<b>Chapter </b><b>155 </b>


    The heavy gates creaked open atst, swallowing the car into the estate grounds.


    Alejandro’s jaw was still tight, his grip on the steering wheel white knuckled.


    He said nothing as he parked, but his silence wasn’t the kind thatforted–it seethed, simmered, promising that his mind was already plotting Vrr’s


    destruction.


    Nivera, on the other hand, felt hollow. Her cheek throbbed where Vivian’s p hadnded, heat radiating beneath her skin.


    She touched it gently, wincing, but the sting was nothingpared to the way her chest clenched.


    No matter how many times she tried to remind herself not to expect anything from Alejandro, the way he had shielded her… the way he had looked at her… it almost broke her resolve.


    She couldn’t afford hope. Not again.


    Inside the mansion, Alejandro guided her wordlessly into the sitting room. His hand was firm at her back, steering her like he refused to let her wander even an inch.


    She wanted to shove his hand away, to demand space, but her legs still felt unsteady and–damn it–part of her was clinging to his touch as though it was the only thing keeping her upright.


    He sat her down on the edge of the leather sofa before disappearing briefly down the hall.


    When he returned, there was an ice pack in his hand. Without a word, he crouched in front of her, pressing the coolpress gently to her swollen cheek.


    His brows were furrowed, eyes dark with something she couldn’t ce. Not quite rage–not quite sorrow.


    “Hold this,” he said softly, adjusting it against her skin.


    Her fingers brushed his as she took it, and the contact sent an unwee shiver down her spine. She quickly pressed the ice pack against her skin, willing the sensation away.


    But her eyes caught the furrow in his brow, the sharp line of his mouth, the way his gaze lingered on her bruises as though they offended him.


    He wasn’t just annoyed. He wasn’t just inconvenienced. He was angry–angry that she was hurt.


    For one dangerous, fleeting moment, hope bloomed inside her chest. The kind of hope she had sworn she’d never let herself feel again.


    Maybe he cared. Maybe behind all the arrogance and cruelty, he-


    No. She forced it down. Hope was a luxury she couldn’t afford with him especially with the way he was unpredictable.


    “You should rest,” Alejandro muttered, but his eyes lingered on her face, on the bruise forming along her cheekbone, like he was memorizing every mark.


    Nivera shifted ufortably, lowering the ice pack “What was that about?” she asked atst, her voice tight. “Why did Viviane at me like that?”


    Alejandro’s gaze held hers for a moment, unreadable. Then, without a word, he reached for the remote resting on the coffee table. The t screen across the room flickered to life.


    News channels, bold red banners screaming across the bottom:


    BREAKING: SILAS PIERCE ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF CHILD ENDANGERMENT.


    Nivera’s breath caught. She sat up straighter, her pulse thundering in <i>her </i>ears. On screen, shaky footage yed–Ss, his expensive suit rumpled, <b>his </b>


    173


    08:11 Mon, 1 Sept <b>T </b>


    expression pale but still defiant, being led out of a hotel by two officers


    Reporters swarmed, microphones shoved in his face, their voices ovepping in a frenzy of usations and questions.


    Her hand flew to her mouth. “What…?”


    The anchor’s voice cut through:


    432<b>%</b><b>8 </b>


    “Authorities report that Ss Pierce was discovered this morning in a downtown hotel with an underage girl. The victim has been taken into protective custody. Following the arrest, investigators have uncovered a disturbing trail of illicit activities–records of human trafficking, corruption, bribery, and financial fraud. Sources say this could be one of thergest scandals the Monroe family has faced in decades.”


    Nivera’s stomach flipped. Ss had always been careful. Ruthless, yes–but calcted. He buried his dirt deep, never leaving a trail For him to be exposed so spectacrly, so publicly… it didn’t make sense.


    “That’s… that’s impossible. Ss was careful. He covered everything. No one could touch him.”


    She knew as she had been a victim of him.


    Her wide eyes immediately snapped toward Alejandro. He was leaning back against the armrest now, arms folded, gaze fixed on the screen, but his jaw was clenched so tightly a muscle ticked near his temple.


    “You…” Her voice trembled. “This wasn’t an ident. Was it?”


    He didn’t answer but he didn’t deny.


    “You did this.”


    Finally, he turned his head to look at her. His eyes burned–with something darker. “I told you,” he said quietly, “his time was up.”


    Her heart skipped, shock making her grip the ice pack tighter. “Alejandro–this–do you know what you’ve just started? The Monroes-


    “-will bleed.” His voice cut through hers, calm but heavy with menace. “Everyst one of them.”


    Nivera stared at him, her breath shallow. She had known Alejandro was dangerous–everyone did. But this wasn’t some empty threat.


    “You destroyed him,” she whispered, more to herself than him.


    “I haven’t destroyed him,” Alejandro corrected, his gaze hardening again. “Not yet. This is just the beginning,” he stated


    “I’ve waited weeks for this. Ss thought he was untouchable. Now? The world is tearing him apart piece by piece. And I’ll be there to finish what they


    start.”


    The certainty in his tone chilled her. She should have been relieved–Ss being dragged into the light should have been a victory, a weight lifted. But all she felt was unease.


    “Alejandro, they coulde after you,” she said, her voice filled with worry.


    “And I’ll be waiting,” he stated simply.


    “You’re dangerous,” she muttered, shaking her head, pressing the ice pack harder against her cheek as if it could ground her.


    His lips twitched in a humorless half–smile. “You’re only just realiz


    She almost smiled until she remembered that she wasn’t supposed to and in order to put an end to whatever was about to happen, she red up.


    “Vivian thinks I’m to me. She came at me like it was my fault. And you–you let me stand in the middle of this without telling me anything. Do you have any idea what that feels like?”


    His expression flickered, a shadow of regret shing across his eyes. “Nivera-


    “No.” She shook her head, cutting him off, even as her throat tightened. “Don’t. Don’t do that thing where you act like you’re protecting me while keeping


    board.* me in the dark. I’m not stupid. If you’re going to drag me into your war, at least have the decency to tell me I’m a pawn on the b


    Alejandro’s chest rose sharply, as though she had struck him. For a moment, he said nothing. Then, voice low<i>, </i>“You’re not a pawn.”


    Sheughed bitterly, the sound hollow. “Then what am I?”


    His eyes softened, but the words didn’te. He opened his mouth, closed it again, like admitting the truth–whatever it was–would make him vulnerable in a way he wasn’t ready to face.


    Instead, he leaned closer, his tone firm. “You’re not a pawn. Not to me.”


    Her heart stumbled. Her chest ached. And yet, she forced herself to turn away, pressing the ice pack harder against her cheek to mask the tremor in her


    hands.


    “I don’t want to be a part of this,” she whispered.


    “You already are.”


    Silence stretched between them, thick and unyielding. The TV droned on in the background, reporters spewing more details about Ss’s downfall, but Nivera couldn’t focus on the words.


    Her world was tilting–caught between the relief of seeing Ss fall and the terror of being tangled deeper in Alejandro’s.


    Atst, she set the ice pack down on the table with a sharp thud. “I need air.”


    She stood, but before she could move further, Alejandro caught her wrist–not harshly, not with his usualmand, but gently, like he was asking permission. When she nced down at him, his expression was unguarded for once, his voice quiet.


    “I’m sorry,” he said and her throat tightened. She wanted to believe him. God, she wanted to.


    But the bruise on her cheek and the weight in her chest reminded her of all the times she had hoped before, only to be broken.


    So instead of answering, she pulled her hand free.


    “I won’t be your pawn,” she repeated softly, more to herself than to him. Then she walked away, leaving him seated in the dim glow of the TV, the screen still shing images of Ss’s fall.


    Alejandro leaned back<i>, </i>exhaling slowly. His hand ran over his <i>face</i>, his chest heavy. He had orchestrated Ss’s ruin, but for the first time in years<b>, </b>victory didn’t feel like triumph.


    Because when Nivera looked at him, she didn’t see her protector. She saw him as the man who had made her get attacked and that truth hurt worse than any battle scar he’d ever carried.


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