bChapter /b16

Nivera rolled over on the mauve,vely soft bed for the hundonth time, theetsngling amund her legs like restraints.

The dim glow from the moon outside streamed theough the sheer curtains, bathing the room in silver, but it brought herna peace

Her stomach growled again—angry, persistent, like a beast refusing to be ignored.

She poaned

“Seriously she whispered to no one

Alejandro hadn’t led her. Again.

Thest time she’d eaten anything remotely filling was the previous morning–unless she counted the bite she took in front of Antonio,

She barely even chewed the food. Mostly because she didn’t trust any of them. bSecondly /bbecause…well, her pride wouldn’t let her.

She buried her face into the pillow.

Mistake. The expensive silk was too smooth, too soft. Notforting–just another reminder that this wasn’t her room, not her world, and she was trapped in it.

Her fingers curled into the sheets as another wave of hunger made her stomach bclench/b.

“This is ridiculous,” she muttered, but she still didn’t getup.

She’d rather chow her arm off than go begging Alejandro bfor /bfood. The man was cruel, vindictive, and emotionally constipated. If she so much as looked desperateb, /bbhe’d /bsmirk like he’d won some unspoken war.

Which, to be fair, he bhad/b. He had her passport, her money, her freedom. All she had was a pitiful face, fading pride, band /benough pent–up fury to burn this whole damn mansion down

Another growl. This time louder.

Nivera groaned and rolled again, burying her head under the pillow this time.

bThe /bknock on the door made her freeze, band /bshe lied her head slowly, squinting into the dark.

Another bknock/b. Firm. Measured. Confident.

There was only bone /bperson in the mansion

She sat bup/b.

Alejandro.

It had to be

No one would dare disturb her, the devil wouldn’t allow it. Antonio bhad /balready left. The stall were probably told not to interact with her. Andeness this mansion had ghosts, that left only one tan

“What does he want now?” she guttered under her breath, swinging her legs off the bad and padding silently to the door

Another knock,

this one slightly impatient.

“I’ming!” she snapped, not bothering to hide the imitation in her voice as she unlocked the door.

Chapter 16.

She bcracked /bit open first, because despite the hunger, she wasn’t stupid. Alejandin was unpredictable. Omprout Capable

in the back–and thenining about how your blood got on his shirt.

But when she opened the door fully, she blinked.

He stood there, died down in a dark tee and ck joggers, holding a siler tray.

On it sat a steaming te of grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, a bowl of rice, a bottle of water, and even was that a sea of chocte cake?

bFuck /bshe loved chocte cake

Her stomach let out a traitorous gurgle at the sight.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too loud this time.

Nivera’s eyes narrowed instantly. “What’s the catch

Alejandro’s expression didn’t change. He looked amused, unsurprised, and far too pleased with himse

‘te not going to say thank you?”

Het voice was t. “bBecause /byou don’t do nice things, Ever So again–what’s the catch!”

“Maybe I’m turning over a new leal,” he said, stepping forward

She held her ground, arms crossed.

“Or maybe you realized starving me mighte back to bbite /byou if I die under your root”

He bquirked /bba /bbrow. “I wanted you dead, I’d have shot you a long time ago.”

She stiffened slightly as she was reminded once again of her bposition/b. “What do you want?”

Alejandro tilted his head toward the door. “Are you bnning /bto keep me standing out here all night?”

bShe /bhesitated, Every nerve in her body screamed not to trust him.

But then the scent of the food hit her

And her stomach clenched in betrayal. Plus, it was his house.

With a low grumble of imitation–directed mostly at hersell–she stepped aside.

“Fine. Come in

Alejandro walked in without a word, setting the tray on the nearby table with the kind of calm authority that made her want to throw a pillow at his head.

She hovered near the door as he removed the lid from the te and the aroma filled the room, Her stomach growled again, louder this time, and she winced.

“Are you bgoing /bto eat or just keep ring at me?” he asked dryly

“Thaven’t decided yet,” she repliedb, /barms still crossed. “This could be poisoned.”

“ili wanted you dead, I’d do it myself,” he said again, but this time with a hint of something darker–like he meant it as apliment

She rolled her beyes /bbut finally moved to the tray, sitting down in the armchair beside it. Her pride still bristled, but survival was winning.

Fork in hand, she took ba /bcautious bite.

bWarm /bPerfectly seasoned And her body lit up with gratitude she refused to show

She kept eating, her eyes darting to him every so often. He hadn’t let. He leaned against wall, watching her. Sident, Certing

will here?” she asked between bites.

“Why are you still he

Alejandro shrugged. Just making sure you don’t try any funny businesses”

She scowled. “Don’t tempt me.” But she didn’t stop eating.

He waited a beat before finally pushing off the wall.

“I need you to be in good shape,” he said calmly

She frame with the fork hallway to her mouth. “Excuse me?“–

“For my brother’s wedding“.

The fork ttered onto the te. She stared at him, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and outrage

“You think I’m attending a wedding with you?”

Was he crazy or something? They weren’t friends or anything to attend a social event together.

He didn’t flinch. “You will”

She stood now, crossing her arms again. “Why would I go anywhere with the man who kidnapped me, stole my passport, and locked me in his mansion”

Alejandro’s lips twitched slightly, like he was holding back a smirk. “Because 1 say so.”

“You’re unbelievable and insufferable.”

“I’ve been called bworse /b

“And if Isay bno/b?”

“I’ll still bmake /bsure you look perfect for the asion.”

She scoffed, Didn’the hear her? She wasn’t going “You’re insane.

“You stabbed me,” he reminded her, stepping ba /blittle close. “You think that gives you the moral high ground?”

“stabbed you because i thought you were going to kill me.”

“I wasn’t”

“How was I supposed to know that? You were covered in blood and you pointed your gun at me!”

He said nothing

She looked away, hating how her voice cracked at the end.

Along pause stretched between them.

Eventually, he broke it

“You’lle as my date,” he said simply. “Smile. Look pretty. Act like you like me.”

“And after that?”

“We part ways”

She nanomed her eyes. “You don’t mean that –

“Right. Just like you meant to rive me back my passport r

He didn’t respond to that. Which only made her angrier.

Ts not your toy, Alejandro”

“No,” he said, voice softer. “You’re not.”

But the way he looked at her after he said it made her chest feel tight. Like she was missing somet

She turned away again, trying to focus on the food–something safe.

Alejandro moved toward the door.

“The wedding is in two days,” he said, voice cool once more. “Hest. Eat. Look

bAnd /bthen he was gone,

The door shut with ba /bsoft click.

rbeu”

bNivera /bbsatin /bsilence, staring at the food tray that now felt like a trap.

Because she knew one thing for sure nothing with Alejandro was ever simple.

And it he was dragging her to this wedding, there was more to it than appearances

She just had to figure out what

Before it swallowed her whole.