<b>Chapter </b><b>96 </b>
<b>about </b>Alejandro”
Marceline raised a brow delicately. “What about him?
“You know it’s funny. Hovera began, tearing her croissant slowly, “how someone like Mejandro can seem so… untouchable but still have the moments where he just trumbles”
Marceline’s eyes flickered to hers. “Crumbles”
<b>Nivera </b>shrugged. “I’ve seen it. The panic attacks. The way he pulls back when things get too close. He acts the nothing touches him, but something clearly does.”
Marceline sipped her coffee delicately. “He’s always been that way. Guarded. Too careful.”
“It honestly affects <b>us </b>as he pulls back sometimes,” she sighed sadly.
“What made him that way? Nivera then asked, keeping her tone light, eyes on her food
The pause that followed <b>was </b>not light. It <b>was </b>deliberate, and she could tell Marceline wanted to tell her, but she was holding herself back
“I know he’ll never tell me,” she continued. “But I just… I don’t know. I want to understand. I want to know what kind of pain he carries. That’s all
Marceline’s gaze softened a little, and she sighed <b>as </b>well. “He would hate me for even entertaining this conversation. I made a promise to him that I’d not speak about it
“I’m not asking you to spill secrets,” Nivera said quickly. “Just… maybe point me in the right direction?”
Marceline looked at her for a long momcht, as though weighing the depth of her heart against the risk.
“He doesn’t fear pain, Nivera,” she said finally. “He fears vulnerability. There’s <b>a </b>difference. Alejandro was never taught how to be soft. Only how to survive<b>” </b>
Nivera blinked at that as she tried to process <b>what </b>she had just heard.
Marceline set her fork down and continued, her voice lower now.
“There was a time when he wasn’t like this. When heughed freely. Trusted easily. Then something happened–something that taught him the world. <b>was </b>cruel, even to children.”
She picked up her napkin and dabbed her lips. “He won’t tell you what it is. But if you figure it out yourself, he may not stop you.”
What should I look for?” Nivera asked quietly.
Marceline gave her a mysterious smile. “You said he <b>had </b>panic attacks; where did he have this?”
“While we were trapped in an elevator, <b>Nivera </b>answered. “But it doesn’t make sense, as we have been in an elevator countless times, but…
The breath caught in <b>Nivera’s </b>throat as <b>she </b>came to the realization. It was because he was trapped.
Did it mean Alejandro was trapped somewhere as a child?
<b>“</b><b>Pay </b>attention to the ces he avoids in conversation and the way he tightens when certain names are mentioned. I’m sure those names <b>and </b><b>ces</b>. must havee up by now,” she stated with certainty.
“But be gentle,” Marceline warned, finishing her drink. “Because he won’t show you his scars, but if you get too close to them, he might bleed all <b>over </b>
you.”
Marceline then reached out, “If there’s one person who can manage to make him break free of the chains he keeps holding on to know i
Before Niver could respond, Marceline’s phone hurred. She nced at it, then rose smoothly. “Thave to go. Board meeting”
Nivera stood with her. “Thank you… for not shutting me down.”
Marceline leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “He watches you, you know. Even when you don’t think he is that means something”
With that, she left.
Nivera lingered in the booth, lost in her thoughts. Her coffee had gone cold, and her omelette was
was barely touched.
She was about to call the <b>leave </b>when a familiar voice cut through the quiet
“Nivera”
She turned, and she blinked when she saw who it was
Damon.
His hands were tucked casually into the pockets of grey co
grey coat, the sunlight catching the edge of his jaw.
He looked older somehow, but that had to be because she hadn’t seen him in <b>years</b><b>, </b><b>as </b>he was only four years older than her. Harsher. But the smirk was
still the same.
Damon?”
He walked toward her. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“This is a members–only café,” she said slowly.
He shed his membership pin. “What can I say? I’m still <b>a </b>member of the elite, and I’m hurt you think I wasn’t”
“No,
not that I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I didn’t expect to <b>see </b>you here,” she said slowly
“Neither did I. But fate’s funny like that.” He gestured to the seat Marceline had just vacated. “May I
She hesЯated, “Sure. For a few minutes,”
He <b>sat</b>, folding his arms on the table<b>. </b>“Still beautiful, I see.”
Nivera raised a brow. “Still inappropriate.”
Why the hell was he there of all ces? And why did he have toe to her?
Damon chuckled, bringing her back to reality. “You always had <b>a </b>sharp tongue. I liked that about you.”
She looked away, shifting on her feet. “<b>So</b>… how’s life?”
“Empty,” he said with a chuckle. “But that’s not your fault. You were always the best part of it.”
“Damon<b>…</b>” She warned, as she know <b>where </b>he was going.
“What?” He shrugged casually
“Don’t start”
“Start what?” he said with innocence, “Reminiscing is that such crimer
“We ended things.”
“Did we?” he said, almost softly “I don’t remember closure Just… space. And silence.”
“Sometimes that is closure.
Damon tilted his head. Do you ever think about it? About us?”
“No,” she lied. “And there is no us
“There was. And we didn’t exactly end in disaster, did we? Just… stopped.”
His gaze darkened, “Not even when you realize he’ll never give you the softness i did?”
That <b>was </b>a lie. She had never fell the way she did whenever she was with Alejandro.
However, she didn’t need to exin that to Damon.
“I’m with someone now,” she said as she stood up
“So I’ve heard, Alejandro Garcia. The infamous man Himself,” he scoffed, and she recognized the look in his eyes.
This made her tense. “Don’t start.”
He hold up his hands as he stood as well. “I’m not, I just find it interesting that he of all people was able to get through to you.”
Damon leaned <b>closer</b>, his voice dropping. “Does he treat you well? Really? Or are you just another of <b>his </b>trophies?”
<b>“</b>Don’t do that.”
“I’m just saying, you don’t belong in his world, Nivera. You belong somewhere you can be seen, Cherished.”
“I don’t need to be rescued.”
“Damon,” she sighed, and he reached for her hand–gently, but firmly
“I’ve changed,” he said. “I could be better this time. For you.”
She tried to pull her hand back, but he stopped closer. His voice dropped.
“You don’t need someone who treats you like a possession. Who everyone knows sleeps around and who is just waiting for the next one toe before dumping you
“You’re really.
“I miss you, Nivera”
“Damon…” Nivera’s words were cut short as she felt Damon’s lips brush hers.
She froze, but her mind immediately exploded with one word:
Alejandro.
Even though they weren’t officially together, Even though she didn’t initiate the kiss, it still felt wrong. <b>So</b>, so wrong.
he pulled away immediately, her heart racing.
She
Don’t, she whispered
Damon blinked, “Nivera-
“No. Whatever we had, Damon. It was good while itsted. But it’s over.”
Her voice trembled slightly, but she kept her chin high.
“You don’t get to kiss mand pretend like none of it ended. That’s not fair. Not to me. I’m with someone else, and I’m very much happy with him
Damon stepped back slowly, jaw ticking.
he murmured.
“You were mine once,” he
“And now I’m not. Goodbye.” She turned before he could say more and left, her heart pounding,
All she could think about at that moment… was Alejandro
She didn’t know what he would say if he ever found out. But deep down, she didn’t need his anger to feel guilty.
She already did.
Was she going to tell him was the question?