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208: Where Monsters Hide
Last Updated:
2025-04-07 02:11:13
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 209: Blood for Blood
We dove behind a heavy chest of drawers just as the explosion tore through the room. The blast was deafening, sending splinters of wood and plaster raining down on us. Dust filled up the air in the room.Through the ringing in my ears, I heard movement—Marco is making his escape in the confusion. I struggled to my feet, eyes stinging from the dust, and saw a shadow moving toward the far windows."Alejandro," I croaked, pointing.He was already up, blood trickling from another cut on his temple where debris had struck him. Together, we staggered through the devastated room toward the windows.Marco had reached what appeared to be a balcony beyond the shattered glass. As we emerged into the clean night air, I saw his plan—a rope, hastily secured to the balcony railing, leading down to the ground below. Near the edge of the property, barely visible in dark of the night was a small dock with what looked like a speedboat tied up."Stop!" Alejandro shouted, raising his gun.Marco turned, hi
Last Updated : 2025-04-08Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 210: To the Death
He yanked the makeshift blade free and shoved Alejandro toward me with such force that we both crashed onto the wooden planks of the dock. I barely registered the pain through my ankle as I caught Alejandro's limp body."No, no, no," I sobbed, cradling him against me. His eyes fluttered, struggling to focus on my face as blood bubbled from his lips."Est...ella," he managed, each syllable a battle."Don't talk," I begged, pressing one hand against the stomach wound while frantically trying to stem the bleeding from his chest with the other. It was too much—too much blood, too many wounds.Marco staggered to the boat, his own strength clearly waning. He tossed the bloodied metal shard into the water and began fumbling with the ropes that secured the craft to the dock. His movements were clumsy, his injuries making the simple task laborious."Pressure," Alejandro whispered, his voice so faint I barely heard it. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining his ashen lips crimso
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 211: Between Life and Death
"BP's still dropping," one of the paramedics called as they loaded Alejandro into the ambulance. "We need to move!"I climbed in after them, collapsing onto the bench seat as the doors slammed shut."Arielle," I suddenly remembered, panic clawing at my throat. "My daughter—where is she?""Already en route to Memorial," one of the paramedics replied without looking up from Alejandro. "She's stable."That small mercy gave me the strength to stay upright as I watched them work frantically to keep my husband alive. They'd cut away his shirt completely now, revealing the full extent of his injuries. The wound in his abdomen wasn't as deep as I'd feared, but the chest wound—it was a different story altogether."Left hemothorax," the paramedic muttered. "Need to decompress."I watched in horror as they inserted a large needle between Alejandro's ribs. Blood gushed out immediately, filling a collection bag."What's happening?" I demanded."Blood's filling his chest cavity, compressing on his
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 212: The Silence That Hurts Most
I must have dozed off despite my determination to stay awake, because the next thing I knew, someone was gently shaking my shoulder."Estella? Can you hear me?"I forced my heavy eyelids open to find Raul standing over me, his face lined with worry. Clara hovered behind him, her eyes red-rimmed."Raul," I croaked, my throat dry. "Alejandro?""He's out of surgery," Raul said. "It was touch and go for a while, but he made it through."Relief made me dizzy. "He's okay?"Raul and Clara exchanged glances."What aren't you telling me?" I demanded, suddenly fully awake.Raul sighed. "The damage was extensive. They repaired what they could, but... he's in a coma, Estella.""A coma? For how long?""They don't know," Clara said gently, stepping forward to take my hand. "All they said was the next 48 hours are critical."I struggled to sit up, ignoring the pain that shot through my body. "I need to see him.""You need to rest," Clara countered. "You're no good to him or Arielle if you collapse."
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 1: The Cover
I tilt my head toward the mirror, squinting to see if the makeup covers the red mark. The foundation smooths over the skin fine enough, but somehow, I can still feel it—a prickling reminder right there on my cheekbone. I dab another layer, then another, the brush pressing harder until my jaw clenches. He didn’t even flinch. I shake the thought away, pulling back to check my work. The mirror reflects something close enough to perfect, so I force a smile. I pick up my phone and tap into it. This—decorations, outfit, everything—has to mean something. Tonight’s the night. As the camera goes live, I tilt my face just right, adding a little shimmer of joy to my eyes. I’ve practiced the smile enough that it comes naturally. “Hi, everyone! Welcome back to Estella’s Living,” I chirp, waving. “Tonight’s a special night. It’s our five-year anniversary, and I thought you’d all love a little peek into the surprise I’ve put together for him.” I adjust the angle to show the beautifully arrang
Last Updated : 2024-11-09Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 2: Morning after shock
I opened my eyes, feeling the sting before I even tried to move. The sunlight streamed in through the curtains, too bright, almost mocking. My body ached in places I couldn’t name, and the sheets felt like a trap, suffocating me. I glanced to the side, half-expecting to see Marco still lying there, but he was gone. Of course he was gone. I forced myself to sit up, wincing as I felt the bruises starting to form. My mind wandered, replaying fragments of last night, but I pushed them away. I wouldn’t break now, not over him. But when I stood, each step across the bedroom felt like a betrayal. This room, these walls—they used to feel safe. I stumbled out of bed, holding onto the wall for support as I made my way through the room. The house, once warm and filled with love, felt foreign and cold now. I quickly showered and changed avoiding the mirror all through. I passed by the nursery—the room we’d painted together when we were happy, laughing, believing in a future that now seemed a
Last Updated : 2024-11-10Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 3: Grey Eyes
Tears blurred my vision, but I could still make out the dim glow of streetlights outside the cab , casting shadows that only deepened the ache in my chest. I hugged myself, leaning into the cold leather seat, barely holding it together as the city blurred past into faded memories and fractured hopes I wish I could forget . Each sob ripped through me, leaving a raw emptiness in its wake, as if I’d drained some part of me I’d never get back. A tissue appeared over the seat. I looked up, surprised, meeting the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror. They were oddly warm, though lined with the kind of weariness that comes from years of late nights and endless fares. I took the tissue with a shaking hand, dabbing at the mess on my cheeks, knowing there was no way a thin piece of paper could fix what was broken in me. He adjusted his rearview mirror, and our eyes met for a heartbeat. Something about him looked familiar, as if I’d seen him before, but my mind was too foggy to piece it toget
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 4: Shattered
The world slipped back into focus, muffled sounds of machines and soft beeps dragging me awake. My eyes felt heavy, and I blinked slowly, disoriented. The antiseptic scent of the hospital hit me, making my stomach twist. I tried to shift, only to feel a dull ache radiate through me, and that’s when I noticed the IV drip attached to my handDehydrated,” a distant voice said. “Her condition could have worsened had she remained untreated.”Condition? What condition?I blinked slowly, confusion clouding my thoughts as I fought to stay conscious. Why was I in a hospital? Who had brought me here?Darkness pulled me under again.When I resurfaced, the room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of paper. “Finally awake?”I turned my head, eyes landing on a man leaning against the door, arms folded. Alejandro. His voice was smooth but detached, every syllable dripping with a kind of restrained arrogance that made my skin prickle.I tried to push myself up, but my body protested. “What… happen
Last Updated : 2024-11-13
Latest chapter
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 212: The Silence That Hurts Most
I must have dozed off despite my determination to stay awake, because the next thing I knew, someone was gently shaking my shoulder."Estella? Can you hear me?"I forced my heavy eyelids open to find Raul standing over me, his face lined with worry. Clara hovered behind him, her eyes red-rimmed."Raul," I croaked, my throat dry. "Alejandro?""He's out of surgery," Raul said. "It was touch and go for a while, but he made it through."Relief made me dizzy. "He's okay?"Raul and Clara exchanged glances."What aren't you telling me?" I demanded, suddenly fully awake.Raul sighed. "The damage was extensive. They repaired what they could, but... he's in a coma, Estella.""A coma? For how long?""They don't know," Clara said gently, stepping forward to take my hand. "All they said was the next 48 hours are critical."I struggled to sit up, ignoring the pain that shot through my body. "I need to see him.""You need to rest," Clara countered. "You're no good to him or Arielle if you collapse."
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 211: Between Life and Death
"BP's still dropping," one of the paramedics called as they loaded Alejandro into the ambulance. "We need to move!"I climbed in after them, collapsing onto the bench seat as the doors slammed shut."Arielle," I suddenly remembered, panic clawing at my throat. "My daughter—where is she?""Already en route to Memorial," one of the paramedics replied without looking up from Alejandro. "She's stable."That small mercy gave me the strength to stay upright as I watched them work frantically to keep my husband alive. They'd cut away his shirt completely now, revealing the full extent of his injuries. The wound in his abdomen wasn't as deep as I'd feared, but the chest wound—it was a different story altogether."Left hemothorax," the paramedic muttered. "Need to decompress."I watched in horror as they inserted a large needle between Alejandro's ribs. Blood gushed out immediately, filling a collection bag."What's happening?" I demanded."Blood's filling his chest cavity, compressing on his
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 210: To the Death
He yanked the makeshift blade free and shoved Alejandro toward me with such force that we both crashed onto the wooden planks of the dock. I barely registered the pain through my ankle as I caught Alejandro's limp body."No, no, no," I sobbed, cradling him against me. His eyes fluttered, struggling to focus on my face as blood bubbled from his lips."Est...ella," he managed, each syllable a battle."Don't talk," I begged, pressing one hand against the stomach wound while frantically trying to stem the bleeding from his chest with the other. It was too much—too much blood, too many wounds.Marco staggered to the boat, his own strength clearly waning. He tossed the bloodied metal shard into the water and began fumbling with the ropes that secured the craft to the dock. His movements were clumsy, his injuries making the simple task laborious."Pressure," Alejandro whispered, his voice so faint I barely heard it. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining his ashen lips crimso
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 209: Blood for Blood
We dove behind a heavy chest of drawers just as the explosion tore through the room. The blast was deafening, sending splinters of wood and plaster raining down on us. Dust filled up the air in the room.Through the ringing in my ears, I heard movement—Marco is making his escape in the confusion. I struggled to my feet, eyes stinging from the dust, and saw a shadow moving toward the far windows."Alejandro," I croaked, pointing.He was already up, blood trickling from another cut on his temple where debris had struck him. Together, we staggered through the devastated room toward the windows.Marco had reached what appeared to be a balcony beyond the shattered glass. As we emerged into the clean night air, I saw his plan—a rope, hastily secured to the balcony railing, leading down to the ground below. Near the edge of the property, barely visible in dark of the night was a small dock with what looked like a speedboat tied up."Stop!" Alejandro shouted, raising his gun.Marco turned, hi
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 208: Where Monsters Hide
I increased my pace, ignoring the protests of my injured body. The trees finally gave way to a clearing, and I found myself on the edge of a of dark muddy water. The light from the moon revealed patches of reeds and floating vegetation. In the distance, I could make out what looked like an old plantation house.A twig snapped behind me. I spun, gun raised, only to find myself face to face with my husband."Jesus Christ," he hissed, pushing my arm down. "I could have killed you. What the hell are you doing here?""Stopping you from getting yourself killed," I shot back, my relief at finding him alive quickly giving way to anger. "You were just going to leave me with Arielle while you hunted down Marco alone?""What the hell are you doing here. She needs you right now," he said, his voice hard."And you don't? Is that it?" I stepped closer, jabbing a finger into his chest. "After everything we've been through, you still think you have to do this alone?""This isn't about what I think I
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 207: A Mother’s Choice
The paramedic who'd been hovering nearby touched my arm gently. "Ma'am? Your daughter is asking for you."I glanced toward the ambulance where Arielle lay, then back at Alejandro, torn between them."Damn it," I muttered, limping toward the ambulance. I climbed inside, wincing as my ankle protested, and sat beside Arielle's stretcher."Mama," she whispered behind the oxygen mask."I'm here, Arielle," I assured her, smoothing her hair back from her forehead. "You're going to be just fine."She reached for my hand, her tiny fingers cold against my skin. "Where's Papa?"I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice calm for her. "He's talking to the police, sweetheart. He'll be with us soon."Even as I said it, I could see through the open doors of the ambulance that Alejandro was already moving toward the edge of the forest, with a flashlight in hand. Two officers followed him, their own lights cutting through the darkness as they followed the blood trail."Ma'am, we need to go," the param
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 206: Marco's Last Run
My head throbbed with every heartbeat as smoke filled my lungs."We need to get out," he rasped, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames that had started to lick at the body. "This thing could blow any minute."I nodded, trying to stand before a sharp pain shot through my ankle. I bit back a scream, not wanting to frighten Arielle more than she already was.Alejandro was at my side in an instant, one arm supporting my waist while the other reached for our daughter. "Give her to me. Can you walk?""I'll manage," I said, though my ankle screamed in protest as I put weight on it.The emergency exit was jammed, the frame warped from impact. Alejandro handed Arielle back to me, then threw his shoulder against the door with a grunt. It didn't budge. He tried again, muscles straining beneath his torn shirt, and this time the metal groaned in protest."One more," he muttered, before ramming into it with everything he had.The door burst open with a screech of protesting metal, lett
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 205: Death in the Cockpit
Then Alejandro appeared behind him. He slammed his fist into Marco's kidney, causing him to double over in pain. The gun clattered to the floor, sliding under a seat.Marco recovered quickly, spinning to face Alejandro."The pilot's dead," Marco said, his teeth stained red with blood. "Bullet right through the throat." His lips stretched into a manic grin. "Nobody's flying this plane."As if on cue, the aircraft tilted sharply to the left, the altitude dropping rapidly. Warning alarms began to blare throughout the cabin."I told you," Marco laughed, the sound borderline hysterical. "If I go down, I'm taking you all with me!"He lunged for the cockpit again, pushing past Alejandro to grab the controls. He yanked the yoke forward, sending the plane into a steep dive."No!" I screamed, clutching Arielle tighter as the sudden descent threw us against the seats.Alejandro rushed into the cockpit after Marco, grabbing him by the shoulders and hurling him away from the controls. But the dama
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 204: The Fight for Survival
"You realize you're insane, right?" I said, trying to stay calm for Arielle's sake. "You just murdered your own accomplice."Marco laughed. "Accomplice implies equal footing. She was a just tool." He paused by the small bar cabinet, setting down the knife to pour himself another drink. "And when tools outlive their usefulness, you discard them."Marco's men had emerged from the cockpit now taking in Claudia’s absence– a tall, muscular man with a scar across his left cheek – shifted uncomfortably in the corner. He exchanged a glance with the other guard, a younger man whose hand now rested nervously on his weapon.Marco caught the look. "Something on your mind, Carlos?"The scarred guard straightened. "No, sir.""Good." Marco tossed back his drink in one swallow. Alejandro had managed to loosen his restraints significantly during the struggle, but not enough to break free. We both knew our window of opportunity was narrowing by the second."What exactly is your endgame here, Marco?" A
