Mag-log inShare
161: The Truth They Kept From Me
Huling Na-update:
2025-03-01 21:06:46
Kaugnay na kabanata
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 162: Crossing Oceans
The private jet touched down on the soil with a gentle thud. I straightened my tie, already reaching for my phone before we'd fully taxied to a stop."Car's waiting," I said to Raul and Clara, who I noticed exchange worried glances across the aisle. I ignored it and instead said "We're going straight to the vineyard.""Alejandro," Raul said cautiously as we disembarked, the warm Madrid air hitting us after hours in recycled cabin oxygen. "Maybe we should think this through before doing anything."I ignored him, striding toward the sleek black Mercedes I'd arranged to pick us. The driver opened the door, and I slid into the back seat, already punching the vineyard's address into my phone."Alvarez Vineyards," I instructed the driver. Raul caught the door before it closed. "Boss, wait." His voice was firm enough to make me look up. "This is a mistake.""Get in the car or stay behind," I said coldly. I am still angry at the both of them. "I don't care which."Clara slipped in beside me
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-03Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 163: A Dance with the Devil
Estella / AmeliaThe Ritz ballroom swirled with Paris elite, champagne flutes clinking against the background of string music. I smoothed my burgundy gown for the umpteenth time, still not quite believing I was here. Three years of declining this invitation, and somehow Ethan had convinced me to finally accept."You look stunning," Ethan murmured as he guided me across the dance floor, one hand settled respectfully at my waist. "Everyone's watching you."I managed a smile, fighting the urge to check my phone again. I'd called Arielle before she went to bed, but the guilt of missing our nightly story ritual gnawed at me."You're still thinking about her," Ethan said knowingly. "She's fine with your aunt. Kids are stronger than you think.""I know." I sighed, letting him twirl me. "I'm just not used to this. Being away from her for more than a few hours.""The mighty CEO of Alvarez Vineyards," he teased. "Conquers boardrooms but falls apart being away from her daughter for one night."I
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-04Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 164: A Name I Don’t Remember
The world tilted before me dangerously. I had to grip the balustrade to steady myself."Stop saying that! Antonio is my daughter’s father," I insisted, my voice cracking. "He died in a crash. The crash that I survived. Take your bullshit elsewhere."He shook his head, an almost pitying look crossing his face. "There was no car crash, Estella. You were in a plane crash on your way to the Amalfi Coast.""I'm not Estella!" I shouted, tears threatening at the back of my throat. "My name is Amelia Alvarez. And I don’t fucking know you. "Something flickered in his eyes – surprise, maybe. "You have to believe me this is all a cover," he said, then cleared his throat. "What had a sort of an arrangement.""What arrangement?" I demanded, confusion overwhelming me."Our marriage." He moved closer still, until I could feel the heat radiating from his body. "The one we had and both agreed to as revenge against Marco Valdez. Your ex-husband who nearly destroyed you.""Marco..." For a moment, all
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-04Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 165: A Lie Wrapped in Truth
Amelia’s POVI barely remembered the flight home. The hours blurred together in a haze of exhaustion and adrenaline, Alejandro’s words were still hammering at my skull.“Estella.”“You were in a plane crash.”“You’re my wife.”“Arielle is my daughter.”None of it was true. It couldn’t be.My hands trembled, clutching my phone so tightly I was certain the screen would crack. Arielle. I needed to see my daughter.I gripped my suitcase handle so tightly my knuckles ached as I stepped into the house.Eleanor looked up from where she sat in the living room, flipping through a book. At the sight of me, her brows shot up in surprise.“Amelia? You’re home early. Where is Ethan?”I didn’t answer. My pulse pounded in my ears as I walked past her, heading straight for Arielle’s room.The door creaked softly as I pushed it open.There she was, curled up in bed, her little hand clutching the swan Ethan had given her. Her chest rose and fell in slow, even breaths.I knelt by her bedside, pressing m
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-05Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 166: A Lie Wrapped in Truth II
The house was silent when I finally slipped into my bedroom, but my mind was anything but.I shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it. My body felt heavy, like all the adrenaline from the last twenty-four hours had suddenly drained out of me.I walked to my closet, peeling off my gown and slipping into one of my silk nightdresses.I climbed into bed, tucking the blankets up to my chin. But sleep?It did not come.I tossed and turned for what felt like hours, my mind cycling through the same, torturous questions.What if he wasn’t lying?What if my entire life—the life I had accepted, the life Eleanor built for me—was the real lie?I squeezed my eyes shut. No.He was manipulating me. That was what Eleanor said. He was obsessive. He wanted something from me. That’s why he knew so much about my past.Why had he looked at me that way? Like he had already decided who I was—like I didn’t have a say in it?I turned over, reaching for my phone on the nightstand.My fingers hovered
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-05Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 167: The Stalker Phase
Alejandro's POV The moment she stormed off, I knew exactly where she was heading. She is running back home. I turned to Ethan staring after her like a lovesick puppy. "Stay away from my wife," I said, walking up behind him. He turned, shock and indignation crossing his features before settling into something harder. "Excuse me?" "You heard me. Amelia is my wife. So whatever you think is happening between you two—it ends now." He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You're out of your mind." I stepped closer, looking him dead in the eye. "Let me make this crystal clear. I don't care who you are. I don't care what you think you mean to her. But she’s mine. And I'm taking her back home." "She doesn't even know you." "She'll remember." I turned to leave, then paused. "If you try to interfere, you'll regret it." I left him standing there, jaw clenched, hands balled into fists. He wasn't my concern. Estella was. Two hours later, I was on a jet back to Madrid. The s
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-06Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 168: Confirmation
Alejandro's POV Eleanor's face drained of color the instant our eyes met. Recognition flashed across her features. For a moment, no one moved. The playground sounds faded to white noise around us as we stared at each other across the short distance. The old woman's eyes darted between me and Arielle, horror slowly replacing shock. Then Eleanor stormed forward, gripping Arielle's hand with such force that the child winced. "Come, darling." Her voice was tight, forced calm barely masking panic. "We need to go home now." Arielle's face crumpled into a pout. "But I was talking to—" "Now." I stood motionless, watching as Eleanor pulled her away. Something primal and possessive surged through my veins. Before Eleanor disappeared into the crowd of mothers and children, I spoke, my voice carrying just far enough. "You had no right to take advantage of Estella condition. To keep a child—my child—from her father." Eleanor stiffened, her back to me but her posture rigid with f
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-06Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 169: Confrontation
Amelia's POVI closed my laptop with a satisfied click. The quarterly projections looked good—better than good. I'd managed to push through the last few days, burying myself in work to avoid thinking about all that happened. It had almost worked.Aunt Eleanor had been watching me closely since we returned, but I'd managed to convince her I was fine. Just tired from the trip. Work stress. Nothing more.Nothing to do with that strange man.I powered down my computer, grabbed my purse, and headed for the elevator. The office building was nearly silent at this hour, most employees having left hours ago. Just how I liked it.The parking garage was barely lit, my heels echoing against concrete as I walked toward my car. That's when I felt the presence of someone behind me. A chill crept up my spine, raising goosebumps on my skin.I turned—and froze.Alejandro stepped out of the shadows, his tall figure materializing as if from nowhere. He stood in front of my car. The harsh lights made him
Huling Na-update : 2025-03-07
Pinakabagong kabanata
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,
