Colleen's eyes widened, and she growled in a high-pitched voice, "What are you two doing here? Even here, you're engaging in lewd behavior."Alexus mumbled, "I kiss my wife wherever and whenever, Colleen," with restrained rage but not in his frigid voice.Giovanni said, "Don't be such a bitch with my friends, Colleen. I invited them here.""Your friends?" She suspiciously stared at her ex-husband. "Since when Giovan?""Alexus has been my friend since we used to be neighbors."When Rafaella spotted two guards approaching, she grabbed her husband's waist.And he looked down at her before dropping a kiss on her temple."Are you all right?""Of course. I'm tough, remember?' She grinned.He chuckled and pulled her closer in a protective embrace."What's going on?" One of the guards inquired.Just then, they heard a police siren."I better check outside. It could be the sheriff. Go with Gwen to our table," Alexus whispered to her.She saw Gwen give a sympathetic look before wrapping her in
Before Alexus could get to her phone, Rafaella's fingers snatched it up. Her head hit the cushion as she turned, releasing a deep, heavy sigh."Babe... Let me talk to her," Alexus said when she pressed it.Rafaella hesitated momentarily before quietly handing her phone to her husband. And he dropped beside her."Hello," Alexus said complacently. He heard the woman gasp as she heard him."Oh. I was calling for--""My wife is already sleeping," he cut in. "Can I take a message for her?""You sounded relaxed, Alex, but you were there when they handcuffed me before I closed my eyes.""I'm not interested to hear what's happening with you, Colleen. If you have no message for my wife--""Wait," Colleen interrupted him. "I managed to escape with the help of some friends.""Is that what the message you want me--""Damn it, Alex. Stop that cold-blooded attitude with me.""Alright, I'm listening. What do you want to say?" Alexus's eyes met his wife's. His hand started to fiddle with her long bla
Rafaella and Gwen were momentarily taken aback, but Giovanni's emotions of even greater astonishment could be seen as he glanced at Alexus, who appeared unsure of what to do at the time. But according to good manners, he stepped closer to the older woman, politely reached for her hand, and gently shook it. Signorina Fontana smiled and seemed satisfied with his act. Alexus addressed the mother of Giovanni, who appeared to be grinning, saying, "My pleasure to have met you, Signora Fontana." Giovanni interrupted, perplexed by what he had just seen, "Wait, Mammina. Do you know Alexus?" Signorina Fontana gave her son's question some thought. "Si. I know this gentleman..." "I'm sorry, Signora, but I don't believe we've ever met. I will always remember if we have." "I am sorry to hear that you have forgotten me, Alessandro," said Mrs. Fontana. "How could I forget you? You look so much like your father. And your mother, Alessia, is my best friend. You're named after your mother."
Rafaella felt Alexus tighten his grip on her hand, but she didn't even bother to glance at him since her eyes were set on the person she wanted to see and hoped she would never see again. The man's gaze lingered on Alexus's face rather than hers, which surprised her because he didn't even seem surprised to see them both.Then his mouth broke into an amused laugh, "Alexus Latimer, what brought you to this part of the world?"Rafaella silently regarded him. She was optimistic that the old man had no malice toward her spouse."My blood has recently started to turn sluggish. Perhaps it needs some direction, Lombardi," Alexus replied. There was no politeness in their words or how they greeted each other."Uhm," Lombardi smirked, bobbing his head, his right brow lifted, and his eyes somewhat grinning. "I guess you're right and seem to be steering in the right direction.""I don't agree with what you said, Mr. Lombardi," Rafaella's stern face interrupted the conversation between the two. "Yo
Rafaella laughed loudly as she ran away from her husband towards the shore, but Alexus caught her, and they both fell into the water, laughing. But when Rafaella tried to get away from him, he just shook his head and watched her hit the ground with her arms dropped around her head. Alexus eyed the kids having fun quite a distance from them which made him miss their twins. And as he looked around, he realized he was spending a lazy afternoon at Sardinia's most exclusive resort. He was in the VIP section, adults-only, where there would be no children to watch the intimate moments with his wife. He loved children wildly when they shrieked, laughed, and splashed in the water. Alexus stayed in the water. Rafaella could see the muscles in his back and arms moving smoothly with each stroke, the fabric of his shorts billowing around his legs, his water-dark hair slick. She closed her eyes but could still see Alexus' body, l, the length, and strength of his limbs, the stream of bubbles com
"Hold on," Rafaella said as her eyes narrowed at her husband. "What are you thinking?" "There was no evidence, but it's how my father died," Alexus stated. "I didn't tell the investigator but saw everything that happened that night. I hid like a coward when I saw his gun as panic surged in my chest. I hid in the corner of the living room. The assassin bore enough battle as he launched himself at the guards. He struck precise and devastating. Despite their best efforts, the hall was too small for more than a handful to surround him at once. I heard the gunshot when my father managed to flee to the balcony and was followed by the assassin. "Oh, Alex...." Rafaella mumbled as her hand rested across his belly. "That must be hard for you at that moment..." "Yes..." "But why didn't you tell the police what you saw?" "Because I realized that the assassin may pursue my life. I was a weakling then, as I said. Just like what happened to the guard crashing to the floor, all three died fro
"Are you going crazy? What do you think of my husband, a meal that is handed out so easily?" Rafaella couldn't stop her tirade at the woman she was talking to on the other line. Then she felt Alexus squeeze her shoulder sweetly. He was reminding her to focus. Alexus heard what his ex-girlfriend was saying, so he couldn't blame Rafaella, who raised her voice in annoyance. Gwen showed her what she wrote on the laptop in bold letters. RELAX, RAFA... THINK OF JOSH. "Which of the two of us do you think is going crazy at this point, Rafaella?" Colleen's annoyed voice was harsh. "I'll give you ample time, only three days, to decide. I'll be waiting for your call. Bye!" "No--" Rafaella took a deep breath and looked at her husband before her. She leaned against Alexus' chest as Giovanni quietly pulled Gwen out of the room. "I'm sorry, I blew it..." She said in a whisper. "No. I'm not blaming you. If I'm selfish enough, I'd like to think I agree with your irrational rebuttal. A sad
At the request of Alexus' mother, they all stayed at the hotel still owned by the Rossi couple, Alexus' biological parents. And he found out from them during the conversation that his parents broke up because Mateo got one of his flings pregnant, so they lived together, but it was an unborn baby because of a complication. By that time, Alexus' mother had already filed for divorce. And due to the failure of the birthing, Mateo also broke up with his affair to regain his ex-wife's trust. Still, to no avail, he was not taken back. However, he stopped traveling around the country and voluntarily managed the hotel's operation. Although the idea suggested would ensure Joshua's safety, Rafaella couldn't help but worry. She was not convinced it would work though partly jealousy roiling around in her gut, so she thought of a better way to speed up the capture of Alexus' destructive ex-girlfriend. She was purring in satisfaction to see Colleen Grant was about to go down in flames. "I