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Lahat ng Kabanata ng He Lost Me at Mistress: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

12 Kabanata

Chapter 1

Smack.Shaking with rage, I slapped him hard across the face."How could you say that?"Being illegitimate was the deepest shame of my life.I never thought the person I trusted most would be the one to tear that wound open.But he did.Dante touched his cheek, his eyes going cold."What? Am I wrong? Or did you actually think you'd become Mrs. Locatelli?"Each word was brutal.Every syllable cut like glass.Like he'd never loved me at all.I swallowed my tears. "If you were never going to marry me, then what were we all these years?""Does it matter?" he said, frowning.Like I was the crazy one.Tears slid down my face. "Of course it matters. I won't let my child grow up like I did—illegitimate, judged from birth."I didn't get to choose how I was born.But I could save my child from the same life.No matter what.He gave a careless laugh."Then get rid of it."His voice was light.Like it meant nothing.Before I could react, he added, "I'll give you money. Go get

Chapter 2

I turned away from his hand.He didn't care. He just slung an arm around my shoulders."Trust me. Stay with me, and I'll take care of you. You'll live well."Then he checked the time."A jewelry store downtown just got in a new collection of diamond rings. I'm picking out the biggest one so I can propose to Wanda."He was buying my sister an engagement ring.Right after asking me to be his secret mistress.Nausea rushed up my throat. My stomach twisted hard.But Dante didn't have time for me."I'm leaving. Take a cab home. And don't start drama."A second later, his car vanished down the street.I stood alone on the sidewalk, clutching the crumpled pregnancy test.***Even after dark, his words kept looping in my head.'You're only worth something when you're by my side.'Was that true?I looked down.Who said my worth depended on him?A few days ago, my mentor had offered me a spot on a major research project overseas.I'd said no after finding out I was pregnant.

Chapter 3

The hallway was packed. Everyone watched, tossing out cruel comments.I lowered my head and tried to leave.Then a black school jacket, smelling like clean laundry, landed over my shoulders.I looked up.Gentle eyes met mine.He was tall enough to block me from everyone else."Had enough? If not, dump the water on me."Dante didn't raise his voice, but nobody questioned him.Wanda's expression changed. She left with the others, annoyed.The crowd slowly broke apart.I slipped off the jacket and held it out to him."Thank you."By then, I was already numb.I'd convinced myself someone like me didn't deserve kindness.He didn't take the jacket."Keep it. You don't want to get sick."Before I could argue, he turned and walked back into class.After that, he started showing up more.When I ate alone in the corner of the cafeteria, he sat across from me with his tray.When my classmates shut me out on purpose, he always appeared right when I needed help.Even when I walk

Chapter 4

"Still lying?"My father strode over, his eyes ice-cold."You're still denying it? Who else would go that far? Did you think mailing those photos to the Ambrosi estate would force us to arrange your marriage to Dante, the way we covered up your mother's scandal? You're just like your greedy mother. All dirty little schemes."My head snapped up."I didn't mail those photos. It wasn't me!"The second Dante said our child would be illegitimate, I'd already decided not to keep the baby.Just then, the front door opened.Dante walked in.The second he saw the photos all over the floor, he froze.Wanda rushed into his arms, crying."Dante, you're finally here. Look what she did. She's pregnant with your baby, and she sent those photos here on purpose. She thinks she can force you to marry her."Everyone looked at Dante.Clinging to the last piece of hope I had, I tried to explain."It wasn't me. I'd never do that."He said nothing.He only bent down and picked up one of the ph

Chapter 5

"Dante, you have to believe me. I didn't mean to. I promised I'd accept her. But she mailed those intimate photos to the Ambrosi estate and shoved her pregnancy test in my face. I just snapped."She was twisting everything.One quick look would prove her story made no sense.But Dante would never look."I know," he said.In the hospital bed, I clenched the sheets.'It's okay,' I told myself. 'The baby's gone. I'm free now.'But Wanda wasn't done with me.She tugged Dante's arm and looked up at him."Dante, she'll try something else next time. I'm scared she'll keep clinging to you."Then she added, "Just like her mother."Dante's face went hard.Wanda bit her lip, seeing her chance."Why don't we make sure Alessa can't have kids? Then she can't use another baby to trap you.""In your dreams." I pushed myself up.My reaction only made Wanda madder."Dante, look at her. She doesn't regret anything. You can't go easy on her."Dante stared at me.His fist slowly loosened

Chapter 6

Third-Person POVThe second the cabin door shut, Dante's roar still ripped through the air."Alessa! Get back here!"He lunged forward, sprinting after the helicopter like he'd lost his mind. His fingertips almost grazed the landing gear.But the helicopter was already rising.Wanda caught up and grabbed his arm. "Dante, get up. If she's leaving, let her go..."He ripped free, eyes locked on the shrinking black speck in the sky.The helicopter cut through the rain-heavy clouds and vanished into the night.Dante dropped to the cold concrete roof, soaked through.Only his ragged breaths remained, along with the words barely loud enough for him to hear."You really... don't want me anymore?"No one answered.When Alessa boarded the helicopter, she was shaking.She pulled the blanket tighter and stared out at the dark sky.The storm had stopped somewhere along the way. A break in the clouds revealed a small patch of stars.She remembered a late fall day in her junior year of

Chapter 7

She kept the apartment spotless.A few potted plants lined the windowsill. The kitchen had pots, pans, and dishes.Back in Santoria, she'd never had a place of her own.The Ambrosi estate wasn't home. Neither was Dante's apartment.This was hers. No one could throw her out whenever they wanted.***Alessa slowly settled into her new life.Every morning, she got up at seven, worked in the lab until six, and sometimes stayed late.Dr. Bellandi took extra care of her, often inviting her and a few colleagues over for dinner.The days slipped by, quiet as the lake at the foot of the Alps.Over the next two months, Dante searched for her like he was losing it.He even called off the wedding.Wanda finally snapped and stormed into his office, eyes red. "Dante, are you really in love with her?"He leaned back in his chair, face blank. "That's my business. It has nothing to do with you.""Nothing to do with me?" Wanda let out a cold laugh, tears sliding down her face. "She was car

Chapter 8

She agreed.The weather was perfect the day she flew to Parienne, a city in Francia.A guy around twenty-seven or twenty-eight sat beside her on the plane. Tall, charcoal-gray trench coat, seriously handsome. When he smiled, warmth filled his eyes.He looked at her and smiled."Are you from Santoria too?"Alessa nodded."What a coincidence. So am I." He held out his hand. "Colsen Cavalieri. Architect."After a second, she shook his hand."Alessa Ambrosi. I'm in biomedical research. I'm traveling for work too."Colsen handed her a magazine."Want it? Three hours is a long flight."Alessa took it and flipped through a few pages before stopping at an article.[Locatelli Corp Faces Debt Crisis; Heir Dante Locatelli May Be Held Accountable]Her fingers froze.The article said Locatelli Corp's cash flow had collapsed, several projects were on hold, and Dante, the project manager, had been called in by regulators.Alessa read the whole thing without showing any emotion.Then s

Chapter 9

She was quiet for a moment."Not really."Colsen didn't push. He just nodded."What about now?"Alessa watched sunlight shimmer across the river and thought for a second."I'm still getting there."Colsen smiled.He lifted his coffee cup and lightly tapped it against hers."Then here's to things getting better."Six months later, Alessa got a message.Wanda wanted to see her.Alessa agreed.Wanda had lost a lot of weight since they'd last met. Her makeup was flawless, but it couldn't hide the exhaustion in her eyes or the dark circles beneath them."You've changed a lot," Wanda said.Alessa looked at her without speaking.Wanda's voice dropped, almost like she was talking to herself. "You always kept your head down before, like you could be crushed at any second. But now you're sitting here with your back straight. I've never seen you like this."Alessa took a sip of tea. "People change.""They do." Wanda sighed. "Some people change. Some don't."After a beat, she ask

Chapter 10

Snow fell harder and harder until the world outside turned white.Alessa picked up the envelope.After a moment, she opened it.Inside was one photograph.An old black school jacket, neatly folded in a glass display case. Beside it sat a huge diamond ring, shining like a teardrop.She stared at it for a long time.Long enough for the snow to stop.Long enough for a server to ask if she wanted another cup of tea.She shook her head, turned the photo facedown, and set it on the table.Then she picked up her phone and texted Colsen.[You said you had a friend in Parienne who works in real estate. Does that offer still stand?]Colsen called almost instantly.His voice sounded like he was smiling."Alessa, I think I've been waiting for you to say that since the day we met on the plane."***What Alessa didn't know was that the day after she hung up, Dante got a report in Castellora.His men had finally found her.It had everything—her address in Zorich, the research institu

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