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55 – Claudia’s Desperation
Last Updated:
2024-12-17 22:44:17
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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
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 57 – Unexpected
Alejandro POVWhat the fuck is wrong with me?I never expected it to be like this.Marry Marco Valdez’s wife. That had been the plan. Take the one thing Marco thought was his, use her as a pawn to destroy him,fuck her maybe then move on. A hit and run kind of deal.It wasn’t supposed to be this.I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair as the boardroom buzzed with voices. A meeting was in full swing, but I wasn’t listening. My mind had drifted, again.To her.Estella.When I saw her for the first time at that gala—wrapped in a red dress, her hair falling over one shoulder—her chin tilted up like she was daring anyone to cross her. I thought she’d be another spoiled, arrogant trophy wife—with more credit cards than brains.That would’ve made it easier.She should’ve been easy to use.But she wasn’t.Instead, she’d thrown my plan back in my face, time and time again. She wasn’t spoiled, and she wasn’t weak. She was sharp, stubborn, and maddening as hell. And now—now she
Last Updated : 2024-12-19Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 58– A Threatening Presence
EstellaHelena was claiming insanity.A guard supposedly found her screaming, tearing at her hair, smearing blood on the walls. Then she’d gotten into a fight in prison—some poor inmate ended up with a cracked jaw—and now she was being moved to a mental institution.“She’ll do just anything to save her own skin,”But Marco? He wasn’t escaping anything.The trial was dragging on, but every day chipped away at what little hope he had left. The trial wasn’t over, but the evidence was damning, and the prosecution had made sure of it. Marco would not see the light of day for years, maybe decades. The verdict wasn’t in yet, but everyone already knew—he was finished.And me?I had other things to focus on.I smoothed the gold dress over my hips, turning in front of the mirror. The fabric clung to my curves in all the right places, shimmering as it caught the light. The deep V at the front was bold, but not over the top. Sexy, but still classyThe brooch in my hair—a piece from Estrella Desi
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 59– The Mole
Alejandro POVEnrique met me by the door.“They’ve been making moves lately,” he said. “We need to strike back.”I clenched my fists, my gaze fixed on the door. “Not yet. Estella comes first. I need to make sure she’s safe.”“I get it. But we can’t let this go unanswered. They need to know they can’t touch us without consequences.”I didn’t look at him. My focus stayed on the silent closed door.“I know,” I said. “And they’ll pay for this. Every fucking one of them. But not yet. Not until I know she’s okay.”The doctor stepped out of Estella’s room, pulling the door closed behind him. His face was calm, but I could tell he wasn’t thrilled with what he had to say.“She’s sleeping now,” he said. “I gave her a sedative. The shock was too much for her.”I nodded, my jaw tight. The image of her shaking, screaming, scrambling onto the bed to escape the snakes was burned into my mind. She hadn’t even noticed when I held her. Her fear had taken over everything“She’ll be fine,” the doctor rea
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 60 – Our Room
Estella POVThe soft creak of the floorboards must have woken him.I looked up, startled to find Alejandro watching me, his dark eyes alert despite the dim light of the room. His voice, rough from sleep, broke the silence. “What are you doing?”He was stretched out on the couch, looking far too large and uncomfortable in the cramped space. I ignored him and knelt by his feet, opening the first aid kit I’d grabbed from the hall closet. “Stay still,” I said, reaching for his ankle.He shifted, pulling his foot away slightly. “Answer me first.”I grabbed the leg. “Let me,” I said, meeting his gaze briefly before returning my focus to the bite.His resistance faltered, and he leaned back, his eyes never leaving me.I opened the first aid kit beside me, the soft click of the latch the only sound between us.The wound was worse than I thought. The snake’s fangs had left two jagged punctures, the skin around them red and swollen. The faintest bruise was starting to form. I cleaned the area
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 61 – The Line Between Us
Estella POVThe bathroom door opening pulled my gaze from the sketches in my lap. Alejandro stepped out, a towel slung low around his hips, water trailing down his chest in teasing rivulets.My mouth went dry.He didn’t glance at me immediately, busy ruffling a hand through his damp hair. The movement flexed the muscles in his arm, and for a split second, I forgot how to breathe.When his gaze finally shifted to me, his lips curved.“Caught you staring.”“I wasn’t staring,” I shot back, though my voice lacked conviction.“Right,” he drawled, leaning casually against the doorframe. “You’re just sitting there, wide-eyed, admiring the ceiling?”I glared at him, hoping the heat rushing to my face wasn’t obvious. “Put some clothes on, Alejandro.”“Careful,” he said, his smirk deepening. “You couldn’t hold it in your first night here.”I rolled my eyes, but my stomach fluttered at the memory. “You were wearing shorts underneath.”“Doesn’t mean you weren’t tempted. He said as he grabbed a p
Last Updated : 2024-12-23Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 62 – Time to Play the Game
The warden escorted the woman in the plain trench coat and oversized scarf down a sterile hallway. Her heels echoed faintly against the cold, tiled floor.“Nurse Hartley,” he barked, stopping by a desk where a woman was flipping through a clipboard. “Visitor for Room 47.”Hartley frowned, her lips tightening. “Helena Valdez? I don’t know why anyone would want to see her.”The woman gave her a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “She deserves visitors too, doesn’t she?”Hartley snorted. “That one doesn’t need visitors—she needs an exorcist.”The warden frowned at her but said nothing. He handed the woman a visitor’s badge, his gaze on her scarf for a moment before nodding for Hartley to proceed.“I still think this is a mistake,” Hartley muttered as she led the woman down a narrow corridor.When they reached the final door, Hartley paused, glancing at the reinforced glass window. Inside, Helena Valdez sat slouched in her chair, her hair hanging in greasy strands around her face. He
Last Updated : 2024-12-23Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 63 – The Dance Before the Fall
Estella POVMy designs glistened under the spotlights like stars against the night sky. Each piece had been meticulously crafted—not just to be beautiful, but to tell a story.My story.I stood behind the curtains, clutching the edges of my speech cards, though I knew every word by heart. The murmurs of the crowd buzzed like white noise, a reminder of the faces waiting for me on the other side.“Ready?” Alejandro’s voice broke through the noise.I turned to find him standing beside me, his hand resting lightly on my back. His touch warm.“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I said, giving him a tight smile.“You’re going to blow them away,” he said with quiet confidence.The crowd shifted as I stepped onto the stage, every eye drawn to the spotlight that followed me. My heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the faint notes of the jazz band playing in the background.“This collection,” I began, the microphone amplifying my voice across the grand hall, “isn’t just about jewelry. It’s a tribute
Last Updated : 2024-12-24
Latest chapter
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,
