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103: In Hiding
Last Updated:
2025-01-26 05:11:00
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 104: A Chance Encounter
Estella POVI stopped at a 24/7 store next which was quiet except for the shuffle of a lone employee restocking shelves. I wandered through the aisles, scanning shelves that gleamed under harsh fluorescent lighting. My fingers hovered over a stack of plain T-shirts before settling on a soft gray one. I threw it into my basket alongside the essentials I’d already grabbed—a travel toothbrush, a comb, a pack of face wipes, and a plain set of pajamas. My fingers hesitated over a simple black dress. It wasn’t like I had anywhere to wear it. But then again, who cares so I tossed it into my basket too, along with a pair of flats.The cashier smiled politely as I slid Clara’s credit card across the counter, her nails clicking against the keyboard as she rang up my items. She didn’t say much, but the look she gave me—it was faintly curious, like she was trying to place me. Did I seem familiar to her too? Or was I just paranoid after the receptionist?I stuffed the receipt into the bag and hea
Last Updated : 2025-01-26Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 105: The Unexpected Adventure
Estella POVI opened the door to find Elliot standing there, looking… ridiculous. My eyes trailed over his outfit—thick boots, thermal pants, and a heavy jacket that seemed suited for climbing Mount Everest. A knit beanie rested crookedly on his blonde head, making his sharp features stand out even more.“What are you wearing?” I asked, my eyebrows shooting up.He gave me a grin that bordered on mischievous. “What you’re wearing won’t do,” he said, gesturing to my blazer and slacks.I glanced down at myself, confused. “What’s wrong with this? I thought we were going over a contract, not… whatever this is.”“Good thing I thought ahead,” he replied, holding up a plain brown paper bag. He shoved it toward me.I peeked inside, and my confusion only deepened. Inside were layers of clothing—thick thermal leggings, a fitted fleece jacket, gloves, and a scarf. “Elliot,” I started, my voice filled with suspicion, “what are you planning? This is hardly what to wear for business.”“You’ll see,”
Last Updated : 2025-01-26Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 106: The Act That Shouldn’t Have Happened
Estella POV The trail was well-maintained, but the snow made it slippery. I was grateful for the hiking boots he’d provided as they gripped the ground securely. I trudged behind him, muttering curses under my breath. “Keep up, Estella,” he called over his shoulder, clearly amused. “Keep up?” I shot back. “I didn’t sign up for this.” “Be careful you can easily get lost. It is slippery and wet from the snow so it is dangerous.” By the time we reached the top of the trail, I was out of breath, my cheeks red from the cold. But when I saw the view, my complaints died in my throat. My legs were screaming, but the view at the top was worth it. The city lay below us. The mountains stretched out in every direction, their peaks dusted with snow that sparkled in the sun. It was breathtaking. “You can stop pretending not to be impressed,” Elliot said beside me, his tone teasing. “Okay,” I admitted, “this is… impressive.” Elliot smiled, his gaze fixed on the view. “I thought you’
Last Updated : 2025-01-27Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 107: Lost in the Woods
Estella POV I stumbled back a step, my boots sliding slightly against the uneven rock beneath me. My heart was pounding in my chest, though not from the altitude. I froze, unable to comprehend the sheer audacity of it. Then it hit me like a lightning strike. Elliot’s green eyes were still locked on mine, wide with shock as though he couldn’t believe what he’d just done. It wasn’t Alejandro’s stormy gray eyes staring back at me. I shoved him hard, my palms slamming into his chest with all the strength I could muster. “What the hell do you think you are doing?” I yelled, my voice raw with anger and disbelief. “Estella, I’m sorry.” he said quickly, hands raised defensively. “I lost control. I—” “You lost control?” I cut him off, stepping back, needing the space to breathe. “What the fuck, Elliot? You just kissed me! What part of that seemed like a good idea to you? You took advantage of me while I was vulnerable! How dare you?” He tried to speak, but I wasn’t finished.
Last Updated : 2025-01-27Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 108: Lost in the Cold
Estella POVThe snap of another branch startled me, and I spun around, heart hammering against my ribs. My breath hitched in the back of my throat, the sound bouncing off the trees around me.I squinted into the growing darkness, my eyes straining to find the source of the noise. The dark shadow darted past, and I let out a startled scream before realizing it was just a squirrel. A squirrel.My knees buckled, and I pressed a hand to my chest, willing my heartbeat to slow. “Get a grip,” I muttered shakily. My voice sounded hollow, barely audible against the howling wind.I pulled my jacket tighter, but it didn’t help. I was still very cold.Okay, think. What do I do now?“What do I do now?” I whispered again, my voice breaking.I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. It was useless. Every direction looked the same—dense trees and snow-covered ground.Maybe the mine workers would be leaving soon. Maybe I’d hear their trucks. Or maybe Elliot would realize I hadn’t made
Last Updated : 2025-01-28Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 109: Dead in the Cold
Estella POVI couldn’t feel anything except the cold—no, it wasn’t just cold anymore. I don’t feel anything again. I was numb. It was emptiness I feel. My body had surrendered moments ago.It wasn’t painful anymore. It was almost…peacefulSo this is what dying feels like.I couldn’t move. My legs were curled awkwardly beneath me, the snow surrounding and pushing up around my body like a grave already dug. I tried to breathe, but each inhale was like a dagger in my chest.Is it supposed to hurt this much?The sky above was gray, swirling with clouds that blurred and shifted like watercolors bleeding together. I’d never noticed how beautiful the sky could be, even in a storm. My lips twitched, or at least I thought they did. Was I smiling? Crying? I couldn’t tell anymore.They say your life flashes before your eyes when you’re about dying. Alejandro’s face was the only image that came to mine. His intense gray gaze, the way he looked at me, touched me, worshiped me. The way his jaw cle
Last Updated : 2025-01-28Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 110: After She Left
Alejandro POV I knew where she was the moment she left. Even before before her text lit up my phone—I need space—. I had been tracking her since she walked out of the house. Not because I didn’t trust her—I did. I just didn’t trust the world to keep her safe. After everything that had happened—being taken, attacked, and nearly killed—I’d taken precautions. The app I had made was custom-built, encrypted, and capable of tracking her phone even if it was off. I had this app made exclusively for us. As long as the device had been used in the last 24 hours and wasn’t wiped, it could be tracked. But I had never needed to check it ever since it was made. Not once. Until now The glowing blue dot on my screen, taking me through her day. She stopped at the lake first—her mother’s resting place. Then to Estrella Designs, likely trying to lose herself in work. And now, it stopped at the Halcyon Hotel. The Halcyon. My jaw tightened as I stared at her location. She wanted space, I und
Last Updated : 2025-01-29Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 111: The Aftermath – A Long Night
Alejandro POVI didn’t moved from her side. Not once.She was laid in bed and wrapped in thick blankets, her skin still too cold, her breathing too shallow. The doctor had already come and gone, reassuring me that she was stable, that the hypothermia wasn’t severe enough to cause permanent damage. “She just needs warmth and more rest,” he’d said. As if that was supposed to make me feel better.Her lips were still pale. Her fingers barely curled around mine when I held them. She looked fragile.I sat beside her on the bed, gripping her hand, my thumb running over her knuckles absently. She hadn’t moved in hours. This was my fault. I should’ve gone after her sooner. I should’ve never let her out of my sight.I pushed back the image of finding her in the snow, barely breathing. My chest burned with frustration—at her, at myself, at everything.There was a soft knock on the door. I didn’t bother looking up.“Sir?” A hesitant voice. It was Mia. The damn maid—I’d almost forgotten she was
Last Updated : 2025-01-30
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Arielle stirred against me, her eyelids fluttering. The sedative was wearing off. My heart raced with both relief and terror. Relief that she was waking, terror at what she would soon face."Mama?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep."I'm here, baby," I whispered, leaning as close as my restraints would allow. "Mama's here."Her eyes opened fully, confusion evident as she took in our surroundings—the interior of the helicopter, the strange men, the restraints binding her parents."Where are we? What's happening?" Fear crept into her voice.Before I could answer, Claudia leaned forward from her seat across from us. "Well, well. Sleeping Beauty awakens."Arielle shrank back against me, her eyes wide with terror."Don't talk to her," I said shielding her as much as I could. "So protective. It's really quite touching."The helicopter banked sharply, heading east—away from the city. Where were they taking us? A remote location where no one would hear our screams?"Papa?" Arielle's
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak Chapter 201: Trapped in the Lion’s Den
Marco circled us, my body frozen in place while my mind raced through escape scenarios. Every option ended with Arielle hurt or worse."You know what always bothered me about you, Estella?" Marco's voice cut through my thoughts as he stalked around us. "Your goddamn ingratitude.""What do you mean ingratitude?" "Don't act surprised. I found you—a worthless nobody scraping by in that shithole town. I polished you, gave you everything." He gestured wildly. "And how did you repay me? By running away the moment things got tough."I couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped my throat. "Is that what you call trying to kill me? 'Things getting tough'?""I gave you wealth, status, a life most women would kill for." His eyes narrowed. "So what if I enjoyed myself with others once in a while? I was always coming back to you.""You're delusional," I spat. "You never loved me. I was just another possession to you."Marco's hand shot out, grabbing my chin hard enough to bruise. "And you were mi
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I stared at Marco, my entire body going numb. This wasn't possible. This couldn't be happening. Alejandro had told me he was dead—had described in detail how the FBI agents opened fire when Marco made a move for his gun. The official report stated he was dead on arrival at the hospital."You're dead," I whispered, the words escaping before I could stop them.Marco's lips curved into a cruel smile that seemed vaguely familiar, like a half-remembered nightmare."Clearly reports of my demise were... greatly exaggerated." He stepped further into the light, looking me up and down with undisguised contempt. "My God, Estella. A wedding dress? How touching. I'm sorry I missed the ceremony.""How?" Alejandro demanded. "I saw you die."Marco chuckled. "Did you, though? Did you really?"He circled us slowly, like a predator toying with cornered prey. The red laser dots from the snipers' rifles tracked our every movement, making any attempt to reach Arielle suicidal."Let me tell you a little sto
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 199: Walking into the Trap
"It's suicide," Raul said, his face tight with concern as he watched Alejandro count stacks of euros and stuff them into a duffel bag."You think I don't know that?" Alejandro didn't look up, he continued counting. Ten million euros in cash. The bank manager had nearly had a heart attack when we'd called, but Alejandro's name opened doors even at 2 AM.I stood by the car in my dirt-stained wedding dress, numb and hollow. Three hours since the call. Two hours and forty minutes since we'd started scrambling. Twenty minutes left until the deadline."We can send a team," Enrique suggested, not for the first time. "Have them take positions around the factory before you arrive.""And risk Arielle's life?" I shook my head. "They said they'd kill her if they spotted anyone else.""They're going to try to kill you both anyway," Raul argued.No one disagreed with that assessment. The question hung in the air: Was it better to die trying to follow their rules, or die trying to outsmart them?"En
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 198: A Race Against Time
I came back to consciousness with a gasp, the wail of sirens piercing through the fog in my brain. My wedding dress was filthy now, the white streaked with dirt and grass stains. The silk that had felt so perfect hours ago now no better than a rag."Estella!" Alejandro was kneeling beside me, his hands gripping my shoulders so tightly I could feel the tremor in his fingers. His face looked pale and rigid, but his eyes—God, his eyes burned with something that made my stomach drop."Arielle," I choked out, memories flooding back. The crash site. Eleanor covered in blood. The empty car.I tried to sit up too fast, and the world tilted before me. My hands clawed at Alejandro's arms as I fought to stand."Where is she? Did you find her?""Not yet. But we will."I pushed against his chest, struggling to my feet. My knees buckled instantly, and I would have fallen if he hadn't caught me. Behind him, I could see Eleanor being loaded into an ambulance, an oxygen mask still covering her face.
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 197: The Wedding Morning
Today is our wedding day. Again. And I haven’t seen my groom since last night."It’s bad luck to see the bride," Eleanor had insisted, practically shoving him out the door after our rehearsal dinner."Since when do you care about superstitions?" I'd asked her."Since you two have the kind of luck that makes me think we need all the help we can get," she'd replied dryly.I sat up and ran my fingers through my tangled hair, a smile spreading across my face despite myself. A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts."Mamá! Can I come in?" Arielle's voice was pitched high with excitement."Of course, baby."The door flew open and my daughter burst in, already dressed. The pink dress made her look like a tiny fairy, complete with a crown of fresh flowers sitting slightly askew on her dark curls."Look at you!" I gasped, holding out my arms. "The most beautiful flower girl in all of Spain."She twirled, the tulle skirt floating around her like a cloud. "Do you think Papá will cry whe
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 196: The Wedding Countdown
"Estella?" Eleanor's voice called through the door. "The wedding planners are here. They need decisions on flowers and table settings."Alejandro groaned, burying his face in my neck. "Tell them to come back next year."I smacked his shoulder and rolled out of bed, grabbing his discarded shirt from the floor. "Give us fifteen minutes, Aunt Eleanor!""Ten," she countered. "They have four other appointments today.""Jesus Christ," Alejandro muttered, throwing an arm over his eyes. "This is why I wanted to elope."I tossed his pants at him, hitting him square in the chest. "Up, De Luca. You wanted this big wedding too, remember?"He caught my wrist as I turned toward the bathroom, pulling me back onto the bed with a swift tug. "I want you. The rest is just details.""Details that cost a fortune," I reminded him, though my resolve weakened as his lips found my neck."Money well spent," he murmured against my skin.Another knock, more insistent this time."For fuck's sake," Alejandro growl
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 195: The Wedding Plans
The first thing I felt was warmth. A slow, lazy kind of heat, tangled in sheets that still smelled like him. My body ached—the delicious kind of soreness. Alejandro was already awakesat at the edge of the bed, bare chested with his laptop open, fingers flying across the keyboard.I stretched and watched him for a moment, admiring the way the morning light on his tanned skin, the way his dark hair was still a little messy from my hands last night."How the hell are you already working?" I mumbled, stretching again."Some of us don't need twelve hours of recovery after—"I grabbed a pillow and chucked it at his head. He caught it mid-air, of course.“I booked our flight,” he said. “We leave tonight.”That had me sitting up, blinking the sleep from my eyes. “Tonight?”His gaze flicked to mine, studying. “You sure you’re okay flying so soon?”I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. “I talked to a neurologist when I got my memories back.”Alejandro listened, completely focused. The kind
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 194: I Choose You
He carried me down the hall, never breaking the kiss, and kicked the door shut behind us. We fell onto his bed in a tangle of wet clothes and urgent hands. He pulled back just long enough to tear his shirt over his head."I can’t get enough of you," he groaned, burying his face in my neck.I arched into him, nails scraping down his back. "Show me how much."He took his time undressing me, kissing each newly exposed inch of skin like he was memorizing me all over again. When he reached the scar that ran across my ribs."I thought I would never get you back," he murmured against my skin.I threaded my fingers through his hair, guiding his face back to mine. "You did. I'm right here."No more words were needed after that.Afterward, we lay tangled in the sheets, my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. One of his arm behind his head, the other lazily tracing circles on my hip. His fingers brushed over the faint scars marring my body—the ones I barely noticed anymore."You know,"
