LOGINShare
39: A Fragile Thread
Last Updated:
2024-12-08 20:57:59
Related chapters
Till 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 : 2024-12-09Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 42: Coward
The elevator dinged, and just like that, he was gone. Coward. I stood there for a moment, staring at the empty hallway, my chest heaving. My heart was beating too fast, my anger climbing higher with every passing second. He left. He fucking left. I wasn’t going to sit here and let him play me. Fool—that’s what I was. A fool for thinking Alejandro could ever want me, let alone keep me by his side. A fool for thinking I could give him my heart He thought he could make decisions for me, like I was some fragile little thing he could wrap up and send away when it suited him. I clenched my fists. Not this time. I wasn’t going to let him run the show. I wasn’t going to sit back and let him play me. Alejandro wasn’t the first man to underestimate me—he just might be the last. I spun around and stormed back into the room I’d been staying in. Every step made my resolve harder, sharper. He could keep his ticket and his plans. If he wanted me gone, fine. But it wouldn’t be on his t
Last Updated : 2024-12-10Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 43: Guilty
Alejandro The whiskey burned, but not as much as the fucking guilt.The glass was half-empty, the edges smeared where I’d pressed it too hard against my lips.I gripped the glass tighter, staring at the dark amber liquid swirling under the dim lights of the bar. Across the street, the glow of the penthouse windows taunted me. I could’ve been there, should’ve been there—with her.Instead, I was here, drowning in this poison because walking away from her had been the hardest thing I’d ever done. Leaving her felt like tearing myself apart.But it had to be done.I closed my eyes and let the burn trail down my throat as I tipped the glass back again. The bitter truth was louder than the music in the background or the soft hum of conversations around me. She deserved better.Better than me.She deserved better than the mess I’d drag her into. She deserved better than a man who couldn’t promise her safety, let alone a future. I’d made a mistake letting things go so far, letting her under m
Last Updated : 2024-12-10Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 44: A Fool’s Proposal
Marco parked the car in front of an old warehouse.He stepped out first, moving with that same irritating arrogance. When he moved toward my side of the car, I quickly shoved the door open before he could reach it. I wasn’t going to let him have the satisfaction of opening the door for me.I didn’t need him playing the gentleman. If he thought I was about to play the obedient ex-wife, he had another thing coming.A man jogged over to him, a cocky grin plastered on his face. He handed Marco a small set of keys and winked.“It’s done,” the man said.Marco smirked, shaking his hand. “Good work.”I folded my arms across my chest, glaring. “What are you playing at, Marco?”“Patience, little dove.” His voice was infuriatingly calm, almost smug. “You’ll see soon enough.”The way he said it made my skin crawl. With that, he turned and headed for the warehouse door, leaving me no choice but to follow. My gut told me to run, to find another way out of this madness, but I wasn’t about to give h
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 45; A Fool’s Proposal II
“I’m not barren, Marco. For your information.” He froze, his smugness dissolving into stunned confusion. “What?” His eyes dropped to my stomach, his expression twisting with something between repulsion and fury. “Don’t tell me…” His voice rose, cracking. “Don’t tell me you’re pregnant with that bastard’s child.” “Shut up,” I cut him off with an eye roll that barely hid my disgust. “You’ll never change.” His nostrils flared, his face twisting in fury. “How could you? How could you open your legs to him? You—” “It wasn’t for him!” I snapped, cutting him off as my voice broke, loud and raw. “It was for you!” That shut him up His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. He stared at me, his face pale and drawn. “I was pregnant the day you kicked me out,” I continued, my voice trembling with a fury I’d buried for too long. “I was pregnant until you and your mother killed my child.” The words hit him like a physical blow. He staggered back, his eyes wide with sh
Last Updated : 2024-12-11Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 46: Blood and Fire
My fist connected with Marco’s face again, the crunch of cartilage followed by the wet splatter of blood. He let out a low grunt, but he didn’t fight back. Instead, he looked up at me, his lips twisted into a bloody grin, a laugh bubbling out of him like this was some kind of sick joke. “You think this is funny?” He spat blood onto the floor, grinning wider. “You’ll never find her, little dove,” he said, his voice hoarse. I saw red. My fists rained down on him, my voice breaking as I screamed, “Where is my mother? Where is she, you bastard?” Marco didn’t answer. He just kept laughing, even as blood ran from his nose, smeared across his chin. His body convulsed with every hit I landed, but still, he didn’t raise a hand to defend himself. “Hit harder,” he taunted, his words slurred. “Put some muscle into it. Maybe if you hit me hard enough, I’ll tell you. Or maybe… I won’t.” “You sick bastard!” I yelled, slamming my fists into his chest. My knuckles stung, but I didn’t c
Last Updated : 2024-12-12Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 47– Reckoning
Alejandro straightened, towering over Marco. His eyes were cold, dark, and dangerous “Where is she?” Alejandro asked, each word laced with the promise of pain.Marco coughed, blood splattering the floor as he looked up with that disgusting grin of his. “Still barking orders like you are in charge, huh? He sneered, his lips twisting into a cruel grin. “Newsflash, De Luca: you’re not. And neither is she.” His eyes darted to me, glinting with maliceAlejandro’s jaw ticked, but he didn’t lash out. “Where is her mother?” Alejandro repeated, his voice tighter now, his patience thinning.Marco chuckled again, a dark, hollow sound. “Why don’t you ask little dove here?” he drawled. “I gave her a choice and a chance. She used to be mine, you know. Always mine. You’ll never change that, no matter how much you try. She’s just my leftover.”I froze, anger boiling in my veins, but Alejandro moved before I could react.Alejandro grabbed one of the lit candles from a nearby table. The flame flicker
Last Updated : 2024-12-12
Latest chapter
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 176: Crossing Lines
I hung up without saying goodbye, my fingers already punching in Alejandro's number. It rang four times, then went to voicemail."Shit!" I slammed my phone down.Panic clawed up my throat, squeezing until I couldn't breathe. What if he'd taken her? What if he wasn't bringing her back?I raced outside, scanning the empty street for any sign of his car. Nothing.Back inside, I paced the floor, calling his number again and again. No answer.My mind spun horrific scenarios. He'd taken her. He was on a plane back to New York right now. I'd never see her again. She'd grow up thinking I abandoned her.I was hyperventilating when the crunch of tires on gravel cut through my panic. I rushed outside just as Alejandro's car pulled into the driveway."WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU?" I screamed as he stepped out.Alejandro's face remained impassive as he opened the back door and unbuckled Arielle from her car seat."Mommy!" she exclaimed, jumping into his arms. "We went for ice cream and to the aquarium
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 175: My Family
That first meeting established a pattern. Alejandro kept showing up, exactly when and where he said he would. Sometimes at the park. Sometimes at the children's bookstore, where he read to Arielle for hours, his deep voice giving life to stories about princesses and dragons. Sometimes at a small café where Arielle got hot chocolate with extra marshmallows and Alejandro drank espresso, watching her with hungry eyes that never seemed to get enough.I kept my distance, always present but separate, a guardian maintaining the fragile boundaries I'd set.Yet with each visit, those boundaries blurred. Arielle didn't just accept Alejandro—she adored him. She began talking about him constantly, weaving him into our daily life."Mama, Rumbly Man knows EVERYTHING about swans!" she declared one evening as I tucked her into bed. "He says they pick one person to love forever and ever."I swallowed hard. "Is that so?""Uh-huh. And he's gonna come to my recital! He promised!""Arielle," I hedged, "we
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 173: The Official Visit
The park was deserted this early in the morning—just as I'd planned. I gripped my coffee cup tighter, scanning the entrance for any sign of him. The playground equipment stood empty, dew still clinging to the metal slides and swings. Perfect neutral ground for their first meeting."Mommy, when is he coming?" Arielle bounced on her toes beside me, already vibrating with excitement."Soon, baby. Remember what I told you?" I crouched down, smoothing her wild curls.Her eyes, so like his, sparkled with anticipation. "He's your friend from before. From when I was in your tummy.""That's right." The lie tasted bitter, but how could I tell her the truth? That the man she was about to meet was her father—the one I'd told her was dead? "And he's very excited to see you.""Because I'm awesome," she declared, spinning in a circle."Exactly that." I forced a smile, my stomach twisting into knots.Movement at the park entrance caught my eye. He is here. Alejandro strode through the gate, his powe
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 173: The Meeting II
Alejandro strode toward me, his face unreadable. He wore a simple black shirt that highlighted his powerful build, dark jeans that fit perfectly. Not the formal businessman, but somehow more intimidating in his casual clothes.He sat across from me without a word, studying my face with an intensity that made my skin prickle."You came," he finally said, his voice low."I said I would didn’t I?" I fought the urge to roll my eyes.A server approached, clearly flustered by Alejandro's presence. He ordered an espresso without looking at her, his eyes never leaving my face.When we were alone again, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a slim folder, placing it on the table between us."What's this?" I asked warily."The truth," he replied simply. "Since you seem to have trouble believing my words."I opened it slowly, finding more documentation inside—marriage certificates, property deeds, photographs, newspaper clippings."These could be fake," I said weakly, but I knew they weren't
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak Chapter 172: The Meeting
Arielle stirred beside me, her small face peaceful in sleep. I traced the curve of her cheek, seeing for the first time the features she'd inherited from him—the determined set of her jaw, the arch of her eyebrows.How had I not seen it before?I lay down beside her, pulling her close, breathing in her familiar scent. Despite everything, she was still my daughter. That is the only thing that hadn't changed.Everything else might be built on lies, but my love for her was real.I must have dozed off because I woke to small fingers patting my cheek."Mommy," Arielle whispered loudly, the way only children can. "Where are we?"I blinked, momentarily disoriented before the events of the previous night came rushing back."We're at Uncle Ethan's house," I explained, forcing a smile. "We're going to stay here for a little while."Her brow furrowed. "Is Aunt Eleanor coming too?"The innocent question made my chest tighten. "No, sweetie. It's just us right now.""But what about school? And my t
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 171: Shattered Illusions
Amelia's POVMy hands trembled on the steering wheel as I sped through the darkened streets, constantly checking the rearview mirror. Arielle slept peacefully in her car seat, blissfully unaware that her entire world had just imploded."Where are we going, Mommy?" she mumbled sleepily at one point, rubbing her eyes with tiny fists."Just a little trip, baby," I whispered, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Go back to sleep."My phone buzzed. Ethan."I've got a place," he said when I answered. "One of my properties on Serrano Street. It's furnished, secure, and no one knows about it.""Thank you," I breathed, relief washing over me. "Send me the address.""I'll meet you there with the keys."I ended the call, guilt gnawing at me. I was dragging Ethan into this mess—whatever this mess was. A mess that apparently involved a powerful man who claimed to be my husband. A man who was apparently my daughter's father.My husband. Arielle's father.The words felt foreign, impossible. Yet the DNA
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 170: Truth Unraveled
I don't remember the turns I took, the lights I stopped at. My mind was consumed by those numbers on the test.99.99% probability.How was this possible? How could Arielle be his daughter? It made no sense. None of it made any sense.Unless...Unless I really was her. Estella De Luca. His wife.No. That was impossible. I was Amelia Alvarez. I had a life here. A company. A daughter with Antonio. Antonio who had died......five years ago?My thoughts raced, colliding and fracturing. Could I trust anything I knew about myself?I screeched to a halt in the driveway, grabbed the test results, and rushed inside. The villa's grand foyer felt suddenly unfamiliar, like I was seeing it through a stranger's eyes.I burst through the door, breathless, pale, clutching the DNA test in my hand like it might explode.Eleanor looked up from the living room sofa, setting down a cup of tea. Her face immediately registered concern."Amelia? What's wrong?""You." My voice shook with barely controlled rage
Till 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
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 167: Confirmation
Alejandro's POVEleanor'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 fear.I took a slow
