"No." The legal advisor sat in one of the leather seats in front of the workspace. "She is unaware that I am here. Alexus, we need to chat. I don't want you to enter that situation blindly.""Blind?" As the new development caused fresh pain to emanate from his haven, he shook his head and retreated. "I believe this may be the first time in my life that everything is crystal clear.""Not if you believe that doing so will prevent your wife from divorcing you."Alexus smirked. " Oh, I realized she has the right to divorce me, but I'm not attending to grant her one."David faltered. "That's something else. With this trust financing, you'll prevent her from obtaining anything, but what about those around you? How will you survive in the unlikely event that you invest all of your resources in it?""That's my sole concern, David. I have faith that my wife is unique compared to those around me. Not a shark, Not at all. I need her to face all the blood-sucker parasites around me!"Alexus had a
What might have occurred? Was she involved in a mishap of any kind? When and where? These random inquiries flooded her head. As soon as she sensed her head was heavy, she reached out to touch the bandage covering it with her palm. She closed her eyes and tried to recall anything that could have helped her understand what had taken her to the hospital. However, the throbbing in her head and the murmur of people outside her door made it difficult for her to focus. Apart from that, everything seemed so hazy. Just a hazy memory of a man in a white coat waving his hand in front of her face, asking her how many fingers she saw, and so on to make sure she was doing okay. However, she was incoherent and screaming at something she could not understand, so she was given a tranquilizer while two nurses assisted the man in the white gown. When Rafaella remembered a man's voice from earlier, her heart began to race again. She thought momentarily about why the man's voice had such an unnerving eff
"Are you sure?" "Yes. I'm fine. Honestly." "I'm glad to hear from one of us," he said, giving her an apathetic smile. "I was scared when I saw you were hurt." He scoured a hand through his hair. "Keep doing that, and you're reaching to drag it out." He frowned at her comment. "I guess it's a reflex. I was stressed. It wouldn't astonish me to discover every hair on my head has turned white," he told her, another half-smile curling his mouth. "No," said Rafaella. His hair was dark brown as chocolate and tended to curl only at the edges. He looked and sounded so familiar. So why couldn't she remember who he was or how he fit into her life? "God. I was so frightened I was reaching to lose you," he said, his voice crude. All traces of humor disappeared. He pressed his eyes closed for a minute. "I thought… I was so afraid…." "Don't," she said, carried away by the sadness in his voice, in his eyes. Reaching out, she grabbed his clenched fists. "I'm fine." He stiffened for a moment in
How much should he tell her? She wouldn't recall that they split up if she didn't consider him and their marriage. That was the turmoil running in his head. She hesitated at his reply and cast her mind back. "I…I can't remember it now." Rafaella felt more lightheaded than she had all day when their eyes met and locked. This man stirred in her this breathtaking, toe-curling impact, the kind of response that overflowed her center with need and cleared out her shuddering like a half-set jam which she felt frightening. He deliberately slid his palm down his dark crimson silk tie as he unzipped his suit coat. His fingers were long and inclined as he contemplated the whole thing while he studied her profile. "What can you remember then?" He casually asked. Her look returned to his addressing expression, and she inspected the sterile but comfortable private room. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice fragile. She rubbed at the spot between her brows again. "Things are a bit fuzzy. And I…I se
Alexus took a deep breath, shook his head, and sped up his steps toward the villa's entrance. He saw his guest talking on a mobile phone and walking around the living room. "Oh, he just came in. Let's talk later..." Alexus heard what the woman said. He hadn't even figured out who Sandy was talking to when she immediately cut off the conversation and greeted him with a wide smile. "I've been waiting for you. Well, not that long. I just got here five minutes ago." Alexus moved his face away from his visitor as she wrapped her arm around his neck and prepared to kiss him. "I don't think you should do that, Sandy," he said gently. "And I'm not in the state of mind to talk to you now. You should at least call-" "Daddy," said the two children in unison. He was surprised when two children ran towards him. Lucy removed Sandy's hand, which was gripping Alexus' arm. Sandy exclaimed, "Hey." She appeared irritated by the twins' unannounced approach. "He's our daddy," Lucy said while hold
He gently commanded, "Don't talk like that," as his palm caressed the contour of her cheek. "I have to ensure your security, Rafa." As he dropped his gaze on her breasts, concealed by the unsightly medical gown, need surged within him. He recalled how those breasts fit perfectly into the palms of his hands, how they felt in his mouth, and how her breath quivered as he ran his tongue over the tips. "What would happen if my memory failed to return?" She asked with concern. He slammed the door on the seductive visions, making him long and desperately passionate with Rafaella by jerking his attention back to her face. "Yes, it will be back, Rafa." t may not be as soon as we wanted, but eventually, you will get it back. Everything is just temporary." "If it doesn't, what then? The doctor said it may not..." "Believe me. The doctor told you that is based on some patients having the same case. But you're going to regain your memory." When it happened, he hoped he wouldn't lose her once
"Detective Smith, I want you to put the person who hurt my wife in jail," Alexus ordered. "Yes, Mr. Latimer, we agree. Unfortunately, we don't have much to work on because of your wife's amnesia issue." Alexus said, "You have an eyewitness and a sketch of the man's appearance." "We are following up on both of those leads. However, even if we find a suspect and can make an arrest, we will need your wife to identify him as the victim's attacker." As the total weight of her predicament struck her once more, Rafaella murmured aloud, "Which I can't do unless my memory returns." "I am sorry, ma'am." Her memory might return tomorrow, next month, or even a year from now, according to the neurologist Alexus had brought in. Or it might not return at all. The knot in her stomach that was always there twisted a little tighter at the notion of being unable to recall the details of her life and who she was. "You must allow yourself some time. It's only been a few days," Alexus reassured her,
But how did she tell the man she was married to that it wasn’t just the detective’s kidnapping theory that had the nerves knotting in her stomach? It was the prospect of going home with a husband who was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger to her. Alexus acknowledged that he was treading a fine line as he steered the Bugatti down the street and toward his house alone because he had left Timothy to watch after Rafaella. And now that he was bringing Rafaella home, the thin line he had been walking since he decided to keep their separation from Rafaella a secret appeared to get even lighter. He gave Libby instructions to arrange her possessions in his bedroom, the items Timothy had picked up from the hotel where they had checked in, and the majority of her clothing and necessities out of the house she had lived in, which he had repurchased from the man who was responsible for all the unfortunate events in the Jones family that led to her father's suicide. It appeared that she had
When they reached their bedroom, he grabbed her arm roughly, yanking her out behind him. And the moment the bedroom door shut behind them, he pushed her back against it. Her clutch bag hit the floor. His mouth covered hers, missing her taste. They were gentle at first, slowly stripping each other out of their clothes as they got to know each other's bodies again. It wasn't as if it had been ages since they had one another, but it had been long enough. Two weeks were long enough for him. Damn, he'd missed his sunshine. "God, it's been a long time..." he rasped. " As she pressed her body into his. He deepened the kiss, tasting her lips, then parting them with his own. His tongue drove between her lips. She moaned as their tongues mingled, then lifted her hand and ran her fingers through his hair. He moved one hand between her legs, and his touch immobilized her as he slid his fingers back and forth along the smooth seam of her center and circled them gently over her clit. S
Alexus couldn't sleep that night when Rafaella confessed her intention to join the syndicate as a victim. And he worked with Gerald to ensure his wife's safety. Gerald agreed since his team would also be there to get the syndicate's mastermind. While contemplating the critical mission Rafaella wished to do as an auction bride victim. Alexus could not help but sigh frequently. He found it hard to imagine his wife performing such an undercover role. It worsens the pain in his stomach more than the medication she gave him. But there he was, in front of her, smelling of flowers and wanting to reach out and touch her tender flesh. With their twins playing in the kitchen and the three agents keeping an eye on them, he was close enough to kiss her but didn't dare. Not until they had a chance to converse. She pulled a few soft drinks out of the fridge and handed one to him before following him into the living room she'd decorated with a few colorful accents from Milan before she had a
Rafaella was ecstatic as she watched her mother with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face as she hugged her only sibling, Cindy. Despite having concerns about what would come next in their lives now that the authorities had apprehended Colleen, Jasper, and their gang, she felt blessed despite these misgivings. It was a joyful moment since Rafaella's only sister had returned. She felt so much happiness in those moments. And even her mother could not hide the happiness and security of her will to see her two daughters together again. She quietly studied the profile of Cindy sharing her mother's happiness and tears while Gerald extended his hand to hold her mother's hand and kissed it. What a sweet man, she thought with a smile, but it vanished from her lips as she met her husband's facade, somewhat scowling. She strolled to join him, seated in one of the chairs with Ruslan and Leo nearby. "What is ailing you?" She asked in a whisper. "Nothing," his evasive reply and avoidi
Three days have passed since Rafaella was saved from the hands of Colleen, who kidnapped her as a ransom for Alexus to sign their divorce papers, but Alexus disagreed. Instead, he saved Rafaella from the hands of Jasper, who wanted to take advantage of her physically. They found out that Colleen was still in the clinic because she was high on substances when she was arrested, along with Jasper and some staff who hid in an abandoned farm that used to belong to one of her friends. And according to the investigation at the said location, the FBI group led by Gerald obtained two boxes of substance and some informative documents they did not divulge publicly. Alexus's stomach ache had also healed due to taking diet pills which Rafaella used as an accessory not to have intimacy with his ex-girlfriend, which he claimed was adequate but not good for his health as he felt deteriorating and weakling. So, the incident became a joke among the group. Rafaella felt even happier because t
Rafaella leaned her head against his shoulder and asked, "Can we just go to the woods?" He echoed in her ear, "I told you we couldn't. The woods are the worst area to flee to because doing so would be a suicide mission, and I also want her off my back. And that is to see her off to prison." Rafaella frowned at his remark, but she didn't need convincing—literally or figuratively—because she sensed she was about to enter a minefield. The area was eerie. She wanted to get back to her children to ensure no one was there to snap them away. That's why she was impatient in being in this place when she wanted to be home. She was never like this with her covert mission, but she had no idea this was how people with kidnapped family members felt in restless turmoil. Suppose there was compensation for being in this abandoned area, that was to be with Alexus. Having him beside her could make her forget her restlessness for at least a while. "Do you have a plan while we're hiding here?"
With a look of fear and determination, Rafaella struggled to untie her hands. Despite her fear, she hurriedly untied the duct tape holding both hands together when Colleen screamed and threatened her husband. She's just an unbelievable freak," she shook her head and thought. How could she get Alexus's feelings if she kept threatening him? She knew it would not work with Alexus. Was she that desperate to get his attention or something else? She figured out before that she might be desperate for lack of cash. And he thought Alexus was his only hope to help him. Rafaella got off the bed and sat on the floor. She looked around the room, wondering how she could get out of the room she was in. As fear registered in her brain, she tried to figure out how many of Colleen's men were so that she could estimate and know where they were located in that farmhouse. She remembered earlier that he didn't see anyone standing outside the house when they arrived, so she guessed that Colleen's men w
Rafaella awoke to heart-pounding panic. She finally managed to blink her eyes open as her senses slowly woke up. She realized she was in the back seat of the SUV. Suddenly, her forehead collided with the back of the driver's seat."Damn, that was close. Stupid animal crossing the road" said the man's stern voice in front of the steering wheel.She twisted wildly on her right side when she became aware of heavy breathing and found herself beside a man bent over as if he was sleeping inside the SUV.Instinctively, she grabbed for the door handle."Nice, try, but you shouldn't," snarled the voice beside her and grabbed her hair.She swallowed hard as she looked at him. Even in the dark of the backseat, she couldn't even see his eyes ultimately, but she knew. She'd seen the murder in his eyes earlier. When the time came for her to die, she knew he would kill her himself and relish the process. He would have killed her by now if it had been up to him. It wasn't up to him, though.Rafaella
Oh, I can't breathe. That thought quickly crossed her mind when Rafaella woke up. Her eyes widened as she struggled to get enough air into her lungs. Something covered her mouth and nose. And her heart beat faster as she glanced around the unfamiliar small room with a foul smell. She could hardly move as her hands were tied up behind her. She closed her eyes again and thought about what had happened last and how she ended up in a dark, unfamiliar place. The last thing she remembers was someone hitting her on the head when she came out of the comfort room of the cottage that belonged to Gwen. She rested her head against the bed's headboard and closed her eyes again as many images played through her mind. She remembered Alexus and their children. Oh, what's going on? Her thoughts were jumbled. I shouldn't freak out. She told herself that she needed to think clearly. as she leaned back, starting to remember what had happened. She remembered having amnesia, but now she could re
Rafaella stared at the laptop on her desk for the hundredth time facing the window. She had been checking Colleen's latest media update but found nothing, and she considered the fugitive woman not using her real identity. But she found out that someone was also digging into her records since many articles popped up that were not there two months ago. The publications claimed that Colleen had been institutionalized at a for-profit facility. Later reports mentioned her disappearance from the public eye. She wanted a calm life without being involved in the commercial matters of her family. What the hell kind of person lives like that? Rafaella asked. She looked at the Grant Pharmaceutical company's finances while still in shock. It combined with another profitable medical business while experiencing a decline in profits. Rafaella shook her head as she processed the new information. Given the business's financial stability, making money would have been tough when she last remembered