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18: Grace
Last Updated:
2024-11-28 18:37:08
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Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 19: Step One
“Let me see,” I said, stepping closer. Alejandro glanced at me. “Curious?” “Let’s just say I want to watch this house of cards collapse.” He smirked, sliding his chair back so I could lean in. “Marco siphoned off over $50 million over the last five years,” he said, pointing to a file on the screen labeled Luxury Expenses. “Gambling debts Monaco, private jets, questionable offshore accounts. He’s been covering his tracks with falsified audits.” “And this is all going out?” Alejandro nodded. “I sent the files to a few key investors and news outlets. By now, they’re waking up to the kind of headline that makes stock prices tank.” As if on cue, the notifications on his phone light up like a Christmas tree. He checked it, lips curling into a satisfied grin. “The first article just went live. By lunchtime, Marco will be drowning.” I leaned against the desk. “Does he know yet?” Alejandro tilted his head, mockingly thoughtful. “Let’s hope not. I want him blindsided.” By noon,
Last Updated : 2024-11-28Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 20: Blood and Fear
“Alejandro, we need to get you out of here. Now.” My voice cracked as I pressed my palm against his shoulder, trying to slow the bleeding. He winced, his eyes darting around the chaotic parking lot. “You need to get to safety first,” he said, his voice tight with pain. “Safe?” I snapped, my voice rising over the panicked shouts around us. “Stop being so damn stubborn! You’re bleeding out, and I’m not leaving you here.” He grimaced but finally nodded. “Alright. Let’s go.” I slipped my arm around his waist, supporting as much of his weight as I could. Alejandro gritted his teeth but didn’t complain. Each step was agonizingly slow, his breath hitching with every jolt. “Stay behind me,” he muttered, pulling me closer to shield me as his eyes swept the area. I held on tighter. “Not happening.” The parking lot was a war zone. Broken glass glittered under the flickering lights, security guards shouted into radios, and distant sirens pierced the air. People screamed in the dist
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 21: A Month After
It’s been a month since the shooting.Alejandro insisted we move to his penthouse while he recovered, a sprawling glass-and-steel fortress perched in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The place screamed wealth—floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the skyline. A view that would’ve made a poet cry.And yet, I couldn’t enjoy it.Every time I saw him shirtless—his shoulder bandaged, the bruising still fading—I felt the phantom stickiness of his blood on my hands. Every time he winced, I heard the echo of that gunshot.I was losing sleep over itThe news didn’t break until two days after the shooting outside the Wellington Club.Carl Whitman, the Texas oil tycoon, had been the sniper’s primary target. The bullet meant for him struck true, ending his life in an instant. It all made sense in hindsight—the chaos, the way the attack seemed planned down to the second. Carl Whitman was the prize. But if that was true, what the hell had Alejandro and I been caught in? Collateral damage?This do
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 22: Fight and Flight
I blinked at him. “What?”“You need to learn how to defend yourself,” he said matter-of-factly. “The next time someone points a gun in your direction, I want you to know exactly what to do.”I stared at him, my jaw dropping. “Are you serious? You just got shot, and now you want to play sensei on a rooftop?”“Yes,” he said simply. “Now, take off your coat. Let’s get started.”“Alejandro, this is ridiculous,” I muttered as I stood in front of him, my arms awkwardly raised in what I assumed was some kind of defensive position.His shoulder looked stiff as he rolled it back, the edge of a bandage peeking out under his shirt. He moved like someone who’d decided pain was optional.“No, what’s ridiculous is how bad your stance is,” he said, smirking.I rolled my eyes. “You’re impossible.”“And you’re stalling.” He stepped closer, his good hand gripping my elbow to adjust my posture. His touch sent a jolt through me.“Feet shoulder-width apart,” he said, his voice low, his breath warm against
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 23: Cracks in the Armor
I stumbled through the automatic doors, Alejandro right behind me. My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out the chaotic sounds of phones ringing, monitors beeping, nurses rushing past. For me, everything was muffled, distant, like I was moving through water. I clutched the counter, leaning in to address the nurse.“Ruth Farrell,” I said, breathless. “She was brought in earlier. Stroke.”The nurse barely glanced up. “Your name?”“Estella Farr—De Luca” I said, barely able to string words together. “Her daughter.”“And your relationship to the patient?”I blinked, my mind scrambling. “I just said—daughter. She’s my mother.”She nodded and typed something into her computer, her fingers clacking with an irritating calmness. “She’s stable, but the doctor is still evaluating her condition.” She paused, glancing over at Alejandro as if sizing him up before adding, “You’ll need to wait until he’s done.”“I—” I stepped back, disoriented, as if the words had struck me physically. The word of
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 24: Cracks in the Armor II
“My father was a mean drunk,” Alejandro began, his tone detached, as though recounting someone else’s life. His gaze was fixed on the chipped wall across from us. “The kind who didn’t stop at breaking bottles—he had to break people too. I don’t remember a time when my mother wasn’t covering up a bruise or an excuse for him.” I stayed silent, my chest tightening as his words unfolded like a wound reopening. “He was good at hiding it when people were watching,” he continued, his voice sharpening. “But behind closed doors, he didn’t hold back. My mother bore the brunt of it.” My chest tightened. “And you? Alejandro’s lips pressed into a thin line, his jaw twitching. “He had no problem turning it on me when I got old enough to ‘get in his way,’ as he’d put it. But mostly, I had to watch. I had to watch him destroy her, piece by piece.” I swallowed hard, unsure if I should speak, but the look on his face stopped me. He wasn’t done. “She tried to shield me from it, I guess she th
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 25: Graves and Ghosts
Ruth was still in the hospital, her condition stabilizing but far from ideal. The doctor insisted she stay under observation for a while longer. It had been a week since the stroke, and while she occasionally came around, the moments were fleeting. Her speech was slurred, limited to a few words at best, and her side was almost completely immobile. “She’s responding well to treatment, but recovery will take time,” the doctor had told me yesterday. “It’s crucial to keep her stress-free. Her Alzheimer’s complicates things, but the physiotherapy sessions we’ve started should help over time.” Alejandro visited with me a few times, staying quiet but present, his hand occasionally brushing mine when the silence grew too heavy. Now, I was standing in front of a mirror getting ready for Carl Whitman’s funeral. I felt the stares before I even stepped out of the car. The low hum of whispers as Alejandro held the door open for me. “They’re staring at you, not me,” he murmured, his hand b
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 26: Power Play
The bathroom door eased open, letting a warm wave of steam roll out into the bedroom. She stepped into the room, her bare feet silent against the cold tile floor. Droplets of water clung to her skin, catching the dim light from the bedside lamp. Her gaze settling on the figure sprawled on the bed, his chest rising and falling with the steady rhythm of sleep. For a moment, she just watched him. The sheet barely clinging to his waist. A corner of her mouth lifted. Vulnerable was exactly how she liked him She untied the robe around her and let it slip to the floor without a sound. Barefoot, bare everything, she padded to the bed and climbed onto it, the mattress dipping under her weight Her knee pressed into his side as she straddled him, her hands trailing lightly over his chest. “Wake up,” she whispered, her tone sweet, almost affectionate. He stirred, his eyes blinking open, hazy and unfocused at first, but when they landed on her, they sharpened. A lazy smile spread across his
Last Updated : 2024-12-01
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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,
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 191: Walking In On Another Woman
I lunged forward before the doors fully opened, without looking and slammed right into someone."I'm sorry, I—" The words died in my mouth as I looked up.A sharp intake of breath followed. "Oh my God."Time seemed to freeze as I stared into the face staring back at mine .Clara eyes widened, lips parting in shock. For a heartbeat, we both stood paralyzed.Then her face crumpled, her eyes filling with tears instantly. "Estella? Is that you?"Before I could respond, she threw her arms around me, clutching me like I might disappear if she let go."It's you. It's really you," she sobbed, her whole body trembling.I clung to her just as desperately, burying my face in her shoulder. The scent of her perfume—the same one she'd worn for years—unleashed a flood of memories."Clara," I choked out, barely recognizing my own voice.She pulled back just enough to cup my face between her hands, eyes searching mine as if trying to convince herself I was real."I thought I was hallucinating," she wh
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 190: The Visit
I stared at my reflection in Alejandro's closet mirror one last time before heading out. The woman looking back at me was caught between two identities—Amelia Alvarez, the woman who lived in Madrid with no past, and Estella De Luca, the woman who built a life alongside the man who'd just reclaimed every inch of my body.Last night changed everything and nothing at the same time. I grabbed my phone, fully charged now, and pulled up the address."Time to remember," I whispered to my reflection.In his closet, I found a dark baseball cap and a pair of oversized sunglasses. A weak disguise, but enough to avoid immediate recognition. I wasn't ready for a grand entrance—not yet anyway.I grabbed my purse and slipped out the door. The doorman nodded politely, not recognizing me—another knife twist of how completely I'd vanished from this life.In the cab, I watched the New York streets blur past. My heart hammered against my ribs as the name "Estrella Designs" burned in my mind. Clara had k
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 189: Never Again
The bed was exactly as I remembered it—king-sized, with dark sheets that had always contrasted so beautifully with my skin. How many nights had we spent here, tangled together in passion or simply sleeping in each other's arms?I stood by the edge of the bed, unsure of what to do. What comes next now? This moment felt fragile. One wrong move, and whatever connection and peace we'd reestablished might shatter.Alejandro came up behind me, his chest pressed against my back, arms encircling my waist. His lips found my shoulder, then my neck, working their way up to my ear."On your knees," he murmured, and the command sent a shiver down my spine.I complied, crawling onto the bed and positioning myself as instructed. The towel fell away, leaving me exposed to his gaze. I heard his sharp intake of breath, felt the bed dip as he knelt behind me.His hands gripped my hips, pulling me back against him. "You left, Estella.""I know," I whispered, dropping my head between my arms. "I know."He
Till Betrayal Do Us Part: Ex-Husband, Ex-Heartbreak 188: Punishing Love
It wasn't gentle. It wasn't forgiving. It was demanding, consuming, raw. I gasped against his mouth, my hands clutching at his shoulders, his back, anywhere I could reach. His body pressed against mine, pinning me to the wall. One of his hands tangled in my hair, pulling just enough to hurt, to remind me of all the pain between us. His hands gripped my waist, yanking me against him. "Five fucking years," he growled against my mouth. I gasped as his teeth scraped my lower lip, then bit down hard enough to make me taste copper. The pain shot straight to my core, making me moan. "Did he get to see you like this?" He spun me around, pressing my chest against the cold wall. His erection pressed against my ass, his breath hot on my neck. "All desperate and needy?" I gasped unable to answer as his hand slid up my thigh, under my skirt. His fingers hooked into my panties, ripping the delicate fabric with one sharp tug. The sound of tearing lace made me whimper. "I hate how much
