Flashes of Memories

Alexa sighed deeply, her mind restless. The events of the previous evening replayed on an unending loop—Julian’s worried gaze, the tension in his posture, Theo’s cryptic words, and the unsettling emotions they all stirred in her. Every look Julian gave her made her heart flutter, but it was also a stark reminder of the danger surrounding them both.  

Despite her turmoil, exhaustion eventually overtook her, and she drifted off to sleep. However, peace was short-lived as a strange, frightening dream jolted her awake in the early hours of the morning. Her breathing was erratic, and though she couldn’t recall the details, a nagging feeling of impending danger lingered.  

She rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of it all when her hearing aid buzzed. She wore it even while sleeping—one of the many rules she followed religiously.  

“My ear will wear off at this rate,” she muttered, clicking the receiving button.  

“Alexa Keys.” The voice that greeted her was chillingly familiar. It was the voice of her worst nightmare: Dante Keys, her father.  

Her stomach twisted into knots. “What do you want? To kill me too and then cover it up with lies?” she spat, her voice dripping with disgust.  

She froze, realizing something unnerving. *Why is he speaking to me through the hearing aid?* A cold wave of realization hit her—he was in on this. The fear and disappointment were like twin blades cutting her to the core.  

“You monster,” she hissed, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. “You sold me out twelve years ago, left me to fend for myself, and now you’ve connived with Marcus to send me on a deadly mission?”  

Her voice cracked, the betrayal stinging deeper than before.  

Dante chuckled darkly on the other end. “Oh, sweet Alexa, you’ve grown wings, haven’t you? Talking back to me now? But I’ll deal with you later. For now, listen carefully. Do everything I say.”  

Mocking him, she mimicked his words. “Do everything I say.”  

The act infuriated him, and his tone grew harsher. “Don’t test me, Alexa. I know you’ve enjoyed the scraps of wealth you’ve been given. But don’t forget where you belong. I have an offer for you—bring me the golden watch. Do *not* hand it over to Marcus. I’m the real mastermind behind this, and if you deliver that watch to me, I’ll save you from his clutches. But if you fail…”  

He let the threat hang in the air for a moment before delivering the final blow.  

“…you and your mother will pay the price.”  

The line disconnected with a beep, leaving Alexa paralyzed.  

Her breath hitched as she whispered to herself, “Mom is alive? No… No, this can’t be true!”  

Her body shook as tears streamed down her cheeks. The cruel twist of learning her mother might be alive, coupled with her father’s manipulative threat, was too much to bear.  

---  

Meanwhile, at Marcus’s lair, Dante calmly placed the hearing aid on the table as Marcus entered. Dante’s expression betrayed nothing of the conversation he’d just had.  

Marcus smirked, his sharp gaze fixed on the device. “Let’s hear what the little maid has to say.”  

He inserted the hearing aid into a connected system, pulling up the audio on his laptop. A cruel grin spread across his face as he listened.  

“Mrs. Salvatore, how was your honeymoon? I trust the baby is kicking fine?” Marcus sneered, his tone mocking.  

At her place, Alexa was still shaken from Dante’s call when another buzz from the device startled her. Frustration bubbled up as she wondered what fresh torment awaited her.  

Then it hit her—Dante had spoken to her without Marcus knowing. A faint, bitter smile played on her lips as an idea began to form. *This could be my chance.*  

Marcus, oblivious to her thoughts, continued to rant into the device. “Well, I don’t care if you’re carrying triplets. All I want is that damn watch. Right, Dante?”  

Dante forced a chuckle, masking his apprehension. He silently prayed Alexa wouldn’t reveal his duplicity—not after he’d dangled her mother’s life as leverage.  

“Boss,” Alexa’s voice came through the device, surprisingly calm. “I’ve gathered some of his expensive valuables. Consider them appetizers before the main course.”  

Marcus leaned forward, intrigued. “Now we’re talking. If you’d been this smart from the beginning, I might have shown you my good side.”  

Alexa’s next words made Dante’s stomach churn. “There’s something important I need to discuss with you.”  

“What is that silly brat up to now?” Dante thought, his unease growing.  

Marcus didn’t share Dante’s concern. “I’ll come by tonight at seven. Do your best not to get caught. You know how that cold-blooded billionaire handles betrayal.”  

The call ended, and Marcus leaned back, smirking. “Your daughter isn’t as useless as I thought, Dante. But you seem… tense. Is there something I should know?”  

Dante forced a smile. “Why not toast to our upcoming fortune instead?” He poured them both wine, though his grip on the glass betrayed his simmering anger.  

---  

Alexa sat on her bed, replaying her father’s chilling words: *“Failure to do so will cost you or your mother’s life.”*  

Was her mother truly alive, or was this another manipulation to scare her into compliance? The uncertainty gnawed at her.  

Shaking off the thought, she glanced at the clock—it was almost 7 a.m. She dragged herself to the bathroom, taking a quick shower. Her mind wandered to Marcus’s lair, where luxury surrounded her but freedom was nonexistent.  

After dressing in her usual baggy pants and shirt, she slid into her flip-flops and began her daily chores. Miss Yvonne’s health had worsened, confining her to bed most days with nurses attending to her.  

Alexa made breakfast—scrambled eggs, toast, pancakes, and fresh fruit—and set the table. Then, her heart raced as she approached Julian’s room. She knocked softly, the memory of his intense gaze the previous night making her stomach flutter.  

Just as she was about to open the door, it swung open, revealing Julian, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit that hugged his frame perfectly. His cologne wafted toward her, and she swallowed hard, momentarily lost in his chiseled features.  

“Sir, breakfast is ready,” she stammered, her voice barely audible.  

Julian’s lips curved into a smile. “Lead the way.”  

At the dining table, Julian raised an eyebrow at the array of dishes. “You made all this?”  

Alexa nodded, and the sound of his stomach growling made her giggle. Julian looked up sharply, catching her radiant smile, and found himself smiling back before quickly composing himself.  

“Sit,” he ordered, surprising her.  

“I… I don’t bite,” he added with a smirk when she hesitated.  

Alexa finally sat, nervously playing with her fingers. Julian’s commanding yet magnetic presence made her insides flutter. *What a perfect man,* she thought absently.  

“Really?” Julian asked, raising a brow.  

Alexa’s head snapped up. “What?”  

“You just called me perfect.”  

Her cheeks flushed as she slapped a hand over her mouth. She hadn’t realized she’d said it aloud.  

Julian chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent warmth spreading through her chest. “Don’t worry,” he teased, “you’re not wrong.”