bChapter /bb52 /b

After some time, bNivera /bblinked as the memory fog cleared.

She still couldn’t believe how long she’d sat on that cold study floor, all thanks to Alejandin

She rose slowly, sliding her hands down her shirt to smooth out the wrinkles. Her mind was still buzzing,ced with adrenaline, but it was much better than a few minutes ago.

As she stood, she realized something she had temporarily forgotten. Alejandro’s father.

She needed answers. Without wasting time, she reached for her phone on the nightstand and

Unlocking it, she went straight to her search e engine.

Her fingers hovered over the search field. She btyped/b.

“Alejandro Garcia’s father”

Then, quietly, between the official search results and older biography pages, a cluster of memorial sites appeared with dates, photos, and obituaries.

Miguel Garcia, that was bhis /bname.

A handsome portrait stared back dark hair with just enough grey at the temples, warm eyes that mirrored Alejandro’s own before the storm–and eyebrows that sloped with the same arrogance.

The resemnce was uncannily bprecise/b. All the men in the Garcia family looked a lot alike, with only slight differences, which bwould /bbe confusing bfor /bsomeone who didn’t know them,

He died bjust /bafter Alejandro bturned /bten

The jigsaw puzzle finally clicked as to why

by Williams said he braised /bAlejandro. She bhad /bsuspected it, but it was now confirmed.

She scrolled through public posts from family band /bcharity events Miguel had supported. bVery /blittle insight into his personality beyond “phnthropist“, “family man“, and “leader” “business leader Always distance. Always controlled.

William bhad /btaken Alejandro in after Miguel died.

A bwave of /bbsadness /bhit her, and it was on behalf of Alejandro. As much as her parents were insufferable, bshe /bdidn’t want any of them to die

Alejandro had lost his father at ten, and from the looks of things, Miguel seemed to be a good father, as there bwere /bmultiple pictures of him and his son

on the inte.

Her eyes

flicked back to Alejandro’s face, and she sighed.

Was this the reason why he was the bway /bhe wasb? /b

There was bno /bpletely getting over the loss of a parent even with William stepping in

The urge to know more about him got stronger and stronger bas /bbshe /bblooked /bbat /bher phone screen.

It didn’t seem like his cold self was the breal /bhim anymore.

“Ahh!” Nivera groaned in frustration.”

“Why are you soplicated?”

bClick /b

Nivera turned sharply when she heard the door to her room open. There was only one person who would enter without knocking

“your uncle has left?” The question should’ve sounded bcasual/b. it didn’t, as she sounded breathless as though she had been caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to do

Alejandro shut the door as he entered the room. “Hmmm”

He scrutinized her and this made her nervous, as she was sure he wouldn’t appreciate her searching about his father.

“You look like someone who’s been caught in the middle of something what n are you cooking up?”

Her bgums /bmped shut, and her hands became mmy. “Nothing,” she responded, her voice clipped

“Nothing?” His lips twitched bas /bif amused. “Are you sure?” He tied his head, and she nodded, inwardly praying he wouldn’t push forward.

Not wanting to give him the opportunity to do bso/b, she spoke. “Wejandro?”

“Hmm,b” /bhe answered,

“Why did you have a panic attack bback /bin the elevator?” it was a perfect conversation to get his radar off her and a chance to get an answer, if he chose to

give it bto /bher.

She saw the corner of bhis /blips curl in a grin, and she squinted his eyes. He was doing it again, acting nonchnt when the situation was clearly serious.

“bWe /bwere stuck in an elevator. Have you seen the things that happen in such situations? The question is why didn’t you have a panic attack?” He turned the question back at her.

Did he seriously expect her to believe that a man who killed without flinching was afraid of an elevator shutting down?

Either he was stupid or bhe /bthought her to be stupid enough to believe it.

I’m stronger than you, then. Didn’t think you’d be such a weakling,” she shrugged casually, deciding to y along with him.

It was certain she wouldn’t be getting answers and so there was no point in pushing it.

“Really? I’m a weakling?” Alejandro asked.

“Did I strike a nerve?” She grinned.

“Hmm, how about I show byou /bjust how much of a weakling I am,” by grinned back which made hers fall and she moved back.

“You’re so annoying.”

“Don’t go doing anything you’re not supposed to do,” Alejandro chuckled, but she didn’t miss the seriousness in his tone.

Those were his final words to her before he turned and left the room.

As soon as Alejandro closed the door, a cold look made its way to his face as he headed to his room.

tout something he didn’t think he’d need anymore but kept just in case; the darn tablets which were supposed

Walking to one of his drawers, he brought o to help with bhis /bpanic attack.

Grabbing the ss of water, he popped the tablet into bhis /bmouth and pushed it down, after which he sank into his bed.

Darn the bpanic /battacks and the stupid doctor who was unable to fully cure him of them and more importantly, damn the man who had been responsible

for them.

Today, they had managed to make him look in front of the very woman he wasn’t supposed to look weak in front of Nivera.

However, the fact that she didn’t use it to make fun of him was unsettlingb, /band he hated it, as he would have preferred if she had

20:44 Wed, 23 Jul 6 G

Instead, she had looked at him, her big hazel eyes filled with worry all white whispering reassuring words to him.

“Ahh!” Alejandro groaned in annoyance as he ran his finger through hair roughly

Now, how was he supposed to enjoy destroying a woman who had been the only person to essfully snap him out of a full panic attack?.

the unapped out of his thoughts when his phone vibrated and when he picked it up, he saw it was Martins who had texted him

The police are investigating Nathaniel’s suicide and Nivers is a suspect” was what the message rea

“Noted!” He responded.

He wasn’t worried about that at all, bas /bunless someone was intent on framing her, they wouldn’t be able to prove anyth

Now that she had been rightfully cleared, there was a high chance that brands would try to rekindle their rtionship with her

Alejandro’s thoughts began to dwindle, all thanks to the medication he had taken and the fact that it was about to knock him out cold.

Closing his eyes, he didn’t try to fight the sleep that hit him.

He wasn’t sure just how much time had passed when he was broken out of his sleep, as his phone rang this time.

Groaning, he picked up his phone and saw that it was his head helper calling, and he answered it immediately as he knew it would be important.

“Sir, Miss Elton’s mother is here to see her, bshe /binformed him, and surprise immediately settled on his face.

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