Jake remained silent as he listened to the conversation. He sighed, still waiting for one last person to arrive.
They sat patiently in front of the screen. Jake still had work to finish when a figure finally entered—the person they had all been waiting for.
"You're late," Vince said from another screen, known within their small organization as Beta—a core member in the fight against the Fuego family.
Jake saw Felix—Alpha—smirk. "Sorry," was all he said.
"Can we proceed now?" Charles asked his brother, who was also observing the room.
Suddenly, a new image popped up on the screen—a picture of a man.
"What's this, Alpha?" Zenne, known by the alias Charlie, immediately asked.
"That's what we'll be discussing," Felix replied. "Do you recognize this person?"
"We don't know him. But can you explain what's going on, Alpha?" William—Delta—asked while fidgeting with something offscreen.
"He's the spy who's been following me," Felix said without hesitation.
That statement caught everyone's attention, including Charles's.
"Looks like their father's been working behind the scenes. If we're not careful, they'll catch us off guard," Vince sighed.
"What about the task I gave you, Vince?" Charles asked.
"Don't worry," Vince assured him. "I'm already working to identify the spy infiltrating our group."
"Oh, I see. This conversation just got more interesting," William said, clearly pleased with what he had found. "Take a look at this."
They pulled up another image, and it became clear: Felix was under surveillance.
"Alexander Nathaniel Fuentes," William announced.
Jake furrowed his brow and stared at the name and the face of the man on the screen.
Fuentes? Where have I heard that name before? He searched his memory for the last time the surname had come up.
"He has a sister—Isabel Brenda Fuentes. She's studying at...," Zenne began.
"Do you know his sister?" William asked Jake.
Jake sighed. "Yes. I know that kid very well. She's a classmate of Thalia and Ru—no, Chesca. I remember her because her brother always attended the parent-teacher meetings."
"If you're close to the girl and serve as her adviser, I have a strong feeling he's known Chesca's real identity for a long time," Felix said bluntly.
"How can you be sure about that, Felix? And what makes you think his sister isn't innocent in all this?" Jake pushed back.
"Please tell us more about the Fuentes family, Jake, especially since you're handling his sister," Felix insisted.
"Why should I share private information about a student under my care, Felix? We shouldn't jump to conclusions based solely on speculation," Jake argued.
Felix sighed. "That's exactly why I'm asking about their background—so I can correct my assumptions."
"Oh, shut up, you two," Vince cut in, clearly annoyed.
"The Fuentes siblings are intelligent—especially Nathaniel. I don't know which of you is smarter, Felix," Jake admitted. "He graduated in law and passed the bar easily."
"Interesting," Charles remarked quietly.
"He comes from a wealthy family—and he's from your side of the family, Charles," William added.
"I'm no longer part of the Socorro-Fuentes clan," Charles snapped. "I belong to the Roman family now. A simple family that lost my only sister to murder. Call me illegitimate if you want—I don't care."
"Forget that illegitimacy thing. Can you match his way of thinking, Charles?" William challenged.
"We're going up against a very sharp mind. And he's a lawyer—likely the Fuego family's personal lawyer," Vince added, glancing around.
"I'll admit—his sister is also bright. She's mature, like Thalia. But for some reason, they never became friends," Jake said thoughtfully. "Isabel doesn't really mingle with classmates."
"When there are school activities and Isabel joins a group, she tends to act superior. But she's smart. Competitive. She's always aiming for the top," Jake continued. "Thalia ranked first in class. Isabel never approached her with kindness. Didn't Thalia ever mention being bullied or called names?"
"She never complains to me," Felix said, shaking his head. "She's the peace-loving type."
"Given how Isabel acts in school, we should expect her to be one of our biggest challenges," Vince added.
"As I've said before, let's not involve the girl. Our enemy is her older brother—not Isabel," Jake emphasized.
"Jake, I know you have a brother," Felix said, glancing at Charles, who remained quiet.
"But when it comes to family—especially close siblings—there's always one who knows your true self. Tell me I'm wrong," Felix continued. "The Tejero-Blanco family kept their secrets, but they were still exposed."
"Why don't you stop being a teacher for a moment? I know you feel the need to protect your student, Jake. But what if the one you're protecting ends up being the person who destroys us?" Felix warned.
"Remember what I always tell you—don't let your judgment cloud your decisions," William echoed.
"Alright, alright. I get it. No need to lecture me, William," Jake sighed in frustration.
"So?" Charles finally asked. "What's our next move?"