19NEXT DAY: BRIARWOOD SCHOOL ••••Isabella arrived but didn't see her friends waiting for her at her locker as they normally do. Her eyes searched for them until she saw them gathered in front of Valeria's locker, and her eyes darkened."Guys!" She angrily walked towards them. "Why are you standing here?" she demanded."Chappell told us what you did yesterday. Trying to steal Ace when you like Elijah. That's two-timing, and it's not cool. We don't do that to friends here," Abby said."I wasn't trying to steal Ace," Isabella sighed."Then explain why I saw both of you together. You don't even care about Cyber boys. You just have a crush on Elijah," Chappell said."I like Elijah and I still do. What happened with Ace yesterday was nothing. I don't even know what he was doing there," Isabella tried explaining herself."What was he doing there, and why was he holding your face?" Gloria asked."I just said I don't know. Why are you guys being so ridiculous?" Isabella was already frustrate
20 Camila narrowed her eyes as she stared at him. No compliment? Did she not look good enough? She wondered but quickly shook it off. She wasn't trying to impress him or anyone, so it really didn't matter if she looked great or not.She followed him to the car. The driver helped them open the door, and he couldn't resist the urge to compliment Camila."You look beautiful, ma'am," he said."Thank you," Camila smiled. At least a driver appreciated her beauty more than her husband did.Alejandro's eyes darkened when he stared at his driver and the poor man froze."Is talking to my wife why I hired you as my driver?" he asked harshly."I'm sorry, sir," the driver apologized."Cut him some slack. He was just complimenting me," Camila rolled her eyes."Then how about you get married to him and watch him save your family's company instead," Alejandro shrugged at her.Camila resisted the urge to call him an asshole. She just scoffed and looked out the window, tired of thinking about what cou
21Camila turned to Rafael to take a proper look at him. He was indeed the one who helped her the other day."Mr. Rafael," she greeted him."Just Rafael," he corrected her, which made her smile. Rafael couldn't help but admire her looks and came to the conclusion that this lady before him gets more beautiful daily."You know, I'm surprised to see you at an event like this. Who's the bastard that's lucky enough to convince you to be his date?" Rafael then asked."Actually, she is married and you can turn around and call me a lucky bastard to my face," someone said behind Rafael, which made him freeze.Camila looked forward to see Alejandro looking at her with darkened eyes. She didn't know what she did wrong but she couldn't stop herself from gulping.Rafael turned to look at Alejandro. He stiffened a bit, still trying to digest the fact that the lady he hadn't been able to forget was married, and not just to anyone but to his rival, Alejandro."If you don't have anything else to say,
22Camila gave him a questioning look. She wanted to complain but was interrupted when she heard everyone clapping. It felt like they had all witnessed what they did and were clapping because she put on a good show for them. But they were clapping because the jazz musician was done performing.It was weird that she didn't hear anything going on when Alejandro's fingers were inside her. She looked at him as he wiped his hands with a tissue dropped for them on the table. He gave Camila a look as he slowly wiped his hands, making sure she saw the wetness of her on the tissue."Why didn't you finish?" she asked him."It's part of the punishment. I will give you the full one when we get home," he replied, which confused Camila.Punishment for what exactly?The host came back to the stage and Alejandro turned serious as this was the part he had been waiting for."First, we are giving an award to the most outstanding businessman. The award goes to Mr. Alejandro Ruiz!" the host announced, and
23"Rule number 7," he said, staring deeply into her eyes. "Don't smile at other men who aren't me," he stated.Camila was still trying to process how fast this was happening, but his hands choked her throat even more."Did I make myself clear? I said I don't want to see you smiling with another man. I own you, Camila. We are married, and you should only give me your smile!" he said even more harshly this time.Camila could hardly breathe. Alejandro was angry, and he was taking it out on her. She felt like she was about to pass out and didn't know how to stop him."Alejandro..." She managed to call his name, tears slipping from her eyes.Alejandro suddenly let go of her, and she began coughing, letting out all the breath he almost took from her. He didn't move; he just stood in one place, watching her."Are you happy now?" She looked at him with red eyes. "I thought you wouldn't stop until you saw me dead," she added, tears slipping from her eyes.Alejandro wanted to touch her face, b
Camila sat in front of the mirror with her eyes closed, allowing her makeup artist to work on her face. There was no other way out; she had to get married. It was for the sake of her sick father, her family business, Perez Innovation Design. She was the only one who could save her family from crumbling after so many years of struggling to stay on top.She wouldn't have minded getting married if only the groom wasn't Alejandro Ruiz, the boy she once rejected during their childhood—a memory that haunted her no matter how hard she tried to forget.She could still see the hurt in his eyes when she told him no. She had liked him, but she was the beautiful Camila Perez, everyone's crush, and he was seen as a disgrace. Camila would always remember the day he knelt, offered her a flower, and asked, "Would you be my date for the Valentine's party?"Camila looked around, surrounded by people on all sides. She could already picture the look of disappointment on her face if she said yes. One wron
"I'm sorry I'm late," Alejandro casually walked towards the altar where Camila stood in her wedding gown, her veil covering her face. "I had to attend some business meetings. I hope I didn't miss my wedding?" He sounded unapologetic as he spoke.Camila gazed at his face carefully. He had changed a lot from how she remembered him. Gone were the chubby cheeks and acne, replaced with a sculpted jawline, smooth skin, and a well-built body, visible underneath his suit.Alejandro had grown taller, probably six foot three, and there was something different about him. He wasn’t that vulnerable boy anymore; she could see it in his cold, serious eyes."Outrageous! How can he attend a business meeting on his own wedding day?""The nerve of him to show up wearing a suit instead of a tuxedo!"People murmured among themselves, but Alejandro didn't seem to care. He just wanted to get the wedding over with."Since the groom is here, we may proceed," the priest said, stepping forward while holding his
3He didn't look the same as he did in the church earlier. His face had gotten darker, his eyes colder, and the energy surrounding him seemed more tense. For some reason, Camila felt like she couldn't breathe.What happened to: "Trust me mom and dad, I will take care of your princess"?"I want you to understand the concept of this marriage," he said, giving her a serious look. "We both know this is a loveless marriage, and I only agreed because I also need your father's help. So, don't expect much from me now that you're here," he told her.Camila wanted to open her mouth and say something, but she couldn't. Instead, she just nodded."Rule number one: Don't touch what isn't yours," he stated.Camila looked confused and angry at the same time. What did he mean by "Don't touch what isn't yours"? It seemed like Mr. Ruiz had forgotten she was also from a rich family, and all this gold didn't faze her. For some reason, she wasn't courageous enough to say what she was thinking."Rule number