The house was silent, except for the faint ticking of the clock in the hallway.
Elise stood in the kitchen, carefully arranging a tray with a steaming teapot and a plate of crackers. It had been eight months since she first stepped into Alejandro’s life, and she had grown accustomed to the quietness of his home. Her fingers brushed the edge of the teapot as her mind wandered. Alejandro had made incredible progress and was walking now though not for long, and he still needed the support of a cane. It made her happy to see him reclaiming his strength. Yet, it also filled her with a quiet dread. The contract’s terms had been clear: Help me recover, and this marriage is off. Now that he was getting better, she wasn’t sure how to live a life that did not include him. “Elise?” Alejandro’s deep voice called her from her reverie. He had been watching her for the longest time with a smile on his lips. Elise glanced up to find him standing by the door, leaning against his cane. “I was making you tea,” she looked at him with a smile. He nodded, “Thank you. Come sit with me.” Alejandro pointed out, moving towards his room. Elise followed him and when they settled, Alejandro volunteered to pour the tea for them. Elise smiled at him, not only his legs were healing, but Alejandro didn’t seem like the rude and bitter person that she once knew. “Do you know what tomorrow is?” Alejandro broke the silence that had almost begun to settle on them. Elise shook her head. “No. What is it?” She furrowed her brows. “The anniversary of my accident.” Her breath caught. She hadn’t expected that not like she had expected anything. “Oh,” she murmured, not sure of what to say. Alejandro’s gaze dropped to his hands, his fingers tracing the rim of his teacup. “I’ve never talked about it with anyone before. Not my family. Not my friends. No one.” He glanced up at her, his expression blank though a small smile began to appear. “But I want to tell you.” Elise set her cup down, her full attention now on him. She nodded softly, encouraging him to continue. He let out a slow breath. “Before the accident, I was...everything people expected of an heir to Mendoza's legacy. I was charming.” He smiled. “Almost everyone wanted to be me or move with me.” His voice was tinged with a bitterness that made Elise’s chest tighten. “And then, it all changed. One moment, I’m behind the wheel, laughing with my friends. The next, I’m waking up in a hospital bed, unable to feel my legs. Everything happened so fast, and the world moved on, but I couldn’t. People stopped calling. Stopped visiting. I became the man everyone pitied, the man they mocked when they thought I couldn’t hear.” Elise’s heart ached at his words. She wanted to reach out, to touch his hand, but she stayed still, letting him speak. “And then you came along,” his voice was soft. “You didn’t look at me like I was broken. Though you had some arrogance that intrigued me,” he chuckled. “You looked at me like I was...worth saving.” He paused, his eyes locking with hers. “Elise, I don’t want to lose you.” Her breath hitched. “Alejandro...” She had not seen this coming. “I know what we agreed,” he interrupted. “But I can’t let you go. I don’t want this marriage to end. I want you. Not as part of a contract, but as my wife.” Elise’s pulse raced. The vulnerability in his voice was undeniable, and it shook her to her core. She had always known that leaving would hurt, but she hadn’t allowed herself to imagine that he would feel the same way she did. “Alejandro,” Elise called out, “I care about you. More than I ever thought I would. But we can’t be more than the contract. I don’t know how to believe that this is more than me being your caregiver.” His eyes darkened. “I understand how you feel and I wanted it that way too, but I can’t stop myself from feeling the things I feel. Don’t you feel it too?” Elise didn’t speak, but her silence answered enough. Alejandro reached for her hand, his grip firm but gentle. “Please stay, allow me to prove it to you.” Elise struggled to form the words but she knew that she felt everything he felt. Unable to control herself, she leaned in closer and her lips met his. Alejandro’s body language seemed like he didn’t expect it, but in an instant, he took over, after receiving approval from her to go on, then kissed her fiercely. He did not stop kissing her as he made her lay on the bed, her hair sprawled about her as he kissed from her lips to every part of her body. The way his lips moved about her body made her toes curl, and Elise began to feel her body heat up at his touch. Alejandro moved her dress up, and his fingers began to mess with her open thighs. Even as she wasn’t completely sure, Elise could not resist his touch. Alejandro held her closer and softly licked her navel, his touch causing chills and flutters in her belly. “Ale…” Elise released a moan as his lips traveled up to her nipples. He sucked it with so much dedication, taking turns between her breast while his fingers played with the rest of her body. Elise’s hands wrapped around his head, pressing him against her body as she kept on moaning from the pleasure Alejandro caused. This was the first time in eight months that they were having this level of intimacy or anything close to it, and it was fulfilling. Gradually Alejandro’s fingers ran to her panties and pulled them off then his fingers found their way to her vagina. He pumped it with all carefulness while making sure that the chills ran through every part of her. All along, his lips rotated between her lips and nipples. Just when Elise thought he was done, his mouth went to her vagina. She gasped, “What are you doing? Stop please.” Elise blushed. He smiled, “hearing you speak turns me on. If you want me to stop then you’d have to stay quiet.” Elise swallowed, “What was wrong with this man?” Alejandro’s tongue went inside her wet channel, playing with it in a rhythm that excited his dick and made her toes curl. He ate her like he was dependent on her, his fingers pumping inside in a way that seemed like it was paving the way for him. Elise had gotten so wet that she could not control herself as her hands pulled Alejandro’s hair. “Please don’t do this anymore, just take all of me.” The side of Alejandro’s lips curved and without wasting any more time, he pulled out his hard cock with his veins pumped out on every side. He rubbed it along her clit till Elise was pleading, “Please don’t tease me. Just go in.” Alejandro smiled then raised his face to her. “Lily, do you want me this much? I want you too.” Before he finished his statement, his thick cock went deep inside of her and Elise let out a loud cry. “Aaarghh…” Alejandro’s eyes were filled with excitement. He loved how she moaned, how she called his name, and everything about her. Alejandro bent to the side of her ears and licked it before he muttered the words, "I promise to go easy on you." Elise kept on staring straight into his eyes as a tear slipped out of hers, while his hard cock slammed against her walls. Everything continued that way, like the world was at a stop, till the night was far spent and they slept off. The next morning light streamed through the curtains as Alejandro stirred on the bed. His hand reached out instinctively, seeking Elise warmth, but the bed beside him was empty. He sat up, then tried to call her from the bathroom but something about her absence worried him. Without wasting any more time, he jerked up and checked his room and hers only to notice a neatly folded piece of paper on the nightstand. With trembling hands, he unfolded it. Alejandro, Thank you. For everything. For showing me kindness when I needed it most. For believing in me, even when I wasn’t sure of myself. You’ve given me so much, more than I could ever repay. But I’m scared. Scared that what we have isn’t real, that it’s just the closeness of our circumstances. I care about you, but I don’t know how to give you more so I decided to leave, far away from you and this city. I’m sorry. Elise The paper slipped from his fingers as he bolted out of the room. “Security!” he shouted and in no time, they were in front of him. “Go everywhere, the airports, train stations, and bus stops. Find my wife, Elise, and bring her to me. Now!” As the security scrambled to obey, Alejandro sank back onto the edge of the bed, his fists clenching at his sides. “You’re not running from me, Lily,” he muttered, “I am not letting you go.”Loving Alejandro was one thing she had fought against earnestly. Caring for him, even on her worst days, had given her something she had never truly had, a sense of purpose.Elise wasn’t sure when it started. Was it the time he sat with her in her room and comforted her after she learned her medical school admission had been declined? Or perhaps it was that evening when he insisted on picking up ice cream for her during one of their strolls? If she was being sincere, she hadn’t even noticed when Alejandro began consuming her thoughts. One day she was putting him through treatment routines, and the next, he was in her dreams. Initially, she told herself that it happened because she spent so much time with him, guiding him through his medical routines. But even when she found reasons to keep her distance, Alejandro stayed, filling every corner of her thoughts.And now, out of nowhere, he was telling her he loved her? And they had become intimate.Her stomach twisted painfully at the
The tears on Elise’s cheeks had not yet dried, but she knew she had to leave. Her body still trembled, reeling from all she had overheard. Every word echoed in her mind like a dagger, twisting deeper into her chest. Pushing herself up, she forced her legs to move.One thing was certain. If she stayed at her family house even for a moment longer, she might pass out from suffocation. If her family could make her carry the guilt for a crime she hadn’t committed, what else could they not do? The thought of it made her stomach churn. Her vision blurred with tears as she stumbled toward the gate, almost tripping. The cold evening air hit her face, grounding her slightly, but her mind swirled with questions. Where would she go from here?For a fleeting moment, she wanted to run back to Alejandro and into his comforting presence to cry in his arms. But that would be foolish. She had left his peaceful home by choice, and now, she had to accept her new reality. “It all makes sense now,” she m
"What stupid arrogance! How dare she try to leave me?"The words echoed in Alejandro’s head as he stood in the center of the room, breathing heavily. He pushed down a vase, and in the next minute, shards of porcelain littered his floor. The $14,000 vase that he had now reduced to nothing, was only one out of all the things he had shattered.His fist was clenched in anger, trembling by his side, and from where he stood, anyone ten steps away could hear the erratic beating of his heart.In a very normal situation, Alejandro wasn’t a man who lost control easily. Born into wealth, he knew how important composure and control were. Yet, here he was, losing his mind over the thought of Elise leaving him."Eight months," he muttered under his breath, pacing the room. "Eight frigging months." And yet she dared to run from him.He stopped by the sofa, his cane biting into his palm as he leaned heavily on it. Memories, which on a normal day would be comforting but only caused him pain this time,
For a long moment after Alejandro was gone, Elise sat frozen, her gaze fixed on the door he had stormed out of. The sound of his cane tapping against the floor still echoed faintly in her ears and his words lingered in her head, louder than she wanted.“Why are you doing this to me?”She closed her eyes, willing herself to suppress the tears that threatened to spill. But it was a futile effort. One by one, they slid down her cheeks, warm and causing an ache in her chest.She wasn’t doing anything wrong. Why did it feel like she was? She was exhausted from always being the one blamed, by her family, by him, for crimes she never committed. He had kept her here against her will, yet he dared to claim she was causing him pain?Her chest heaved as she tried to steady herself, but the raw crack in his voice played over and over in her mind. For all his control, there had been something else in his tone, something she couldn’t name and it unsettled her in ways she wasn’t ready to admit.“Wh
Reflexly, Elise’s gaze traveled around the room, though not focused, as she searched for any cameras. She needed to know if Alejandro’s control had gotten so intense that he now watched her.Diane gave a small smile. “Yes. If you don’t mind, can I please rub it in?”Elise nodded faintly, shifting her body to give Diane better access for the massage. As she had learned the previous day, she would only be hurting herself if she refused the treatment.She had not voiced it out, but she was battling with the gnawing ache in her stomach, her consequence of staying without food for a full day.Noticing the faint rumbling from Elise’s stomach, Diane quickly informed. “The master asked me to let you know that you should join him for breakfast once you are settled.”Elise nodded, though a part of her felt foolish. She was hungry, so she had to join him anyway. Why then did she give him a hard time yesterday? Now Alejandro will think she can’t stay true to her words. The thought of it made her
“Aaargh…” Alejandro winced as he struggled to hold on to the treadmill. It read 4.5 km/h, and he was doing his best to walk on it as much as he could.He had just dropped his cane aid and intended to work without it. But it was not okay to him that Elise was not there to support him.His jaw muscles clenched, and he increased the speed to 6.0 km/h, forcing himself to walk faster than he would on a normal day.It had been almost a week since he yelled at Elise, and she had never come to help him heal since that day. He clenched his fists by his side, thinking of it.A couple of times, he had seen her cry—watching her from his room. He had seen the way she curled her body like she was hurting, and many times, he wanted to go to her and console her. But she was the person pushing him away, always wanting to run from him.If she cared beyond her expectations and the benefits that she derived from him, then in those days, she would have at least attended to his healing process.But she did
Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, with Elise yawning as she softly adjusted herself to the quietness of the room. It did not feel like some hours ago that Alejandro had forced himself into her room. Now, the sunlight peeked through the curtains, the patterns it cast across the sheets a clear indication that it was morning.For a moment, Elise remained still, uncertain about the presence that should be next to her.But when no movement came, her brows furrowed. She quickly raised herself, her eyes searching around the room. Instinctively, her fingers traveled to where Alejandro had slept, and it was cold, like he had been away for a long time.Elise was not exactly sure when he left, but a quiet exhale left her lips. The last memory she had of last night, she had broken down in tears, but Alejandro’s hold around her remained tightened. She had cried so much in hushed tones that she did not realize when exhaustion took her.There was still an ache in her chest, but compared to last night
Earlier in the day…A sharp knock echoed through the room. Alejandro stirred, his eyes flickering open, adjusting to the dim glow filtering through the curtains. Elise was still nestled against him, her breathing soft and even.He had held her through the night, her quiet sobs muffled against his chest until exhaustion finally claimed her.He tried to ignore it, but the knock came again, this time more insistent. He exhaled, already thinking about who it might be. Alejandro did not want Elise to be disturbed, and staying back or untangling himself from her could wake her up either way.Carefully, he freed himself from her grasp, running a hand through his tousled hair as he walked to the door.When he got there, his brows furrowed as he saw who it was from the small opening in the door. Slowly, he opened it and stepped out to meet his aide—one of the few men he trusted. The man was tall, already dressed in black trousers and a shirt, even as early as it was.“Good morning, sir.” He ga
Never would she have believed that to shut her down, her father was ever going to raise his hands on her. She saw it clearly, his fingers holding tightly to the picture frame as he approached her. The fear of what he was going to do with it almost made her heart skip out of its cage, but she held still. “Go ahead, hit me!” She yelled out, almost at the same time as she stood. Charles Stanton halted immediately, surprise evident in his eyes as he watched her challenge him. “No, do it.” She pressed on, “hit me.”“Father, is that not what you were about to do?”The air between them became tense, so much so that Margaret Stanton shifted uneasily in her seat. Clara’s lips that were curved into a smile watching her father almost harass Elise fell downwards. She stood up, “Father, are you going to let her talk to you that way?Charles's gaze rotated between Clara, and back to Elise and his grip on the picture frame was still tight though his hands dropped to his side. Elise inhaled deep
Yes, she knew she had a problem with communication. It was not like she never tried.Before she got into this arrangement with Alejandro, she was communicating her needs when her parents tossed her into it. Even with Alejandro, she had always been clear with what she wanted from the start. And when the time came, for him to keep to his words from the ‘communication,’ he acted like no conversation was ever heard. Different scenarios, but the same results repeated itself.Elise was starting to believe that every time she opened her mouth to communicate, the universe took it as an invitation to throw her into even worse situations that she had not asked for.Now sitting alone on the edge of her bed, she was still reeling in thoughts, wondering what the surprise was that Alejandro had for her. What were the chances that it was not the calm before the storm? She chuckled wearily at the thought that crossed through her head. As much as she wanted to wave it off as being too extreme, it w
Could they meet the next day? Elise's stomach dropped, like she had not read the content well. Alejandro’s phone was still in her hand and the name of the sender, Mariana was burning deep into her chest. It was not like it would have been a better offense if it was somebody else, but just maybe, it would have helped and made her feel less hurt. Just maybe, she would not have felt as low as she did at that moment. Every man in his right sense would fall for a girl like Mariana, and for their relationship to advance into a betrothal, then whatever she shared with Alejandro was deep.But what hurt the most in all of this was the ease in the text Mariana had sent. It could only mean that Alejandro had been in communication with her. What were the odds that he had not been meeting up with her under the guise of work?Why else would a woman who clearly knew he was married, and ‘he’ in the sense of the relationship they had shared text him that late for some private meeting? He definite
Seeing the food initially, she had thought that she would take just three spoons and bring up an attitude about why she didn’t want to eat. Instead, she cleared every single thing on the plate, and the only thing that kept her from asking for more was the fear of seeming like a glutton.Alejandro must have noticed because a knowing smirk tugged at his lips as she cleared everything. “I’ll take that as a thank you for making me eat,” he murmured, setting the empty dish aside.Elise stiffened. “I wasn’t that hungry, I just did not want to waste food” she muttered, turning her face away.“Sure you weren’t.” His deep chuckle made her feel uneasy and she almost began regretting why she had not kept up with the not wanting to eat act.Before she could muster a comeback, Alejandro shifted, guiding her to lean back against the headrest. She blinked in confusion as he reached for her foot, pulling it gently onto his lap.“What are you doing?” Elise probed, blinking as she tried to raise hersel
As soon as Alejandro scooped Elise into his arms, sweat beads began to form on her face. There was no way Alejandro was supposed to know that she was not sick, and had only faked it. If he did, then she was scared of the issue that could come out of it. But as the warmth of his body pressed against her, a strange weakness settled in her limbs, her head feeling heavier than before.Putting her shame aside, and left with no other option, she burst out in tears, surprising Alejandro and Diane.Thankfully, the rest of Alejandro’s men had gone away. A frown formed on his forehead as he looked at her. “What is the problem?” He probed as he dropped her down.Elise was still faking tears, and to her luck, her body cooperated as it began to color red. By this time, Alejandro was really worried. “Lily, please tell me what the issue is. You are making me scared.”She finally wiped her face after being convinced that she had gotten his attention enough. Even that small movement made her fingers
Back at the store, Diane twirled the shopping bag in her hand as she waited for Elise to return. She had picked a couple of clothes that she liked, and what was left was for Elise to pay as she promised. Undeniably, Elise had spent some time and it was already beginning to worry Diane. But she stayed put, lightly tapping the bag against her legs. A few more minutes and she would check for her. But before she counted to 10, the door of the dressing room opened and Elise stepped out. Contrasting how she had walked in, she looked dull. But Diane ignored it anyway and rushed to her. “Do you like the dress?” Immediately she reached her, she probed. Her lips were still curved in excitement as she waited for a response. Elise blinked, raising her face to her. “Huh?”“I mean, the one you went to try on.” “Right! The dress.” Her mind took a second to process the question and it was only then that she realized that she had not even come out of the room with it. “Umm…” she stuttered slowl
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