I knew this mont was coming. The mont where I had to either make my presence known or let him send away with a glance.
My hands shook, and I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. Every part of wanted to hide. But I wouldn’t.
I was no longer the girl who bowed her head in sha.
I lifted my face slowly, eting his eyes with all the things I was carrying swirling inside mine. The truth, the guilt, the regret. And with that, I said the words I had been avoiding.
"I’m María José," I whispered.
The mont I said my na, Álvaro’s face changed.
It wasn’t shock neither was it confusion. It was worse than that... it was delight. That cruel kind of delight only n like him could wear so naturally. A smirk slid onto his face like oil across glass.
At first, he slid out of the car and fitted his body into the space.
"So it’s true?" he asked, leaning against his car door with the relaxed posture of soone watching a train wreck they were enjoying far too much.
"What’s true?" I asked, swallowing hard.
He rolled his eyes like I was wasting his ti, then tilted his head, eyeing up and down in a way that made my my throat hurt.
"Camilla told you were now ugly and holess," he said, as casually as if he were comnting on the weather. "I couldn’t fathom it. You, María José, the De la Vega’s precious little flower? Turned into a scarred, soaked stray? I thought she was exaggerating—but..." He spread his hands as if I were a grand reveal. "You’re actually an insult to ugliness."
I felt the slap before it happened, though he hadn’t touched . His words were sharp enough to inflict pain on my ego.
The guards chuckled quietly behind him, and I could feel the burn of sha crawling up my throat. I didn’t lower my eyes though. Not this ti.
He whistled low, circling like I was prey. "I have to admit, though... it’s kind of impressive. From silk sheets to a towel in the rain. I an, what happened, Princesa? Did Daddy finally realize you weren’t worth the price tag?"
I clenched my fists. My body was trembling from the cold, the humiliation, and the sheer rage crawling beneath my skin. But I kept my eyes on him.
"I ca to see Axel," I repeated firmly.
"Oh," he said, dragging the word out like he tasted it. "My perfect brother. Always getting the charity cases."
"I don’t need your help," I snapped, even though the wind whipped through the wet towel and I was shivering like a leaf. "Just let talk to him."
Álvaro’s smile turned thoughtful, and I instantly hated that look.
"You know," he said slowly, tapping a finger against his chin, "Axel’s not here. But I can let you in. Let you wait in his room. He wouldn’t mind. He’s generous like that."
A knot twisted in my gut. Sothing was off about how Álvaro was readily going to let in to see Axel. But the exhaustion... the cold... the heartbreak. I needed shelter. Just a mont to breathe. Maybe he really would help, even if only to show up later.
"I won’t owe you anything," I pointed out quietly.
He laughed again. "Oh no, cariño. You couldn’t afford anyway."
Bastard.
He turned to the guards. "She’s with ."
The guards imdiately stepped aside. I forced my legs to move, my body aching from the run and soaked through. Álvaro led the way, and I followed, hating every step behind him. His swagger made my teeth grit. His cologne was too strong, musky, and arrogant, filling the hall as we entered the estate.
I expected him to lead toward the wing where Axel I heard stayed. But we took a sharp turn, down a hallway. Since I didn’t know my way around the packhouse anyway, I shrugged it off.
My footsteps slowed.
"Is this Axel’s side?" I asked.
Álvaro didn’t look back. "You think I’d take you to my brother’s room looking like that? Relax. I have a guest room. You’ll dry off, clean up, and maybe not sll like a drowned rat."
The air in the hallway grew colder. I hesitated and wondered since when Álvaro beca such a caring brother.
"You want to see him or not?" he asked, now at the end of the hall, holding a heavy door open.
I stepped inside. What could go wrong anyway? Álvaro was going to marry Camilla in a few days. Camilla used to be my sister.
I was safe... I guess.
The room was large anyway. It was too large for a guest room. The curtains were dark and thick. The lights were dim. There were no personal touches; no photos, no books. Just a bed. A big one.
I turned to face him.
"This isn’t a guest room," I said, already stepping back.
Álvaro shut the door behind him with a soft click. The sound was deafening.
"No, María José," he said, smile gone. "This is my room."
Why the hell did this son of a bitch bring into his room?!
"I’m leaving," I said imdiately, turning for the door.
He moved faster. Blocked the exit with a grin that no longer had anything playful in it. "Why rush? You ca all this way."
"I said I want to see Axel, not co to your room."
"And I said he’s not here," he replied in an almost bored low voice.
"But I am. And I’m very interested in you, María José. I an, look at you. You used to walk around like a queen. Now you’re begging in a towel. Tell that’s not poetic."
He’s very interested in ?!
What the fuck was he talking about when he was going to marry soone who was supposed to be my sister in days?
Was he out of his mind?
"You’re disgusting." I spat a chunk of saliva on his leg.
His eyes trailed to it before he shrugged. "Maybe. But I’m the one standing between you and the street. Maybe you should be a little nicer to ."
"I’d rather die."
"Don’t tempt ."
He stepped forward slowly like a predator. I backed up until my legs hit the edge of the bed. He reached out, brushing a strand of wet hair from my face. I flinched, shoving his disgusting hand away.
His eyes darkened. "Still got a little fight, huh?"
He reached for again, this ti grabbing my wrist.
"Don’t touch !" I scread.
He laughed. "You really think anyone’s going to believe you? That you didn’t co in here looking for this? Look at you... wrapped in a towel, running to the packhouse in the middle of the night for my brother. You’re pathetic. Are you really that addicted to his dick?"
What the hell?
His DICK?!
Oh, Dios... Álvaro was the worst kind of man there was.
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