Everyone felt overwhelmed, not only by the number of armed people around them but also by the invisible presence of an enemy in the sky.The one most eager to leave Portugal was Alejandro. From his secure phone, he had already ordered a large sum of money to be transferred to the generals and all the immediate personnel handling his security and the private jet.Katherine, his nurse, helped him board the plane along with Isabela. Once he was placed in a seat reclined to resemble a stretcher, Isabela took care of the children, who couldn’t understand what was happening or why they were on another plane.Security was at its highest level, yet Alejandro's instincts told him they were still not safe.He and his family needed to get out of there as quickly as possible to reach Costa Esmeralda.Isabela looked at the children, who were beginning to grow restless.Lucía stared at the plane’s lights through the window, while Mat
The control tower at Santa María Airport had given landing clearance to the private jet with apparent cold calm. But inside, adrenaline made their hearts race like lightning striking the ground. — "What do we do, Commander?" —asked the air traffic controller. — "The usual. Nothing happened here." — "And if they ask questions?" —the operator insisted. — "About what?" —The Commander scanned them with his eyes—. "You don’t know anything… No one here has seen or heard anything!" —His energetic tone left no room for doubt. Nodding, they all returned to their posts, focused on the aircraft’s landing. The roar of the engines of Damián Barragán’s private jet tore through the night like thunder heralding a storm. The landing lights illuminated the Santa María airport runway, sliding over the deserted asphalt as if searching for something… or someone.
Isabela gripped her phone tightly as the sound of the military jet's engine roared in the background. She knew that this call could be her last chance to ensure the safety of her family.Her heart raced, but her voice remained steady and authoritative.— Isabela? —Melina's voice on the line sounded incredulous, but she didn't hesitate to recognize her.— Melina, I need your help. Immediately.There was a brief silence on the line, only interrupted by a sigh from the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs.— Tell me what you need, and I'll make it happen.Isabela closed her eyes for a moment, weighing her words. She couldn’t afford any mistakes or beating around the bush.— I have a military private jet leaving Portugal with an uncertain destination. I can’t make it to Costa Esmeralda; Damián Barragán is on our tail. I need to land in Greece, without being detected by commercial radars or international agencies.
Isabela leaned back in the leather seat of the jet, crossing her legs with the calm of someone who knew everything was under control. She looked out the window at the vastness of the ocean, and a barely noticeable smile formed on her lips. She had played her cards well. They weren’t out of danger yet, but she was close to achieving it.— Estimated time of arrival? — she asked, without taking her eyes off the horizon.— Three hours, boss, — Miguel replied.Isabela nodded and took a sip of sparkling water from her glass. What she had asked Melina for was to ensure her family’s safety—something not easy to achieve, but Melina could make it happen by pulling the right strings. Her mind stayed cool, going over in detail all the things that made the minister a perfect target for blackmail and manipulation, hoping she wouldn’t have to use any of it.She had made a mistake by ordering Vicente Barragán's assassi
While Isabela was on her way back to the safe house Melina had arranged for her, her husband Alejandro woke up with a start.Cold sweat drenched his forehead. The sedative Katherine had given him was beginning to wear off.His body felt heavy, as if trapped in a sea of fog. He tried to move his fingers, but a sharp pain in his right shoulder reminded him that his body was far from being at its best.Katherine sat by his side, her face attentive but serious. She observed him with a professional calm, but Alejandro couldn’t help but notice the tension in her eyes.—Mr. Moretti, how are you feeling? —Katherine said in a low voice.Alejandro tried to focus, but his mind was still caught in a whirlwind of confusing thoughts and senseless images drifting through his head.—Where is Isabela? —he asked immediately, his voice hoarse, commanding answers with evident authority.He searched the room for the face of his wife, who had alwa
Before Isabela arrived at the house where Alejandro was anxiously waiting for her, news of her presence in Greece had already reached the ears of a high-ranking official in the Greek government.Melina, who was still in the hotel’s private lounge, received an unexpected visit.— What are you doing here, Christopoulos? —said Melina, her eyes wide with surprise.— You’re not the only one with ears everywhere, Melina…— What’s that supposed to mean?With an ironic smile, he replied.— I know she’s here… I saw her leave and I know she was with you. — What is she doing here and what did she ask you for? —his once “friendly” gaze turned serious and demanding.— You claimed to have ears everywhere, figure it out yourself… But I recommend you stay away from her.Standing from her seat, Melina walked away without listening to anything else Christopoulos had to say.— Melina…Stopping, the minister
The silence between them became denser than the air in that room. Alejandro kept his gaze fixed on Isabela, as if trying to pull answers from her without the need for words.— I don’t want to fight with you, my love, —Isabela said, using the softest voice she could choose amid the tension that filled the room.— Then don’t force me to, Isabela, —Alejandro responded with tense calm— Not after everything we’ve been through... I don’t deserve to be kept in the dark.Isabela sat up slightly, her thoughts too heavy to remain seated.— It’s not that I want to hide things from you, Alejandro. It’s just… there are certain truths that could change everything. And I’m not sure how you would react if you heard them.A dry, humorless laugh escaped Alejandro’s throat. The way he looked at Isabela made her even more tense, her hands began to tremble slightly.— Isabela, I was between life and death, I lost blood, strength,
Isabela lay beside Alejandro, so close yet careful not to hurt him.But Alejandro missed his wife, so with furtive caresses, he led Isabela into desire.— You know we can’t, my love...— Who said we can’t, my queen?— Alejandro, you’re not well yet and I don’t want to hurt you.— I miss feeling you, my queen. Let me take you to where my imagination is already making love to you.With soft and intense kisses, Alejandro led Isabela to a passionately deep climax. The king possessed his queen, claiming his crown in Isabela’s heart.Christopoulos was no longer someone Alejandro worried about—Isabela belonged to him, and no one could take her away.With her by his side, Alejandro felt strong again, and her love gave him the energy to become the man he used to be before he was hurt.If Christopoulos dared approach his wife, he would be ready to face him.Alejandro Moretti’s certainty that th
In the discussion between the Mikelos sisters, there was an involuntary witness. Nikos.He hadn't meant to overhear, he had returned to the mansion with the intention of talking to Isabela and asking her some questions.His fiancée was in agreement. She was having a good time with Isabela's children. Nikos's fiancée was a school teacher, she loved children and found Mateo and Lucía fascinating.Although he heard everything, he didn't mention a word to anyone about what he'd overheard.That night, he dined with Alejandro, whom he liked very much, and the entire Moretti family. Fífi was not invited to the dinner.The morning light broke through the windows of the house, tinting the linen curtains in golden tones.Nikos had woken up early and was watching the sea horizon from his room. His fiancée was still asleep, but he had spent the night awake, torn between the ghosts of the past and the urgent need to act.Hi
Alejandro had found out about the meeting Isabela had arranged with Andreas’s lawyer. He knew that her decision meant something serious.He feared he had lost her again. And what hurt and worried him the most was that this time, he wasn’t guilty of anything—except loving her madly.The first to walk out of that room was Fifi. Her face said it all.Running into Alejandro in the hallway, she stopped and looked at him straight in the eyes.— You’re a bastard, Alejandro. If you had the guts to choose me instead of daddy’s little princess, all of this would’ve been ours, and her organization would have a very powerful leader…— Now, you’ll have nothing. And do you know why? —That stupid Isabela gave it all to daddy’s bastard… he owns everything.Fifi’s bitterness was spit like venom, thinking no one was listening.But behind a heavy curtain stood Isabela.— I can’t believe I fell in love with a bastard like you. —I w
Isabela walked out of the room with her heart ablaze with fury. She no longer cried, but her chest ached so much it made it hard to breathe.Her so-called calm was merely the prelude to the chaos boiling inside her. Her hands trembled and burned. Everything inside her was rage and disappointment.Once again, her perfect world was crumbling before her. Once again, Dino’s words echoed in her head like a lingering curse.— Alejandro was never truly yours. He’s cheated on you with other women… If you don’t believe me, ask him yourself.— That bastard! I saved myself for one man, and you slept with every woman who spread her legs for you…— But if my sister thinks I’ll let her sleep with Alejandro the way she did with Christopoulos… she’ll have to kill me first.Isabela burned with rage, never had she so deeply wished she didn’t have a heart.Every step she took thundered against the marble floor, an echo
The sky had turned red for Isabela, as if even the heavens could sense the storm about to erupt inside the Mikelos mansion.The fine linen curtains quivered slightly with the sea breeze, and inside Isabela’s room, the air grew thick—almost suffocating.Everything in the house seemed calm, but not in Isabela’s mind.She remained still for a few seconds, her fingers gripping the back of the chair, as if letting go would make her crumble entirely.Alejandro’s words hung in the air, spoken with that tone—part guilt, part resignation—he used when he knew he could no longer hide the truth.— “Fífi... always came after me, Isabela. Even before you and I got married.”Time seemed to freeze at that confession.Isabela blinked slowly, as if her body resisted processing everything she had just heard.Alejandro had confessed all the secrets hidden behind her sister’s hypocritical gaze.It made her burn wi
Alejandro had enjoyed his stroll along the turquoise sea with the sound of his children’s laughter as music to his ears.When they reached the dock, Mateo said:— Dad, do you think Aunt Fífi will like me?— Of course she will, champ. How could she not like you? You're the spitting image of your father.Mateo started laughing, while Lucía, tired from the trip, slept in Alejandro's arms.Heading to his children’s rooms, he left them in the care of their nannies.Before he left, his son Mateo asked:— Are you going to see Aunt Fífi?— Not now, champ. I have to take care of a few things. I’ll see her at dinner. But I think your mom will bring her by so you can meet in a few minutes.— Then I’m going to change my clothes. – said Mateo, excited.Alejandro ruffled his son’s hair.— Dazzle her. You’re a Moretti, just as handsome as your father.He used to joke with his son, seeing him
Fífi had won. Yannick’s mother would not be pleased to see her beloved son marry her. And that would be her first victory.— "It’s a beautiful engagement ring, darling," she said, thrilled.— "No more than you deserve, my beloved Fífi." Yannick was happier than he had ever been. He had married the mother of his twin children.Fífi Mikelos was a young, stunningly beautiful, and overwhelmingly sensual woman. And he was addicted to her. Though his parents would be furious when they found out he had married Fífi, Yannick had no intention of losing her.She was his goddess, his weakness, and his need.After slipping the engagement ring on her finger, Yannick showed her the wedding rings.— "Darling, the minister is waiting for us in the chapel in an hour... then, my love, I’ll let you go, knowing you’ll return to me with our children."Radiant with happiness, Fífi threw herself into Yannick’s arms, hanging from
Isabela's sister couldn’t fall asleep, even though it was three in the morning and she felt exhausted.Because Isabela’s voice had reopened old wounds. One in particular was deeper than the rest. One that neither time, nor pride, nor the miles between them could heal.And deep inside, a soft but persistent anger whispered:— You took everything from me. Dad's love. Alejandro’s love. You kept everything I ever longed for.She rubbed her face, as if she could wipe the past away with her hands. But the tears came without permission.Tears from an old wound that still oozed pain and rage.And now that Isabela was asking her to return, that wound felt more alive than ever.— To go back to my father’s house. To the land where I left behind so many memories...— To relive the crime scene.— I don’t know if I want justice or if I just want to watch Isabela’s world burn.— To see her happy with Alejandro… I don’t know
The sea breeze caressed the windows of the Mikelos mansion, just like in the days when Andreas Mikelos would walk through it with his firm and proud stride.His memory could still be felt in every corner of the house, in the private dock where his yachts lay as well cared for as when he was alive.Mateo and Lucía had gone out a few times to sail on the turquoise sea in the yacht that had once been their grandfather Andreas’s favorite.Alejandro was enjoying a couple of days of peace and intense passion with his wife. Especially since Christopoulos had vanished from the face of the earth thanks to Isabela's strategy.But the game was not over yet. Even though he wanted to return to his homeland, Alejandro understood that his queen wanted to knock a few crowns off the heads of the traitors who had taken advantage of Andreas’s death.— Boss…— What is it, Ramiro? — Alejandro replied, lying down on the soft, fresh
The barrel of the gun rested against his right temple like a cold caress.Christopoulos was breathing heavily, his hand trembling, while his heart pounded like a drum in his chest. Giving the order to kill someone was very different from seeing oneself on the other side of the gun.His office was dimly lit, and the echo of his own misery drilled into his ears. He had ordered everyone in his mansion to leave.No one was to see him fall. Not his servants, not his lover, not his men. Not even those who still owed him loyalty… if he had any left.—This is the end, Christopoulos—he said to himself, whispering his sentence to the air with a hollow laugh—. I never thought I’d see myself in this situation. Me, the great Christopoulos… This was impossible.His hands trembled. His index finger stroked the trigger with the familiarity of someone who had given many death orders… but never his own.When he finally gathered