Lahat ng Kabanata ng THE DEBT OF DESIRE: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Silence hung heavy in the air as Mateo's words echoed off the cavern walls. "It’s him. My father."Elena's breath caught in her throat. Luca gripped the hilt of his blade tightly, his knuckles white. Isabella stepped back, her eyes wide with disbelief, flicking between Mateo and the shadowed figure that had haunted them from the very beginning.Mateo's father emerged from the shadows, a cruel smirk curling his lips. His eyes, dark and cold, scanned the group with a familiarity that made Isabella's skin crawl."I always wondered how long it would take you to figure it out, son," he sneered, his voice a venomous blend of mockery and pride. "You’ve grown, but not enough to outsmart me."Mateo’s jaw clenched. His heart pounded like war drums in his chest, every beat roaring in his ears. Memories flooded him—memories of a father who had once held his hand and taught him to fight, only to vanish without a trace, leaving behind a hollow ache that never healed."You were dead," Mateo growled,

The storm rolled in like a wild beast, winds snapping through the forest canopy as lightning clawed at the sky. Rain fell in slanting sheets, cold and relentless, masking their movements as they pushed deeper into enemy territory.They didn’t speak much. Words felt too heavy now, too fragile against the weight of what was coming. But every glance between them — every brief touch of reassurance — built something stronger than fear: resolve.Mateo led the way, soaked to the bone, face cut and bruised, but his eyes were alive with a fire that refused to die. Isabella stayed close at his side, their fingers brushing from time to time, grounding each other in the storm of their fate. Elena, still a shadow of mystery and grit, navigated the forest with uncanny precision, her knife always at the ready. Luca covered their backs, eyes sharp and unwavering, pain radiating from his wounded shoulder, but ignored.They were running toward danger, not away from it.“Elena,” Mateo called over the roa

The forest had fallen quiet after the chaos of their near-capture. The moon hung low and full above them, casting a gentle silver light over the campsite Luca and Elena had managed to set up in a remote clearing. For the first time in days, there were no footsteps stalking them, no shadows whispering threats from the darkness. Just the soft rustling of the trees and the occasional crackle from the fire.Isabella sat by the fire, her knees drawn to her chest, eyes watching the flames dance. Her hair was tousled, her face tired, but there was a softness to her features tonight. The sharp edges of fear had dulled, replaced by a quiet, pensive calm.Mateo returned from the perimeter, his shoulders finally relaxed, the weight of constant vigilance momentarily eased. He saw her, silhouetted against the fire, and something inside him ached. They had both been holding on so tightly—too tightly. And now, in the lull, he felt the tremble of everything he’d held back.He sat beside her silently,

The sun filtered through the dusty blinds of the safehouse, bathing the wooden floor in stripes of warm light. It was the kind of morning that promised peace, rare and fleeting in their world, but beautiful nonetheless. Mateo stirred in bed, the weight of Isabella’s head resting gently on his shoulder, her breath soft and even against his skin. For once, there were no gunshots, no sirens, no running.Just quiet.Mateo turned slightly to face her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. She looked peaceful, her guard finally down. The constant tension that had lined her features in the past few weeks seemed to have melted away, if only temporarily. He kissed her forehead lightly, his chest tightening with an emotion he hadn’t dared name before.Love."You're staring," Isabella murmured without opening her eyes, her voice still thick with sleep.Mateo smiled. "How could I not? You're the only good thing in this madness."She opened her eyes slowly, a small smile spreading across he

The cold air sliced through the trees like a whisper of danger as Mateo stepped forward, the silence around him too loud to be ignored. The forest that once offered sanctuary now felt like a trap, and it was no illusion. His father stood before him—sharp-suited, eyes like flint, and a cruel smile carving his face."I always knew you were stubborn," his father said, his voice calm. "But chasing after that boy... did you think I wouldn't notice?"Mateo’s hand tightened around the gun at his hip. Isabella was just behind him, eyes wide with disbelief, her breath shallow."Where's Luca?" Mateo demanded, trying to mask the tremor in his voice.A low chuckle from the shadows answered him first. Then Elena stepped out beside Mateo’s father.Isabella gasped. "You... you betrayed us again?"Elena didn’t flinch. Her eyes, once full of warmth, now glinted with icy detachment. "You were never supposed to get this far. But I’ll admit... I almost believed you could change things, Mateo. Almost."Ma