Chapter 15%
Ashley hesitated for only a moment before giving in. How could she resist? Chiquito was practically vibrating with excitement, wagging his tail so fast it was a blur. Smiling, she took the frisbee from Alejandro’s hand.
After a few rounds of playing, she realized she was actually enjoying herself–maybe a little too much.
Then, the buzz of a vibrating phone cut through the moment. Alejandro glanced at the screen, his expression darkening slightly.
[I swear, I’m the kindest person alive. The second I got intel on Ash, I sent it straight to you.]
He typed out a quick thanks. Almost immediately, another message popped up.%
[Since we’re being generous, how about you return the favor? That company proposal–come on, cousin, help me out Zoe had been reeling when she found out that the woman who broke her cousin’s heart was none other than her best friend.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
No wonder.
That day, when she casually mentioned Ashley was moving to Puerto Vendaval for work, the ever–composed Alejandro had actually shattered his teacup.%
When Ashley arrived? He had oh–so–casually offered to pick her up since he was “already on the way.“2
Right.
Like that wasn’t premeditated.%
Heh. Who would’ve thought the untouchable Alejandro would stumble this hard? Guess the saying was true–win in business, lose in love.%
Hopefully, her dear cousin would finally get a girlfriend. Maybe she should give him a little push.
On the other end of the phone, Alejandro simply sent back an “OK” emoji, his gaze subtly tracking Ashley’s every move.
Good. She wasn’t pulling away from his touch. That meant he still had a chance.%
Feigning nonchalance, Alejandro snapped a bunch of photos–then quietly deleted all but the ones with Ashley in them, saving those for himself.
The slight curve of his lips gave him away. But just as quickly, Alejandro forced himself to rein it in.
His assistant had already confirmed–Max had tied himself up in corporate red tape. His company’s government contracts made getting a visa nearly impossible. He wasn’t leaving the country anytime soon.
Which meant Alejandro had time. Plenty of time.
He was more than willing to wait–patiently, carefully–until Ashley got used to having him around.
Looks like even fate couldn’t bear to watch him suffer anymore–it sent Ashley straight to his side.”
Alejandro couldn’t let her catch on, not yet. If she realized his feelings now, everything would fall apart.
A skilled hunter knew how to wait–patiently, silently–until his prey walked willingly into the trap. But then, the unexpected happened.
Ashley, who had been laughing just moments ago, suddenly struggled to breathe.
Then–thud. She collapsed.”
Her brows knitted in pain as a suffocating tightness gripped her chest. Panic flared in her eyes and tears welled up involuntarily.”
Through the haze of her fading consciousness, she saw only a shadow–a figure hovering over her, calling her name over and over.!
Then, nothing.
By the time she came to, she was already lying in a hospital bed.
Her eyelids felt unbearably heavy, refusing to open, but she could hear hushed voices. Alejandro’s voice–low and strained–spoke to the doctor.
“Doctor, what happened to her? She just collapsed–no warning, nothing. If I hadn’t been there… I don’t even want to think
about it.“%
Alejandro’s brows knitted together as he studied the medical report, his face clouded with concern. His voice, usually calm and composed, carried a rare trace of worry.!!
“This isn’t something that happened overnight,” the doctor explained. “Ms. Vera has been under prolonged stress, constantly on edge. Over time, the body can only take so much before it starts to break down.”
12:53 AM M
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He continued, “Stress–induced conditions like hers often begin with intense anxiety, nervousness and fear. Eventually, they disrupt the body’s ability to regulate breathing, leading to chest tightness and episodes of breathlessness.”
will.
Ashley could hear their conversation. She tried to open her eyes, but her body felt impossibly heavy, refusing to obey her
Outside, rain pattered against the floor–to–ceiling window, soft and steady–until a sudden crack of thunder split the air. The sharp sound made her brow twitch, a flicker of unease crossing her face.”
Then, warmth. A hand gently wrapped around hers, its touch firm yet reassuring.”
A familiar voice, low and steady, murmured by her ear, “Sleep. Don’t be afraid–I’m right here.”
The words settled over her like a blanket, easing the restless storm inside her.”
Just like that, she surrendered to the pull of sleep.
Chapter 16
Since Ashley left, Max’s world had lost its color.
