<b>Chapter </b><b>79 </b>
The drive back to his mansion was quiet, but with a strange kind of stillness that had Alejandro asionally licking <b>nces </b>at Rivera.
She hadn’t said much since they left the hospital mainly because she was busy with her phone instead of paying attention to him.
Would it be had if he broke <b>that </b>thing so she would talk to him. The small conversations they had made the ride always enjoyable, but the brat has abandoned him for her phone,
How rude<b>? </b>
A little ding on his phone, made him turn his attention from Nivera.
Staring at the car screen, he saw he had received a message from his secretary who was reminding him of the fact that had a meeting soon and ashing why he wasn’t in the office yet.
Shit! He cursed under his breath after he read the message<b>. </b>
Antonio was usually the one who handled this meeting which was why he had forgotten about it.
He immediately stepped on the gas pedal so he could drop Nivera home and head back to the office.
He barely nced at the time as he pulled into the driveway of his <b>mansion</b>.
The digital clock on the dashboard told him he was runningte.
But when he parked the car, he noticed someone he wasn’t expecting to see<b>, </b><b>a </b>man in a crisp ck suit, stepped forward from the entrance.
I was his mother’s <b>driver</b>. If he was there, then that meant that….
<b>“</b><b>Sir</b>,” he <b>said </b><b>as </b>Alejandro rolled down his window.
“My mom is inside?” He asked, but they both knew the answer
“yes, she is,” the driver confirmed.
Alejandro’s brows lifted. “Did she say why?”
He knew his mother was close to the driver, which meant there was a chance he had an idea why his mother was here.
The driver gave a slight shake of the head. “Only that she wanted to speak with you.”
Alejandro <b>cursed </b>inwardly
“You can go,” Nivera said<b>, </b>her voice finally slicing through the silence. “I can handle your mother,”
But Alejandro was already stepping out, “I’ll just say hi, Won’t take a minute.”
you have time?” she asked quietly, watching the tension that pulled at his brows. “Are youte for a meeting?”
“<b>You </b><b>sure </b>you
She had seen him ncing at the nce one to many times and he had increased his speed. That only led back to one thing he had somewhere he <b>had </b>
to <b>be</b>.
“<b>Yes</b>,” he said inly. “But it’s my mother.”
Nivera followed him inside, her shoes clicking softly on the polished marble floor
The mansion was eerily silent, the usual rustle of staff <b>missing</b>. Something felt different. Off
They’d barely <b>made </b>it into the living room when the sound of a de hitting the chopping board echoed from the?tchen:
Alejandro paused.
“She’s in the kitchen?” he asked aloud, more confused than surprised.
<b>Niver </b>wondered why Alejandra sounded confused. All the times his mother had been there, she spent much time in the kitchen, preparing meal for
them.
“Shit!” She suddenly heard him curse
Without waiting for confirmation, he made a sharp turn and headed down the con
the corridor.
Nivera hesitated for half a beat before following. Alejandro was already pushing the kitchen door open
en when she caught up.
Inside, the scent of herbs and citrus clung to the air. Marceline stood by the counter, her elegant frame outlined by the sunlight pouring in from the high windows.
Her back was to them, shoulders stiff, her hand moving quickly and erratically as she chopped at a lemon–only, it wasn’t being sliced. It was <b>being </b>
obliterated.
She appeared too disconnected. Her lips moved slightly, like she was murmuring to hersell, and <b>her </b>fingers were dangerously close to the de.
Alejandro’s eyes narrowed. “Mom,” he called gently, stepping forward.
She didn’t respond. Her movements didn’t slow. Was she having another episode! He wondered.
“Mom-
He <b>reached </b>out and gently ced a hand on her wrist
The moment his skin touched hers, she flinched violently.
Nivera froze
In one terrifying
?mation, else. Something darker.
Hatred<b>. </b>
Marceline turned on him. Her eyes, which had always looked at him with affection and longing, were now filled with something
Her hand jerked violently, and the knife <b>came </b>swinging toward him.
Alejandro’s reflexes were sharp. He caught her wrist midair, gripping it tightly as the de trembled in her grasp. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes… his eyes betrayed the <b>split </b>second of shock that shed through him.
“Mom,” he called, <b>his </b>voice lower now. “It’s me.”
Nivera’s sharp <b>gasp </b>shattered the tense atmosphere, and the sound seemed to pierce through the haze Marceline was trapped in.
She blinked. Once, then twice as she looked at her surroundings trying to understand what was happening.
Her face copsed in confusion and h
Oh my God,” she whispered, letting go of the knife. It ttered against the tiles. “Alejandro…I didn’t
Alejandro exhaled slowly, his fingers sliding off her wrist. He didn’t say anything, didn’t even look at her. Instead, he turned to Nivera
“I have to go. That was all he said.
Chapter 79.0
Without another word, he bent down, picked up the knife, ced it on the counter with delib
Wait” Marceline sald <b>quickly</b>, stepping toward him. Her voice was
mbling. “Please, at least let men
But he was <b>already </b>turning toward the hallway.
Hiver turned to Marculine, who was visibly shaken. “I’ll talk to him,” she said quickly, before hurrying after him.
“Alejandro!” she called, catching sight of his figure, already halfway to his car
He didn’t slow.
“Alejandro, <b>wait</b>!”
He reached the car, opened the door, and slipped inside. The window rolled down halfway
She rushed to his side. “Alejandro!”
“Keep her away from the knives,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “And if she ever falls into that trance while you’re around, get the hell away from
her
The window began to close, his tone final,
“Wait, are you” she started, but he didn’t let her finish.
The car pulled away from the driveway, disappearing down the long road in a blur.