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96: Long Silence
Last Updated:
2025-01-19 23:25:03
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Estella POVWhat if his car slipped on ice and crashed? What if he was lying out there, bleeding, freezing in the snow, waiting for help that wasn’t coming?Should I go after him? But I didn’t even know where he was.I dialed again. Straight to voicemail. Again.“Goddammit,” I muttered, gripping the phone tighter. Where the hell was he?”I dialed Enrique again instead.“Ms Estella,” he answered.“Enrique, have you found him yet? I’ve called him a dozen times. He’s not answering.” My voice cracked on the last word, betraying the panic I was trying so hard to suppress.“It’s strange,” Enrique admitted. “His phone isn’t reachable. I’m checking around.”“What if he’s… What if something happened to him?” I whispered. My throat tightened, the words catching. “What if he’s out there, hurt—or worse?”“I don’t know yet,” Enrique replied. “But I’m checking into it. I’ll find him.”My throat felt tight, and my voice cracked. “Please, Enrique. I don’t know what to do. Just tell me if—”He interru
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Estella POV The red material slipped from my fingers and fell onto the floor like a grenade I had just detonated. I stared at it, my stomach churning, bile rising in my throat. Slowly, I raised my gaze to Alejandro, my heart pounding with equal parts pain and fury. The man I thought I knew looked back at me with panic written all over his face “Why, Alejandro?” My voice trembled, but I kept my head high, refusing to let the tears fall. “What does this even mean? His hands flew up defensively, his jaw clenching. “Estella, I don’t know how it got there. You have to believe me—“ “Liar!” The word escaped before I could stop it, the word ripping out of me like a scream. “So that’s why you were away all day, huh? Right after asking me to marry you, you ran straight to her? You couldn’t even wait a fucking day!” His face darkened, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. “Don’t you fucking do that,” he snapped “I’m warning you Estella. How can you accuse me of sleeping with her? I a
Last Updated : 2025-01-22Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 99: The Broken Ring
Estella POVI stormed into the walk in closet, pulling clothes off hangers without looking at them. A pair of jeans. A random blouse. A jacket. It didn’t matter. I just wanted to leave. I shoved everything into a duffel bag, my movements frantic, the sound of my own ragged breathing filling the space.“Estella,” Alejandro’s voice came from the doorway, low and cautious, like he was trying not to spook a wild animal.I ignored him, yanking out more clothes.“Estella,” he repeated, firmer this time, stepping into the room. “Where are you going?”I zipped the bag with trembling hands and turned to face him. His expression stopped me in my tracks. His dark eyes weren’t just tired—they were haunted, rimmed red with exhaustion. His shoulders sagged like he was carrying a weight no one could see. But it was the way he looked at me—pleading, desperate—that made my throat tighten.“Where are you going?” he asked again.“Away,” I said, my tone colder than I intended.“Away where?” His jaw tight
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Estella POVThe house was silent when I walked in,the sounds of my footsteps echoing down the empty halls. I didn’t go straight to our room. Instead, I lingered in the kitchen, staring blankly at the hot cup of tea Diane had left on the counter.I couldn’t bring myself to take a sip.When I finally forced my legs to move upstairs, I found everything back in its place. The closet doors were shut, the drawers neatly closed, and the bag I’d packed with such rage and pain was gone. My clothes had been folded and put back exactly where they belonged.I knew it was him.My chest tightened, a mixture of frustration and something far more painful. He’d done it not because he was dismissing my anger but because he wanted me to stay. It was so… him. Always trying to fix things in his own silent way.I leaned against the doorframe, my eyes scanning the room then the door, looking for a sign of him.Damn him.I caught my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were puffy, my cheeks splotchy, and my lip
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Estella POV“You’ve got some nerve showing up here,” I said as I stared up at Camila leaning casually against the banister of the platform above, as if she owned the place.She wasn’t the sweet innocent, doe-eyed girl she pretended to be for so long. Today, she looked every inch the conniving snake I always knew she was— unapologetically malicious.She was dressed in a sleek, blood-red trench coat cinched tightly at the waist with stilettos so high I bet they hurt. Her lips curled into a smirk painted the same shade as her coat, and her hair was pinned back in a high ponytail, not a single strand out of place. She tilted her head slightly, as if amused, her painted pink nails tapping against the metal railing. The way she walked down the stairs felt like a performance. Each step, each click of her heels, was designed to get under my skin, and damn it, it was working.“What can I say? I’ve always been known to be bold. Full of surprises too” she replied.I could feel the curious gazes
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Estella POVI laughed out loud, the kind of laugh that wasn’t born out of humor but pure disbelief. “You’ve really outdone yourself this time,” I said, shaking my head. “You’ve gone from desperate to downright delusional and absolutely nuts.”“Oh, I’m sorry. What exactly is so funny about me being pregnant, Estella?”“You,” I said, biting down another laugh. “Do you honestly think I’m stupid enough to fall for this? Then you’re dumber than I ever thought, Camila.” My voice was calm, but the fury simmering underneath was unmistakable. “Newsflash, sweetheart: You can’t get pregnant overnight. Biology 101. Let me spell it out for you—pregnancy takes time. Two weeks minimum.” I raised two fingers for emphasis, staring her dead in the eye. “So read my lips: Stop this nonsense and go home before I blast your pathetic little act wide open.”Camila didn’t back down. If anything, her smirk widened, her painted lips curling in amusement. “Oh, Estella. You really think I’m lying, don’t you?” S
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Estella POVThe receptionist’s polished smile barely shifted as I handed her Clara’s credit card. “Welcome to The Halcyon,” she said. “Will you be needing help with your luggage, Ms. Morris—”Yes. I logged in under a fake name. Clara’s to be precise.“No, don’t bother” I cut her off quickly, forcing a smile. “No luggage. Just me.”She nodded, but her gaze lingered a second too long, her smile widening a fraction. “You look familiar. Are you a model? I think I used to see you on—The question caught me off guard. “No,” I said quickly. “You must have me confused with someone else.”The girl blinked, her cheeks coloring. “Oh, my mistake. Sorry. I just thought—”I didn’t let her finish. “It’s fine. Could I have my key, please?”She nodded and handed over the key card. “Room 210. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call the front desk. Enjoy your stay.”I muttered a quick “thanks” and moved away, resisting the urge to glance back. In the elevator’s mirrored walls, my reflection stared
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Estella POVI stopped at a 24/7 store next which was quiet except for the shuffle of a lone employee restocking shelves. I wandered through the aisles, scanning shelves that gleamed under harsh fluorescent lighting. My fingers hovered over a stack of plain T-shirts before settling on a soft gray one. I threw it into my basket alongside the essentials I’d already grabbed—a travel toothbrush, a comb, a pack of face wipes, and a plain set of pajamas. My fingers hesitated over a simple black dress. It wasn’t like I had anywhere to wear it. But then again, who cares so I tossed it into my basket too, along with a pair of flats.The cashier smiled politely as I slid Clara’s credit card across the counter, her nails clicking against the keyboard as she rang up my items. She didn’t say much, but the look she gave me—it was faintly curious, like she was trying to place me. Did I seem familiar to her too? Or was I just paranoid after the receptionist?I stuffed the receipt into the bag and hea
Last Updated : 2025-01-26
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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
