<b>Chapter </b><b>29 </b>
Nivera’s body sank deeper into the plush mattress, the silky sheets tangled around her legs.
The sunlight peeked past the curtains in faint golden streaks, warming her cheek as she sighed in her sleep.
She felt rxed, but something was off.
Even in sleep, her senses pricked. It felt like there was a presence, Heavy. Watchful.
Her brows twitched, and her fingers curled around the sheets instinctively, but
feeling didn’t stop.
Then–Her eyes flew open.
She was met with Alejandro. Standing there like a carved statue at the foot of her bed, arms folded, hair slicked back, and in a tailored ck dress shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. Watching het.
“Ah!”
Nivera let out a startled yell and bolted upright, clutching the nket to her chest as if it were armour.
“What the hell<b>?</b>” she yelled, her chest heaving with adrenaline “What are you doing in my room?!”
Alejandro’s expression didn’t shift much. His lips curled faintly, more amused than apologetic “It’s time for you to wake up.”
“Are you insane?!” She red at him, wondering why she <b>was </b>the unlucky one that got on Alejandro’s radar.
“You couldn’t knock? Or I don’t know<b>, </b>wake me up like a normal person? Tap my shoulder gently–hell, anything that doesn’t include standing over me like a damn demon?!”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he replied coolly.
She stared at him, still trying to slow her racing pulse. “You’re infuriating”
“I’ve been told,” he said with a shrug. “You’ve got ten minutes to get <b>ready</b>. And <b>if </b>you’re not dressed by then, I’lle back and drag you in whatever you’re wearing.”
Her jaw dropped. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He winked. “I would. <b>Today </b>is Antonio’s <b>wedding</b>. I <b>leave </b>in twenty minutes. Clothes <b>are </b>on the chair. The hair and makeup team is waiting in the next
<b>Before </b>she could form a reply with enough venom, he turned to leave. Just as his hand touched the doorknob, <b>he </b><b>added</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>You’ll need to <b>behave </b><b>yourself </b>in public, Or try. You’ll be sitting near the front.”
“Of course will,” she muttered under her breath. “Close to the devil himse“!”
She flopped back on the bed with a groan, throwing her hands over her face. “<b>This </b><b>has </b>to <b>be </b>a dream. A bad, bad dream”
But it wasn’t. She knew that by the way her heart hadn’t stopped pounding <b>since </b>she woke up. And that smug, arrogant face of <b>his </b>was seared into her
retinas
After <b>a </b>few muttered curses under her <b>breath</b>, Mivera dragged herself out of bed. Her bare feet met the cold <b>floor </b>as she made her way to the bathroom.
<b>“</b>Controlling bastard!” She couldn’t help but curse.
Alejandro adjusted the cufflinks on his sleeve as he stood beside Antonio, both dressed in tailored ck suits that looked like they’d been stitched directly onto their bodies.
Antonio nced at him, squinting as if studying his expression. “You good?”
“I’m always good, Alejandro replied.
*You came all the way here to get ready, but I don’t see her anywhere, he pointed out.
“She’ll be at the wedding where she’s needed, Alejandro responded.
“Hmm, so you found a way to avoid getting marriage alunces,” Antonio scoffed.
“Of course, I’m the smarter one.”
“idiot.” Antonio muttered under his breath. “Nivera Elton? So what’s her backstory?”
“She’s the ck sheep of her traditional family, years ago or so they <b>say</b>. She walked out two years ago and never looked back with the intention of building a modeling career. And then she hit <b>a </b>wall”
Antonio hummed as he pondered upon Alejandro’s words. Then slowly, a grin began to pull at his lips.
Alejandro saw <b>it </b><b>and </b>sighed. “What?”
Antonio didn’t answer right away. Instead<b>, </b>he adjusted his the and said in a low voice, “<b>Interesting</b>… She and Zabelle might have more inmon than 1
thought, and seeing as you’re walking down the same <b>path</b>…
Alejandro’s eyes narrowed as he caught on to what Antonio was trying to <b>say</b>. “Don’t even start,” he warned.
“Just saying Antonio said, holding up his hands. “The world has a strange way of aligning people”
“I’m not marrying anyone,” Alejandro asserted tly
“Who knows?” Antonio replied, still smiling, <b>but </b>he didn’t borate further.
Alejandro refused to bite, as there <b>was </b>no point. He already had his mind made up, and that was
A knock on the door broke him out of his thoughts, and the door opened. “Sir, it’s time for the wedding,” they <b>heard </b>the worker say, and the two men straightened up
“You know, you can still make a run for it,” Alejandro told Antonio<b>. </b>
“Don’t worry; my wife and I will do so <b>after </b>we get married,” Antonio responded, and he walked out of the room.
<b>What </b><b>a </b>terrible decision.” Alejandro clicked his tongue.
“My goodness, you’re beautiful!” Nivers heard the make–up artist say, and she turned to face him, wondering if he was talking about her or his work.
“Thank you,” she <b>said </b>regardless,
The make-up team had worked swiftly, styling her hair into soft waves and applying make–up that enhanced her sharp features while keeping things understated and elegant.
Her lips were painted a soft nude. Her dress hugged her curves without being <b>scandalous</b>, and her heels were the perfect shade of silver.
Maybe he had indeed been referring to her because she looked, simply put, stunning. Still, nerves clung to her like a second skin.
For one, she wasn’t even supposed to be there, but there was no getting out of that, and she couldn’t help but hope she wouldn’t do something would cause her embarrassment.
As she adjusted the strap of
A message
the strap of her dress in front of the full–length mirror, her phone buzzed on the counter.
“Thank you.” she said when the make up artist helped her with her phone
As the unlocked it, she was gi eeled with a message from her sister, and her blood ran cold even before the read it.
Vivian: Congrattions, you managed to really piss off dad. You’re in big trouble, and apparently so is Alejandro Brw, if you’re attending the wedding<b>, </b><b>try </b>not to act like you crawled out of a rubbish bin.”
Nivera’s grip on the phone tightened and her neves deepened.
“Of course,” she muttered, throat tight. <b>Vivian </b>never missed a chance to take a shot.
However, that wasn’t what made her nervous, it was her father who did.
He was someone who didn’t like being challenged, and not only had Alejandro done so, he had gone as far as hitting him
Shit, she cursed inwardly. Thest thing she needed was Alejandro going down, and he was useful to her when it came to warding her family off.
“Ma’am” Nivera turned her attention from her phone when she heard someone call out to her, it <b>was </b>one of the helpers. The driver is here to pick you
up, “She informed
With a shaky broath, she tucked her phone into her purse, squared her shoulders, and gave the mirror onest look.
She would think about her father and the threat he posedter
<b>For </b>now, she had to get through the wedding
“You’ve faced worse,” she told her reflection, “Just… pretend you belong.”
—–
The ck SUV pulled up in front of the grand cathedral just in time
Guests had begun to file in–men in sharp tuxedos, women in shimmering dresses. Photographers <b>buzzed </b>around, but none were able to get close to the entrance, as there was a strong barricade around.
The door was opened for her<b>, </b>and Nivers stepped out<b>, </b>ignoring the momentary stares she drew
She walked past them, her chin tilted in practiced confidence, heels clicking against the stone pavement.
She didn’t bother waiting for even a split second, as she didn’t want them to take any photo of her.
Once she was inside, she couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty of the church, <b>as </b><b>it </b>was breathtaking.
Soft orchestral music drifted through the <b>air</b>, candies were lit, and floral arrangements adorned the pews and altar, Everything smelled like roses and old
money.
Alejandro was already at the front with Antonig. Both men, dark–<b>haired </b>and striking in their suits, stood like twin statues of intimidation and charisma.
<b>Nivera’s </b>gaze scanned the church until an usher <b>guided </b>her to her seat–a ce reserved near the front, just <b>as </b>Alejandro <b>said</b>. She <b>could </b><b>feel </b><b>people </b>turning to look
She could hear them whispering, wondering what she was doing there.
0.39 Wed, 28,000
But <b>she </b>sat down with grace, smoothing Iver dress, forcing her heartbeat to settle. She would not let them see her inch
As soon as she sat, she turned to look at Alejandro the same time he turned to look at her.
Her breath hitched in her thront when she saw his eyes scan her appearance and then back at her.
It was hard to tell if he was satisfied with <b>what </b>he saw, a
v, as he had that infuriatingly unreadable expression,
He looked away when Antonio said something and the two moved to the back signaling that the ceremony was about to start.
From her ce near the front, Nivera nced around, taking in the quiet roverence
A few minutester, everyone was still, waiting. A few <b>heads </b>turned as the doors at the back of the church opened slightly–movement catching the
A hush fell over the crowd.
And then, the music swelled.
Nivera’s breath hitched as the bride had arrived.
<b>AD </b>