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
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
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
Camila was woken by her ringtone. She stretched and squinted her eyes open. Her arms still ached from carrying the heavy luggage last night. The bags were still on the floor where she had dropped them as soon as she got to her room. She reached for her phone on the nightstand.It was Isabella calling. Camila rolled her eyes as she answered."Sis, happy married life! How was your first night at your husband's house? Are you sore? Did you do the deed?" Isabella bombarded her with questions."Isa, give your sister a break. She just got married, and you're already grilling her," Camila heard Sofia's voice, along with the sounds of frying and kitchen clatter.Camila could guess what was going on: her mother was making breakfast, and Isabella was present but glued to her phone. If she wasn't recording for her lifestyle vlogs, she was making calls or video chatting.Camila couldn't help but smile. It had only been a day since she left, but she felt like running back to her family."How are y
Camila came down to join Alejandro for breakfast after dressing up. He was crossing his legs and flipping through his magazine, but the moment he sensed her presence, he stopped and eyed her from head to toe.Camila felt uneasy under his gaze. "Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked, confused and unsure."The real question is, why are you dressed like that?" Alejandro shot back."What do you mean?" Camila looked down at herself. She was wearing a big tee with joggers and her favorite fluffy animal slippers. It was her go-to outfit when she had nothing to do or when she decided to work from home."You can't dress like that if you're going out with me," Alejandro replied."Where are we going, then?" she asked again.Alejandro sighed and closed his magazine, as if her question bored him. "We are going to the company. You're my wife now, and I want you to involve yourself in my business.""I have my own business," Camila replied angrily.Alejandro only smirked. "That isn't why we
Alejandro smirked, suddenly letting go of her hand and reaching for her waist, pulling her close to him. His sudden move made her eyes widen."What the hell, Alejandro!" Camila tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip, leading her toward the company entrance. The security guards at the door immediately opened it for Alejandro."Let me go," Camila whispered through gritted teeth. He held her waist tightly, and everyone was watching."Congratulations, Mr. Ruiz.""Happy married life, Mr. Ruiz.""Congratulations on getting married, Mr. Ruiz."Every employee that passed greeted him, but he didn't respond. He pulled Camila into the elevator before finally letting her go. Inside, she used the small mirror to check her face, fixing her hair and clothes."I told you I don't like being controlled. If you want my respect, you have to respect me too!" she scolded him.Alejandro rolled his eyes. "You don't deserve my respect. I married you to do you a favor. You practically owe me. I bought y
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