Chapter 25: Echoes of Suspicion

Mariana stared numbly at the phone screen the following day. The social media app had morphed into a cesspool of vitriol. "Typical Alarc?o," one post snarled, the accompanying profile picture a grainy image of a man with a sneering expression. "Power makes them think they're invincible. This ruthless businessman probably got away with who knows how much before this socialite finally exposed him." The comment continued, weaving a fantastical tale of Tiago's ruthless climb to the top, embellishing minor business disputes into full-blown scandals. Another chimed in, "Didn't the Alarc?os have some shady dealings a while back? Something about a hostile takeover that got messy? Birds of a feather, I guess." This one played on whispers and rumors surrounding a past acquisition by Alarcao Groups, twisting a legitimate business maneuver into a conspiracy theory. A third comment, adorned with a cartoon avatar of a person holding a pitchfork, sent a jolt of icy dread through Mariana. "Wa