Chapter: 51. Unbalanced ThoughtsAlexa's POVI paced restlessly, my half-hearted attempts to get ready abandoned. My reflection in the mirror was a stranger – pale, drawn, with shadows under my eyes that spoke of sleepless nights and gnawing worry.But I couldn't let it consume me. Not tonight and certainly not completely. Jeremy deserved better. He deserved my attention, my gratitude, a semblance of the warmth he so freely offered. I couldn't allow my father's cryptic message to completely overshadow the evening.I took a deep breath, forcing myself to straighten my shoulders. "What will be, will be," I told myself, a mantra against the rising tide of panic. I couldn't control the future. I couldn't undo the past. All I could do was try to navigate the present with a shred of grace.I decided to start over, to approach the evening with a renewed sense of purpose. I chose a dress, a simple but elegant black number that made me feel a little more confident, a little more put-together. I took my time with my hair and m
Last Updated: 2025-04-04
Chapter: 50. Illusions or Delusions?The villa was a haven of tranquility, a place designed to soothe the soul and heal the body. The gentle rhythm of the waves lapping against the shore, the fragrant scent of the tropical flowers, the luxurious comfort of my surroundings – all of it should have brought me peace. But it didn't. It couldn't.I spent hours by the infinity pool, the warm sun on my skin, the cool water a temporary balm against the fire that raged within me. Isabella was attentive and kind, her presence a constant, gentle reminder of my need for rest and recovery.Her touch was gentle, her voice soothing. She brought me fresh fruit, read to me from books, and tried, with unwavering patience, to engage me in conversation. She was everything they said I needed. Everything except her.I would smile, offer polite responses, and attempt to feign interest in her stories. But my mind was a battlefield, a constant struggle against the relentless tide of longing that threatened to consume me.Everywhere I looked, I sa
Last Updated: 2025-04-01
Chapter: 49. UnreachableThe apartment was a dimly lit sanctuary, the silence broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. Jeremy’s call had hung in the air, a gentle reminder of the dinner he had planned, a dinner I was woefully unprepared for. I hadn’t even started getting ready. My clothes lay scattered on the bed. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, a relentless replay of Don Antonio’s voice, his laughter, the feeling of his hand in mine. How is he? Is he alright? Does he miss me as much as I miss him? The questions echoed in the quiet apartment, drowning out any attempt at rational thought. I stared at my reflection in the darkened window, a pale, drawn face staring back. My hair, usually carefully styled, was a tangled mess, pulled back into a haphazard bun. I hadn’t bothered with makeup, and the dark circles under my eyes spoke volumes about my sleepless nights. Jeremy’s invitation, meant to be a gesture of kindness and support, felt like an impossible task. The thought of dressi
Last Updated: 2025-03-31
Chapter: 48. EchoesAlexa's POVMy phone, lying face down on the kitchen counter, buzzed, shattering the oppressive quiet moment Sarah and I were enjoying. I hesitated, my hand hovering over it, reluctant to break the fragile shell of my peace. Finally, I flipped it over. Jeremy’s name flashed across the screen.“Hey,” I managed, my voice hoarse, a mere whisper.“Alexa? You sound…rough,” Jeremy said, his voice laced with concern. “Are you alright?”“As alright as I can be,” I replied, trying to inject a semblance of normalcy into my tone, but it was a poor attempt.There was a pause, a moment of shared silence that stretched between us. I could almost feel his empathy, his unspoken understanding.We hung up after catching up with work and making plans for dinner the next day. The silence returned in the room, but this time, it felt different. It was still heavy, but it was no longer suffocating. It was a silence filled with the echo of Jeremy’s affection towards me, a reminder that I wasn’t entirely alon
Last Updated: 2025-03-27
Chapter: 47. More Lost and AloneDon Antonio's POVI shifted restlessly in the bed, the faint ache in my chest a dull echo of the deeper pain that gnawed at my heart. Xavier and the doctor stood at the foot of the bed, their expressions a carefully constructed blend of concern and authority. They had won. They had convinced me."It's for the best, Don Antonio," the doctor had said, his voice calm and measured. "You need to focus on your recovery. The change of scenery, the peace and quiet... it will do you good."Xavier had echoed his sentiments, his usually stoic face softened with a rare hint of pleading. "It's what's best for you, sir. A chance to heal, away from the stress."They spoke of stress as if it were a simple ailment, a manageable inconvenience. They didn't understand the depth of the wound, the gaping hole in my soul that threatened to consume me. The thought of leaving Alexa, of putting distance between us, was a torment. Every fiber of my being yearned for her, for the sound of her voice, the warmth o
Last Updated: 2025-03-22
Chapter: 46. A Glimmer of Hope46. A Glimmer of HopeAlexa's POVMy heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the suffocating silence of Elsie's apartment. "Anything?" I echoed, my voice barely a whisper, the word hanging heavy with desperation. "What do you want? No… How much do you want?"Elsie's eyes gleamed, a predatory glint that sent a shiver down my spine. "Oh, Alexa," she purred, her voice laced with amusement, "you know I'm not interested in money.""Then what is it?" I pleaded, my voice trembling. "Just tell me. What do you want from me?"She rose from the sofa, her movements slow and deliberate, like a cat stalking its prey. She circled me, her gaze lingering on my face, her smile a cruel mask."Like I have said over a thousand times, I want you to suffer," she said, her voice dropping to a low, menacing whisper. "I want you to feel the pain I've felt. I want you to lose everything you hold dear."Her words hit me like a physical blow, a wave of nausea washing over me. "You're insane," I
Last Updated: 2025-03-14
LOGIN
