LOGINShare
147: Washed Ashore
Last Updated:
2025-02-21 15:45:33
Related chapters
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 148: The Survivor
Third Person Pov(Day of Crash)The fishing boat struggled against the increasingly violent waves, Paolo's weathered hands white-knuckled on the wheel. In the distance, the silhouette of Porto Manarola emerged through the mist."Her fever's rising, Paolo!" Maria pressed another blanket against the unconscious woman, whose breathing had grown erratic. The stranger's skin burned despite her sodden clothes, concerning Maria deeply.A wave crashed over the bow, drenching them. The young woman moaned, her head thrashing weakly from side to side, her eyelids fluttered, revealing disoriented eyes that couldn't seem to focus."Almost there," Maria soothed, though she doubted the stranger could hear her. "Just hold on, child."As they approached the harbor, figures appeared on the dock—word had spread through their little village. Paolo leaned on the horn, three sharp blasts that carried their urgency across the water."Sofia!" Paolo shouted to the harbor master's wife as they drew close enough
Last Updated : 2025-02-22Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 149: A Life Erased
"Female, late twenties to early thirties, severe trauma, possible internal injuries." The paramedic's voice cut through the activity of Ospedale San Giovanni's emergency department. "Pregnant, approximately six weeks. Found at sea, suspected plane crash survivor."Dr. Isabella Rossetti's hands moved with practiced efficiency as they transferred the unconscious woman from the rescue boat's stretcher. "Core temperature?""Stabilized during the transport. But she's been unconscious since retrieval.""Any form of ID?""Nothing." The paramedic handed over a sodden envelope. "Just this. The fisherman's wife who found her insisted we save it."Isabella tucked the envelope into her coat pocket, focusing on her patient. The woman's face was a map of bruises and lacerations, dark hair matted with salt and blood. But beneath the injuries, there was a striking beauty that even trauma couldn't hide."Get her to CT," Isabella ordered. "I want a full trauma workup. And page Dr. Marino from obstetri
Last Updated : 2025-02-22Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 150: Estella Becomes Someone Else
EstellaThe first thing I feel is pain. Not the sharp, acute kind that makes you scream, but a deep, bone-crushing ache that seems to have no beginning and no end.My eyelids weigh tons, and somewhere beyond the darkness, machines beep in steady rhythm. I try to move, but my body feels disconnected, floating in a haze of medication and confusion.Voices drift in and out. A woman speaking rapid Italian. Someone else answering in clipped, professional tones. The soft squeak of rubber soles on tile."—showing improved brain activity—""—still no matches in the system—""—remarkable she survived at all—"I drift, caught between sleep and the unconsciousness, trying to piece together how I got here. But there's nothing. No memories. No context. Just darkness and the steady beep of machines telling me I'm alive. Time has no meaning here, wherever here is. I float in darknessThen suddenly—fire. The memory hits with such force that my eyes snap open, my body jerking upright. Metal screaming.
Last Updated : 2025-02-23Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 151: Becoming Amelia
Estella/AmeliaThe marble tombstone gleams in the morning sun. Antonio Miguel Castellanos. Beloved husband. My fingers trace the carved letters, searching for any spark of recognition, any hint of grief. Nothing comes."He would have been an amazing father." Eleanor's voice is soft beside me. We stand in the private cemetery outside Madrid, surrounded by the graves of people who are supposed to be my family.My parents' graves flank Antonio's newer stone. Marina and Henry Alvarez. Both gone within a year of each other—Dad's heart attack, Mom following shortly after. "She couldn't bear to live without him," Eleanor told me.I stare at their names, trying to summon grief for the people who gave birth to me."His family?" I ask, still staring at Antonio's name. "Why haven't they visited?"Eleanor's hand finds mine, squeezing gently. "They moved to Australia years ago. It was... complicated. Antonio chose you over their plans for him. They never forgave him.""Tell me about him," I say. "
Last Updated : 2025-02-23Till 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
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Till 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
Last Updated : 2025-02-24Till 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
Last Updated : 2025-02-25Till 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.
Last Updated : 2025-02-25
Latest chapter
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,
