The car gradually slowed to a stop, and Nivera’s heart thudded painfully against her chest as she spotted the familiar figure stepping out.

Matthew Elton

Even from a distance, he radiated rage–thickb, /bsuffocating fury pouring off him like heat from a fire.

His usually slick hair looked rough, like he had continually run his fingers through it over and over, while a dark bruise marred his jaw–an ugly reminder of Alejandro’s fist the previous day.

Matthew’s gaze locked onto Nivera instantly, but it wasn’t paternal concern that glinted in his eyes. It was ownership Fury Vengeance.

It wasn’t surprising, the man didn’t consider her his daughter, but as a human investment which would bring profit to the world

She took an involuntary step back–only to bump into something solid. Alejandro,

His hand immediately closed around her bwaist /bpossessively, and his hand made her feel as if she were nothing more than an object, a trophy he refused to let go.

Both mèn thought of her as an object, and she hated it.

“Stay still” Alejandro murmured bno /b

I near her bear/b, themand curling down her spine Eke ach.

Nivera stiffened but didn’t move away. She knew better by now.

Matthew’s stops were briskb, /baggressive in closing the distance between them in seconds.

“You son of a bitch!” Matthew roared, the bsound /bcracking through the morning air. “How dare youy your hands on me?! Oma”

Alejandro didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink

Instead, he smiled–a slow, cold, patronizing curl of his lips that infuriated Matthew beven /bfurther.

“You deserved worse,” Alejandro bsaid /bsmoothly, his voice dripping with bdisdain/bb. /b“bAnd /byou’re lucky I didn’t break your pathetic jaw.”

Matthew lunged, but before he could reach them, Alejandro’s guards stepped forward. bA /bsilent wall of muscle blocking him.

He sneered at them but halted, nostrils ring.

“You think hiding behind your guards makes you a man? Matthew spat

Alejandro’s chuckle was low and venomous. “I don’t hide. Imand. You can move,” he then said to the bguards/b.

bNivera /bshrank inwardly, wishing she could disappear so she wouldn’t have to watch the two men she feared the most have at each other.

But Alejandro’s hand tightened at her bwaist/b, grounding her, more like trapping her.

“This is between you and meb, /bGarcia,” Matthew snarled. “Let her go. She bhas /bbno /bbusiness here.”

Alejandro’s eyes gleamed darkly.

“Oh, but she does,” he said silkily. “She’s very much my business now. Don’t forget, you cut her of”

Matthew’s bface /bturned an rming shade of red

“You piece of shit-”

His words were cut off when Alejandro stepped forward, dragging Nivera with h

“Be very careful, Elton, Alejandin warned, his voice dropping into something lethal.

“You’re trespassing. Haising yolu voler, Threatening me. Another wrong word, and prison instead.”

“Says the same man who did just that yesterday,” Matthew bared his teeth.

have eve

every right to bury you so deep inwsuits, you’Il big for

Mejandro smirked,pletely unfazed. “I never imed to follow thew,” he shrugged casually

Then, as if dismissing Matthew’s very existence, Alejandra turned to Nivera, lifting her hand–the one he had just finished tending to and brushed his thumb across her bruised wrist.

The small, intimate gesture made Matthew vibrate with rage.

His eyes narrowed as he nced between them, clearly disturbed by Alejandro’s protective grip on her waist

“What exactly is this?” he asked, tone sharp and suspicious. “bWhat /bkind of rtionship do you two even have!”

Nivera’s breath caught. She opened her mouth to object, to deny anything- -but bAlejandro /bspoke first

“We’re dating,” he said smoothly, voice devoid of hesitation. “Quite seriously, in fact.”

Nivera turned to him in horror, her expression betraying the storm inside her. “bWhat- /b

Alejandro’s grip didn’t bloosen/b. If anything, it tightened.

Matthew’s eyes zed. “Dating?” he echood with disgust. “You expect me to believe that?”

“You can believe what you want, Alejandro said calmly. “But she’s with me now. That’s all that matters”

Nivera wanted to scream, to rip herself out of his hold and deny it all–but the moment had passed, and Alejandro had already wielded the lie like a

weapon.

“I thought some time away from us would knock some sense into your head, but I was wrong. You’ve be worse, “Matthew growled at bher/b, his voice turning oily, maniptive.

“He’s brainwashing you. Look at yourself, Nivers. Look at what he‘ reduced you to!”

Nivera opened her mouth, but no words came out

She didn’t know what was worse–the fact that Matthew was trying to paint himself as the saint, or the way Alejandro stood beside her like he owned her.

What is he ckmailing you with? Tell me so I can help you,” Matthew demanded, and a chuckle escaped from Alejandro.

“Tell your father the truth, Cabezota,” he murmured mockingly. “Tell bhim /bhow you ended up here”

Nivera swallowed hard. Her throat felt like sandpaper. This was it; she had a chance to tell her father that she was at Alejandro’s mercy so she would finally be rid of him.

However, that would mean being at her father’s mercy againb, /band she didn’t know which one was worse.

Matthew’s gaze darkened further when his daughter didn’t say anything. b“/bbI’m /bgiving you ong chance, bNivera/b. Come with me now. I clean this mess up. You can still salvage your reputation. Otherwise…”

bChapter /bb38 /b