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67 – Inferno
Last Updated:
2024-12-26 18:50:21
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 68 – Don’t Let Go
Estella POVThe explosion had thrown us both to the ground, and the roar of fire filled the air. My ears were ringing, but it wasn’t loud enough to drown out the pounding of my heart.“No,” I choked out, a searing pain in my legs. “Alejandro, you don’t get to do this me!” My hands trembled, smearing blood across his skin.Nothing.“No, no, no,” I sobbed, shaking him gently at first, then harder. “Please don’t leave me too! Wake up!”Suddenly, headlights pierced the smoke. A car screeched to a halt, the door flying open“Estella!” Raúl’s voice rang out. He sprinted toward us, his face etched with panic“Help him!” I cried, waving frantically toward Alejandro. “Please, he’s not waking up!“What the fuck happened?”“The car crashed—,” I cried. “He—he got me out, and then the explosion…” My words tumbled out in panicked gasps. “He’s not waking up, Raúl!”Raúl dropped to his knees, his hands immediately going to Alejandro’s neck, checking for a pulse. His jaw tightened.“Is he—”“He’s ali
Last Updated : 2024-12-27Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 69 – Mine
Estella POV “Hey.” My head shot up, and my heart stuttered. Alejandro’s eyes were open, heavy-lidded but alive. “You’re awake!” The relief crashed over me like a wave, leaving me breathless. Tears blurred my vision as I leaned closer, brushing his hair off his forehead. “Oh, God, Alejandro, I thought—. Wait I’ll call the doctor. Just—just stay still.” “Stop,” he murmured. “I’m fine. Don’t fuss.” “Don’t fuss? Alejandro, you need—” “Come here Estella.” His tone left no room for argument. I swallowed, drawn in like a moth to a flame. Slowly, I leaned in, close enough to hear the steady rhythm of his breathing. “Closer,” he said again, his gaze boring into mine. I inched closer, our noses almost touching now. He reached up with his unbandaged hand, pulling the oxygen mask down to his chin. The next thing I knew, his fingers were at the back of my neck, gripping me with a possessiveness that sent a shiver through my entire body. And then his mouth crushed into mine.
Last Updated : 2024-12-28Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 70: Camila’s Interruption
Estella’s POVThe woman in the doorway smiled—a dazzling kind of smile. “Oh, come now. Is that any way to greet an old friend?” She stepped fully into the room, her heels clicking against the tile. Her coat flared slightly with the movement, revealing an emerald dress that hugged her like a second skin.She was stunning. And she knew it“I came as soon as I heard. I was worried about you,” she said, her tone all syrupy and concerned as she rushed to his side.Alejandro groaned, his head tilting back as if he needed strength from the ceiling to endure her presenceBefore I could process what was happening, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around him.I felt my body tense, I instinctively tried to withdraw from Alejandro’s hold. But his arm tightened around me, keeping me firmly in place“What the—Camila, get off me,” Alejandro muttered, his voice strained as he tried to push her away.She pulled back, clutching his arms, her glossy lips curving into a relieved smile. “Are you okay?
Last Updated : 2024-12-29Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 71: Questioning
Estella’s POVThe door swung open again, and Enrique stepped back in. “Boss, I have taken care of the hospital papers ,” he said. “A detective is here from the station for questioning. I already told her you’re not ready—”“Let her in,” Alejandro interrupted.Enrique hesitated, his gaze flicking briefly to me, then to a woman lounging near the window. “Are you sure? You’ve just been—”“Enrique,” Alejandro said, cutting him off with a pointed look. “Send her in.”“Yes, sir. He gave a nod, then turned to leave.I was about to ask who exactly Camila was when the door opened again. This time, it wasn’t Enrique.“Good afternoon,” said a woman in a navy blazer, her badge already in hand. “Detective Rivera.”I instinctively pulled the blanket tighter around me.“Mr. De Luca, Mrs. De Luca,” she began. “I’m here regarding your car accident.”I moved to the couch, suddenly aware of how I must have looked, still bruised and bandaged.Alejandro shifted in the bed. “What about it?”Rivera didn’t f
Last Updated : 2024-12-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 72: The Return
Alejandro POV “Ready?” The doctor asked. I nodded once, holding Estella’s hand as she sat stiffly beside me on the edge of the hospital bed. She looked pale. “Her ribs are still tender, so no sudden movements,” the doctor instructed me, glancing between us. “And your shoulder…” His gaze flicked to the bandage peeking out from under my shirt. “No heavy lifting. You’ll both need regular check-ups and physical therapy.” Estella gave a clipped nod. She hated being fussed over. When the nurse returned with a wheelchair, Estella’s knuckles turned white around my hand. “I don’t need that,” “You’ll sit in it,” I said. She shot me a glare but didn’t fight me. I helped her ease into the seat, ignoring the sharp pull in my shoulder. As the nurse wheeled her out, I followed, keeping a hand on the wheelchair’s handle. Outside, Enrique waited by the car. He opened the door with practiced efficiency. “The car’s ready. I moved to help Estella in, but she hesitated, her gaze darti
Last Updated : 2025-01-01Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 73: Back to the Start
Estella POV“We’re home, baby.”Alejandro’s voice stirred me awake. My head was resting against his shoulder, the scent of him so comforting. I blinked slowly, the world outside the window coming into focus.The car had stopped, the engine humming softly. I must’ve fallen asleep on the drive, something I rarely did. But I’ve got to admit it was the deepest sleep I’d had in ages.I stretched. “How long was I out?”“Long enough to remind me how cute you look when you’re not yelling”“Shut up”I sat up slowly, taking in the familiar sight of the sprawling estate. The last time I’d been here, I was breaking in, desperate and angry to clear Alejandro’s name. Now, it felt…different.“I figured you’d appreciate it more than being stuck in the city.,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Back to where it all started.”He was right. The estate was surrounded by lush greenery,the distant lake,the kind of setting that made you breathe a little slower. The scent of pine mixed with the faint floral no
Last Updated : 2025-01-01Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 74: Midnight Interruption
Estella POVDinner was extravagant. Diane had outdone herself with a spread of roasted chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, fresh-baked bread, and a salad drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette. But it was the dessert that had Estella groaning in bliss.“I swear,” I said, leaning back, “if I don’t stop now, I’ll need a crane to get up.”Alejandro and I moved to a couch. I felt relaxed, maybe for the first time in weeks, even though my body still ached. He poured himself a glass of wine, while I nursed a glass of water.“She’s really an amazing cook,” I said, resting my head against the couch. “It’s almost criminal how good that roast chicken was.”He smirked. “You should have seen her when I first hired her—burnt toast every morning.”I laughed. “I can’t picture that. She’s amazing now.”“She is,” he agreed, leaning back. “You almost passed out from eating too much.”I nudged his side with my elbow. “I did not. I just appreciated the food properly.”“Sure, mi estrella,” he teased, his deep vo
Last Updated : 2025-01-02Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 75: Midnight Interruption II
Estella POVAlejandro picked up the phone reluctantly, his jaw tightening. “Maybe it’s an emergency,” he muttered, sliding his hand down my thigh.I groaned and slumped back against the couch.The second he said, “Hello,” Camila’s voice filled the room“Alejandro! Thank God, you’re okay! I’ve been worried sick since I heard. Why didn’t anyone tell me you were discharged? I swear, you two are impossible. And speaking of impossible, we need to finalize the palette. Are you thinking a classic gold and cream? Or should we lean toward something bold like navy and silver?”Alejandro blinked. “What the hell are you talking about, Camila?”“The party!” she exclaimed, as if it were obvious. “For you and Estella! You know, as a welcome home for me slash healing celebration for guys extravaganza! Everything is already coming together, but we still have to iron out the details. I’ve got the florist lined up, and the caterer’s waiting on approval. Oh, and I need Estella’s input on the centerpieces
Last Updated : 2025-01-02
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak Epilogue: The Secrets We Keep
Five Years LaterEstella had insisted on having the windows open despite the doctors' protests—she needed to breathe something other than antiseptic and fear."Almost there," The matron encouraged from between her legs. "One more big push, Estella."Alejandro's hand was nearly crushed in her grip as another contraction seized her. The twins had decided to arrive three weeks early, sending them rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night."You're doing amazingly," Alejandro murmured against her temple. The entire pregnancy had been classified high-risk from the beginning.Estella bore down with a primal scream, feeling the first baby slide from her body."It's a boy!" The matron announced, lifting the wailing infant for them to see before placing him on Estella's chest.She touched her son's dark, wet hair. "Hello, little one,"The moment of joy was short-lived. The monitors beside her bed began beeping erratically."Blood pressure dropping," a nurse called out.The doctor in ch
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 216: Almost Home
The following weeks were filled with medical tests, therapy sessions, and small but significant milestones.Three weeks after waking, he took his first unassisted steps, gripping the parallel bars with so much intensity as he forced his atrophied muscles to cooperate. I watched from the sidelines, heart in my throat, as he pushed through pain that would have stopped a lesser man."Fuck," he growled through gritted teeth when his legs threatened to give out halfway through. "I'm not stopping."His physical therapist—a no-nonsense woman who'd quickly learned to match his intensity—nodded approvingly. "Two more steps. You can do two more."He did three before collapsing into the wheelchair afterward with sweat pouring down his face."Next time I'll do ten," he promised, breath coming in harsh pants.I handed him a towel, leaning in to whisper, "Watching you fight like this is incredibly sexy, you know."His exhausted laugh was all the reward I needed.By the six-week mark, he was walking
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 215: Two Months Later, Still Yours
When we broke apart, I rested my head on his shoulder, breathing in his scent beneath the antiseptic hospital smell. "Don't ever scare me like that again," I whispered."I'll try not to make a habit of getting stabbed in the heart," he replied dryly."This isn't funny, Alejandro." I lifted my head to meet his gaze. "I thought I'd lost you. I thought our daughter would grow up without her father."His expression sobered. "I know. I'm sorry." He squeezed my hand weakly. "How bad was it?""Bad," I admitted. "The knife nicked your heart. You lost so much blood... They weren't sure you'd make it through the first surgery." My voice caught. "And then you didn't wake up. Days turned into weeks, and you just... stayed asleep.""I'm sorry," he repeated. "For putting you through that. For not being there for you and Arielle.""You're here now," I said. The door opened quietly, and we both looked up to see Dr. Matthews returning, accompanied by a neurologist I recognized from previous consultat
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 214: The Sixty-Second Day
Two months laterThe hospital room had become my second home. The nurses knew my schedule better than I did—when I'd arrive each morning with fresh clothes for both of us, when I'd step out for coffee, which chair I preferred to sit in while reading aloud to Alejandro's unresponsive form.Sixty-one days of talking to someone who couldn't answer. Sixty-one days of watching for the slightest movement of an eyelid or the smallest twitch of a finger. Sixty-one days of hope slowly eroding into something that felt dangerously close to despair."The medical journal says coma patients show increased brain activity when family members speak to them," I said, turning the page of the medical text I'd been studying obsessively. "So I'm going to keep talking, even if I'm starting to repeat myself."Alejandro remained motionless. They'd removed his breathing tube last week when he started breathing on his own—a positive sign, Dr. Matthews had assured me. But his consciousness remained locked away,
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 213: One-Sided Conversations
"Aunt Eleanor," I gasped, shocked to see her. In the chaos, I'd almost forgotten she'd been injured in the initial car crash where Arielle was taken."You look worse than me," she said weakly, attempting a smile that turned into a wince.For some reason, it was the sight of her—battered but alive, just like the rest of us—that finally broke through the numbness I'd been hiding behind. The tears came suddenly and violently, sobs wrenching themselves from my chest as she wheeled herself closer, reaching out with her good arm to pull me against her."I was so scared," I admitted between sobs. "I thought we were all going to die. I was scared history was going to repeat itself self. And this time Arielle, Alejandro—""But you didn't," she reminded me. "You saved them both."I shook my head, glancing at Alejandro's still form. "I didn't save him. He's still—""Fighting," Eleanor cut in. "Just like he always has. Just like you have."I cried until I had no tears left, letting go of the fear
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
