She slumped into the car seat and let go with a heavy sigh."Hey, what's wrong?" Alexus wondered as he drew her in by wrapping his arm around her shoulder."Oh..." She was as startled as their eyes met. And she exhaled, followed by a smile. "Don't ask me. It's a long tiring day..."She embraced him and gasped for the air she had been holding as she savored the warmth of his body against hers. As usual, he was the only one to make her feel secure. Although conscious of his quiet, inquiring gaze, she was more concerned with finding a way to rid herself of the anxiety."You're trembling," He gave her a back rub. "What's wrong?" He asked with concern in his voice. His hand rubbed her arm."Nothing. I just… I must be hungry," she reasoned as she gradually de-stressed.The sound of a car's horn behind them surprised them both."Hang on. I have to leave this area." He slowed down the car when he saw a vacant space ahead of the school building. Then, with concern still in his eyes, he turned
Alexus cared for Rafaella almost the whole night. She was running with a fever, so she was not surprised when she woke up and felt her husband still beside her. She turned around to face her husband. He appeared slightly worn out.Rafaella thought that her husband needed some rest. She touched the man's shoulder and murmured, "Alex," quietly.Slowly opening his eyes, Alexus was met with curious looks.She questioned, "Aren't you going into your office?" Nearly nine in the morning, and you're still here.Alexus leaned in her direction and hissed. "After lunch, I'll leave."She gave him a careful look and asked, "Are you okay?" "Perhaps you ought to take a day off.""Yeah, don't worry about me. I'll have an hour's sleep..." He said and buried his face in the pillow.As she approached the door, Rafaella murmured, "Take your time.Without even looking at her, he questioned, "Where are you going?""Go back to sleep. I'm going to check on my mum. I'll be back in an hour to bring your coffee
"Alex-" Her voice cracked as she opened her mouth. Staring at the man seated in front of the steering wheel with his façade hardened."Don't," Alexus muttered as if trying to control his outburst. "Just don't say anything as I'm driving."Alexus treated her harshly and coldly. And worst, avoiding looking at her."Please, let me explain. It's not what you think. Alex?"Alexus's jaws stiffened as he held back the intense emotion in those moments."Alex-"Alexus hit the steering wheel with his hand. "It's either you keep your mouth shut or get out of the car," he sternly said without glancing at her.Rafaella bit her lip. She let her tears flow from the intense resentment at Alexus' cold treatment of her.God, I was so stupid trusting you, Jasper. I hate you right now! That's the content of his mind that the anger for his ex-boyfriend was intense.There was a deafening silence between the two of them inside the car.When the car stopped in front of the Latimer house, Alexus got out first
Rafaella cursed herself because with every step she took entering the hotel, not only the women but especially the men turned their heads in her direction. It was a good thing she was wearing her dark shades.Where is that man? He better be here before I stumble here. Ugh! This was the first time she was flaunting herself because of her anger towards Alexus.Huh! Imagine that man slapping the divorce paper at me as if I would start begging him. As always, he's extreme whenever we quarrel, but this last one is the worst. He can never be my confidante friend anymore. He's crazy!She swept her long hair down her back. And took off her shade when a familiar good-looking face waved in her direction."Hi!" Greetings from Gerald with his eyes traveling all over her shape and stopping to meet their eyes. "You looked so stunning.""Oh, please... Drop the compliments, Gerald, or I'm going home..."Gerald chuckled. He kept glancing at her as they walked."Stop that, or I'm going to stumble here.
Night of SubmissionAlexus continued to hear the shower running for another ten minutes. He set down his tablet out of concern and went to the bathroom, where he could see her shape through the shower's frosted glass and determined that she was still inside and not moving. He sighed, made a choice, and entered the cubicle with her while only wearing his pants.Under the hot, soothing spray of the numerous shower jets, Rafaella stood. When a burst of chilly air informed her that the frosted glass door to the cubicle had slipped open, her forehead was pressed against the icy tiles. With a defeated sigh, she turned back and observed Alexus turn to seal the bathroom door behind him.Rafaella moved quickly towards the door, but his hand grabbed her arm."Don't go," he whispered, kissing warmly across her back.She shuddered violently before groaning and gathering her into his arms, hunching his body around hers and burying his face at the side of her neck. They stood that way long before h
Rafaella found herself unable to stop the tears that had started to form in the corners of her eyes after telling Gwen about the entire issue involving Alexus in the past.She was the one who suffered the most when she left Alexus, but she had to stay away due to the intense stress. She rubbed her eyes' outer corners."Wow." When Gwen learned what had previously happened to Rafaella and Alexus, she fell into tears. “He must have found it shocking when he woke up and you weren't there. You two are back together now, five years later. He still has a burning affection for you. Like it was just yesterday, you two are again in each other's arms. My eyes were also filled with emotions when I listened to your story, Rafa," Gwen said.Rafaella stated, "I tried not to think when I left and moved on with my life.""But you didn't tell me how you ended your relationship with Jasper. Why do you seem to be the only one who wants to end your relationship with him, and what transpired between you tw
When Rafaella returned to her husband's side, she brought food. He was having a wonderful time chatting with the three agents as though he had known them for years. She moved back into the spot she'd been using before she saw Colleen get up and leave the group. What took you so long?" Alexus asked. She chuckled sheepishly and admitted, "I had ice cream." "Without me, nice," he bantered. "Since I know you haven't eaten in a while, I brought you some food." "Thanks, babe," He said, "I'm delighted you brought some food." Want to fill my stomach?" "I'm the babe, right?" Subtly, she spoke. "Uh-huh. Here, honey, in our bed..." He replied softly, his eyes flirting with hers. Ugh! He opened his mouth, and she took a scoop of food to put in it. "Um. It wasn't until you started feeding me that I realized I was starving." "I guess I'm going to eat again," Gwen stated as she got to her feet. Gwen became the leader, and everyone else followed. "Just do it," Rafaella stated, "There is a
Alexus waited outside the office building for his wife and was sure she would appear at any moment.He took a few full, slow breaths. From where he stood, he could see the car that would soon arrive with Rafaella. He felt he was reliving his awkward teenage years and wanted to laugh about it while awaiting his first date. As he waited for his wife, that's how he felt.Alex, are you planning on going somewhere? His attention was drawn by the sound of a voice he recognized.Colleen was there, waiting for him by the transparent door. She started walking towards him while waving at him."What are you doing here?"He answered, "I'm waiting for my wife.""Oh. When it's chilly outside, why not stay inside? Let's go inside," Colleen said.Saying, "It's okay, Colleen. This is her first visit since she abandoned me, and I intend to greet her warmly.""Wow. And to think about it now makes me sad. Alright, I'm going in."Upon seeing his vehicle, Alexus merely nodded and did not bother to look at h
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