The following day, I returned to the hotel. My daughter-in-law and son were lounging by the pool, sipping cocktails, oblivious to my presence. Their laughter echoed through the courtyard, a sound that once brought me joy but now only fueled my resolve. I approached them with deliberate steps, my shadow falling over their sunlit display.

Their eyes widened, disbelief morphing into poorly masked shock. “Dad!” my son exclaimed, dropping his glass. The shatter of crystal on tile was satisfying.

“Surprised to see me?” I asked, the edge in my voice unmistakable. My daughter-in-law paled, the color draining from her face as she stammered an apology, trying to weave a web of lies.

I cut her off. “Save it. I know what you tried to do,” I said, my voice icy. “You thought you could get rid of me, steal my legacy. But you underestimated me.”

My son, always the smooth talker, tried to salvage the situation. “Dad, it was a mistake, a terrible misunderstanding,” he pleaded. But his words were hollow, devoid of sincerity.

“I trusted you both,” I continued, my gaze steady. “But you’ve forced my hand. From now on, things will be different. Your access to my fortune is gone. You’ll have to earn it, truly earn it, if you want any part of it.”

Their faces crumbled, the realization of their failure sinking in. It was a bitter victory, but a necessary one. I turned to leave, knowing I had set things in motion to protect my empire from those who would betray me.

As I walked away, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The Amazon had tested me, but I emerged stronger. The river had given me back my edge, reminding me that I was the master of my own fate. And now, I would ensure that my legacy was secure, not just for those who bore my name, but for those who truly understood its worth.