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121: The Clock is Ticking
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2025-02-06 23:34:12
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 122: Three Villains Working Together
Estella’s POVPain.It dragged me awake, sharp and radiating from my skull, pulsing down my spine. My head throbbed like someone had driven a nail into my skull. My body felt heavy, weak. My wrists were raw, tied behind me with something rough that dug into my skin.I blinked, my vision slow to clear.Darkness.Not complete, but close. A single flickering lightbulb buzzed above me, casting shadows across the damp concrete walls. The air was thick with the scent of mildew, rust, and something rotten.A bad fucking sign.My pulse hammered.The last thing I remembered—Diane. On the floor. A voice behind me. Mia.And then—blackness.I tried to move, but the ropes around my wrists burned. My ankles were tied too, the chair beneath me creaking with every shift of my weight. My breathing came fast, uneven.Where the hell am I?Memories slammed into me.Benjamin. The last time I was in this exact position—tied, helpless, the weight of a man’s body crushing me down while Alejandro watched, una
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-07Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 123: The Three Villains Working Together II
Estella’s POV The blade hovered over my skin. Just a whisper away. Mia tilted her head, watching me like prey, the tip of the knife tracing slow, lazy circles against my collarbone. “You know,” she murmured, eyes gleaming, “I’ve never actually skinned a person before. But there’s a first time for everything, right?” She pressed down. A thin, sharp sting—just enough to make me flinch. I clenched my teeth. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of screaming. Instead, I forced out a shaky breath, locking my gaze onto the other threat in the room. Helena. She was leaning against an old rusted desk, legs crossed elegantly, watching like this was all a mild inconvenience. She had changed. Gone was the woman who once paraded herself as Valdez royalty, the untouchable queen. Now, she looked unhinged. Her dress was perfectly pressed, but the way she sat—the way her nails drummed against the desk, the wild amusement in her eyes—made her seem unpredictable. She was bored
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 124: What They Want
Estella’s POVA massive figure stepped in first, shoulders broad enough to block most of the doorway. He carried a heavy duffel bag in one hand, dropping it onto the floor with a dull, metallic thud.Something inside clanked. Metal on metal.Then, Claudia walked in.A breath lodged in my throat.I hadn’t seen her in a long while , but she looked exactly the same. The same sleek blonde hair. The same perfectly tailored black jumpsuit. The same red lips curled into that signature smirk. Like she hadn’t spent the last few months running for her life.Her gaze landed on me, sharp and calculating.“Oh,” she drawled. “So she’s awake.”A slow, creeping anger burned through me. Of course she was here. I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Why am I even surprised you’re in this too?”Claudia’s smirk widened, smooth and condescending. “Miss me, darling?”My stomach twisted.This woman tried to destroy my life.She paid a journalist to drug me and fake photos like we had sex, hoping Alejandro wou
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-08Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 125: The Breaking Point
Alejandro’s POVThe second the voice crackled through my phone, every muscle in my body went rigid.“Alejandro,” Mia’s voice purred through the line. “So nice of you to pick up. I was starting to think you didn’t care about your wife.”“Who the real fuck are you?” My voice came out deadly quiet, low and controlled, but the rage beneath it was a live wire, sparking and ready to ignite."Your wife screams beautifully." Her words dripped with satisfaction. "Want to hear?"My jaw locked, teeth grinding so hard I thought they might crack. “Mia,” I said her name like a curse. “If you touch her—”“Oh, I’ve already touched her,” she interrupted, her tone mocking. “And let me tell you, she’s not as strong as you think. A few slaps, and she’s already begging.”A sharp crack echoed through the phone, followed by Estella’s cry—raw, pained, and fucking gut-wrenching. It hit me like a bullet to the chest, and I nearly doubled over. My free hand clenched into a fist, nails digging into my palm hard
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 126: The Message
Alejandro’s POVRaúl was already on his laptop, fingers flying over the keyboard, trying to track their location. My eyes were locked on the screen, my muscles coiled so tightly it felt like my own skin was suffocating me.“Anything?”Raúl didn’t look up. “They’ve already wiped it.” He kept typing, checking signal reroutes. His jaw ticked. “They knew exactly what they were doing. The call bounced through multiple servers. It’s fucking useless.”I clenched my jaw so hard I thought my teeth might crack.They had covered all their tracks.They had planned this perfectly.My knuckles ached from how hard my fists were clenched.Everyone in the room stood frozen, waiting for me to explode. They knew. They all knew they had failed. Failed to protect her. Failed to see the threat right under our noses.The door burst open and Rodriguez, the chief perimeter guards, stumbled in. His face was ash-white, hands trembling. Good. They should be all be fucking terrified. They’d failed. And I wasn’t k
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-09Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 127: Buried Alive
Estella’s POV I wake up choking on dirt.The first thing I registered was the weight pressing against my chest, my arms, my legs. I tried to move, but the pressure pinned me down. I couldn’t breathe. My lungs screamed for air but every time I try to inhale, dust fills my mouth, my nose, my lungs.My mind struggled to catch up.Why couldn’t I move? Why couldn’t I breathe?Then it hit me.I was underground.A violent panic shot through my body, sending me into a frenzy. I thrashed, my fingers clawing at the dirt, but it was like fighting against an avalanche. The more I struggled, the tighter it closed around me, the weight pressing harder.My heart slammed against my ribs.I was buried alive.I opened my mouth to scream, but the earth poured in, filling my throat, choking me. I coughed violently, pain ripping through my shoulders.Think, Estella. Think.I forced myself to stop thrashing, to stay still long enough to figure out what the hell had happened.Hours EarlierThe phone call w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 128: The Devil's Den
Alejandro The text came at dawn. An address and two words: Come alone."I don’t know but this is suicide." Enrique's knuckles were white on the dashboard as I gunned the engine down the private road. Ancient oak trees created tunnels of shadow, perfect for an ambush. Perfect for making bodies disappear.The mansion loomed ahead – a crumbling Victorian monstrosity. Paint peeling. Windows like dead eyes. The kind of place nightmares called home.My hands wouldn't stop shaking on the wheel.They could take my money. My company. My fucking soul. I’d trade it all to get her back.It wasn't even a choice."Something doesn't feel right." Enrique scanned the grounds. No guards. No security. Just three cars parked out front like this was a fucking dinner party.I checked my gun. "Stay out of sight."“Boss—”“Stay back,” I muttered. “I go in alone.”Enrique grabbed my arm. “If you die in there, she dies too.”I wrenched my arm away. “Then keep your ass alive and do what you do best.”Without a
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-11Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 129: The Hunt
Alejandro Blood dripped from her wounded arm, soaking the floor beneath her, but she didn’t seem to give a fuck.She tilted her head back, that sick, twisted grin still stretching her lips. “Kill me,” she rasped. “Go on, do it.”I pressed the barrel of my gun against her temple. She wasn’t even flinching.Her eyes were wild and unhinged. There was no sight of fear in her eyes.“I don’t care about dying,” she whispered, her breath coming out in sharp, pained gasps. “You think you’re scaring me? I’m not scared. I’ll go straight to hell and meet my brother. Benjamin is waiting for me.” Her grin widened, her body trembling from blood loss. “ But you? You’ll be miserable. Till you die. Because you’ll never—” she choked on a laugh—“you’ll never know where she is.”My jaw locked.She wanted this. She wanted me to put a bullet between her eyes and take the satisfaction of knowing I’d never find Estella.I’m not letting that happen.I shifted the gun, grabbed her injured arm, and dug my thumb
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-11
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 200: The Dead Don't Stay Dead
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,"
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 193: The Ties That Bind
ESTELLARaul, Clara, and Enrique pile into the penthouse, the takeout’s already spread across the kitchen island—pizza, wings, some fancy-ass pasta Alejandro insisted on. Kai’s toddling around, tugging at Raul’s pant leg, and Clara’s got that tired-mom glow."Don't look at my face like that," Raul said, catching my expression. "We're not leaving you two alone for a minute. Not until we're sure you won't try to run off again.""Raul!" Clara scolded, but her eyes sparkled with amusement."What? We all know it's true." He dropped onto the couch, stretching his legs. "Alejandro's turned into a real pain in the ass the past five years. I'm not dealing with that again.""You're such an asshole," I laughed.“Still can’t believe you’re sittin’ here, alive,” Enrique says, shoving a slice of pepperoni into his mouth. He’s perched on a stool, elbows on the counter, grinning like a kid who just won a bet. “You know, you might actually be a superhero.”I huffed a laugh. “What?”Enrique smirked. “T
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 192: Everything Clicks Into Place
ALEJANDRO"Running away again?" The words came out harsher than I intended, edged with irritation of her assuming and fleeing. Like she always did. She jerked her head up, eyes red-rimmed behind the oversized sunglasses she'd pushed up on her head."Fuck you," she spat, her voice raw.Not the reunion I was hoping for after last night. But at least she was looking at me, not running.I fought to keep my expression neutral, even as my insides twisted at the sight of her tear-stained face. She'd been crying—hard—and something told me it was because of me. I’m guessing she walked in on Vicky in my office just now. "You're an idiot,"Her eyes widened, fury replacing her tears. "Excuse me?""You heard me." I crossed my arms, studying her face. So goddamn beautiful, even when she looked like she wanted to tear my throat out. "Vicky is gay."She blinked. Once. Twice. Her mouth opened, then closed."What?" she finally managed."Vicky. The woman you saw in my office." I spelled it out slowly,
