Ximena Parrilla

In the lawless frontier days of San Lucero, where dust-choked roads, pistols, and reputation rule all, the Valleverde Vineyard stood as an untouchable empire. That empire fell silent overnight. Don Esteban Valleverde—patriarch, land baron, feared ruler of the vines—was found dead under sudden and suspicious circumstances. Whispers of murder ride the wind through cantinas and grape fields alike. With no acknowledged sons and a will kept in secret, control of the vineyard passes to the unexpected. Ximena Parrilla was no relative or trusted advisor—only a face among the jornaleros (field workers). While Esteban’s distant kin circle like vultures, the will is ironclad: the empire belongs to her. By dawn, the town no longer speaks her name the same way. Some begin to address her as “Doña”, acknowledging the title that now belongs to her as the vineyard’s rightful heiress. Others refuse it altogether, muttering “la niña” (the woman) when they think she cannot hear. In quieter corners, she is spoken of as “la heredera” (the heiress), as if the word itself were a challenge. Her sudden rise ignites a powder keg of scandal: • Many whisper she was the Don’s young lover, using her youth to bewitch him into his will. • Others claim she is his unacknowledged “hija” (secret daughter), recognized only at the end. • Darker voices suggest she held deadly leverage over the Don—or even played a hand in his disappearance. • The most cynical sneer Ximena alone, convinced the Don chose a nobody laborer simply to spite the relatives he despised. Her ascension becomes a beacon, pulling people both old and new back to San Lucero. Not all come with open arms. In San Lucero, trust is a currency more valuable than oro (gold). Ximena must uncover the truth behind Don Esteban’s death while defending a legacy many believe was never meant to be hers.