Alexa's POVTonight, that escape began. Sarah had declared that before we could figure out where to go next, we needed to purge the negativity. And there was only one way she knew how: a night out.I was hesitant at first. The thought of loud music and crowds felt overwhelming after the emotional storm I’d been through. But Sarah was insistent, her energy infectious. "Come on, Alexa," she’d said, pulling out a sparkly top from her closet. "You need to dance it out. Scream it out. Just for a few hours, forget everything."Against my better judgment, I agreed. Sarah, with her boundless energy, transformed us both. A little makeup, a splash of perfume, and suddenly, the reflection in the mirror wasn't just a tear-stained wreck. It was me, or at least, a faint echo of the girl I used to be.The taxi ride to the club was filled with Sarah’s chatter, her excitement a deliberate shield against my lingering gloom. As we approached, the thumping bass vibrated through the streets, growing loude
Don Antonio's POVThe office was quiet, save for the low hum of the air conditioning and the soft clink of ice in Xavier’s glass. He sat across from me, his expression calm, his eyes perceptive. I had just finished recounting the bewildering events at the hospital, Claire's incomprehensible decision, and Alexa's desperate flight. I'd laid bare my own confusion, my re-evaluation of love, and the gnawing anxiety that Alexa's departure wasn't a retreat to peace, but an escape from a deeper wound.Xavier had listened patiently, his silence more attentive than any interruption. When I finished, he didn't offer immediate solutions or condemnations. Instead, he spoke with a quiet wisdom that, while insightful, left me with an unsettling feeling.He spoke of the complexities of how love could defy logic, surviving even the most obvious betrayals. He argued that for some, the familiarity of a shared history, even a painful one, could be a stronger pull than the promise of a new, unknown future
Alexa's POVThe drive to Sarah’s house was a blur through my tears. I barely remembered telling the driver the address, or stumbling out of the car when we finally arrived. Sarah met me at the door, her eyes widening in alarm at the sight of my tear-streaked face and disheveled state. Without a word, she pulled me into a fierce hug, guiding me inside her cozy living room.She made me a mug of hot tea, strong and sweet, and sat patiently while I tried to compose myself. The warmth of the mug in my hands was a small comfort, a stark contrast to the cold despair gripping my heart. Finally, the sobs subsided, leaving me raw and emotionally drained.I told Sarah about the whole situation with my mother and Don Antonio. The words spilled out in a torrent – the hospital, my mother's awakening, the agonizing revelation of her lingering feelings for Donald, and then, the impossible ultimatum. I recounted my mother's quiet, unyielding demand that I leave Don Antonio if I wanted her to leave Do
Alexa's POVThe blare of the horn, the screech of tires, the near-miss with the SUV – it was a brutal awakening. My legs still trembled on the curb, the metallic tang of fear in my mouth. I had almost gotten myself killed, so lost in the emotional wreckage of my mother's impossible ultimatum. Don Antonio's vacation offer, dismissed hours ago, now seemed like the only way out.I had called him right there, on the street, accepting his offer to escape. He'd said a car would be here in twenty minutes. Those twenty minutes felt like an eternity, each second amplifying the need to flee this city, this hospital, and the unbearable reality my mother had just forced upon me.The car arrived promptly, a sleek black vehicle that swallowed me whole. The drive back to Don Antonio's estate, usually a comforting return to a familiar haven, felt different. A heavy sense of foreboding settled over me as we pulled through the imposing gates.As the car glided up the long driveway, past the meticulousl
Don Antonio's POVThe phone call with Alexa had ended abruptly, her voice strained and hoarse, her words a desperate plea for escape: "I'll take it. I need to leave. Now." My immediate response was to act, to mobilize my resources and arrange her departure without question. That's what I do. That's who I am. But as I barked orders to my men, dispatching a car to the hospital, a cold, unsettling feeling began to settle over me.I was having a double mind about the vacation. On one hand, I was relieved. Her acceptance, even a reluctant one, meant she would be away from this toxic environment, away from Donald and the baffling hold he still seemed to have on his ex-wife. This island retreat was exactly what she needed, a chance to breathe, to heal, to find some semblance of peace. It was what I had planned, what I believed was best for her.But on the other hand, her sudden change of heart, the desperation in her voice, gnawed at me. Just hours before, she had been vague, elusive, seemin
Alexa's POVThe demand still echoed in my ears, sharp and cruel: "You must leave Don Antonio." My mother's words had landed like a physical blow, stripping away my breath, leaving me stunned in the sterile hospital room. I stared at her, then at my father, a silent, baffled scream building in my throat. How could this be happening?The silence was suffocating, punctuated only by the frantic beat of my own heart. My mind reeled, trying to grasp the vileness of her ultimatum. Leave Don Antonio? The man who had been my protector, my ally, my solace through every dark moment? The man who had, in his own way, loved me and sought justice for her? And all for Donald, the man who had caused all this suffering, who had left her to rot?I was confused and angry about the condition my mother gave me. Confusion tangled with a searing rage. It wasn't just a choice; it felt like a betrayal. My mother was now turning against the one person who had truly stood by me. It was illogical, heartbreaking,