<b>Chapter </b><b>77 </b>
The <b>moon </b>hung high and pale in the night sky, casting a ghostly glow over Alejandro’s estate,
The entire mansion was cloaked in quiet, save for the asional whisper of wind rustling through the trees outside.
The corridors of the mansion were silent, dim lights casting long shadows on the walls. Alejandro moved like a ghost through them<b>, </b>saps soundless, the wine and dinner from earlier settling cold in his stomach.
He reached Nivera’s room and hesitated before the door
Gently, he turned the handle and pushed it open just enough to slip in
enough to slip inside. He moved cautiously and silently, his eyes scanning the room.
Moonlight filtered through the drawn curtains, bathing the room in silver.
There she was, curled on her side on the bed, one arm tucked under the pillow, the solt rise and fall of her chest steady and calm. Her curls spilled across the sheets like spilled ink
Even in slumber, her expression was peaceful<b>, </b>unguarded. She had <b>a </b>lot of <b>guts</b>, sleeping peacefully in the devil’s <bir </b>
Alejandro exhaled quietly. Just seeing her there, sate, breathing peacefully, did something to his chest he didn’t quite understand
After the wine, they had eaten together, joked a little, and finally retreated to their rooms. That was hours ago, but sleep didn’te for him
His eyes lingered longer than they should have before he finally stopped back and pulled the door shut behind him, locking the image <b>of </b>her sleeping face in his mind.
However, he didn’t go back to his room.
Instead, he walked out the front doors, pulling a jacket over his T–shirt as he stepped into the night air
He climbed into his <b>car</b>, started the engine, and drove. The GPS had given Fim the location earlier–a remote stretch of nothingness in the middle of nowhere.
“We need to talk. Come alone,” The message <b>had </b><b>read</b>, after which the sender texted the location
He hadn’t asked questions, as he already knew why he had been <b>asked </b><b>to </b>meet up, and so he simply sent an acknowledgement that he had received the
message.
The headlights cut through the dark as <b>he </b>drove past farnd, empty fields, and shuttered gas stations.
Finally, he reached the ce. A clearing surrounded by trees. One car was already parked.
He pulled up beside it and stepped out, the gravel crunching beneath his boots: He shut the car door with a quiet thud and immediately-
A body collided with him from behind, shoving him hard against the side of his <b>car</b>. An elbow pressed to his neck, keeping him locked in ce.
The man pressed in closer. Alejandro caught his scent and recognized the height and build. Then the face confirmed it.
However, unlike as expected, he didn’t panic, nor did he reach for the gun tucked safely in his pants.
“Well<b>, </b>well, well,” Alejandro drawled, his voice dry as ever as he stared at the familiar face. “This is interesting
The man who had abused him was none other than Liam Elton.
“Can you get off me?” Alejandro asked lightly, not even pretending to strain.
“Drop the act,” Liam growled, but he didn’t budge. “We both know who you are.”
Alejandro smirked. “A charming businessman with impable taste and a knack for making enemies?<b>” </b>
“Don’t y with me, your arsehole“.
Liam showed him once more before finally stepping back.
Alejandro straightened, rolled his shoulders, and turned to face him fully. “To what do I owe this delightfd ambush?”
Liam’s jaw was tense, his eyes narrowed as he red at Alejandro. “Stay away from Hivera”
“Wow, Straight to the point. Not even a hello”
“You think
this is a joke?”
“No.” Alejandro said, stuffing his hands in his pockets, “I think this is a waste of perfectly good sleep”
Liam stepped closer. “You’re dangerous<b>.</b>”
“Yes, and tall. Plus, devilishly handsome. Nivera’s quite fond of all three.”
“You’ve got a reputation,” Liam said coldly. “A bad one. Women, power ys and a terrible reputation. My sister doesn’t need that. She doesn’t need
you
Alejandro shitted slightly, letting the words roll off him like water off ss. “And <b>yet</b><b>… </b>she chose me”
“She doesn’t know who you are.”
“She knows enough.”
Liam’s jaw clenched. “She’s been through hell. Thest thing she needs is a man who’ll destroy her just for the fun of it.”
“Careful,” Alejandro said smoothly. “You’re starting to sound like you <b>care</b>.”
Liam’s expression twisted. “You think this is funny? You think this is a game?”
Alejandro leaned back against the car, exhaling. “You mean how your family yed house while your sister was dragged through the mud?”
Liam’s face flickered.
“Where w
were you then, big brother?” Alejandro asked, his tone sharper now. “When she had nothing No name. No roof. No one. Where were you?”
Liam looked <b>away </b>
“Exactly,” Alejandro continued. “<b>You </b>all watched her fall and acted surprised she <b>didn’t </be crawling back<b>.</b>”
“I made a mistake,” Liam acknowledged stiffly. “I failed her. I know that. But I’m not going to let you hurt her <b>too</b><b>. </b>
Alejandro rolled his eyes. “Cute speech, but it’s <b>a </b>littlete
“You don’t deserve her.”
<b>“</b>Probably not,” Alejandro said <b>casually</b>. “But she with me. And unlike <b>you</b>,
I won’t leave her.“”
Liam’s eyes shed. “You u put that mark on her face, didn’t you?” He asked. Nivera had told jam that it wasn’t Alejandro, but he didn’t believe her
Alejandro froze as the air shifted, and for the first time, his expression slightly changed.
Liam stepped forward <b>again</b>, this time his voice lowered. “I saw it. I noticed a s gel possessive. Angry. Violent. You break things when you can’t control them.”
Bruise. <b>She </b>said it was from a woman. But I know men <b>like </b><b>you</b>, <b>You </b>
Something dark passed through Alejandro’s expression. Cone was the bored, channing tagado.
In the blink of an eye, Alejandre surged forward, grabbing Liam and mming him against the car. The move was swift, brutal, and practiced.
Now his forearm was at Liam’s throat. His sharp jaw and cold eyes were like a harsher mirror of Rivera’same bone structure, but none of the and the eye colour was way off.
His voice dropped to a growl when he spoke. “Say whatever you want threaten. Lecture. I don’t care. But don’t you ever use me of hitting her Ever!
He’d rather die than every his hands on a woman, so he didn’t appreciate being used of doing so, much less against Hivers
Liam’s breath hitched, but his gaze held steady.
Alejandro’s eyes were wild now, stormy and unblinking. The rage wasn’t loud. It was quiet. Dangerous
And then, like aflip being switched, the mask came back on. He similed and let go abruptly, stepping back asif burnt.
Liam coughed and rubbed at his throat.
Alejandro turned his back on him, “You have no idea who I am.
“I know exactly who you are,” Liam said <b>hoarsely</b>. “And unless <b>you’ve </b>changed, you’re going to mess this up. And when you do, she’ll see you for what you
are, and she leave.”
The wordsnded like stones, but Alejandro didn’t act on the anger he felt
He stopped forward <b>again </b>and brushed nonexistent dust from Liam’s jacket.
“Let’s not fight. We’re family now,
<b>aren’t </b>we?”
“You’ll never be family.” Liam stared at him, clearly unimpressed.
Alejandro grinned. “Not with that attitude. Tell your little <b>sister </b>hi for me,” Alejandro added with a wink, walking back to his car.
He opened the door and slipped in, but before he closed it, Liam said onest thing:
“She’ll see through you <b>eventually</b>. They always do.”
Alejandro paused, then chuckled.
“Till then, dearest brother–inw.”
The door mmed shut, after which the engine growled to life, and he pulled away.
But inside the car, the grin dropped.
His jaw clenched, and his hand flexed over the wheel. He didn’t care what Liam or her family thought.
“She’ll see through you eventually. They <b>always </b>do.“The words echoed in his head.
He had heard them before and had seen it happen years ago. Silent, bruised, fading, and he, too young to stop it. Too weak.
That helplessness had never really left him.
Now Liam had voiced what Alejandro had never admitted aloud.
What if Nivera saw it one day?
What if she ran?
Would he let her?.