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33: Vanished
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2024-12-05 23:47:43Related chapters
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 34: Chains and Shadows
(Estella’s POV)Drip. Drip. Drip.The sound dragged me back to consciousness, sharp and relentless, cutting through the haze clouding my mind. My head throbbed, a deep, pulsing ache that felt like it was splitting me in two. I moved slightly, and agony radiated from the side of my skull.My hair clung to my scalp, sticky and damp. I didn’t need to touch it to know what it was—blood. I could feel it sluggishly sliding down the side of my face, warm against the icy chill of wherever I was.I blinked, or at least I tried to. My eyes refused to focus, everything swirling in a mess of dark shapes and painful light.Why couldn’t I move?Where was I?I swallowed hard, my throat dry and raw, and tried to lift my hand to touch the wound on my head, but my wrist jerked against something. Chains rattled with a metallic clang, stopping me cold. Panic surged, sharp and electric. I tried again, harder this time, pulling at my wrists, but the restraints only bit deeper into my skin.No.Panic clawed
Last Updated : 2024-12-06Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 35: The Call
(Alejandro’s POV)The black car was a fucking ghost.“No rentals, no recent purchases. If it’s not registered, it’s off the grid.” Enrique, my informant, muttered over the line. His voice was clipped, frustrated. “I’ve checked every dealership within a fifty-mile radius. Nothing matches the description you gave me.”I slammed my fist against the desk. “So, what? They just vanished?“Unless it’s off the books, yeah. Could be stolen or custom plates. I’m still digging.”I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Dig faster.”Enrique hesitated. “Alejandro, you sure you don’t want to accept the GIA’s help? This isn’t—”“I don’t need anyone else,” I snapped. “Just find that damn car. Call me when you have something real.”I ended the call and slammed the phone down, pacing the room like a caged animal. Every second she is gone felt like another blow to my chest.My phone buzzed again. This time, it was Raul, one of my tech guys.“I’m in,” he said, his tone brisk. “Traffic cameras, toll booths, any
Last Updated : 2024-12-06Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 36: The Will to Fight
(Estella’s POV)My head throbbed like someone had driven a nail through it, and when I shifted, the bite of the cuffs around my wrists dragged me fully into the nightmare.He is back. The bastard was crouched near my legs, his shoulders blocking the dim bulb swinging overhead. He was fiddling with something, metallic clink of keys echoing in my ears. I blinked hard, trying to focus.“There she is,” he said without looking up. “Sleeping Beauty wakes.”I stayed silent, every nerve in my body was screaming from the soreness in my limbs. My throat was too dry to reply. Not that I had anything to say to that monsterHe sneered, glancing up at me with a look that made my skin crawl. “You looked pathetic passed out, but now…” His gaze traveled over me. “You’re even more pathetic awake. Yet somehow still so damn hot.”I wanted to spit in his face. Instead, I clenched my fists, the raw skin on my wrists stinging as the cuffs loosened with a sharp click. He tossed them to the floor.The relief
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 37: Trapped
AlejandroThe building looked like it had been pulled straight out of a horror movie—a broken-down shell of concrete and rust, every creak and groan echoing.I knew this was a trap. Every inch of my body screamed that something terrible awaited me insideI reached the main door, shoved it, and cursed when it didn’t budge. Locked. Of course.Grimacing, I stepped back, lifted my leg, and kicked the door with all the strength I could muster. The hinges groaned in protest before the lock gave way. The door slammed open, the sound ringing out into the empty space like a gunshot.I didn’t wait to see who might come running. My steps were quick, taking in every shadow and corner as I moved deeper into the maze of halls. My throat was dry, my hands twitching with impatience.And then I saw her.She was sitting in the middle of the room, her body slumped in a chair like a broken doll. Her mouth was taped shut, her hands bound behind her back. Her hair was a tangled mess, blood matted at her te
Last Updated : 2024-12-07Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 38: Finale
Estella The grogginess hit first, thick and cloying, weighing down my limbs. My eyes fluttered open, the blurry room around me solidifying into harsh lines. My wrists ached—no, burned. Shackles. Cold steel biting into my skin, chaining me to the corners of an old, rusted bedframe. I tried to sit up. Nothing. My head pounded like I’d been slammed against concrete. Poisoned, I realized. That bastard poisoned me. Alejandro was slumped in a chair across the room, his hands tied behind him, his chin resting against his chest. Unmoving. My heart twisted, panic gripping me. “Alejandro?” My voice came out hoarse, barely a whisper. “Oh, don’t worry, sweetheart. He’s alive. For now.” My eyes darted toward the source, and there he stood—Benjamin. He wasn’t wearing the mask anymore. His face was plain, unremarkable, but for the jagged scar running along his jawline. That scar was the only thing memorable about him, yet somehow, it made him all the more terrifying. He didn’t need to look mon
Last Updated : 2024-12-08Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 39: A Fragile Thread
EstellaA week had passed since everything went down. A week of silence, of tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Alejandro hadn’t looked at me the same since that night. He’d become distant, detached, like a wall had gone up between us. He was still there—physically. Watching me. Guarding me. But he wasn’t the same man. Not the one who held me through the storm, not the one who promised me we would survive.I’d catch him staring sometimes, like he wanted to say something, but he’d turn away before I could hold his gaze. And I… I didn’t push. Because, deep down, I was scared of what he might sayHe didn’t talk to me unless he had to. And when he did speak, it was to ask about my wounds, nothing personal. It was like I was invisible, even though he hadn’t let me out of his sight for more than a minute. He made sure I knew he was there, watching, but he wasn’t with me.It killed me. Slowly. Every damn dayI sat on the couch, my hands fumbling with the fresh bandages I was su
Last Updated : 2024-12-08Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 40: Gone Wild
EstellaHis left hand slid up, curling around my neck beneath my hair, while his right cupped my chin, holding me in place. I should’ve protested, said something—anything—but my lips parted too late, and the only thing my hesitation accomplished was leaving me wide open for him.His mouth descended, far from gentle. This wasn’t soft or sweet—it was commanding, consuming. His lips crushed mine, searing them with a kiss so fierce I couldn’t tell where I ended and he began. His tongue swept inside, bold and unapologetic, leaving no corner of my mouth unexplored. It wasn’t like Marco’s sloppy kisses. Alejandro’s kiss wasn’t just an action; it was a brand.My head spun, my pulse hammering in my chest, but I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t.One kiss bled into another and another, each one hungrier than the last. His hands slid down, no longer cradling my face but gripping my back, pulling me so close I could feel the steady drum of his heart against mine. I gasped, and before I even realized w
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 41: Aftermath
I woke to the smell of him—the woodsy, slightly smoky scent I’d come to crave. Sunlight spilled through the curtains, casting a golden glow on his sleeping form. He looked softer like this, the usual sharpness of his features dulled by sleep.I traced a finger down the slope of his nose, over the stubble on his jaw. My touch was featherlight, careful not to wake him. He’d hate me if he caught me staring like this.But I couldn’t help it. My fingers moved of their own accord, brushing over his lips. God, those lips, the things they did to me. My cheeks flamed as flashes of last night played in my mind—his mouth on my skin, his tongue dragging sinful paths down my body, his voice a low growl between my thighs.I pressed my face into the pillow, stifling a giggle. If someone had told me this would be my life a month ago, I’d have laughed in their face. And yet, here I was. With him. I felt like a teenager, giddy and lightheaded.A loud growl interrupted my thoughts. My stomach. I hadn’t
Last Updated : 2024-12-09
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 56 – The Calm Before the Break
“You did good today,” he said when we stepped into the elevator.I nodded, my arms crossed over my chest. My testimony had been brief and to the point, my words replaying over and over in my head. It was the first time I’d stood in a courtroom as a victim even though it was a private hearing.“Thanks,”He didn’t say anything else, and I didn’t look at him.When the elevator doors slid open, I stepped out first, the click of my heels echoing in the hallway.I didn’t wait for him as I headed into the penthouse. I’d already removed my heels by the time he walked in, shutting the door behind him.“You’ve been quiet since we left the hearing,” he said, watching me from across the room.“I’m tired,” I replied, kicking my shoes into the corner. “It’s been a long day.”“You’re lying,” he said simply.I froze for a second before forcing myself to move again, walking toward the kitchen. “I’m not lying,” I said, opening the fridge. “I just don’t feel like talking.”His hand caught the door befor
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 55 – Claudia’s Desperation
The courthouse was full.Cameras flashed, reporters shouted over each other, and a crowd of onlookers craned their necks to catch a glimpse of Marco Valdez, the fallen prince of the Valdez empire. Marco was dragged out of the courthouse by two officers, his wrists cuffed, his shirt wrinkled, and his hair disheveled. He looked nothing like the smug, polished man he once was. His scarred cheek was flushed red, his limp more pronounced as he stumbled under the officers’ grip. He looked like a man dangling at the edge of a cliff, holding on with one hand—and it was satisfying as hell to watch.This was supposed to be a simple transport—either back to jail or to another hearing, depending on how today went. The court had been swarmed with reporters, some leaning so close they practically tripped over the officers’ feet“Mr. Valdez, do you have a statement?” one reporter shouted.“Marco, how do you feel about your mother’s arrest and charges? Did you really abuse those women?” screamed ano
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 54 – Breaking Chains
I think I like Alejandro.No. I know I like him.It hit me as we walked back from the lake. He didn’t say much, but he didn’t have to. It was the way he stayed close without smothering me, the way his hand would brush mine, just enough to remind me he was there.And when he kissed my hair and told me he was proud of me—God, it broke something inside me.I didn’t realize how starved I was for those words. For someone to look at me and see more than my past, more than the mess Marco had made of my life.But I couldn’t let myself feel this way.It wasn’t real.This wasn’t a love story. This was a business transaction—a marriage of convenience designed for just revenge.I glanced at the sleek gold ring on my finger, the symbol of our contract. A contract that didn’t specify how long the marriage would last, but the implication was clear: once the Valdez family was destroyed, we’d go our separate ways.That was the plan.I wasn’t supposed to care.I wasn’t supposed to notice the way his ja
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 53 – Cracks in the Walls
Estella When we reached the edge of the lake, I pulled the small urn from my bag.Ruth’s ashesAlejandro stayed back as I approached the water, my hands trembling as I unscrewed the lid.“Thank you for being my mother,” I whispered. “For loving me when I didn’t deserve it. For being the only light in my life.”The ache in my chest was unbearable, but I tilted the urn, letting the ashes scatter over the water. The wind caught them, carrying them out over the lake, the gray disappearing into the golden hues of the setting sun.“I’m sorry,” I choked out, the tears spilling over. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you.Tears slipped down my cheeks, but they didn’t feel heavy.Alejandro stepped closer, his hand brushing against my back.“She’d be proud of you,” he said quietly.I turned to him, my heart full and broken all at once. “Thank you. For everything.”His hand slid to my cheek wiping a tear, his touch gentle but firm. He pulled me closer, his eyes searching mine before his lips met mi
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 52 – Public Enemy
It’s finally happening. The Valdez empire was crumbling faster than I expected.The world turned against Helena Valdez in record time.By the time we returned home, the storm we unleashed had reached every corner of the world. Social media exploded with clips of the bloodbath—both figurative and literal. News outlets ran breaking updates every hour, replayed the footage on a loop.The headlines weren’t kind.“Helena Valdez Exposed: Adulteress and Murderer.”“Corporate Queen or Cold-Blooded Killer?”“Blood on the Valdez Throne: Justice for Mark Parker.”Within hours, the public was demanding blood—Helena’s blood.“Hang her!” someone screamed during a live broadcast. Protesters chanted for justice, their signs held high with phrases like Murderer and Blood Money Empire outside every Valdez headquarters.Helena had fallen from grace in spectacular fashion, and honestly, it was beautiful to watch.But what really turned the tide was Parker.It didn’t take long for the world to connect the
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 51 – The Fall
Estella The room was packed. Every seat in the grand auditorium was filled. Rows of finely dressed elites, journalists, and business executives filled the seats, all there to watch Helena Valdez’s grand announcement. The new chairman of Valdez Enterprises, ascending to her throne after Marco’s “step down.” Marco had been officially stepped down—spineless as ever, letting her take the reins while he hid in her shadow It was laughable. Helena, glowing under the stage lights, stood behind the podium, her sleek white dress screaming power and perfection. Marco lingered beside her, like a battered shadow. His limp was noticeable now, and the burn scar on his cheek was impossible to miss even under the heavy makeup he’d tried to cover it with. I couldn’t stop the flicker of satisfaction in my chest as I leaned back in my seat. “So why are we here, exactly?” I asked Alejandro, keeping my voice low. “Patience, mi estrella.” His tone was smooth, calm, almost bored as he popped a
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 50 – Vows in Silence
Three days.That’s how long it had been since the explosion, since my mother’s lifeless body had been carried out of the flames. Three days since I’d spoken, eaten, or done anything but stare at the same patch of wall.My mind replayed everything on a loop—the stretcher, the white sheet, the sound of the blast, Marco’s smug, bloodied face.I hated everyone. I blamed everyone.Alejandro, for holding me back. The hospital, for being so careless that she got kidnapped under their watch. Marco, for being the monster that destroyed my life.But most of all, I hated myself.For being weak. For falling for Marco’s lies. For letting him control me like I was some pathetic, naive puppet. A mistake that had ruined my life the moment I said yesI blamed myself for being adopted by in the first place. For not having real parents. The knock at the door came again. I ignored it, as I had every time before.This time, it opened anyway.I didn’t need to look to know it was himHe sat down beside me,
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 49 – Unfinished Business
I woke up in the backseat of the car. Everything hurt—my head, my body, my chest—but none of it compared to the gaping wound in my heartA paramedic leaned over me, his hands reaching to check my pulse.“Maam, you need to stay still,” “Get off me! I’m fine.” I hissed, shoving his hands away.“You’re not fine,” he argued. “You’ve—““I said I’m fine!” I snapped, sitting up too quickly, my head swimming. My breath coming in ragged gasps. My body might’ve felt broken, but it wasn’t the kind of broken they could fix.The paramedic hesitated, glancing toward the front seat.Alejandro’s voice came from the driver’s seat. “Back off. She said she’s fine.”The paramedic hesitated before retreating.I sat there, the ache in my chest spreading, deepening. My mother’s face flashed in my mind—the way she used to laugh, her soft smile when she thought I wasn’t looking. And then the stretcher, her body hidden beneath that stark white sheet.I turned to Alejandro. “Turn around.”He didn’t respond, hi
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 48 – Despair
EstellaAlejandro didn’t speak to me as we left the warehouse, Marco’s screams still echoing faintly in the background. The air outside was cold but it wasn’t enough to cool the fire in my chest—or erase the shame clawing at my insidesHe reached the car first, unlocking it without a word. He stood by the driver’s side, waiting for me to get in. I hesitated, my legs feeling like lead, but eventually, I climbed into the passenger seat.The silence between us was suffocating.Then he got in, started the engine, and pulled away, his movements almost mechanical. His knuckles were tight on the wheel, his jaw locked, his eyes never leaving the road.Not a single glance my way. Not one word.The realization hit me like a punch. What came over me back there?I’d lost control. I’d become someone I didn’t recognize—angry, desperate, violent. And now Alejandro wouldn’t even look at me.Shame washed over me in waves, threatening to drown me. My chest tightened, my hands trembling as I stared at t
