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33: Vanished
Last Updated:
2024-12-05 23:47:43
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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 l
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
Latest chapter
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 95: A Storm of Lies
Warning: This chapter contains graphic content, including self-harm, that may be triggering for some readers.If you're struggling with mental health issues, please take care of yourself and consider skipping this chapter.Alejandro POVThe snow started falling a few miles away from the estate, covering the road and slowing my progress. It hadn’t been snowing when I left home, but now it was heavy flakes covering the windshield and muffling the sound of my tires on the secluded drive.I cursed under my breath, gripping the steering wheel tighter as I turned into the long, winding driveway of the mansion. This place was old money through and through: a large plot of land in the middle of nowhere, towering oak trees lining the path, and a mansion that looked more like a fortress.The entire property’s lights were out, save for a faint glow coming from a single window on the second floor.When I reached the entrance, I slammed the car door shut and jogged to the grand stone front steps.
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 94: Blast from the Past
Estella Mia’s blank stare still stuck with me as I walked back into the house, locking the door behind me. The whole house was silent, the kind that made every creak of the floorboards echo louder than it should. What the hell was Mia doing out there? Sleepwalking? Spying? I couldn’t figure it out, but the way she just stood there, staring, still gave me chills. I tried to shake off the thought. She’d been weird since the moment she started working here. I sent Alejandro a quick message: Are you almost there? Is she okay? I sighed, heading to the bedroom. My dress clung to me uncomfortably after the long day, and I peeled it off, tossing it onto the chair. Sliding into the bathroom, I turned on the shower, letting the hot water soothe my tense muscles. The warm spray did little to calm my thoughts. My mind was a whirlwind of suspicion and unease. I had just been proposed to. I should be euphoric, floating on air, but instead, I felt restless. When I stepped out of the shower,
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 93: Abrupt Call
Estella“She just collapsed, Alejandro! One minute she was fine, and the next—oh my God, what do I do? I called an ambulance, but they’re taking so long. She’s just lying there!”Alejandro pinched the bridge of his nose, his jaw clenched as he paced. “Camila, just take a deep breath. Did you check her pulse? Is she still breathing?”“I-I didn’t want to touch her,” she stammered. “What if I make it worse? I don’t know what to do, Alejandro. I’m scared. She hasn’t even opened her eyes! Please what should I do?”“Stay with her,” he ordered, his voice firm. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there soon.”Alejandro’s expression was unreadable as he slid his phone into his pocket, but I could feel the tension radiating off him. I know what he is feeling. He told Lucia is like a mother to him. Losing her is like reliving the lost of his mother.“You’re going?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.“Yes,” he said shortly, grabbing his keys from his pocket.I stepped in front of him. “I’ll come
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 92: The Real Proposal
Estella POV“Let’s just go home,” I said. “I’m tired. It’s been a long day, and I’m just… done.”Alejandro shot me a sidelong glance. “When was the last time you let yourself just stop and breathe?”I huffed out a small laugh. “I’ll stop and breathe as soon as we get home.”“Then it’s my job to make sure you get it,” he said firmly, wrapping an arm around my waist.As we neared the corner where Clara stood, I spotted her slouched against the wall, arms crossed.“Hey Clara?” I asked, stepping closer. “Are you okay?”She straightened immediately, plastering on a forced smile. “Yeah, fine.”I narrowed my eyes. “You don’t look fine.”“I’m fine,” she insisted, waving me off.I hesitated, my concern growing, but before I could press further, she shook her head and chirped, “ Are you going? Just go and have a rest. I’ll handle everything.”I studied her, then gave a small nod. I will make sure to find out what is up with her. “Make sure everyone leaves safely, okay? And… I will get Raul stay
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 91: The Proposal
Estella POVI walked through the remnants of the event, seeing guests off and thanking them for sticking with me, believing me.I was about to suggest to Alejandro we leave when Elliot Harrington appeared in my path.Elliot Harrington, of Vanveau, the company that had yanked their partnership the second the rumors started. His cocky smile was a reminder of how easily people could turn on you when it suited them“Well well Estella,” he said. “I have to say, tonight’s event was nothing short of extraordinary.”“Extraordinary enough to make you regret pulling out of our deal?” I replied, arching a brow.His smile faltered for a split second, but he recovered quickly. “A lapse in judgment, I admit. One I deeply regret. That’s why I’m here—to assure you that Vanveau is still very interested in partnering with Estrella Designs. The deal stands if you’re willing.”I crossed my arms, keeping my face neutral. “Funny. I seem to remember you being the first to jump ship when the rumors started.
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 90: Julius Cadwell
The tension in the room thickened as Vivian’s father strode in, his presence commanding every ounce of attention. His tailored suit was impeccable, his silver hair gleaming under the spotlights. He scanned the room, his piercing gaze settling on Vivian, who was still struggling against the guards.“Daddy!” Vivian’s voice cracked as she broke free from their grip, staggering toward him like a child seeking refuge. “Look at what they’re doing to me! She humiliated me in front of everyone. She’s lying daddy! You can’t let them treat me like this.”“Vivian.” His voice was a low rumble, full of warning. “Enough.”Her confidence faltered for the briefest moment before she doubled down, her voice rising hysterically. “Enough? You don’t understand! She did this all… to ruin our company. Estella thinks she’s so perfect—she thinks she can just waltz in and—”“Stop.” His single word silenced her tirade, leaving her mouth agape. The crowd murmured in disbelief, the sight of the mighty Vivian Cadw
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 89: The Fallout
Estella We were still on the stage, under the blinding lights and sharp gazes of the elite, all I could focus on was Vivian. She was seething, her face twisted in rage as she lunged toward me. Her voice was shrill as she screamed, “You think you can humiliate me like this? You don’t know who you’re messing with, you bitch!.“Alejandro moved to my side in an instant, his hand firm on my waist. The heat in his eyes told me he was one second away from ripping Vivian apart. “Calm the fuck down and get lost, Vivian. That’s enough.”But she wasn’t calming down. If anything, Alejandro’s intervention seemed to spur her on. Her wild eyes fixed on me, and she sneered, “Of course, your knight in shining armor. Always rushing to save you, isn’t he? Just so you know you’re nothing without him!”She grabbed a glass from the nearby refreshment table. Before anyone could stop her, she hurled it with all her might—straight at me.“Estella!” Alejandro roared, stepping in front of me.The glass shatter
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 88: The Partnership That Wasn’t
It wasn’t every day that a promising startup like Estella’s Designs announced a partnership with a powerhouse like Cadwell Enterprises. The venue was packed with industry elites, media personnel, and potential investors, their eyes darting between the stage and their phones as they live-tweeted every moment. I stood behind the curtains, trying to calm my racing heart. Vivian’s figure loomed just a few feet away. She looked every bit the goddess she pretended to be, but I knew better. Vivian turned, her expression smug. “Nervous, Estella?” “Excited,” I replied, my smile bright. “Oh, you should be,” she said. The applause quieted as Vivian took the mic. Her crimson gown shimmered under the lights, perfectly coordinated with her aura of smug confidence. “Good evening, everyone,” Vivian began. “This partnership,” she said, her voice dripping with faux sincerity, “is about more than business. It’s about second chances.Estrella’s Designs has had… let’s say, its fair share of cha
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 87: Playing with Fire
EstellaThe black car waited in the underground parking lot, its windows tinted. Alejandro leaned against the passenger door, his arms crossed.“You were in there too long,” he said the moment he saw me approach, his gray eyes scanning me.“I had to make it convincing,” I replied, walking up to him. The tension in my body from the meeting with Vivian hadn’t fully eased, but seeing him standing there, waiting for me, calmed me in a way I couldn’t explain.He tilted his head. “Convincing, huh? Did she take the bait?”I nodded. “Hook, line, and sinker.”He smirked, opening the car door for me. “Good. Let’s move on”I slid into the car, the leather seats cool against my skin. He followed, shutting the door behind him with a solid thud. Raul, sitting behind the wheel, nodded at me in acknowledgment before starting the car.“Where to?” Raul asked, glancing at both Alejandro and I through the rearview mirror.“The address you gave Estella earlier,” Alejandro replied.The café was tucked in a
