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134: The Secret
Last Updated:
2025-02-14 21:58:52
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 135: The Unfairness of It All
EstellaI sit in a wheelchair, my fingers curled around the thin blanket draped over my lap. The walls of the hospital room feel like they’re closing in, pressing against my chest, making it hard to breathe.It’s been a week since I woke up. Since Dr Sanders’s word changed everything for me. I think back to our exact exchange that day. "Mrs. De Luca" Dr. Sanders sits beside my bed, chart in hand. "Your blood work showed elevated hCG levels." She pauses. "It appears you're pregnant."The words don't make sense at first. Like they're in a language I don't quite understand."That's... that's not possible." I finally find the words to answer, my voice sounds distant. "You see I had an the accident...""I have your previous medical records already." She checks her tablet. "A truck collision one year ago. Your doctors believed the trauma would make conception difficult." She looks up. "But not impossible."My hand finds my stomach. Flat. Unchanged. But..."Six weeks along," she continues
Last Updated : 2025-02-15Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 136: Making Decisions
Estella "What did you need to talk to me about?"I freeze at the sight of Alejandro. He fills up the doorway, his suit jacket gone and sleeves rolled up. His eyes catch on my tear-stained face.Clara squeezes my hand before standing up. "I'll give you two some privacy."I wheel myself toward the window, turning away from him to hide, desperately trying to wipe away the evidence of my breakdown. The tears won't stop though - these damn hormones making everything worse."Why are you crying, mi estrella ?" His voice is closer now, worry threading through each word."How long were you going to hide it from me?" My voice comes out steadier than I feel.He did not insult my intelligence by pretending not to understand. "Until you were stronger.""Stronger?" A laugh escapes me. "Marco's out there right now, planning God knows what, and you didn’t think to tell me? How long have you known?”"Estella—""No." I wheel myself away from him. "Don't 'Estella' me. Not now." "Just... tell me how lo
Last Updated : 2025-02-15Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 137: Cornered
Third Person POVClaudia couldn't appreciate the beauty of the setting sun over the city. She was staring at the city below, fingers gripping the stem of her untouched wine glass. Not when every shadow could hide one of Alejandro's men. Not when her nerves were shot from a week of jumping at every sound. Every noise made her flinch. People going about their lives as if nothing had happened. As if she hadn’t barely escaped death.She exhaled, rubbing her temples. One more day.That’s all she needed.She had it all planned. A new identity again, a new passport, a flight booked under a fake name. She just had to get through tonight. Then, she’d disappear—far away from Alejandro, from his wrath, from the grave she had helped dig.She pulled the curtains shut on the fortieth-floor penthouse. The same routine - check the windows, the doors, the street below. Her bodyguard, Vincent, watched with barely concealed impatience."No one's found us," he said, not for the first time. "This building
Last Updated : 2025-02-16Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 138: The Trap Is Set
Claudia's head pounded as she stared at the computer screen. The flight manifests blurred together on the screen—long lists of scheduled private jet departures, filled with coded information that only airport officials should be able to access. Three days. Three days of walking on eggshells around Marco's increasingly unstable moods. Three days of watching him spiral deeper into whatever hell prison had carved into his mind.Across the penthouse study, Marco paced in front of the window, his phone highlighted the sharpness of his face, deepening the hollowness in his eyes, the angles of his cheekbones. He had barely slept since escaping. Barely eaten. The only thing keeping him standing was sheer hatred.Hatred for Alejandro.Hatred for the empire stolen from him.Hatred for the woman who he walked away from and built something stronger."Anything?" His phone open to a business news site. The same one he'd been obsessing over for hours."Six private flights scheduled for next week."
Last Updated : 2025-02-16Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 139: The Trap Is Set
Third person pov Vincent stepped into the penthouse study, his military training evident in the way he scanned every corner. His eyes caught on Marco by the window, on the shattered glass by the wall, on Claudia's tense posture."Sit." Marco didn't turn from the window.Vincent ignored the order and remained standing. "I don't take commands from-""Ramos." Marco cut him off. "Carlos Ramos. That's your old war buddy, right? The one flying private charters now?"Vincent's face hardened. "How do you-""You had three tours together." Marco finally turned. "In Afghanistan. Special ops. You were both decorated for bravery, then you got out and joined the private sector.” His gaze flicked to Vincent’s gun holster. “Now you babysit billionaire leftovers while he flies them to safety.”Claudia flinched at 'leftovers' but kept her eyes on the screen. More flight data scrolled past."What do you want?"Marco's smile grew. "I want you to make a call. Tell your old buddy you've got a good juicy o
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 140: Flight Into the Unknown
Estella I stare at the open suitcase on my bed which stared right back at me, my clothes neatly folded but still not packed. My hands won’t move. How do you pack for running away? What do you take when you're leaving everything behind?My hand drifts to my stomach before I can stop it. "Still not done?" Clara appears in the doorway, arms crossed. "The car will be here in an hour."she reminds me, but I hear what she’s really saying in her mind. You can still change your mind. "I'm almost finished." I tell her as I fold the same shirt for the third time. "Just double-checking everything."She sighs and moves to sit beside me, shoving the shirt away. “You know you don’t have to do this.”"Clara-""I mean it." She grabs my hands, forcing me to look at her. "Please stay. I’m sure we can figure something else out. Alejandro-""Will die trying to protect me." The words were bitter in my throat. “You know that's what'll happen if I stay. Marco won't stop. He’ll use me as bait, hostage to
Last Updated : 2025-02-17Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 141: The Fall
EstellaThe private jet climbs higher into the sky, each mile taking me further from him, stretching the distance between us. Between me and the only man I have ever truly loved.I press my forehead against the cool window, watching as everything disappears beneath the clouds. Somewhere down there, I know he’s still standing on that airstrip, watching this plane carry his heart away. I wonder if he regrets it. If he wants to take it all back.My fingers trace the edge of his letter, still sealed. I couldn’t bring myself to open it yet."Ms De Luca?" The flight attendant appears with a gentle smile. "Would you like some water? We have about four hours until we reach the Amalfi Coast."Four hours. In four hours, I'll be in a foreign country, alone except for the two security men Alejandro insisted on sending with me. They sit several rows ahead."No, thank you." My voice sounds strange to my own ears.The cabin is quiet except for the hum of the engine. A middle aged businessman types o
Last Updated : 2025-02-18Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 142: The Fall of Alejandro de Luca
Alejandro One Month LaterI slam my fist into the wall, pain shooting up my arm. I welcome it. Anything to feel something other than this fucking hole in my chest.The TV drones on in the background, some society reporter standing outside the church where they're burying a goddamn empty casket. _"...the tragic death of Estella De Luca has shocked the business world. Sources close to the family say her husband, billionaire Alejandro De Luca, is too overcome with grief to attend today's service..."_I grab the remote and hurl it at the screen. Glass shatters, sparks fly. The sudden silence is almost worse.Someone knocks. I ignore it.The door opens anyway. Raúl. "Boss," he says quietly, stepping over broken furniture. My office looks like a war zone. "The funeral's starting. People are asking where you are."I don't turn to face him. My eyes remain fixed on the city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. Somewhere out there, she's alive. I feel it in my fucking bones."Let them
Last Updated : 2025-02-19
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 202: Nowhere to Run
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
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,"
