24RUIZ ROYAL ESTATES••••Alejandro was busy with his phone when someone knocked on the door and entered. It was a well-dressed woman."Mr. Alejandro, Mr. Fernando is here to see you," she informed him."Let him in," Alejandro sighed. It wasn't long before Fernando barged in."So now your friend has to make an appointment before he sees you?" Fernando casually sat on the swivel chair opposite Alejandro."What do you want?" Alejandro asked tiredly."What do you mean? I came to check up on a good friend," Fernando twitched his lips and rolled his swivel chair around."Do you redesign your office every day?" he asked while looking around. Then he picked up a photo stand on the table. It was an unaware picture of Camila."Wow, what a beautiful picture. Does she know you have this with you?" Fernando admired the picture."Stop touching my property!" Alejandro's vein was popping."You call your wife your property?" Fernando looked amused."She always has been!" Alejandro yanked the picture
25Camila looked stunned as she moved closer. She took a moment to touch the flowers gently, making sure they weren't fake and wouldn’t explode any second now. But they were real.She picked up the ruby chocolate, her favorite, and looked at it with mixed emotions as she was suddenly taken back to eight years ago. Ruby chocolate had always been her favorite, but her family had expected her to be perfect, limiting her from eating it. Alejandro had worked twice as hard just to get it for her back then."Do you want me to get you bigger flowers or another flavor of chocolate? You can tell me," Camila turned back to the familiar voice. Alejandro was standing behind her, looking like he had just gotten back from work."Why?" was all Camila could manage to ask."You don't want it?" He looked worried."Why are you giving me gifts, Alejandro?" Camila repeated, noticing his breath hitch. He was struggling to apologize, and she knew it."Don't push it. Can you not make things hard for me and ju
"Why are you dressed like that?" he asked with a gloomy expression."Can we not do this now, please?" Camila tiredly sat down, dragging some pancakes towards her, but she couldn't eat."Why are you not eating?" He questioned, concern evident on his face."I'm not hungry," Camila mumbled."You're never not hungry in the morning," he called her bluff."And since when do you care?" Camila looked annoyed."Tell me what you want to eat," Alejandro ordered."Nothing," Camila sighed."You think I will really let you leave here with nothing in your stomach? Do you need me to ask the maids to make fresh pancakes?" he kept insisting."It's not the pancakes. When I'm in my time of the month, I don't really crave food. My stomach is torturing me right now, so can you not!" Camila snapped, standing up and leaving the dining room.Alejandro stayed quiet for a while before calling the head maid over."Yes, Mr. Ruiz?" Lucy respectfully approached him."What do you think my wife would eat while she's
Alejandro was seated in his car, on the way back to the mansion, when he noticed a treats shop. The first thing that came to his mind was Camila and how her face brightens whenever she sees chocolate."Stop here," he ordered his driver, Peter.Peter stopped the car, looking confused as he watched Alejandro open the car door and step out, heading toward the treats store."What is wrong with him?" Peter asked himself.Alejandro stepped into the store, feeling uncomfortable with how small the place was compared to the supermarkets he was used to shopping in."Good evening, sir. We were about to close," the saleswoman, who looked about 40, approached him with a polite smile. "But don’t worry, I can help you. Are you looking for something for your wife, your mom, or your sister?" she asked briskly."Brett, get a chair for our customer," she shouted. It was the first time a rich man had walked into their little store, and she didn’t want to scare him away."There’s no need," Alejandro stopp
28Camila couldn’t resist throwing a pillow at him. Alejandro caught the pillow and tossed them aside."Don't give me that face, you heard what grandpa said" He smirked."Why are you so raw?" Camila asked, squeezing her face as she made her way to the dining room for dinner.Alejandro helplessly shook his head and followed her. It was confirmed. Teasing her was the best experience life had ever given him and he won't be stopping anytime soon.•••••••••••••••The next morning, Camila was woken up by little noises before someone knocked on her door and entered.It was Daniela, Alejandro’s mom, and she came with a flask."My mother called me this morning. She said she spoke to you last night and you were on your period. She also said Alejandro has been spoiling you with sweet treats," she twitched her lips as she walked in.Camila smiled shyly."I brought you ginger soup. It’s really delicious and helps reduce cramps. I make sure my daughter takes this every time she’s on her period, and
29NEXT DAY, RUIZ ROYAL ESTATE •••" Good morning, Mr. Ruiz!" Welcome, Mr. Ruiz!" Hope you had a wonderful night, Mr. Ruiz!Alejandro arrived at the company without Camila. Her cramps had worsened, so he left her at home with the maids to look after her."Good morning, boss," Diego greeted, taking Alejandro's briefcase and instructing an employee to deliver it to the office."The members are waiting in the boardroom. You're late for the first time. I hope everything is alright at home?" Diego asked worriedly as they walked to the meeting room.About ten wealthy-looking clients were seated, each with a bottle of water on their desks, waiting for Alejandro to arrive."My apologies for being late today. My wife is not in the best of health," he said casually, taking his seat at the head of the table."We hope she gets better soon, Mr. Alejandro. Your wife is such a beauty to fall ill," a male client commented, earning a glare from Alejandro."You don't seem serious about this meeting,
30"Are you planning to take your wife out?" Diego asked, immediately regretting it under Alejandro's sharp gaze."Forgive me, boss. I'm on it right now," Diego respectfully bowed and left the office."What did Mr. Alejandro tell you to do?" Sandra asked, sneaking up behind Diego."I don't think you've learned your lesson. Alejandro was kind not to fire you, so if I were you, I wouldn't be all up in his business," Diego scoffed as he walked to his office.Sandra only rolled her eyes. She had been on suspension and was back today but didn't find Camila in the office. The employees said Alejandro had made her stay home because she wasn't feeling well."That bitch," she cursed, clenching her fist as she thought of Camila and her annoying face."No one double-crosses me and thinks they can get away freely. When I'm done with you, even Alejandro won't be able to save you," she scoffed before returning to her office.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••BRIARWOOD SCHOOL •••The election was over, an
31Camila admired herself in the mirror. She was wearing a sleeveless silk lavender gown that hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, and her makeup was simple but stunning.She looked good enough to make Alejandro lose his mind, but she quickly shook off the thought, convincing herself this wasn't about what Alejandro thought.There was a knock on her door, and she went to answer it. It was Peter, looking stunned. Her beauty always left him speechless, but after what happened last time, he knew better than to compliment her."Mr. Ruiz said I should come get you," he said, clearing his throat to distract himself from the breathtaking sight."He's not coming home?" Sadness flashed through Camila's eyes; she had hoped he would pick her up himself."He had to attend to something urgently," Peter informed her."Oh," Camila murmured. Maybe she was misinterpreting things; perhaps his work still took precedence over her."Let's go then," she mumbled and left the
99 (Final)SOME DAYS LATER: RUIZ ROYAL ESTATE**Alejandro sat at his desk, engrossed in his work, ignoring the persistent knocking on his office door. Finally, Diego stepped in."Good afternoon, boss. I hope you had a good night," Diego greeted, holding an envelope in his hand. "I won’t take up much of your time. I just came to drop this."Diego placed the letter on Alejandro’s desk."I promised that once I helped take Rafael down, I’d leave right away. Now that I’m finally reunited with my family, I—""Look at these three dining options and tell me which one looks best," Alejandro interrupted, turning his laptop toward Diego.Diego blinked in confusion. Was Alejandro not even listening to him? He leaned closer to inspect the screen."They all look great, but this one in the middle stands out," Diego replied, pointing."Good. I want you to book it for tonight," Alejandro ordered, his tone dismissive."But, sir—" Diego started to protest, but Alejandro cut him off with a stern look."Y
98Alejandro paced back and forth in the hospital hallway, his anxiety growing with each passing second as he waited for the doctor to emerge from Camila's ward."You should sit, Alejandro. She's going to be fine," Sofia said softly, her voice filled with reassurance.He glanced at her but didn’t reply. Just then, the door creaked open, and the doctor stepped out. Alejandro’s face lit up with a mix of worry and hope."Mr. Alejandro Ruiz," the doctor called."What's wrong with Camila, Doctor?" Alejandro asked, his voice laced with panic."She's going to be a mother, and you're going to be a father. She's four and a half weeks pregnant," the doctor announced with a warm smile.Alejandro froze."What? Can we see her?" Isabella asked eagerly."She's sleeping right now, but you can visit her once she wakes up," the doctor replied before walking away.Isabella and Sofia hugged each other joyfully, their faces glowing with happiness. They turned to Alejandro, who still looked stunned."Come
97SOME DAYS LATERThe alarm blared endlessly, and to Camila, it sounded like wedding bells. But instead of excitement, it brought a heavy sense of dread—a nightmare she wished she could wake up from.“Miss, it’s time,” the maid said softly, gently tapping her shoulder.Camila groggily opened her eyes. A wedding gown stood prominently on a mannequin, and hairstylists and makeup artists were already bustling in the room, preparing for the day.“Congratulations, ma’am, you’re getting married today,” they greeted her in unison. She forced a smile in response, though her heart weighed heavily.Dragging herself to the shower, Camila let the water cascade over her. She tried to gather her thoughts but couldn’t stop the questions swirling in her mind. How did it come to this? How did everything go so wrong?Realizing she had been in the bathroom longer than expected, she quickly turned off the shower and wrapped herself in a robe. As she stepped out, the room was empty—the dressers had gone.
96"Yes, I’m pregnant, and I came here to see George’s family. It’s a long story, Mom. Please, let me explain later," Lucia replied, cutting the call despite her mother’s protests.She met George, who was chatting with his mother."Lucia, my dear, you’ve been standing for a while. Would you like to sit?" Juliana asked with her attractive Polish accent."I’m good," Lucia replied."No, dear, please sit," Juliana insisted, guiding Lucia to a chair. "Pani Karolina, please bring Lucia some tea," she instructed, and Karolina appeared moments later with a steaming cup of tea."Hang in there, Mrs. Lucia Williams. The food will be ready in a moment," Karolina said kindly."Thank you," Lucia smiled and turned to face George."Darling, can I talk to you for a second?" she asked."Sure, I’ll excuse you both," Juliana said, stepping away.George sat beside Lucia. "Honey, what’s the matter?" he asked."My friend Camila isn’t doing well. Her family is being held captive by Rafael Marcus, and she’s g
95FEW DAYS LATER**A few days had passed, and a lot had happened. Alejandro left Camila with Rafael and returned to his company. The place was desolate; nearly everyone had resigned, and he had lost most of his contracts but couldn't do anything about it.It was the usual, uneventful day. Alejandro stood in front of his window, staring into nothingness. The company was empty. He had no idea where to start or how to convince anyone to return, but that wasn't what was truly bothering him.He still couldn't believe he wasn't with Camila. He had signed the divorce papers and left her with Rafael. Even now, he still questioned whether he had made the right decision. He wasn't a fool; he knew why she said what she did. Rafael probably had her family under his control in some way, and Alejandro wouldn't be selfish enough to let him hurt them."Boss," a familiar voice called. Alejandro didn’t bother turning to look at the person."You should be lucky I haven’t had you arrested yet you still
94"Is she really worth it, Alejandro? Everything you’ve worked so hard for—your company—does it mean more to you than her?"Alejandro glanced at Camila, then at the documents, torn between two impossible choices."You're wrong, Rafael! I didn’t just think about it—I worked hard for that company. I deserve everything. Every damn thing!" Alejandro yelled, his eyes reddening with rage."No, you didn’t, you bastard! Everything belongs to me! Grandpa was supposed to give it all to me, but I don’t know why you came along and ruined everything!" Rafael shouted, then turned to Camila."He didn’t tell you much, did he? He never told you how he barged into my life, stole the affection of my family, and convinced them to change the will," Rafael said angrily."I didn’t have anyone change anything!" Alejandro shot back. "Everything happened because apparently, everyone was okay with it. I did more good for your family than you’ll ever admit."Even though Camila was gagged, her confused and curio
93Camila felt her head pounding as she struggled to open her eyes. She realized she couldn’t move her hands or legs and felt an overwhelming sense of discomfort. Her eyes finally fluttered open, and her heart nearly stopped.She was tied to a chair, positioned dangerously close to the edge of a steep cliff. Before her, several men knelt on the ground, their faces familiar from earlier."Baby, you're awake," Rafael said, stepping closer to her. He gently touched her face, his fingers brushing the bruise beneath her eye."Does it hurt?" he asked softly.Camila remained silent, too terrified to respond, her mind racing to guess what Rafael had planned."Which one of these men hit you?" Rafael asked, his tone icy as his gaze shifted to the men.Camila hesitated, her eyes slowly scanning the group. The man in the middle looked petrified, but she reluctantly pointed at him.Rafael smiled, ruffling her hair affectionately before grabbing the man by his collar and yanking him to his feet."W
92 George turned, his face lighting up with a mixture of joy and worry.“Baby,” he greeted, walking over and giving her a quick peck on the lips.Perri scoffed audibly and looked away.“Why are you up so early?” George asked, concern lacing his voice.“I’m not that early,” Lucia said, pouting slightly.“You should still be in bed, resting like the princess you are,” he said, touching her stomach gently. “Are you hungry?”“You’ve been feeding me so much lately, George. I might lose myself,” she teased.George smiled. “You could never lose yourself in my eyes. Look at your skin—you’re glowing already,” he said, leading her to the kitchen.“So, what are you up to?” Lucia asked as they entered.George sighed, setting water to boil. “I’ve been thinking about what your dad said—about whether I can provide for you and the baby—and I’ve made a decision.”“What decision?” she asked curiously.“I’ve always wanted to be a chef, and I’ve been saving for years. I’m planning to open a small roads
91 THERESA'S HOUSE***“Careful,” George said, holding Lucia’s hand as she stepped out of the taxi.“I’m fine, George. I can manage,” Lucia replied, smiling softly. Since discovering her pregnancy, George had been overly protective, not even letting her handle simple tasks.As they entered the house, George began, “Mom, we’re—” but stopped abruptly when he saw Lucia’s father seated on the couch. Instinctively, he positioned himself in front of her.Mr. Landon smirked. “Hiding my daughter from me, George? You didn’t think I’d find you?”“I’m not going anywhere with you, Dad. I’m surviving just fine without you,” Lucia said through clenched teeth.“Surviving? Look at yourself, Lucia! Your clothes, your skin—you’re barely holding on,” Mr. Landon retorted, disgusted.“I don’t care! I look better than ever, and I’m staying here,” Lucia snapped, standing her ground.“You don’t belong here, Lucia. It’s not too late to come back home—where you belong,” Mr. Landon insisted.“If she believes st