Chapter 26DIEGO'S DUNGEONSophia slowly opened her eyes, her head pounding with the remnants of the unconsciousness that had overtaken her earlier. As the haze of confusion lifted, she realized she wasn’t in her luxurious bedroom at Alejandro’s mansion anymore. The air was thick with dampness, the scent of mildew stinging her nose. She tried to move, but the ropes around her wrists cut into her skin, restraining her. Panic set in as she tried to look around.She was in a dark, cold room. The walls were stone, covered with what appeared to be damp patches of moss. There was no window, just a single flickering light bulb hanging above her. She couldn’t tell how long she had been here or how she had gotten here. One thing was clear—she was in trouble. A lot of trouble.The door creaked open, and in walked Diego Morales, his figure tall and imposing. His smile was cold, calculating, like a predator toying with its prey. Sophia froze, her stomach sinking at the sight of him. This man was t
Chapter 27Early Morning at Alejandro’s mansionThe morning sun cast a soft glow over Alejandro’s mansion as Alejandro paced back and forth in the living room. He hadn’t slept all night, worry etched on his face. Miguel sat on the couch, sipping his coffee, while Theo stood near the window, scanning the surroundings for anything suspicious.“Still no word from her?” Alejandro asked, his voice thick with exhaustion.Miguel shook his head. “I’ve got Jack working on the tracker on her dress. If Diego has her, it’s not going to be easy to get her back, Ale.”“She’s carrying my child, Miguel,” Alejandro said, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “I can’t just give up.”Theo spoke up from his position near the window. “Wait, I think I just saw her walk through the gate.”Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside. Alejandro turned toward the door, his heart pounding.The door burst open, and there stood Sophia, her hair disheveled, her clothes torn in a way that sug
Chapter 28Morning at Jackson’s QuartersThe next day, Theo stood outside Jackson’s room, his knuckles rapping firmly on the wooden door. The hallway was quiet, with the faint hum of morning activity echoing from the kitchen below. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Jackson in sweatpants and a loose hoodie, his hair slightly disheveled.“Theo? You’re up early,” Jackson said, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “What’s going on?”“We need to talk,” Theo said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. His face was stern, his tone clipped. Jackson frowned, shutting the door behind him.“What’s the urgency?” Jackson asked, gesturing to a chair for Theo to sit.Theo ignored the offer and remained standing, crossing his arms. “It’s about Sophia,” he began. “You’ve heard the story she’s spinning, right? That she ‘escaped’ from Diego Morales?”Jackson snorted, walking over to the mini-fridge to grab a bottle of water. “Yeah, cock and bull if you ask me. No way Diego just l
Chapter 29Nathan and Jackson left Jackson's room with purposeful strides, their conversation still buzzing in their minds. The tension was palpable as they navigated the winding corridors of Alejandro’s mansion.“Where could he be right now?” Nathan said, his tone edged with frustration.Jackson, clutching his laptop, shrugged. “Theo’s always moving around. Let’s check his room.”They turned down the hall and knocked on Theo’s door. After a few moments of silence, Nathan tried the handle, but the room was empty.“Not here,” Jackson muttered, glancing around.Nathan sighed. “Let’s try the gym. He’s been in there a lot lately.”The two made their way downstairs to the gym. The faint sound of weights clinking and rhythmic grunts echoed down the hall as they approached. Inside, they found Jake Turner, shirtless and dripping with sweat, in the middle of a vigorous set of pull-ups.Jake noticed them in the mirror and smirked. “What’s up, nerds?” he said, dropping down from the bar and grab
Chapter 30The next day was a Sunday. It was a bright morning, and the mansion grounds were bustling with activity. The new gardener was trimming hedges, while a few maids hurried about their chores. At the gate, Martin, the elderly gateman, was performing his usual duties, meticulously inspecting everyone entering and leaving.A sleek, black car pulled up at the gate, and Oscar stepped out. Dressed in an expensive tracksuit and sunglasses, he looked around with a smug expression. He gestured impatiently at Martin, his tone sharp.“Hurry up, old man! Do you want me to stand here all day?” Oscar snapped, leaning against the car. “Open the gate already!”Martin, used to dealing with difficult people, remained calm but couldn’t hide the slight frown forming on his face. “I’m just doing my job, sir. Could you please confirm your identity?”Oscar scoffed, pulling off his sunglasses. “I’m Sophia’s gym instructor. She’s expecting me. Now stop wasting my time and open the gate!”Martin nodded
Chapter 31He left the gym and headed straight for Theo’s office. Pushing open the door, he found Theo reviewing the updated security plans.“Got a minute?” Miguel asked, shutting the door behind him.“Sure,” Theo said, leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?”Miguel crossed his arms, pacing slightly. “It’s about Sophia and that so-called gym instructor of hers, Oscar.”Theo raised an eyebrow. “What about them?”“I just saw them in the gym. The way they were interacting—too close, too familiar. He told her he missed her after the ‘kidnapping.’ It’s odd, Theo. He’s supposed to be her trainer, not her confidant.”Theo frowned. “You think there’s something going on between them?”Miguel stopped pacing, his expression serious. “I don’t just think it—I know it. And we need to keep a closer eye on them. There’s something about Oscar that doesn’t add up. He’s disrespectful to staff, acts entitled, and now he’s cozying up to Sophia.”Theo nodded thoughtfully. “Do you want me to escalate this?
Chapter 32Later That AfternoonThe golden rays of the afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of Alejandro’s mansion as the doorbell echoed throughout the luxurious halls. James, the butler, shuffled to the entrance, opening the door to reveal two women—Amy Johnson and Judy Miller.Amy wore a simple floral dress that flattered her petite frame, while Judy was dressed in bold designer clothing, her oversized sunglasses perched arrogantly on her head.“Welcome, ladies,” Mr. James said with a polite nod, stepping aside to let them in.Amy gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the grandeur of the mansion's new interior that Sophia had had made. “Oh my gosh, Judy, look at this place! It’s like something out of a movie!” she whispered excitedly.Judy rolled her eyes, stepping inside with a smirk. “Calm down, Amy. It’s not like you’re moving in. You’ll embarrass yourself, as usual.”Amy flushed but ignored the jab, too enamored by the sparkling chandeliers and marble floors to c
"Sophia, wait!" Alejandro called out to his wife.She stopped her car and rolled down the window, looking at her husband with angry eyes. Despite his good looks, Alejandro felt worthless to her because he was broke. “What do you want?”"Sophie, I thought you said you'd give me a ride today," he said, trying to catch his breath, but Sophia's reaction was harsh."Why would I bother with someone like you? You can't even afford a car. Take the bus, that's what poor people do," she spat before driving off, leaving Alejandro feeling hurt and rejected.He proceeded to walk to work, dressed neatly in uniform. He was handsome and attracted attention, but he only had eyes for his wife, Sophia, despite her disrespect."Hey there!" Someone called out, and Alejandro looked up to see a fancy car parked nearby. It was bright colored, and the driver, a woman wearing expensive diamond jewelry, smiled at him.She is Charlotte Roosevelt, the daughter of Mr. Roosevelt, a very wealthy businessman.She has