Raymond
I sat alone on the beach, my hands buried in my hair, staring out at the endless ocean. The waves crashed against the shore with a relentless force that mirrored the chaos inside my mind.
I felt like I was being pulled under. Drowning in the silence that had settled between Noah and me. It had been days since we last spoke, and every passing minute without her felt like another piece of my heart being chipped away.
Noah hadn’t let me near her since that day. She wouldn’t even let me explain. She’d built walls around herself, shutting me out completely. And I got it—I really did.
After everything she went through with Owen and Josie, how those betrayals had nearly destroyed her… It made sense that she couldn&rsqu
NoahFacing Raymond’s concern, I couldn’t help letting my guard down. I told him what happened.“Clara made us breakfast and told me to give you a chance. She said that it really had been an accident. She sounded really sincere. And then she suddenly left,” I explained. “Did I treat her too harshly?” I asked, looking into Raymond’s concerned eyes.“No worries, she is an adult and knows how to be responsible for herself.” Raymond comforted me. He smiled warmly, a hint of longing and sadness in his handsome eyes.Raymond, Neil and I sat down for breakfast. He made a few sweet jokes, trying to lighten the mood, and despite myself, I found my lips curving into a smile. Neil giggled at his father’s ant
NoahRaymond and I rushed into the living room. Our hearts were pounding, each beat echoing with the fear of what we might find. The sound of a strange man's voice talking to our son had sent a jolt of panic through us.But when we entered the room, it was empty. Raymond looked at me with a puzzled expression, silently gesturing for me to stay quiet. He grabbed a baseball bat from the corner, holding it tightly as he moved towards the next room. I followed close behind, my breath held in anticipation.The stranger's voice drifted through the house again. “Look what I have for you, boy.” The voice came from the kitchen. Raymond’s grip on the bat tightened, and he quickened his pace. I stayed close, fear twisting in my gut as we approached the kitchen door.
NoahAlejandro’s words left me in stunned silence. My mind scrambled to make sense of what he had just asked. Did he really want to know what I found attractive about him? Was this some kind of sick joke, or was he testing me?“Uh… Wh-what?” I stammered, hoping I had misunderstood his thick Hispanic accent.“What would you say is my most attractive body part, Miss Noah?” he repeated. His smile was unfaltering, calm, almost as if he had asked me about the weather.The absurdity of the situation made my skin prickle with discomfort. “Why would you ask me such an inappropriate question?” I demanded. My voice was rising slightly, betraying the alarm I felt. My eyes narrowed as I studied his face, searching for any hint of ulterior motives.“Oh…” Alejandro hesitated, his expression shifting slightly. He looked as if he genuinely didn’t understand why I was upset. Was he really that clueless, or was he just pretending? Then, as if a lightbulb went off in his head, he suddenly chuckled. “No,
NoahWhen Alejandro arrived at the villa to pick up Clara, I was still helping her get ready. She was fussing over her dress, and adjusting her hair for the third time. “Oh, will you get the door, please, Noah?” she asked. “There are still a few things I need to do.”“Of course, no problem,” I replied, heading downstairs toward the entrance.As I opened the door, I was greeted by Alejandro, holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers. A smile of recognition spread across my face—he had taken my advice to heart. But then, to my surprise, he extended the bouquet toward me.“For you, Miss Noah. Because you have been so kind to me.”“Oh… Uh… Thank you,” I stammered, momentarily at a loss for words. His gaze lingered on me, intense and unwavering, making me feel oddly self-conscious. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, I managed to say, “Why don’t you come in?”Alejandro followed me inside, his stride confident and deliberate. “Clara is still getting ready,” I explained, trying to fill
NoahAlejandro paused, as if caught off guard. But instead of stepping back, he leaned in closer, his body pressing against mine. “Your hair… it’s so soft,” he murmured, his voice unnervingly intimate.I tried to inch away. But he moved with me, closing the gap. “Oh, Miss Noah, you have no idea how beautiful you are, do you? It’s such a shame…” His lips brushed against my neck as he spoke.Panic surged through me, and I jerked away. My heart was hammering in my chest. “This is completely inappropriate. I’m married, Alejandro,” I hissed, my glare sharp enough to cut.For a brief moment, something dark flickered in his eyes—something that made my skin crawl. But then, just as quickly, he masked it with a smooth smile. He stepped back as if nothing had happened. “I’m sorry, Miss Noah. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”But I knew better. His apology was hollow, a thin veil of civility hiding his true intentions. My mind raced as I turned back to the chopping board, pretending to fo
NoahThe morning sunlight streamed through the villa's windows, casting a warm, golden glow over the spacious living room. But despite the beautiful day outside, a storm brewed within me. I had spent the entire night tossing and turning, Alejandro’s words echoing in my mind. I tried to convince myself that I could handle him, that I could stay out of his reach. But his threat lingered. I pondered if I should tell Raymond everything. Yet every time I considered it, I found myself hesitating. I was unsure of what he would think or how he would react. And I had no idea what Alejandro was capable of. He might threaten my family if I rebelled in any way.Raymond was up early, already buried in work emails when I entered the living room. He barely looked up as I approached, his focus entirely on his laptop screen. “Morning,” I said, forcing a smile as I leaned down to kiss his cheek.“Morning, hun,” he mumbled, his eyes not leaving the screen.I lingered for a moment, hoping for some sign
NoahThe drive into town was quiet. The silence between Alejandro and me was thick with tension. The sleek black car glided smoothly along the coastal road, the ocean glittering to our right. Despite the beauty of the scenery, my mind was racing. Replaying every unsettling moment with Alejandro. My hands rested stiffly in my lap, my knuckles white as I gripped my bag. I felt trapped. Alejandro’s fingers drummed lightly on the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road. He hadn’t said much since I got in the car. But I could feel his gaze flicker toward me every now and then. The silence wasn’t comforting—it was suffocating.We finally arrived in the heart of the town, a bustling area filled with tourists and locals alike. The streets were narrow, lined with colorful shops, cafés, and market stalls. The aroma of fresh bread, spices and coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of distant laughter and chatter.Alejandro parked the car in a shaded spot near the town squar
NoahAlejandro and I walked back to the car. My thoughts drifted to Raymond and Neil, to the safety and warmth of home. I wished desperately that I had never agreed to this outing. But it was too late for regrets.Just as we reached the car, my phone buzzed inside my purse. For a brief moment, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe it was Raymond, finally noticing that something was off. Maybe he would come and rescue me from this nightmare. But as I fumbled to pull out my phone, Alejandro’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist with startling speed. “Give it to me,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “No contact.”My heart skipped a beat. There was no warmth in his tone now, only cold command. I hesitated, but Alejandro’s grip tightened. There was no escape from this.Swallowing hard, I handed over my phone. And with that, I surrendered any hope of reaching out for help. Alejandro took it without a word, slipping it into his pocket with an air of finality.Alejandro’s demeanor shifted as he sta