“Elise!” His voice alone instantly sent a chill through their spines and before the drunk man could react, Alejandro lunged forward and slammed him against the wall. Filled with fury, he walked towards him and after raising him, Alejandro’s fist collided with the man’s jaw sending him sprawling against the wall again. In shock, Elise stumbled back, clutching her chest as her heart pulse sounded like thunder in her ears. “Alejandro…” she cried out in relief, but he was too focused on the drunk man to listen. “How dare you?” Alejandro roared as he closed the distance between them, snapping his wrist as he moved to grab him again. The man staggered to his feet but Alejandro seized him by the collar and slammed him hard against the wall, till the drunk was gasping for air. By that time, blood had already filled his face from all the slamming and punching that Alejandro had dealt with him.Alejandro’s breath had become ragged and as he punched the man again, he growled. “Who the hell
The slam of the front door echoed through the mansion as Alejandro stormed inside, dragging Elise behind him.His grip on her waist was firm, but at this point, she had gotten too exhausted to protest. Plus she partly felt like her actions had stressed him out too much. She had noticed how Alejandro drew in a sharp breath and hissed through his teeth as if he was holding himself back from exploding. And her chest ached so much that somehow she had contributed to it. She should have just followed her instincts and not attended the party. Plus Alejandro should not have pushed it.Everything that had gone wrong that night happened too fast, and knowing who orchestrated it made it even worse. When Elise settled within herself to attend the party, the worst she thought could go wrong was Clara throwing a tantrum. Which already happened, and partly left her unscarred. Fortunately. Somehow, she had relaxed herself too much after it, and then everything spiraled downwards and out of contr
Elise could not think, as the world narrowed to the warmth of his body. Alejandro pressed kisses along her chest, her stomach, and further down until she cried out beneath him. Just as her world began to spin out of control, Alejandro abruptly pulled back. “Damn it,” he growled, raking a hand through his damp hair. Elise blinked up at him, breathless and relieved as he stood abruptly and backed away from the bed as if he had burned himself. What the hell was he doing? Alejandro stumbled back toward the balcony, shoving a hand into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette and lighter. It had barely taken a puff from it when a voice called his attention. “Sir?” Alejandro stiffened for a moment as Lucas appeared at the doorway, his eyes flicking from Alejandro to the cigarette in his hand and his brow furrowed. “Sir, you want to stay away from that.” His hand tightened around the cigarette as his gaze moved toward the place where Lucas stood, then back at the cigarette before he th
The morning light from the sun’s rising barely entered through the curtains when Alejandro finally stood from his chair. The chair he had stayed on all night.He had not slept well and had not even tried. He had stayed by Elise’s side through the night, watching her and listening to the sound of her soft breathing to make sure she was okay.Now, as he moved his gaze down at her, he felt a strange pull in his chest. Her face was peaceful, and completely unbothered from everything that had happened the previous day.A part of him wished she could stay like that forever, not asleep exactly but without any problems and situations to make her sad. But he knew sadly well that once she woke up, real life would come rushing back. And maybe not in the most amazing way. Letting out a soft exhale, Alejandro quietly left the bedroom. He could not promise Elise the most amazing life or a problem-free life, but he could play the most part to keep her happy. Shaking his head, he confirmed his tho
Elise hesitated before speaking, fully aware that asking to leave the mansion would tip the fragile balance she and Alejandro had managed to establish. Still, she wanted to do it. Meeting Lena was important.Alejandro, who had just finished fastening the cuff of his sleeve, stilled. Before Elise woke up, he had already freshened up and dressed, knowing he had to be at the company’s building. His gaze moved toward her, blank.“You want to leave the mansion. Is there a problem?”Elise shook her head. “No.”“Where do you want to go to?”Alejandro had not outrightly refused, but it was as if Elise was expecting him to. Informing him was just a formality, a due process that she was trying to fulfill as she was always under his watch. But if he said no, she was going to switch to plan B, though she knew it would not help the small trust he was beginning to build in her.Her fingers fiddled with the sheets as she tried to cook up a lie. “I just wanted to shop for a bit. And I think I need th
Diane was practically buzzing with excitement as she helped Elise get ready. It was well known that she was always energetic and cheerful, but today there was an extra excitement to it that topped up the whole icing. “Ma’am, when I heard the talk about it, I was so so excited. It even made me jump out of bed.” “Mmm…” Elise smiled. “And the sweetest part, you are going shopping today. I think today is so blessed. Everything began to feel right from the day you sat in that garden.”She suddenly turned her face to Elise as if a realization had hit her. “Wow,” she mouthed. “Is something good happening in your horoscope? It feels like it.”“Okay, that’s enough.” Elise shook her head with a light chuckle. Quickly, Diane placed her hand on her lips. “I am sorry, I know I talk too much. I’m sorry, I will just prepare your bath.”“Yeah, you should.” Elise nodded. She enjoyed it when Diane talked, though it got uncomfortable for her a few times. Yet, she was grateful for Alejandro’s choice
Elise felt her breath hitch. Her mind scrambled to process Lena’s words, but they settled like ice in her veins, causing her to feel numb.Murder? Clara had committed murder?Her fingers tightened against the fabric of her dress as her stomach twisted painfully. “What… what are you saying?” Lena watched her, unsure if she had done the right thing by informing her. “Clara committed murder,” she replied. “I saw it happen.”Elise shook her head, willing herself to think. Her memories of Clara were many things. Yes, it was bitter, frustrating, and even painful. She was always the daughter their parents prioritized and revered but murder? “It’s not possible. You are lying to me.” She forced out. “Clara… she can’t… you are lying.”“I would gain nothing if I lie about this to you. Your sister was young, and I know she did not understand the consequences of what she had done. But your parents understood it perfectly.”“I don’t understand. Tell me, how did everything happen?”“I’m not clear
“Mom, Dad… please. The admissions are open, and I passed. Please help me with $20,000 so I can pay my school fees and secure my admission spot,” Elise said, her voice trembling as she knelt on the cold, tiled floor of the living room. Her clasped hands and pleading eyes showed how much she needed their help. Margaret, her mother, barely looked up from her magazine, as she continued flipping a page with a bored expression. Her father’s gaze shifted briefly to her, but the indifference in his eyes felt worse than outrightly saying no. “We’ll give you the money,” her father, Charles, said at last, setting down his coffee cup. Relief washed over Elise, but it was fleeting and only for a moment. “On one condition,” he added, his voice sharp. “You’ll marry Alejandro Mendoza.” The words hit Elise like a slap. She froze, her heart sinking as she processed what he’d said. “What are you saying, Father?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Marry? But I don’t even know him! Father, d
Elise felt her breath hitch. Her mind scrambled to process Lena’s words, but they settled like ice in her veins, causing her to feel numb.Murder? Clara had committed murder?Her fingers tightened against the fabric of her dress as her stomach twisted painfully. “What… what are you saying?” Lena watched her, unsure if she had done the right thing by informing her. “Clara committed murder,” she replied. “I saw it happen.”Elise shook her head, willing herself to think. Her memories of Clara were many things. Yes, it was bitter, frustrating, and even painful. She was always the daughter their parents prioritized and revered but murder? “It’s not possible. You are lying to me.” She forced out. “Clara… she can’t… you are lying.”“I would gain nothing if I lie about this to you. Your sister was young, and I know she did not understand the consequences of what she had done. But your parents understood it perfectly.”“I don’t understand. Tell me, how did everything happen?”“I’m not clear
Diane was practically buzzing with excitement as she helped Elise get ready. It was well known that she was always energetic and cheerful, but today there was an extra excitement to it that topped up the whole icing. “Ma’am, when I heard the talk about it, I was so so excited. It even made me jump out of bed.” “Mmm…” Elise smiled. “And the sweetest part, you are going shopping today. I think today is so blessed. Everything began to feel right from the day you sat in that garden.”She suddenly turned her face to Elise as if a realization had hit her. “Wow,” she mouthed. “Is something good happening in your horoscope? It feels like it.”“Okay, that’s enough.” Elise shook her head with a light chuckle. Quickly, Diane placed her hand on her lips. “I am sorry, I know I talk too much. I’m sorry, I will just prepare your bath.”“Yeah, you should.” Elise nodded. She enjoyed it when Diane talked, though it got uncomfortable for her a few times. Yet, she was grateful for Alejandro’s choice
Elise hesitated before speaking, fully aware that asking to leave the mansion would tip the fragile balance she and Alejandro had managed to establish. Still, she wanted to do it. Meeting Lena was important.Alejandro, who had just finished fastening the cuff of his sleeve, stilled. Before Elise woke up, he had already freshened up and dressed, knowing he had to be at the company’s building. His gaze moved toward her, blank.“You want to leave the mansion. Is there a problem?”Elise shook her head. “No.”“Where do you want to go to?”Alejandro had not outrightly refused, but it was as if Elise was expecting him to. Informing him was just a formality, a due process that she was trying to fulfill as she was always under his watch. But if he said no, she was going to switch to plan B, though she knew it would not help the small trust he was beginning to build in her.Her fingers fiddled with the sheets as she tried to cook up a lie. “I just wanted to shop for a bit. And I think I need th
The morning light from the sun’s rising barely entered through the curtains when Alejandro finally stood from his chair. The chair he had stayed on all night.He had not slept well and had not even tried. He had stayed by Elise’s side through the night, watching her and listening to the sound of her soft breathing to make sure she was okay.Now, as he moved his gaze down at her, he felt a strange pull in his chest. Her face was peaceful, and completely unbothered from everything that had happened the previous day.A part of him wished she could stay like that forever, not asleep exactly but without any problems and situations to make her sad. But he knew sadly well that once she woke up, real life would come rushing back. And maybe not in the most amazing way. Letting out a soft exhale, Alejandro quietly left the bedroom. He could not promise Elise the most amazing life or a problem-free life, but he could play the most part to keep her happy. Shaking his head, he confirmed his tho
Elise could not think, as the world narrowed to the warmth of his body. Alejandro pressed kisses along her chest, her stomach, and further down until she cried out beneath him. Just as her world began to spin out of control, Alejandro abruptly pulled back. “Damn it,” he growled, raking a hand through his damp hair. Elise blinked up at him, breathless and relieved as he stood abruptly and backed away from the bed as if he had burned himself. What the hell was he doing? Alejandro stumbled back toward the balcony, shoving a hand into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette and lighter. It had barely taken a puff from it when a voice called his attention. “Sir?” Alejandro stiffened for a moment as Lucas appeared at the doorway, his eyes flicking from Alejandro to the cigarette in his hand and his brow furrowed. “Sir, you want to stay away from that.” His hand tightened around the cigarette as his gaze moved toward the place where Lucas stood, then back at the cigarette before he th
The slam of the front door echoed through the mansion as Alejandro stormed inside, dragging Elise behind him.His grip on her waist was firm, but at this point, she had gotten too exhausted to protest. Plus she partly felt like her actions had stressed him out too much. She had noticed how Alejandro drew in a sharp breath and hissed through his teeth as if he was holding himself back from exploding. And her chest ached so much that somehow she had contributed to it. She should have just followed her instincts and not attended the party. Plus Alejandro should not have pushed it.Everything that had gone wrong that night happened too fast, and knowing who orchestrated it made it even worse. When Elise settled within herself to attend the party, the worst she thought could go wrong was Clara throwing a tantrum. Which already happened, and partly left her unscarred. Fortunately. Somehow, she had relaxed herself too much after it, and then everything spiraled downwards and out of contr
“Elise!” His voice alone instantly sent a chill through their spines and before the drunk man could react, Alejandro lunged forward and slammed him against the wall. Filled with fury, he walked towards him and after raising him, Alejandro’s fist collided with the man’s jaw sending him sprawling against the wall again. In shock, Elise stumbled back, clutching her chest as her heart pulse sounded like thunder in her ears. “Alejandro…” she cried out in relief, but he was too focused on the drunk man to listen. “How dare you?” Alejandro roared as he closed the distance between them, snapping his wrist as he moved to grab him again. The man staggered to his feet but Alejandro seized him by the collar and slammed him hard against the wall, till the drunk was gasping for air. By that time, blood had already filled his face from all the slamming and punching that Alejandro had dealt with him.Alejandro’s breath had become ragged and as he punched the man again, he growled. “Who the hell
The low murmurs and clinking of glasses faded in the background as Elise shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The way Alejandro touched her did not help, and worse was the piercing glares from the ladies around her. It became so intense that Elise felt like she was being watched from a distance. Unable to hold it any longer, she quietly tilted her head to the left, and glanced over her shoulder. She scanned the room searching for whosoever it was that was staring intently at her until her gaze collided with a pair of sharp dark eyes. A young lady stood a few tables away, aware that Elise was staring at her, but her gaze stayed fixed on her. In fear and as she had not expected it, Elise quickly turned away, trying to calm herself from the chill that ran through her.“Is there a problem?” Alejandro picked up the sound of her heartbeat and turned to her. She quickly shook her head. “Stop touching me.”Alejandro let out a chuckle. “I am not going to stop.”Elise scrunched her nose wantin
As Alejandro stepped closer and tightened his heart around her waist, Elise’s heart took triple beats against its walls. For a moment, the world around her seemed to blur, even as the piercing gaze from the people that gathered nearby clearly reminded her that she was in a gathering like this. And she was the stranger. Alejandro’s scent which smelled like cinnamon spice and cedar wood consumed her completely and in no time, the only thing she thought was how beautiful it felt to be protected by him. “Are you too shy to respond? I know I was gone for quite a moment.”Elise lowered her face and then muttered softly. “I did not miss you.”He stared at her with a smile for a moment, which seemed like an eternity but once he lifted it to Clara and the rest of the people it disappeared. And he looked cold with his eyes darkening.“So,” he began, focusing on Clara who was clearly shivering. “What were you saying?”Clara’s lips went apart as she struggled to form words, but no coherent thin