As Thiago stepped out of the room, leaving me alone on the bed, the lingering warmth of our interrupted encounter slowly began to dissipate, replaced by a cold, creeping sense of unease. I couldn’t just lie there, waiting for him to return. The nagging questions in my mind refused to be silenced, and I knew I needed answers.I pulled on a robe and quietly followed Thiago, the soft padding of my feet on the floor the only sound in the otherwise silent house. His voice, low and controlled, drifted from his study, where the door was slightly ajar. I hesitated, not wanting to eavesdrop, but my curiosity got the better of me.“This had better be important,” I heard him say, his tone clipped and authoritative. There was a pause as the person on the other end spoke, and I strained to hear, catching only a few scattered words—“Miami,” “security breach,” “target.” My heart skipped a beat, my breath catching in my throat. Was this about me?Thiago’s response was curt, “I want a full report
It had been several days since we returned from the Maldives, and yet, something felt off. I couldn’t quite place it, but the unease gnawed at me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Every morning, I woke up alone, and it had become disturbingly routine. Thiago was always gone by the time I opened my eyes. No more lazy mornings watching him get dressed in front of me, no stolen kisses before he left for work. Just an empty bed and an unsettling quiet.I tried to tell myself it wasn’t a big deal—maybe he was busy, handling whatever threat he mentioned that night after the phone call. But every time I woke up to the cool side of the bed where Thiago should’ve been, the knot in my stomach tightened. What could he possibly be doing so early in the mornings that he couldn’t share with me? It wasn’t like him to be secretive—at least, not with me.Shaking off the thought, I refocused on my work. I had responsibilities at the company, and I couldn't let my concerns with Thiago interfere with t
The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings, emails, and phone calls, but no matter how hard I tried to immerse myself in work, I couldn’t shake the nagging thoughts about Thiago. His absence in the mornings, the phone call that interrupted our intimate moment, the vague warning about the people pursuing us—it all played on a loop in my mind.That night, I tried to stay up later than usual, hoping to catch Thiago when he got home. I settled into the living room with a glass of wine, pretending to read, but my ears were attuned to every sound. The clock ticked steadily, each minute feeling like an eternity. Finally, I heard the front door click open. My heart leaped in my chest as Thiago stepped inside, his tall frame silhouetted in the dim light. He looked exhausted, his shirt slightly rumpled, and the tension in his shoulders made it clear that whatever he’d been dealing with had taken its toll.He froze when he saw me, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. “You’re sti
The tension between Thiago and me hung in the air like a storm about to break. After his confession, everything felt different, darker, as if the walls of our world were closing in. I couldn’t shake the fear that now gnawed at me, not only for myself but for the man I had committed to stand beside. The next few days were strained. Thiago was often absent, sometimes leaving in the middle of the night, always returning with the same grim look on his face, as if he had been fighting shadows I couldn’t see. I busied myself with work, diving into projects with a ferocity that surprised even Lucia and Marcus, but no amount of distractions could keep me from wondering what Thiago was up to—or what dangers were closing in.It wasn’t until one night, after another long, tense day, that things came to a head.I was sitting at the dinner table, pushing food around my plate when Thiago walked in, his face drawn, eyes dark with whatever burdens he had been carrying. He sat down across from me, n
The next few days after Thiago’s revelation felt like I was living in a haze.My father—my own flesh and blood—was not just a controlling figure in my life, but someone who had been playing a dangerous game for years, one I was now caught in the middle of. Every moment I was awake, my mind raced, trying to make sense of the betrayal, wondering how I had missed it. The nights were worse. Sleep came in fits, haunted by dreams where my father’s face blurred with the faceless enemies Thiago had warned me about.Thiago was consumed by his secret war. He still left before dawn, his absences gnawing at me. I knew he was trying to protect me, but it felt like we were living in two different worlds, worlds that were threatening to collide.On a particularly cold Miami morning, I woke up alone again. The side of the bed where Thiago slept was cold, as if he had been gone for hours. I stared at the empty space, feeling the growing void between us. What was he doing every morning? Who was he m
Following that, Thiago and I went on to start with our plan to destroy my father and the Martinez Corp. However, doing that, I know, wouldn’t be an easy path.it wasn’t an easy task for me, most especially, since everything must begin with me trying to have full trust and power of Thiago’s company. However, doing that seemed to be like walking in a den of fire waiting to burned alive for trying to reach the top. And I could very well see that now while I hold the company’s monthly shareholder and board meeting.The boardroom felt suffocating, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. The air was filled with the weight of judgment, every pair of eyes in the room fixed on me like vultures circling their prey. I sat at the head of the table, my fingers tracing the edge of the polished wood, my heart pounding beneath the calm exterior I was trying so hard to maintain.Thiago wasn’t here to protect me this time. This fight was mine."Ms. Bridgette," one of the older board member
The evening was still, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound filling the grand dining room. I sat at the table, poking at the food on my plate without any real appetite. My mind was racing, stuck in a loop of the chaotic board meeting. Their words echoed in my head: unqualified, unworthy, only here because of Thiago.The board didn’t respect me. And as much as I tried to brush it off, it hurt more than I cared to admit. I was too deep in thought to even notice when Thiago started speaking. "Wifey?" Thiago’s deep voice snapped me out of my daze. I looked up to see him watching me, his brow slightly furrowed. "You’ve been miles away this whole time. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?"I sighed, putting my fork down. "It’s nothing, darling. Just... work stuff."He narrowed his eyes slightly, not buying my deflection. Thiago was always sharp, always attuned to my mood in ways that made it impossible to hide anything from him. But tonight, I didn’t feel like talking. N
The next few days passed in a blur of endless meetings, emails, and strategy sessions. I buried myself in work, determined to prove the board wrong and show them that I was more than just Thiago’s wife, more than just a placeholder CEO. But the pressure was relentless, and it was taking its toll. I hardly saw Thiago during the day, and by the time I got home at night, I was too exhausted to do much more than collapse into bed. And Tonight was no different from the previous nights. I dragged myself through the door, my mind buzzing with thoughts of revenue projections and market strategies. The weight of the company’s future felt like a boulder pressing on my chest. I was so preoccupied that I barely registered the sound of Thiago’s voice as he called out to me from the living room."Wifey? Come over here for a moment."I turned, seeing him sprawled on the couch, his shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest. He looked relaxed, his eyes watching me intently as I stepped inside. The co
The weight of Victor’s words settled deep in my chest long after they were spoken. I stared down at the amber liquid in my glass, but it offered no answers. Only more questions.Had I already lost the ability to choose? Had Thiago already decided for me?Victor sighed, rubbing his jaw as if he were debating something. Then, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and met my gaze.“I need to tell you something,” he said.A chill skated down my spine. “What?”He hesitated. Just for a second. And that alone sent warning bells ringing in my head.“Victor,” I pressed.His lips parted, but before he could speak, his phone buzzed sharply on the table.He glanced at the screen, and whatever he saw made his expression darken.I frowned. “What is it?”Instead of answering, he stood abruptly, snatching his jacket from the chair. “You should stay here tonight.”“What?” My heart stuttered. “Why?”His jaw tightened as he typed something on his phone. “Thiago’s looking for you.”Cold dread curled in
I clenched my fists, my pulse hammering in my ears. “I don’t have to choose anything.”Javier let out a quiet chuckle, his gaze steady, almost expectant. “That’s where you’re wrong, mija.” He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You’ve already chosen—you just don’t realize it yet.”A chill ran down my spine.Thiago stepped between us, his broad shoulders cutting off Javier’s view of me. “If you’re done playing riddles, we’re leaving.”Javier exhaled sharply, clearly unimpressed. “You’re a fool if you think you can keep her out of this, Bermudez.” His gaze flickered back to me, dark amusement in his eyes. “And you, Bridgette… you’re an even bigger fool if you think you can outrun your own legacy.”Something in my chest tightened, but I refused to let it show. I lifted my chin, forcing steel into my voice. “Watch me.”Javier just smiled. “Ah, mi pequeña tormenta,” he murmured. “We’ll see how long that defiance lasts when the world comes crashing down.”Before I could say an
The air in the car felt suffocating. My pulse pounded against my ribs, but I refused to let my panic show.Thiago's expression had turned to stone, his body tense beside me. "How does he know we're here?"Mateo shrugged, too casual. "Your father has eyes everywhere, Bermudez. Did you really think you could waltz into Madrid unnoticed?"Thiago exhaled sharply. His fingers tapped against his knee in a slow, calculated rhythm—a sign that he was thinking, strategizing.I forced my voice to stay steady. "What does he want?"Mateo tilted his head, considering me. "To see you, of course. He’s given instructions for you to be brought to him—immediately."Brought. Not invited. Not welcomed.My fingers curled into fists. "And if I refuse?"Mateo’s smirk deepened. "Then you already know what happens next, princesa."I swallowed hard.Thiago shifted beside me. "She’s not going anywhere she doesn’t want to." His voice was calm, but the edge beneath it was lethal.Mateo chuckled, but his eyes remai
Thiago watched me carefully, gauging my reaction. He was waiting for me to flinch, to back down—but I didn’t.Instead, I met his gaze head-on. “Fine,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Let’s do it.”A slow, satisfied smirk curled on his lips. “That’s my girl.”I ignored the way my pulse jumped at those words. “Do you have a plan, or are we just throwing ourselves into the fire and hoping we don’t get burned?”His smirk widened. “Oh, we’re the fire, princesa. And it’s time they learn that the hard way.”He turned, already pulling his phone from his pocket. “Pack a bag. We’re leaving in an hour.”I blinked. “Wait—what?”Thiago didn’t even look up as he typed out a message. “You wanted to go on the offensive. That means moving fast.”Panic warred with the determination burning in my chest. “Where are we going?”He finally met my gaze, and for the first time, I saw something beyond amusement and arrogance. I saw purpose.“To the last place they’d expect us to be.”A chill ran down m
Thiago’s entire posture shifted—controlled, calculating. His fingers tightened around his knife, but he didn’t move. Not yet.The blade against my throat pressed in just enough to sting. Not enough to cut. A warning.“Let her go,” Thiago said, his voice dangerously soft.The man behind me chuckled. “Now, now. You of all people should know how this works.”A shiver ran down my spine. They weren’t just some random attackers. They knew Thiago.I felt my captor shift slightly, his grip tightening. “Put the knife down, Bermudez.”Thiago’s jaw clenched. His knife hovered midair, hesitation flickering for just a second.Then, without warning—He threw it.Not at the man holding me.At the other attacker.A sharp cry echoed as the second man collapsed, the knife buried deep in his thigh.The split second of chaos was all I needed.I jerked my head back, slamming it into my captor’s nose. He cursed, his grip faltering.I didn’t waste time. I dropped, twisting free just as Thiago lunged.His fi
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral. If this was a test, then I couldn’t afford to let them see any hesitation. Lucia grinned, sensing my frustration. “Don’t look so tense, Bridge. You wanted in, remember?” I shot her a glare. “You’re enjoying this way too much.” Thiago, who had been silent, stepped closer. His presence sent a ripple of awareness through me, but I refused to react. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a single item—an old-fashioned stopwatch. “You have sixty seconds,” he said, pressing the button. I barely had time to register his words before Lucia shoved me—hard. My balance wavered, and the next thing I knew, I was tumbling down a small incline, my arms scraping against rough earth as I hit the ground with a grunt. I groaned, rolling onto my back, but before I could get up, Thiago’s voice called down to me. “Fifty seconds.” Shit. I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding as I took in my surroundings. The woods stretc
The next morning, the training began.Lucia wasn’t gentle. She didn’t ease me into it, didn’t give me time to hesitate.“Again,” she snapped as I stumbled back from a sharp blow to my ribs.I gritted my teeth, lifting my arms to block her next strike. My muscles burned, my breath came in ragged gasps, but I refused to fall.“Sloppy,” Lucia muttered. “You’re thinking too much. Stop trying to predict—react.”Thiago stood in the corner, arms crossed, watching. He hadn’t said a word since we started.I hated that I wanted his approval.I lunged forward, aiming a punch at Lucia’s side. She dodged effortlessly, then swept my legs out from under me. I hit the mat with a grunt.“Better,” she admitted. “But not good enough.”I glared up at her. “You love this, don’t you?”She smirked, offering a hand. “A little.”I ignored her and pushed myself up.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Thiago’s mouth twitch like he was fighting a smile.Lucia clapped her hands. “Alright, let’s move on. Time to ge
Lucia gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Somebody better start talking before I drive this damn car into a wall.”Victor ran a hand down his face, still tense. “Santiago attacked Bridgette. Thiago handled it.”Lucia’s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, locking onto me. “You handled it, didn’t you?”I swallowed, my fingers still curled into fists. The weight of the gun’s grip still felt imprinted on my palm.“She shot him,” Thiago confirmed, voice rough.Lucia nearly slammed the brakes. “You what?”“He was going to kill me,” I snapped, defensive. “I didn’t have a choice.”Silence.Then Lucia exhaled, shaking her head. “Damn it, Bridge.”Victor, however, was focused on something else. “He’s not dead?”Thiago’s lips curled in something almost amused. “No. But he’ll wish he was when he wakes up.”Victor cursed. “We should’ve finished him off. Now he knows Bridgette isn’t just some pawn—he’ll come for her harder.”My stomach twisted. He was right. This wasn’t the ki
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