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77: The Disguise of Concern
Last Updated:
2025-01-03 19:12:45
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Estella POV I couldn’t take another second of this. It was suffocating. “I’m going to lie down,” I said abruptly, excusing myself from the room before anyone could stop me. I couldn’t stomach Camila’s cloying voice for another second. “Oh, Estella,” she cooed, her eyes following me. “You really should. You’re still looking sick. Maybe you need some vitamins? Don’t worry I have loads of skincare packed here for you.” I bit my tongue and forced a tight smile. “Thanks for the concern but I’m good. There is no need. ” I didn’t wait for her reply as I headed back for the stairs, her voice floating up behind me. “Alejandro, do you hear that? She’s overworked. You should do something about it. This is the reason I planned this sleepover.” I rolled my eyes and kept walking. “Oh, come on, Alejandro!” she whined. “It’ll be fun. Like old times. I can’t go back to that apartment after what happened.” I paused mid-step, curiosity getting the better of me. “And what exactly happe
Last Updated : 2025-01-04Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 79: Shattered Foundations
Estella POVI stepped into the modest yet elegant space that housed Estrella Designs. It wasn’t huge—a handful of rooms for consultations, storage, and a cozy workspace where my team brought my ideas to life. At the far end, the walls were lined with shelves displaying my signature piecesI’d dreamed of expanding by the end of the year, turning this modest studio into a fashion house worthy of the luxury pieces we created. And if the current sales continued, that dream wasn’t far off.“Welcome back, Ms. Estella.” Clara greeted me at the door with her usual her no-nonsense attitude which had been exactly what I needed when I hired her.She was my first hire.I still remembered her interview—when I asked her the one question I asked every candidate, ‘Why should I hire you?’“Because I don’t just work hard. I make things happen,” she’d said.She hadn’t been lying.“How’s everything running?” I asked, shrugging off my coat as we walked to my office.“Better than you’d think,” Clara said, h
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Estella POVMy phone pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. Alejandro’s name lit up the screen.“How did the deal go, mi estrella? I know you’ll knock them off their feet. Don’t forget you’re unstoppable. Call me later—I want to hear all about it and I miss your voice already.”I stared at his words and swallowed hard. This should have been comforting, but it only twisted the knife deeper. He had no idea about the accusations, the cancellations, or the articles dragging Estrella Designs through the mud.My thumbs hovered over the screen, tempted to unload everything.“It was a disaster. Someone’s accusing me of fraud, and now everything’s falling apart because of a stupid online post.”I stared at the words, then sighed and erased them. Instead, I typed something simpler“I’ll tell you all about it when I get home.”Pressing send, I let out a shaky breath. My fingers tightened around my coffee mug as guilt bubbled in my chest. Alejandro always had faith in me, but right now, I wasn’t s
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Alejandro was propped up against the headboard, a laptop balanced on his thighs. His face was pale, a sheen of sweat dotting his brow, but his eyes lit up the moment he saw me.“You’re back,” he said, his voice low and hoarse.I frowned, crossing the room in a few quick strides. “Alejandro, you look like you’ve been through a war,.”He smirked, though it lacked his usual fire. “Thanks, mi estrella. Just the compliment I needed.”Ignoring his sarcasm, I tugged the laptop off his lap, setting it on the nightstand. A glance at the bedside table revealed untouched tea and covered snacks left by Miss-we-go-way-back. My fingers brushed his forehead, and the heat radiating off him made my stomach twist.“You’re burning up.”“I’m fine,” he murmured, trying to wave me off, but even that small movement seemed to sap his strength.“Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” I demanded, planting my hands on my hips.He shrugged, his lips quirking into a faint smile. “You had a meeting to worry about.
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A smile tugged at my lips, relief washing over me. At least one thing was going right today.“What’s got you grinning like that?” Alejandro’s deep voice came from behind me.Startled, I shoved the device under the blanket like a guilty teenager. “You’re supposed be in bed. When did you wake up?” I said, spinning around to face himHe raised a brow, crossing his arms. Even with the pale flush of fever still clinging to his cheeks, he looked every bit the sexy commanding man I’d married. “I was, but you’re being suspicious. Let me see.”“No!” I said quickly, scooting back on the bed.He raised an eyebrow. “Now that’s suspicious. You’re hiding something, mi estrella.“I’m not!” I shot back, but the heat rising to my face betrayed me.“Oh, really?” His lips curved into a dangerous smirk, and before I could protest, he lunged for the phone.“Stop!” I yelped, twisting away from him.I dodged, barely managing to keep it out of reach. “Alejandro!” I shrieked, laughter bubbling up.“Give it to
Last Updated : 2025-01-06Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 83: She’s Staying
Estella The door swung open, and Alejandro walked back into the room, his expression stormy. I sat up, pulling the blanket tighter around me, waiting for him to speak. “She’s leaving,” he announced curtly, his voice still laced with the anger from earlier. “Good,” I muttered. He climbed back into bed, brushing a hand over his face. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that.” Before I could respond, a sharp knock echoed from the door. Alejandro groaned, his jaw tightening as he called out, “What now?” Camila peeked her head inside, her eyes red-rimmed and watery. She looked nothing like the smug woman who’d barged in earlier. “Alejandro… I know you want me gone. But I—I can’t leave right now.” His glare was icy. “What part of ‘you’re leaving’ didn’t you understand?” Tears spilled down her cheeks as she stepped inside, clutching her phone tightly. “I just got off the phone with my building manager. The rat infestation is worse than I thought. They’re still working on it, and I
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I was still mad at Alejandro for letting Camila stay. I sat at the edge of the bed, arms crossed, watching him tie his tie in the mirror. He looked annoyingly perfect. “You’re not going to work,” “I feel fine,” he countered, his gray eyes locking onto mine in the mirror. “Fine? You were burning up last night,” I reminded him, standing and planting myself between him and the door. “You’re staying home.” He smirked, leaning down until our noses almost touched. “You’re cute when you’re bossy.” “And you’re infuriating when you’re stubborn,” I shot back, my hands on my hips. His laugh was the kind that made my resolve waver. “I’ll take it easy. I promise. But I have to go. There are things that need my attention.” I sighed, knowing I wasn’t going to win this one. “Fine. But if I find out you overworked yourself, Alejandro…” “You’ll what?” he teased, brushing his lips against mine in a kiss. “You’ll punish me?” Heat rose to my cheeks, and I pushed him away with a laugh. “Go
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Clara’s car was a snug compact sedan that made it easier to move through the tight streets. I sat in the back, Raul in the passenger seat.“Not exactly the kind of neighborhood you want to be parked in for too long,” Clara muttered, half to herself“Thanks for covering the payment, Raul,” I said, glancing at him from the backseat. “I’ll make sure to pay you back—”“Don’t worry about it. Consider it handled.”“Handled?!” Clara spun around to face him, her dark curls bouncing as she gestured animatedly. “That was twenty thousand dollars. Do you have any idea how foolish it was to pay that sleazeball that amount?”Raul scoffed, shaking his head. “Relax, Clara. I didn’t actually pay him.”“Wait—what?”“What do you mean?” I asked, leaning forward.He tapped his phone, handing it to Clara. “Check the notification.”Her eyes darted to the screen before widening in realization. “The money’s been reversed!” she exclaimed. “Wait—so was that a fake transfer?”“Let’s just say he won’t notice unti
Last Updated : 2025-01-08
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"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
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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
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"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
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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
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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,"
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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,
