bChapter /bb24 /b

Alejandro shut the door behind him, the low click muffled by the tense silence already thick in Antonio’s office.

His cousin stood by the window, drinking a ss of whiskey as he stared out at the sprawling cityscape.

“You really kidnapped your sister–inw a few days befor

words.

Antonio didn’t flinch. He shruggedzily, like Alejand

“She should be lucky I didn’t order her death.”

wedding?” Alejandro asked, voice dry, like he couldn’t believe he even bhad /bbto /bsay bthe /b

had asked him whether he preferred coffee or tea. Sipping the wine from his ss, bhe /bmuttered,

“You’re unbelievable,” Alejandro shook his head. Surpris forgiving to spare her life.

“Why is she alive again?” He probed.

Not even in the slightest, and just

like Antonio said, the girl was lucky as Antonio wasn’t bthat /b

Antonio turned, face stoic, eyes as cold as ever. “Zabelle,” he responded. “If it weren’t for Zabelle, I would’ve done worse. She’d have my head if bI /btouched her precious sister, even if the fool deserves it.”

Alejandro couldn’t help but look at Antonio as though he had grown another head.

“What?” He heard Antonio ask him.

“It’s the first time you’re being considerate,” Alejandr

o pointed out.

“All thanks to my darling fiancée,” Antonio raised his ss in a toast, and Alejandro couldn’t help but scowl as he couldn’t imaginepromising because of anyone.

“Speaking about Zabelle’s family, is her father going to be the one walking her down the aisle?”

It was now Antonio’s turn to give him the look. “Are you stupid?”

Alejandro shrugged, unaffected. “Just asking.”

“The man hates her,” Antonio said tly. “Hates that she exists. Hates that she isn’t the quiet, docile daughter anymore. No.”

Alejandro raised a brow. “So your father, then?”

The room turned icy in an instant. Antonio’s eyes hardened. “There’s a reason we agreed not to mention each other’s fathers. Respect that.”

“I am; it’s a genuine question,” Alejandro rolled his eyes.

A beat passed before Antonio sighed and said, “Yes,

imy /ifat

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Antonio saidb, /bturning back to the view.

will walk her down the aisle.”

The door opened to reveal Martins, tall and sharp–eyed, calm and deadly as ever. He stepped in and immediately zeroed in on Antonio.

“Aren’t you supposed to be preparing for your wedding?” he asked, brows raised.

b“/bThe preparations have been made. All I need to do is show up tomorrow.” Antonio wayed a hand dismissively.

Martins shook his head but turned his attention to Alejandro. “I have the details on who she isb./bb” /b

“Finally,” Antonio muttered.

Alejandro straightened as Martins handed him a file. He eyed Alejandro, adding, “I’m surprised you let her go.b” /b

Alejandro looked up slowly. “What do you mean?”

“I saw her get into ba /bcar as I arrived at thepany.”

Alejandro’s expression darkened. “What? She left?” He questioned, and Martins nodded in affirmation.

His thoughts spiraled and they weren’t good. She slipped past him? He should’ve locked the damn door. He should’ve known she’d btry /bsomething

“Do you remember the taxi’s te number?” he asked quickly. Was the girl a fool to get into another taxi after what happened thest timeb? /b

Martins shook his head. “Wasn’t a taxi. Private car. One of those luxury ones.”

Alejandro’s first instinct was Nathaniel. But that would be idiotic. Why would she go back to him after what happened?

Antonio stepped forward, snatching the file from Alejandro’s hand and flipping it open.

“Are you really that much of a fool? Haven’t you figured out what the ‘Elton‘ in Nivera Elton stands for?”

the

“Cut to the chase,” Alejandro snapped as he was losing his patience.

“Elton. Nivera Elton,” Antonio sighed in frustration, pping the file shut. “The same Eltons who rule the finance and banking world. Trillion–dor empire. Banking, real estate, global stocks. Those Eltons.”

And suddenly, it clicked, making Alejandro’s eyes narrow.

Of course! The name had always been familiar, but he’d never cared enough to put it together.

Never had a reason to remember it. His family never had business with the Eltons. No feuds, no alliances, so naturally they didn’t exist bto /bhim.

“They’re the ones who called for her?”

“Very likely,” Martins confirmed. “Especially with your pictures all over the inte. You two are trending.”

Without another word, Alejandro turned and stormed out of the office. Martins followed behind, matching his stride.

Without wasting time, Martins directed him to where the cars were parked, and they were immediately on their way.

Two other ck SUVS trailed behind them as they sped toward the Elton mansion.

The car ride was tense. Alejandro stared out the window, thoughts tangled in confusion.

An heiress. She was one of the heiresses to a trillion–dor empire, and yet she lived like a ghost. No entourage. No privileges.

Why would someone like her–an heiress to an empire–be living in such a way?

She wasn’t just hiding her name. She was running from it, and despite her powerful background–though not as influential as his–she had feared him. Truly feared him. That didn’t sit right with him.

The mansion was guarded by thick iron gates and stone–faced men in tailored ck suits. His men trailed behind his vehicleb, /bready for action.

As Martins pulled up, one of the Elton guards stepped forward, hand raised. “Turn around. No one enters without permission.”

Martins rolled down the window, his voice calm but firm. “We’re here for Nivera.”

“She’s not taking visitors,” the guard responded, his face unreadable.

Alejandro leaned forward. “Let me guess. She doesn’t want visitors, ior /isomeone decided that for bher/bb?/bb” /b

The guard didn’t respond, and Alejandro’s eyes narrowed. “Open the damn gate, or I’ll break it downb./bb” /b

“We don’t take orders from you, sir.”

Martins eyed the rearview mirror, then revved the engine. Alejandro, who already knew what Martin was about to do, immediately bfastened /bhis seatbelt

“Hold on.b” /b

With a roar, Martins mmed on the egas. The vehicle surged forward.

The Elton guards shouted, jumping out of the way just in time as the car tore past the gate. The two trailing cars didn’t hesitate–bthey /bfollowedb, /btires screaming against the pavement.

At the mansion’s entrance, the car screeched to a halt, and Alejandro stepped out.

The guards outside reacted instantly, weapons drawn and pointed at him.

Alejandro’s men spilled from the two cars behind, guns drawn, just as

a tense

two minutes, neither side moved.

Then, the main door opened. A tall man in a a navy suit stepped out, his posturemanding and his expression unreadable.

Matthew Elton.

“You have three seconds to exin yourself and why you caused such a ruckus in my apartment,” he said, voice sharp.

“I’m here for Nivera,” Alejandro said evenly.

“No, that’s not happening,” Matthew immediately shut down.

“She’s not another conquest for you to toy with!”

Alejandro’s eyes narrowed. “Oh wow, you finally decided to perform your fatherly duties after abandoning her,” Alejandro retorted, and he could see he struck a nerve as Matthew’s face twisted.

“Leave before I have you arrested.”

“NIVERA!” Alejandro roared, his patience snapping and his voice echoing against the walls of the

mansion.

Matthew stepped forward, fury dancing in his eyes. “You bastard…” he started, but he was cut short when the door burst open again, and this time, it bwas /b

Nivera.

Her hair was messy, her eyes wide with shock. Behind

I her, her sister chased after her, shouting for her to stop.

But it was toote. Nivera twisted free like she’d done it a thousand times.

“Stop her!” Vivian ordered the guards.

Nivera darted through the chaos with practiced ease, ducking under a guard’s arm and slipping past another with nimble grace. It bwas /bobvious she had done this before.

And then she was running. Straight ito /ihim,

Alejandro caught her in his arms, instinctively pulling her close, the smell of roses immediately filling his nose.

She was shaking, but that wasn’t what made his blood run cold–it was her cheek, which was red and swollen.

She’d been pped.

“What happened?” he asked softly, brushing his fingers against the bruise. The contrast between his bgentle /bbtouch /band bthe way /bbhis /bbblood was /bbboiling /bwas

b17:01 /bWedb, /bb23 /bbJul /bG

stark,

Nivera flinched, but didn’t move away; neither did she speak.

“Nivera…” His voice dropped lower, nearly a whisper. “Who did this to you?” He continued to probe.

She nced at her father and then quickly looked away.

That was all the confirmation he needed.

His jaw tightened. He stepped away from her, turned, and, without hesitation, punched Matthew Elton across the face.

Hard,

The man stumbled back, his hand covering his mouth. Gasps filled the iair/ii. /iGuards lunged forward, but Matthew held up a hand, stunned band /bbbleeding/b.

“Don’t ever touch her again,” Alejandro growled.

Vivian immediately rushed to her father’s side, and she red at Nivera.

“How dare you?!” She fired at Alejandro.

“Would you like yours as well?” Alejandro tilted his hand, and her mouth fell open as she was rendered speechless. Alejandro didn’t wait for more drama. He grabbed Nivera’s hand and pulled her toward the car. Thankfully, she didn’t resist.

Meanwhile, Matthew’s men lowered their weapons, and no one dared follow.

They got in, and Martins started the engine. The other two cars followed, tires spinning as they left the Elton estate in chaos.

Inside the car, Alejandro sat quietly, Nivera beside him. His hand remained on hersi, /iwarm and protective. She didn’t pull away.

She didn’t say a word.

And neither did he.

Comforting people wasn’t his strong fort, and he wasn’t going to start today.

he looked at her, he knew one thing–he had just dered iwar /ion the Eltons and, Lord helped him, he would finish what bthey /bbhad /bbstarted/b.