The sharp clatter of drawers and the shuffle of fabric pulled me from sleep. My eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, I was disoriented, unsure if I was still dreaming. But the sound of hushed voices and the unmistakable sensation of someone rifling through my things jolted me awake.“What the hell?” I sat up abruptly, my voice groggy but firm.The sight that greeted me was surreal. Two maids were rummaging through my dresser, tossing garments and accessories onto the floor as if they were searching for something. Another maid was bent over my bedside table, going through my jewelry box.“Excuse me! What do you think you’re doing?” I snapped, throwing off the covers and scrambling out of bed.The maids didn’t even look at me. They continued their frantic search, their faces blank and determined, as though I wasn’t even there.“Hey!” I shouted, stepping closer and pulling one of them away from my dresser. “I’m talking to you! What is going on here?”Still, none of them answered. Pa
“Bridgette,” he said, striding toward me. “I just ran into my mother in the hall. What the hell happened?”I took a shaky breath, gesturing to the mess around us. “Your mother decided to accuse me of stealing her emerald necklace. She and her maids tore my room apart and, conveniently, found it in my wardrobe.”Sevi’s jaw tightened, his usually soft brown eyes hardening. “She what?”I nodded, crossing my arms. “She’s trying to frame me, Sevi. I don’t know why, but she clearly wants me out of this house—and out of your life.”Sevi ran a hand through his hair, muttering a curse under his breath. “I’ll talk to her. This is ridiculous.”“Don’t bother,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended. “She’s not going to listen to you. She’s made up her mind about me, and nothing you say will change that.”“Then I’ll make her listen,” Sevi said firmly. He reached for my hand, his touch grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected. “You’re not going through this alone, Bridgette. I’m on your side.”I l
The world always had its cruel sense of timing.I sat on the bench at the park, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the scene. The air was fresh, the sound of distant birds chirping, and the serenity of it all contrasted sharply with the storm raging in my mind.How did Thiago always seem to find us? No matter where Sevi and I went, no matter how careful we tried to be, Thiago always appeared, as though he had some sixth sense that told him exactly where to intrude. It wasn’t just unsettling—it was maddening.“Are you okay?” Sevi asked, breaking my train of thought.I looked over at him, his concerned expression softening the sharp edges of my frustration. “I’m fine,” I lied.He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.We sat in companionable silence for a moment, the park bustling quietly around us. But that peace was shattered when I spotted a figure approaching in the distance, his tall frame and determined stride unmistakable.Thiago.“Oh, great,” I muttered under my breath.
The silence in Sevi’s car was deafening as we drove back to the condo unit. The argument at the park lingered like smoke in the air—thick, clinging, and suffocating. Sevi gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles white against the leather, while I stared out the window, my mind racing with a storm of emotions I couldn’t quite name.Thiago’s words echoed in my head: “Do you still love me?”It wasn’t supposed to be this complicated. Sevi and I had agreed to this arrangement to protect him from his father’s meddling, but now? Now, everything felt tangled. Thiago’s presence, his relentless persistence, had shaken whatever fragile balance I thought I had.“We need to talk,” Sevi said, breaking the silence.I turned to look at him, his profile taut with tension. “About what?”“About him.” Sevi’s voice was sharp, almost accusatory.I sighed. “Sevi, I—”“Don’t,” he interrupted, glancing at me briefly before focusing back on the road. “Don’t defend him. Not after what he pulled today.”“I’m not
The weight of the anonymous message lingered with me the entire day. My mind kept cycling through the possibilities: Who would want to warn me, and why? Was it connected to Thiago, Sevi, or someone else entirely?Sevi was equally unsettled, though he tried to mask it. After our exchange about the message, he stayed unusually close, almost as if he feared leaving me alone would invite disaster. It was sweet, but it also heightened my anxiety. I needed to think clearly, and his protectiveness, while appreciated, was starting to feel suffocating.By mid-afternoon, I excused myself to the bedroom under the pretense of needing rest. As soon as I closed the door, I pulled out my phone and stared at the anonymous message again.“Be careful who you trust.”It felt like a riddle with no answer. If this was about the rumors of the fake engagement, it was already too late for caution. That cat was out of the bag. If it was about Thiago… well, that only made things more complicated.My finger hov
The next morning came too quickly. Sleep had been elusive, leaving me staring at the cracks of dawn through the window. Thiago’s words replayed endlessly in my mind. I hated how easily he could plant doubt, how even now, his voice lingered like a shadow.Sevi was already up, sitting at the kitchen island with a cup of coffee and his laptop. His hair was slightly disheveled, and he wore a focused expression as he scrolled through something on the screen.“Morning,” I said, my voice raspier than I expected.He glanced up and immediately softened. “Morning. You look like you didn’t sleep.”“Because I didn’t.” I poured myself a mug of coffee, letting the warmth soothe my nerves.“Anything on your mind, or should I guess?” he asked, closing his laptop.I hesitated. “Do you think my father would go to such lengths just to get me back under his control?”Sevi exhaled sharply. “I don’t know your father like Thiago does, but if what Thiago said is true, then yes. It sounds like something he’d
I clutched the note tighter, its cryptic message echoing in my thoughts."You’re not safe with them. Watch your back."The words were scrawled in hurried, jagged handwriting, almost as though the author had been trembling while writing.Who could have left it? And why?Sevi’s lighthearted voice floated in from the kitchen, humming a melody as he prepared breakfast. Thiago’s deep timbre echoed from the hallway as he finished a phone call, his tone sharp and commanding. The tension between the two men had escalated so much that I felt like I was walking on eggshells around them.And now this?The note had thrown me into a new spiral of doubt.I stuffed it into the pocket of my cardigan and headed toward the kitchen. I needed answers, but more than that, I needed to stay calm.“Morning,” Sevi greeted me with a warm smile. His carefree demeanor was in stark contrast to the chaos unraveling in my mind. “Hungry? I made pancakes.”“Thanks,” I muttered, forcing a smile.Thiago appeared moment
The house was eerily quiet when we returned. The confrontation in the park left a lingering tension that none of us could shake off. Sevi stormed to his room without a word, and Thiago, who looked more somber than usual, stayed behind in the living room, his jaw tight as if suppressing a storm of emotions.I stood at the base of the stairs, my heart thudding in my chest. That note. Those men. Thiago’s cryptic warnings. It all felt like a puzzle with missing pieces, and I was desperate to figure out what it all meant.But right now, I was stuck in this suffocating mansion, surrounded by tension and unanswered questions.I climbed the stairs to my room, my thoughts spiraling. Once inside, I locked the door behind me. I needed time to think, to process everything.Slipping my hand into my pocket, I pulled out the note again, my fingers trembling. The words seemed darker now, more menacing in the dim light of my room."You’re not safe with them. Watch your back."Who had written it? And h
I took a step back, my breath coming too fast. I needed space. Air. Something solid to hold on to, but all I had were shifting lies.Santiago watched me, his smirk fading into something more dangerous—anticipation. Like he was waiting for me to break.I wouldn’t give him that.I forced my voice steady. “You don’t get to decide for me.”Santiago sighed, almost bored. “You think you have a choice?” He gestured lazily with the gun. “You were born into this world, hija. You don’t just walk away from it.”Victor stepped forward, his hand subtly shifting toward his jacket. “She’s not you, Santiago.”Santiago laughed. “And you still think you can save her?” His amusement vanished in a blink. “I’m giving her a way out. If she’s smart, she’ll take it.”My heart pounded. “And if I don’t?”His expression darkened. “Then you’ll regret it.”A flicker of movement. A breath of warning.And then Victor lunged.I barely had time to react before he was on Santiago, knocking the gun aside. A shot rang o
The old pier stretched before me, silent except for the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the wooden posts. A single lamplight flickered above, casting long shadows across the damp planks. My heart pounded as I scanned the area, my breath visible in the night air.I checked my phone again. Midnight. I was a few minutes early, but whoever had sent the message wasn’t here yet.Or maybe they were watching.A gust of wind sent a shiver down my spine. I crossed my arms, not just against the cold, but against the gnawing uncertainty clawing at my insides. This could be a trap. Thiago could have sent the message, luring me here to force a conversation I wasn’t ready for. Or worse—someone else, someone more dangerous, could be behind it.I turned, about to leave, when I heard footsteps. Slow. Measured.I spun back, my pulse skyrocketing as a shadow emerged from the darkness.It wasn’t Thiago.Victor.His sharp features were cast in half-light, his expression unreadable as he stepped towar
Thiago kissed me like he was trying to brand himself into my soul—like he could erase every doubt, every betrayal, with the heat of his mouth.And for a moment, I let him.For a moment, I kissed him back, gripping his shirt like it could anchor me to something real.But reality crashed in just as fast.I shoved him away, breathless, my lips still tingling from the force of him.His chest rose and fell, his dark eyes locked onto mine with a heat that burned straight through me.“No,” I said, voice hoarse.Thiago’s jaw tightened. “Bridgette—”“No,” I repeated, stepping back. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to lie to me, manipulate me, and then kiss me like I’m supposed to forget everything.”His hands curled into fists at his sides. “I wasn’t lying to you.”“Really?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Then why do I feel like I just walked into a trap?”Thiago exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this.”I crossed my arms.
I forced myself to meet Santiago’s gaze, schooling my expression into something unreadable. If he was here, breaking into my penthouse in the middle of the night, it wasn’t just to chat.He wants something.I wasn’t going to give it to him.“You have about ten seconds to explain why you’re here before I call security,” I said, gripping the wine bottle so tightly my knuckles ached.Santiago smirked, the kind of lazy, self-assured grin that made my stomach twist. He took a slow step forward, completely unfazed by my threat. “Security?” he mused. “Mmm… You could call them. But we both know they won’t get here in time, mi amor.”His voice was smooth, practiced, laced with the kind of confidence that came from knowing he held all the cards.I refused to let him see the flicker of unease tightening in my chest.“I don’t have time for games, Santiago.”“I know,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Which is why I’ll get to the point.”In one fluid motion, he reached inside his suit jacket. I
His lips moved against mine with a slow, deliberate hunger, as if he was savoring every second of my surrender. I should have pushed him away. I should have turned and walked out of this penthouse, out of his life, like I swore I would.But the second his hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, every ounce of resistance melted away.Thiago knew my body too well. He knew exactly how to unravel me with a single touch, how to make me forget logic and consequences. His fingers trailed down my spine, sending a shiver through me, his kiss deepening until I was breathless.I tore away, gasping, my palms flat against his chest. “Thiago—”His forehead rested against mine, his breathing just as uneven. “Don’t tell me you don’t want this.”My fingers curled into his shirt, torn between desire and the storm raging in my mind. “It’s not about what I want.”He exhaled, a humorless chuckle escaping him. “Then what is it about, Wifey?”That nickname. The way it rolled off his tongue like a promise
The hallway felt too small, too suffocating with both men standing there—Victor rigid with frustration, Thiago exuding that quiet, commanding presence that had always been my undoing.I should tell him to leave. I should push past this moment and pretend my heart wasn’t beating too fast, that I wasn’t already losing this battle.But I didn’t.Instead, I met Thiago’s gaze head-on. “What do you want?”He tilted his head slightly, studying me, before stepping closer. Too close. The scent of him—expensive cologne, faint whiskey, something distinctly him—wrapped around me like a noose.Victor shifted beside me, his tension palpable. “You’re wasting your time, Bermudez. She’s done with whatever game you’re playing.”Thiago let out a quiet chuckle, his eyes never leaving mine. “That so?” His fingers twitched at his side, like he was resisting the urge to touch me. “Because she hasn’t told me to leave yet.”Damn him.Victor exhaled sharply. “Bridgette.” His voice was low, a warning.I swallow
The silence stretched between us, thick with words left unsaid. Victor's gaze remained steady, unwavering, as if he could will me into understanding the danger I was walking into. Maybe he could see the fracture lines forming beneath my skin, the way I was slowly unraveling under the weight of my own choices.But what choice did I have? Thiago was a shadow I couldn’t outrun. No matter how far I went, how fiercely I tried to carve out a life separate from him, he was always there. And worst of all, some part of me still wanted him to be.I exhaled sharply, shoving past Victor toward the kitchen, needing space—needing something to ground me before I lost myself completely in this never-ending push and pull. I reached for the half-empty wine bottle on the counter and poured myself a glass. My hand trembled slightly as I took a sip, the bitter liquid burning down my throat.Victor followed but didn’t say anything right away. He just leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest,
The silence between Victor and me stretched, taut and suffocating. He watched me like I was a puzzle he had almost solved but was too frustrated to finish.“Bridge,” he finally said, his voice softer now. “You don’t have to do this alone. You know that, right?”I swallowed against the lump in my throat. Victor had always been my safety net, the one person who saw the mess I was and still chose to stand by me. But even he couldn’t save me from myself.I turned away, rubbing my arms as though that could shake off the cold creeping into my bones. “I’m tired, Vic. Can we just—can we not do this tonight?”His eyes darkened, but he nodded once, reluctant. “Fine. But this isn’t over.”With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him. I waited, standing frozen in place until I heard his footsteps fade down the hallway. Then, with a shaky breath, I turned and pressed my forehead against the door, letting my eyes close.Not five minutes later, my phone vibrated on the counter.I didn’t wan
The weight of Lucia’s words lingered long after she was gone, settling over me like an unwelcome shroud. The air in my apartment felt heavier, thick with the ghost of Thiago’s presence.I set the wine glass down with a soft clink, pressing my fingers against my temples. My head throbbed, not from the alcohol but from the war waging inside me. Thiago was a storm—unrelenting, consuming, and I was the fool who kept stepping into the rain without an umbrella.I forced myself to move, needing to shake off the static thrumming in my veins. One step, then another, until I was standing before my bedroom mirror. The woman staring back at me looked like a stranger. There was defiance in her eyes, yes, but beneath it, something else lurked—uncertainty.My gaze dropped to the ring, still snug on my finger. I could almost feel the phantom trace of Thiago’s touch lingering there. My hands curled into fists. I should take it off. I should have done it the second he walked out that door.With a sharp