes filled entire rooms. Shoes, bags, jewelry, accessories – each piece worth more than most people earned in a lifetime – were treated as disposable.
Annabella never wore anything twice.
Once worn, it was discarded without hesitation.
And her father never complained.
As long as his daughter smiled.
As long as she was happy.
As long as she was satisfied.
To Martin Rodriguez, nothing else mattered.
But excessive love, left unchecked, always comes at a price.
Annabella grew spoiled.
Arrogant.
Cruel.
She regarded poor people with open disgust. To her, they were not equals – they were tools. Created to serve the rich. Existing only to obey those born above them.
Compassion was weakness.
Empathy was foolishness.
Kindness was unnecessary.
Anyone foolish enough to cross her path – or challenge her authority – paid for it dearly.
People trembled around her.
Men begged.
Enemies humiliated themselves just to escape her wrath.
Fear followed her like perfume.
And Annabella reveled in it.
Blessed with obscene wealth, breathtaking beauty, and a perfect hourglass body, Annabella was allergic to being ordinary.
She needed attention the way others needed air. There had to be something about her – something irresistible – that demanded eyes wherever she went.
And she loved it.
She loved the stares.
She loved the whispers.
She loved being the topic, the trend, the headline.
Gifted with a melodious voice, Annabella dreamed of becoming a singer.
She could have achieved that dream long ago.
If not for her father.
Martin Rodriguez insisted she remain tethered to the business world. Boardrooms instead of stages. Contracts instead of microphones. Suits instead of spotlights.
And that…
That was what Annabella hated the most.
Business.
It bored her. Suffocated her.
All she wanted was to reap what she never sowed – to spend money she never earned, to live without responsibility, without expectations, without chains.
Even at school, she never studied. Exams were bought. Grades were paid for. Others sat in her place during tests. Assignments were handled by influence and money.
Everything had a price.
Everything could be controlled.
Though it was her father's greatest dream to see her take her rightful place in the empire, Annabella had no intention of fulfilling it.
And that silent rebellion – unnoticed for now…
…was only the beginning of a storm that would soon shake the Rodriguez
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[Alcobendas, City of Madrid – Spain]
•
The Rodriguez mansion stood tall beneath the Spanish sky, its pristine white walls glowing softly in the afternoon light. Large glass windows reflected wealth so immense it needed no announcement – no signboards, no exaggeration.
Perfectly manicured lawns stretched endlessly around the estate, bordered by towering trees trimmed with surgical precision.
A simple wooden door led into the mansion, but don't be deceived by the word simple.
Nothing about the Rodriguez family was simple.
Inside, the grandeur continued.
High ceilings soared overhead, creating an overwhelming sense of space and dominance, while sunlight flooded in through expansive windows.
Polished marble floors gleamed beneath massive crystal chandeliers, scattering light into dazzling reflections.
•
The second floor led directly to Annabella Rodriguez's bedroom.
Unlike the mansion's imposing grandeur, her room was… quiet. Serene. Almost deceptively gentle.
Soft pale-pink walls wrapped the space in a calm that stood in sharp contradiction to the temperament of the woman who owned it.
A large bed with a simple wooden frame sat at the center, perfectly made. On the dresser rested a framed photo from her twentieth birthday, alongside a few carefully preserved pictures from her childhood that showed a smiling girl who looked far kinder than the woman she had grown into.
A plush area rug softened the cold marble beneath her feet, and in one corner sat a comfortable reading chair beside a floor lamp. Unused, of course. Annabella Rodriguez reading for leisure was almost a myth.
"Knock. Knock. Knock."
The sound cut through the silence.
Annabella, sprawled across her queen-sized bed, shifted slightly. She tugged her pillow closer and buried herself deeper beneath the duvet, her brows knitting together in irritation.
Whoever dared to knock would have to do far better.
She had no intention of waking up.
The door opened quietly.
Karen, Annabella's personal maid stepped inside on careful feet, moving like someone walking into a lion's den armed with nothing but prayers.
"Ms Bella… Ms Bella…" Karen called gently.
No response
She moved closer and saw that Annabella was still asleep, her back turned. Karen sighed softly and headed for the curtains, intending to let sunlight do the job she clearly couldn't.
"Disturbing me would be the last thing you'd want to do, Karen."
Annabella's voice came out low. Calm. Her eyes remained closed.
Karen froze.
Her hands dropped instantly to her sides as fear tightened her chest. She bowed her head in submission, retreating without question, terrified she'd already crossed a line.
Annabella slowly turned onto her side and opened her eyes, her gaze sharp despite the lingering sleep. Her gaze traveled from Karen's toes up to her face, deliberate and unhurried.
A faint smirk curved her lips.
She liked this.
She liked the fear. The caution. The way power made people careful with their breaths, their words, their existence. It never stopped fascinating her.
"You can talk," Annabella said coolly, her eyes never leaving Karen, "if you're done standing there like a statue."
"Miss Bella… it's… it's already eleven p.m.," Karen replied politely.
"I don't remember asking you what the time was," Annabella said softly.
The calmness was dangerous.
Karen swallowed hard.
"Have you forgotten that today…"
Her words were cut short by the sudden ringing of Annabella's phone.
Karen didn't need to be told. She picked it up from the bedside table and handed it over immediately.
"What's up, bitch?" Annabella said with a faint smile as she answered.
"Where are you, Bella?" Amelia's voice demanded from the other end.
"In the comfort of my bed," Annabella replied lazily, rolling over and hugging her pillow.
"What? Still sleeping at this hour?"
"It's not like I need to wake up and hustle," Annabella said smugly. "So yes."
"Of course," Amelia laughed. "I almost forgot you're a billionaire's daughter."
"I'm not a billionaire's daughter, Amelia," Annabella corrected smoothly.
"I'm a billionaire myself."
"Whatever," Amelia scoffed. "Are you coming or not?"
"Coming where?" Annabella asked, half-bored.
"Don't tell me you forgot it's my birthday!"
"Oh shit!" Annabella sat up abruptly.
"Happy birthday in advance, girlie. I almost forgot," she said casually.
"That's not fair," Amelia complained. "I was the first to show up on 'your' birthday last month."
"If only 'sorry' existed in my dictionary, I would've apologized," Annabella replied.
"Anyway, are we having a party?"
"Yes. It's already starting. We're waiting for you."
"Okay. Hang up now. I'll shower and dress up."
"Hurry."
The call ended.
"Come help me up," Annabella said calmly.
Karen rushed forward, offering her hand. Annabella accepted it and rose with effortless grace, every movement carrying the confidence of someone who had never known resistance.
"I need to shower," Annabella said.
"Y.. Yes, Miss Bella."
Karen unbuttoned Annabella's sleeping dress carefully – one button at a time – her hands trembling as she worked, terrified of making even the smallest mistake.
Once Annabella was fully undressed, she walked into the bathroom and stepped into the bathtub without hesitation.
Karen turned on both hot and cold water, testing the temperature until it was perfect. She added a few drops of vanilla-scented oil – Annabella's favorite – then scattered red rose petals across the surface.
Annabella leaned back, closing her eyes as Karen gently worked shampoo into her hair.
"What's wrong with you today, Karen?" Annabella murmured. "Your hands aren't steady."
"I'm… I'm sorry. It won't happen again," Karen said quickly.
She inhaled deeply and resumed her task.
Silence settled between them.
"What were you thinking?" Annabella asked suddenly.
Karen paused mid-motion.
"Miss Bella… it seems you've forgotten that your father is hosting a business party in the mansion this afternoon. Guests have already begun arriving."
"Oh yes," Annabella scoffed lightly.
"He's celebrating the successful launch of Rodriguez Diamond Enterprise in Asia. He's repeated it thousands of times… and I still forget." She rolled her eyes.
"Now that you remember… are you still going to Miss Amelia's birthday party?" Karen asked carefully.
"Of course," Annabella replied without hesitation.
"You know how your father is when it comes to business matters," Karen said softly. "I doubt he'll let you leave."
"Even if the world turns upside down," Annabella said firmly,
"I'm not missing Amelia's birthday party."
Karen finished rinsing her body and said nothing more.
She knew better than to continue.
When Annabella Rodriguez made up her mind, nothing – and no one – could stop her.
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[Amelia's Villa]
•
"Why tell Bella to come now?" Evelyn asked, tossing another popcorn into her mouth. "Isn't your party supposed to be at night?"
Amelia didn't look up. Her fingers glided across the screen of her iPad with lazy precision, scrolling as if nothing in the world could possibly disturb her.
"Isn't it obvious?" she said coolly. "I don't want her showing up early and acting like she owns the place."
Evelyn snorted. "You just don't want her stealing your spotlight."
That finally did it.
Amelia's jaw tightened. She flung the iPad onto the sofa with a sharp, irritated motion.
"Isn't that what she's best at?" she snapped. "Breathing and being worshipped."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow but said nothing, sensing the storm brewing.
"Just because her father is rich," Amelia continued, pacing now, "she thinks she's better than everyone." She hissed the words like poison. "Like the world should bow every time she blinks."
Evelyn tilted her head. "So what if she shows up now? What are you going to tell her?"
"She won't," Amelia replied instantly, confidence hardening her voice.
Evelyn frowned. "How are you so sure?"
Amelia's lips curved slowly – wickedly.
"Mr. Rodriguez is hosting a business party today. You know how he can be a total control freak when it comes to business." She scoffed. "There's no way he's letting Annabella leave that event."
Her smile widened, satisfaction glinting in her eyes.
"Later," she added casually, "I'll call her and tell her the party already ended." She laughed softly.
"I might even play the victim – say she didn't care enough to show up."
Evelyn stopped chewing.
"Aren't you afraid she'll find out?" she asked, suddenly serious.
Amelia waved her off. "She's too dumb to figure it out." A smug smirk followed. "Love and privilege have completely rotted her brain."
Evelyn sighed, setting the popcorn bowl down. "Well, don't count me in when this little scheme backfires."
Amelia shot her an irritated look. "How much is she paying you to be this scared of her?"
"I'm not scared," Evelyn snapped, standing up. "I'm just being careful. You know how Bella gets when she's angry. I have zero interest in being on her dark page."
She turned and started upstairs.
"Pack your things and leave my villa if you're going to support that bitch!" Amelia shouted after her.
Evelyn didn't slow down.
"Fuck your ass," she yelled back. "I'm not leaving as long as I'm in Alcobendas."
Her footsteps faded upstairs.
"You…" Amelia started, fury bubbling up…
…but her phone rang.
She paused.
A glance at the screen wiped the anger clean from her face. A smile bloomed instead – soft, sweet, dangerous.
"Beb," she answered, her voice instantly gentle.
"I'm almost at the event," a man's voice said from the other end. "Wish me luck."
"Go ahead, beb," Amelia murmured. "Do this for our future."
There was a brief pause.
"Do you think I'll get the green light?" he asked, uncertainty slipping through his tone.
"She's hard to please," Amelia replied calmly. "That's why you need to make a very good first impression. Stick to the plan. Don't mess this up."
"Okay," he exhaled. "I've got this."
"I trust you," she said, smiling.
A beat.
"You're coming to my party tonight, right?" Her voice softened – almost hopeful.
"What?" He scoffed. "Are you crazy? She'll be there."
"She won't," Amelia said smoothly. "I've already taken care of that."
Silence.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Also…" she paused, deliberate. "I'm thinking of ending the night with you at the hotel. A private celebration."
His chuckle was dark.
"I'll be looking forward to that. Don't blame me if I make you lose your mind later."
She bit her lower lip, breath hitching just enough to sound real.
"Turn me crazy, beb," she whispered. "It's my favorite."
The call ended.
Amelia stared at her phone for a moment before lowering it slowly.
"Annabella Rodriguez," she murmured, her smile sharpening into something cruel, "just wait and see how I'll turn your life into a living hell."