Dear readers,
I’m deeply sorry for the slow—or almost nonexistent—updates lately. Even if I don’t deserve it, I truly hope you can forgive me. I owe you an explanation, and I want to be honest and accountable. Last month, I paused updates in hopes of stockpiling chapters, planning to return this month with consistent releases—especially as I’m currently juggling the final stages of two books. But life took an unexpected turn when a health emergency came up in my family, and I’ve been in the hospital these past few weeks. Some writers are able to keep going in situations like this, but it’s been really hard for me. I’m barely getting any rest, and productivity feels like a distant goal. I’m praying that all of this will pass soon, and that my family and I will have reasons to rejoice. But for now, my mind hasn’t been calm enough to write. My emotions feel scattered, and I don’t want to give you anything half-hearted or rushed. I see and appreciate the time, emotions, and even money you’ve poured into this book. That means everything to me—and it’s why I feel so guilty about the delay. Please bear with me just a little longer. For my upcoming books, by God’s grace, I’ll do everything I can to write at least two-thirds of the book before publishing, so updates can flow smoothly, no matter what comes up. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.Dear readers, I’m deeply sorry for the slow—or almost nonexistent—updates lately. Even if I don’t deserve it, I truly hope you can forgive me. I owe you an explanation, and I want to be honest and accountable. Last month, I paused updates in hopes of stockpiling chapters, planning to return this month with consistent releases—especially as I’m currently juggling the final stages of two books. But life took an unexpected turn when a health emergency came up in my family, and I’ve been in the hospital these past few weeks. Some writers are able to keep going in situations like this, but it’s been really hard for me. I’m barely getting any rest, and productivity feels like a distant goal. I’m praying that all of this will pass soon, and that my family and I will have reasons to rejoice. But for now, my mind hasn’t been calm enough to write. My emotions feel scattered, and I don’t want to give you anything half-hearted or rushed. I see and appreciate the time, emotions, and even money
By the time Alejandro returned later in the day, Elise had moved back to the bedroom after spending her time sulking. She was on a couch in the room, curled up with a book she was not invested in, but passed as a distraction. She only noticed his presence when his cologne filled the air followed by the scent of blooming roses. Before she could get on her feet, Alejandro opened the door, smiling as soon as he saw her.“Lily.” “Alejandro, you are back.” She said almost immediately. “Yes,” he nodded.Elise stared at him with a thin smile on her lips, unsure what to say next. She looked at him again, and at the faint lines around his eyes from exhaustion, yet his smile was warm and maybe, boyish.His tie hung loosely on his neck, and his hair was disheveled, as though he had run his hands through it a hundred times. “You are sure you had a good day?”“Yes, of course. I did,” he mentioned, adjusting the bouquet of deep red roses in his arms.“Okay.” Elise nodded slowly, shifting her ga
“I think I feel better now.” Elise forced out, holding her neck. The bathroom tiles were cold against her knees, contrasting the feverish heat that radiated from her body. She was still sleeping when a wave of nausea hit her, and the next thing she was doing was running to the bathroom to retch.The icy feel of the tiles seeped through the thin fabric of her cotton pajamas, adding more to the inconvenience she was experiencing as her stomach churned.Her hands gripped the toilet’s rim, her knuckles pale, as another wave of nausea surged. Once again, she retched into the bowl, the sound of it coming straight from her lungs. Her throat burned with acid, and her eyes stung as the sweat beads on her forehead dropped into it. Yet, she did not allow the tears that consumed her to fall. Morning sickness was not a new term to her, but the experience was worse than she had seen in books and articles. It felt like her body was betraying her, every part of it giving in to the chaos that fil
Reminiscing about how fast things turned was probably not the wisest thing for Elise to be doing. Yet, she could not help but live it again.She remembered vividly how she was putting up with her family, and praying to move to college as soon as possible. Then out of no where marriage suddenly knocked. Not one born out of love, but an arrangement that she had to fulfill. It was suffocating to think about it because then she felt like her life was being tossed about and she had no control. If she was not optimistic about life, she feared what she would have done to herself in all those times. Moving forward and being with Alejandro was another roller coaster. On some days, she was loving it and on some others, it seemed completely unbearable. All of this went on and all she could hold on to was her firm belief that regardless of how and when, a day would come when she would have achieved her long life dream.Like an earthquake, pregnancy appeared and shook her world completely. When
Elise’s eyelids flapped open as the morning light filtered through the curtains casting lights across the room.Her body felt languid from everything that had happened the previous night and a slow smile formed on her lips as the memories rushed back to her mind. The faint ache in her muscles was a delicious reminder of Alejandro’s touch, his sweet words, and the way he explored every part of her with intentional care.She rolled onto her side, hugging the pillow as she let out a giggle. As if experiencing all of it afresh, she pressed her eyes shut and her legs tight as the chills ran through her.But then, her mind flicked to the Foundation event with the reality dawning on her that Alejandro had opted out of a major contract and even though they had an intimacy to clear out the tension of the previous day, it was a reality that was still going to hit them.She could still see the hatred in Mariana’s eyes as she spat out that Alejandro was going to regret his decision. Shaking her
Now they were back at their home, a breath of fresh air away from the confrontation that had happened at the Foundation event. Alejandro wanted to leave immediately, but Elise made him stay back as the event was not completely over, and she did not want him to miss out on some important interactions because of her. Amongst the number of things that happened, the major thing that stood out was Alejandro’s father supporting him to defend her. It was not like in front of her, he had ever outrightly voiced out his hate, but she could feel the disdain before now. “Thank you!” She nodded and stepped into the room while Alejandro locked the door behind her. “It’s nothing,” Alejandro mentioned as he watched her trying to take off her jewelry, a few steps away from him. He wanted to move to help her, but he did not trust himself, and the actions that he would take, so he turned away, He focused on undressing but turned back to her while his shirt was unbuttoned just halfway, revealin
The secondary living room was just a few rooms away from the main hall but it was a world away from the bling and decor of the charity event. Elise stood near the window, the cool glass pressing against her fingertips as she stared out mindlessly at the estate’s sprawling lawn. Alejandro paced behind her, his footsteps muffled by the thick rug. He took off his tuxedo jacket, tossed it over a chair, and hung his tie loose around his neck. “You didn’t have to hear that,” he said, his voice rough but much quiet like he was trying to pull himself back. “ I don’t know what she was thinking. Mariana, she has no right to do that.”Elise turned, her dress rustling faintly as she faced him. “You ended the contracts,” the words slipped out roughly from her lips. “With her family. Just like that.”He stopped pacing and locked his eyes on hers. “Yes, of course,” Alejandro moved closer, close enough that she could smell the faint cedar of his cologne. “They don’t get to talk to you like that. Th
The charity event had drawn the city’s elite, pouring in as men in tailored suits with women wearing expensive jewels with their laughter mingling with the clink of champagne glasses. Ellse stood near the edge of the grand room, the gold necklace cool against her skin. It was beautiful, no doubt, but it sat there like an extra weight on her skin. After her encounter with Lucas and every other preparation that had to be carried out, she changed into a dress fitting for the event with a quick makeup touch-up.She smoothed her dress, a deep emerald that hugged her just enough to show the very faint curve of her stomach to only the people who could notice, while her eyes scanned the crowd.Alejandro arrived then, moving through the room like he owned it, which in a way, he did. It was their occasion and he was the face of Mendoza Holdings, the pioneer of the foundation.His tuxedo was sharp, with the black fabric catching the light as he moved, searching for Elise and his eyes found her
The events that took place at the previous dinner were possibly not lesson enough for Elise because on this morning again, she was dressing up to visit the Mendoza mansion. Alejandro adjusted his tie as he faced her. “Are you sure you want to go?”She tossed her lip gloss into her bag and nodded. “Yes.”Her encounter with Mariana was not the best, as much as she appreciated that she had been firm with her about staying off her child. But nothing else had happened after that. “You know you could just stay back though? I will come pick you up after work to join.”She heaved. “Alejandro, I want to be there. Your mom said the foundation does not usually give charity at this time of the year. It’s happening now because I am pregnant, at least from what she said. It will be wrong if I’m absent from the meeting.”He nodded against his will. “You have a point.”He was more worried because he was not going to be there with her especially as he had to go to work and leaving her with his mothe