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109: Dead in the Cold
Last Updated:
2025-01-28 22:28:16
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Till 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 : 2025-01-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 112: Fury Hits Harder
Estella’s POVMy body was weak, but I forced myself to keep standing. My knees were wobbling but I refused to let it show.Alejandro stood across from me, tense, his jaw locked so tight it could break. He looked like a man barely containing his rage.His chest rose and fell with heavy, uneven breaths, and I knew—knew—that he was still caught somewhere between anger and relief.But I was angry tooI lifted my chin, glaring at him.“I needed space,” I said. “I needed to fucking breathe, Alejandro. Because you don’t own me.”His jaw ticked, hands clenched into fists at his sides. Wrong thing to say“No,” he said, voice dangerously low. “But I protect you.”I laughed. A bitter, hollow sound.“Like how you protected me from Camila?” My voice dripped with venom. “From the world thinking our marriage is a joke?”He stilled.Something passed over his face, but it was gone too quickly to read.Good. Let it hurtI pushed forward, reckless with my anger.“You want to know why I was there?” I sa
Last Updated : 2025-01-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 113: Fuck Around to Find Out
Alejandro’s POVThe moment I stepped into Vanveau’s sleek glass lobby, I was already seeing red.The place reeked of pretentious wealth—floor-to-ceiling windows and marble floors polished to perfection.I didn’t stop to acknowledge the security guard who straightened at the sight of me or the receptionist who opened her mouth to say something.I knew exactly where I was going.Elliot Harrington’s office.That smug son of a bitch had crossed a line.He had touched what was mine.And I was about to remind him exactly who the fuck he was dealing with.I headed straight towards the elevators, my fists clenching and unclenching at my sides.“Sir, you can’t—”The receptionist stepped in my way, a pretty blonde with wide blue eyes and a rehearsed corporate smile. She clearly had no idea who I was.I kept walking.“Mr. Harrington is in a meeting,” she tried again, holding out a manicured hand.I didn’t even break stride. “He wouldn’t be anymore.”“Sir, please—”She tried to step in front of m
Last Updated : 2025-01-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 114: Where Has Camila Been?
Third-Person POV Camila strolled into La Belle Boutique on the ground floor of the building housing Wexford Hotel. The store smelled of expensive leather and French perfume, the kind of place where only the elite could afford to breathe, let alone shop. Camila fit right in. A young sales associate—probably new—approached her hesitantly. “Good afternoon, Miss. Can I help you find anything?” Camila barely spared her a glance. “I’m browsing.” The girl nodded quickly and stepped back. Camila’s fingers trailed over a silk gown, unimpressed. She wasn’t here for the clothes. She was here because shopping soothed her—because controlling people made her feel alive. And she needed that rush today. Because Estella De Luca was still standing. Camila clenched her jaw, suppressing the familiar rage. She should have been gone by now. A ruined woman. A ghost of a scandal. But no. Estella was still married. Still playing house with her man. The contract leak has failed. Camila f
Last Updated : 2025-01-31Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 115: The Public Execution
Third-Person POV She had spent the last few days working with a tech expert—a discreet, well-paid hacker—to create an entire text thread that looked exactly like Alejandro’s messages.The messages painted a perfect story.Late-night apologies. Him begging her not to tell Estella.The final cherry on top?A message from “Alejandro” sent just last night:“She doesn’t have to know.”“Just one last time.”“You know I can’t stay away.”Camila nearly sighed at her own brilliance.Henry exhaled on the other end of the line. “You sure this is solid? If we post this and it turns out fake—”“It’s real enough,” she cut in. “Besides, we both know the public doesn’t care about facts. They care about scandals.”He grunted. “True. What else do you have?”Camila’s smirk deepened. “A hotel footage.”The Wexford had been the perfect place to execute her plan. Not only was it private and exclusive, but its security system? Laughable.A few tears, a little gaslighting about an “obsessed ex,” and the poo
Last Updated : 2025-01-31Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 116 : Dismantling Lies
The tension behind the scenes was electric. Producers whispered into headsets, camera operators adjusted their angles, and assistants scurried across the glossy studio floor like ants preparing for battle. The Rivera Report’s executive producer, Joel Carter, was already sweating bullets. Never in the show’s history had they extended a live broadcast. Never had they thrown in a last-minute guest, especially one who was about to challenge everything their current guest had just spewed on national television. But Estella De Luca had called directly. She hadn’t begged. She hadn’t pleaded. She’d simply said, “I have evidence. You’ll want to put me on.” And just like that, they’d made room. She had arrived silently, without any entourage or noise. She wore black. Not just any black—a tailored, razor-sharp Alexander McQueen suit, sculpted to her body like armor. Underneath, a sleek, silk camisole dipped just enough to hint at femininity, but the overall message was clear: Un
Last Updated : 2025-02-01Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 117 – The Fall of Camila I
Third Person POV The sound of laughter followed her everywhere she went. Camila clutched her purse, her heels clicking against the pavement as she practically ran down the street. Phones pointed at her. Her breath was ragged, her entire body trembling. “Camila Ramirez, exposed as a fraud!” “Damn, she really tried to fake a pregnancy?” “She looks like she’s about to cry—wait, is she crying?” This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. She shoved past people, ignoring their smirks, their stares. Her car wasn’t here. Her driver was gone. “Fuck,” she hissed under her breath. A paparazzi jumped in front of her, camera flashing. “Camila! Camila! Any comments on being exposed?” Her vision blurred with rage. “Get the fuck out of my face!” she snapped, shoving the camera away. A crowd had gathered. People were recording. She turned, frantic, feeling like a trapped animal. The whole world was laughing at her. Her face burned as she sprinted to the nearest cab, y
Last Updated : 2025-02-03
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 160: Chasing Clues
Alejandro I stormed into my penthouse with Raul following after me, throwing my suit jacket across the room where it landed in a heap of already piling clothes on the Italian leather sofa. The housekeeper isn’t coming in until the weekend. The whiskey bottle called to me from the bar, all I wanted to do was head over there and drown this thoughts down, but for once, I ignored it. I needed my head clear for this."Pull up everything on every available database." I paced across the hardwood floors while Raul sat and set up his laptop at my dining table. "And I mean everything."I couldn’t remember the drive from the office and how I made it home. It had been a blur of several thoughts. My mind kept replaying that video on loop—the woman with Estella's face, the little girl with my eyes. The ghost of my wife was haunting me in flesh and blood.Raul's fingers flew across the keyboard. "I've accessed databases that would land us both in federal prison, but there's barely anything on Ameli
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 159: The Ghost in the Screen
Alejandro The boardroom fell silent as I slammed my fist against the polished mahogany table, causing the pitchers of water to tremble. The executives seated around me visibly flinched, but I couldn't give less of a fuck about their comfort."The Hong Kong deal is non-negotiable." My voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Either they accept our terms or we pull out completely."Marcus, the new VP of acquisitions, cleared his throat. "Mr. De Luca, with all due respect—""Did I ask for your input?" I fixed him with a stare that made him physically recoil.The room temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Five years ago, I might have cared about building consensus, about hearing different perspectives. That Alejandro died along with Estella.I reached for the tumbler of whiskey beside my laptop—my constant companion these days. The amber liquid burned down my throat, a familiar comfort in a world that had long since lost its color."You have forty-eight hours to close the deal.
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak Chapter 158: Gone Viral
"I'm so sorry!" I push through the last row of onlookers, grabbing Arielle's shoulders and pulling her back. "I’m so sorry. It was an accident."Julia looks down at the ice cream stain spreading across the front of her Valentino dress, then at Arielle's stricken face."Do you have any idea what this dress cost?" Her voice rises, distress overriding the social niceties. "This is supposed to be the most important moment of my life, and now it's ruined!""I'm sorry," Arielle whispers, lower lip trembling. "I didn't mean to."Mark steps forward, looking torn between comforting his fiancée and diffusing the situation. "Babe, it's just a dress. The kid didn't mean it. We can get it dry cleaned.""Just a dress?" Julia whirls on him. "This is Valentino! And now every photo, every video of our engagement has this—this disaster!""Hey," I step between her and Arielle, whose tears are now falling freely. "I understand you're upset, but she's just a child. And like I said it was an accident.""We
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak Chapter 157: The Price of Fame
The universe has a sick sense of humor.That's the only explanation for why Ethan is standing outside the toy store, holding a pristine white swan plush that makes Arielle's eyes light up like Christmas came early."Is that—" She tugs my hand, previous animosity forgotten at the sight of the stuffed animal."For you?" Ethan crouches down, holding out the swan. "I saw how much you liked the one inside. Consider it a peace offering?"I open my mouth to refuse, but Arielle's already reaching for it. "It's so soft!" She crushes it against her chest, then narrows her eyes at Ethan. "This doesn't mean you can date my mama."He laughs, and for a second I catch that phantom scent again – leather and spice, but different from his cologne. My head spins with the familiar-yet-not sensation that's haunted me since the accident."Actually, I was hoping we could be friends." He meets her suspicious gaze. "Just you and me. No mama-dating involved.""Friends?" She pets the swan's head, considering. "
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak Chapter 156: Tiny Questions, Big Answers II
Arielle's in the stuffed animal section, curled up in the reading nook. Her eyes are red but defiant when I sit beside her."I'm not apologizing.""Yes, you are." I brush a tear from her cheek. "That was incredibly rude.""He deserved it." She hugs her legs tighter. "I don't want a new daddy."The words hit like a punch to the gut. "Baby...""Everyone at school has one. But I don't need one. I have you and Nana and that's enough."I pull her into my lap, swan and all. "You're right. We're enough, just us. But that doesn't mean you get to be mean to people.""He's going to keep coming around." She burrows into my neck. "And then you'll like him better than me.""Hey." I tilt her chin up. "No one in this world could ever be more important to me than you. You're my heart walking around outside my body.""Promise?""Cross my heart and hope to die."She considers this solemnly. "Stick a needle in your eye?""Obviously." I tickle her side, drawing out a reluctant giggle. "Now, about that ap
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 155: Tiny Questions, Big Answers
Amelia / Estella "Higher, Mama! I want to touch the clouds!" I push Arielle's swing, watching her little legs kick at the sky. The playground is mostly empty this late afternoon, just a few kids wrapping up their play dates. We are here for ballet practice which ended early after Miss Carmen twisted her ankle, and I couldn't say no when Ari begged for "just five minutes" at the park. "Look how high I'm going!" She throws her head back, dark curls streaming behind her. "I'm flying!" "You sure are, baby." I give her another push, earning another delighted squeal from her. These are the moments I live for – just us, no complications, no missing memories pressing against my skull. "Sofia says I can't be a real swan." The words come out casual, but I catch the slight tremor in her voice. My hands tighten on the swing chains. "Why would she say that?" Arielle shrugs, her next kick less enthusiastic. "She says real swans have mamas and papas. And I only have a mama." Fuck.
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 154: An Ordinary Evening II
Amelia / Estella The drive home is quick at this hour, the road winding through the vineyards that have sustained and built the wealth owned by the Alvarez family for generations. The vines are heavy with fruit, some almost ready for harvest. Sometimes I walk through them early in the morning, before Arielle and the whole house wakes up, trying to jog loose some memory of doing this as a child. It never works. The gates of the villa swing open automatically as I approach, lights welcoming me home. It's a beautiful house – all warm stone and climbing roses, with a view of the mountains in the distance. The kind of place little girls dream of growing up in. The kind of place I must have grown up in, though I don't remember a single birthday or Christmas or ordinary Tuesday within these walls. Eleanor meets me at the door, dressed elegantly as always in her silk loungewear. Her silver hair catches the light from the chandelier, making her look like some sort of fairy godmother. W
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 153: An Ordinary Evening I
Estella / AmeliaIt's nearly closing time when I burst into Martinez Cleaners– I can see Mrs. Martinez already counting the register."I'm here for the Swan Lake costume," I say, slightly out of breath from my dash from the car. "Under Alvarez."Mrs. Martinez looks up, her weathered face crinkling into a warm smile. She's been handling our family's garments for decades, or so Eleanor tells me. "Ah, my little swan." She shuffles into the back room. "I just finished pressing it myself. Such beautiful work – French tulle, isn't it?"She emerges with a garment bag. The gossamer white fabric peeks through the plastic."Make sure la princesa doesn't get any more chocolate on this one, yes?" Mrs. Martinez's eyes twinkled. "Though I must say, the last time she had quite the artistic vision with those stains."I laugh, remembering Ari's last dress rehearsal when she decided her costume needed "improvements" via chocolate-covered fingers. "I'll try my best, but you know how four-year-olds are
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 152: The Blind Date Set-Up
Estella / AmeliaFive years later4:02 PM.I drum my fingers against the polished mahogany table, staring at my phone. No missed calls. No texts. Nothing from Aunt Eleanor except radio silence.The café is nearly empty, most of the lunch crowd long gone. A few servers wipe down tables, shooting me sympathetic glances. I've been here long enough that they probably think I'm being stood up.They're not wrong.I check my schedule – one meeting pushed back, two client calls rescheduled, all because Aunt Eleanor insisted this lunch was "absolutely crucial." Now here I am, sitting alone like an idiot while my work piles up back at the office. Arielle's ballet recital is at seven, and I still need to pick up her costume from the cleaners.The waitress approaches again, her smile gentle. "Can I get you anything while you wait?""No, thank you." I gather my purse, done wasting time. "Actually, I was just—""Excuse me." A deep voice cuts through my words. "This is my table."I look up to find
