"You think you know me?" she sneered, her eyes cold, but he didn't back down. "I know what I feel," he said firmly, stepping closer. "Feelings won't save you," she replied. Her voice softened, almost breaking. "If you knew the things I've done, you'd run like the rest of them." "I'm still standing here, aren't I?" His gaze held hers, unwavering. She shook her head, her defenses crumbling. "You can't love someone like me. I ruin everything I touch." "Then ruin me," he said, his voice low, his eyes full of fire. "Because walking away isn't an option." But could love survive when her past was soaked in blood? Could he save her before she destroyed them both? To be continued
~ Lady Altaegracia pov ~
I Stood at the top of the building ,looking around at the bubbling city of Mexico.
I'm kind of like this city,imposing,harsh ,unsettled. I'm made of steep,mostly ,covered in concrete with walls that silence scream for help.
so many women hide their sorrows behind these walls,they're trapped with violence.
No one can hear these women,people refuse to listen but yet ,these women survive. They work as a means of escaping the abuse.
They hide their scars and bruises
they're victims of misogynist men, men who think they own them
And it doesn't matter how old these women are ,even if they're practically little girls.
They stalk them,torture them and destroy their lives.
How do I know?? ,I was one of them.
braulio pov
I stood waiting patiently as she had her back to me.
She gave up a dominating aura that sent thrills down my spine, yes I was scared of these woman and with the news I had it wasn't going to end well.
"lady..lady altergracia" I called ,she turned facing me with those red dark colored eyes.
"Braulio.." Her voice came out laced with vemon.
"I'm here for you.....as I've always been" i moved closer starting off calm.
"You are my attorney,can you tell me why that neighbourhood still stands??"Her gaze was hardened, to read her expression was like finding a needle in a hay..
......impossible.....
"That's where the shopping mall parking lot is supposed to be why are these people getting evicted??" She uttered.
"Do I have to tick them out myself?!" She snapped.
Before I could speak she walked past me going down ,I rushed following behind her.
~~~~~~~~
"we're here to talk to Ms altargracia sandavol!!" The people from the neighbourhood kept shouting at the gate.
"Get back!!" Her personal body guard, Kevin pushed them back bringing out his gun.
"Can't you see he's an elderly person,...he has a gun oh my!!" They stopped shifting back.
"You can't threaten us with guns!!" The head of the neighbourhood shouted stepping forward.
"yes he can!" Altaegracia said walking to them.
~Altaegracia pov~
"Oh yes ,yes he can!" I said.
"You're trying to badge into private property ,my property " I had to remove my glass to see the man well.
"That's precisely why I'm here,I trying to defend my property ,I know you've been using your influence to demolish the neighbourhood, you can't take what's mine and leave my tenants on the street!" The owner kept bladdering ...not like I cared.
"my husband tried speaking to you countless times but he was never allowed to meet with you,he tried doing things the right way" The wife of the owner pointed her finger at me.
"The building was found unlivable after a thorough inspection by the government!" braulio spoke .
"You forged the inspection report just as you forged the property deeds and had it registered under my name!" The man challenged.
"what do you want? money?!" I said straight.
"You're defaming and extorting me,you want to make a fortune out of me on a property that's in ruin and isn't even yours" I stated the obvious .
"I didn't say that don't put words in my mouth!!" This man still shouted .
"let's go braulio,i don't do business with swindlers!" I wore my glasses back walking to my jeep.
" You're Swindlers, you coward!!", they kept shouting but what do i care ,I entered my jeep and my driver got the signal driving away.
"My construction company is losing millions and its all because we haven't being able to evict those people!", I said to my three partners over the conference call.
"I'm sorry altargracia going against the law isn't easy" Valerie my judge stated.
"oh Valerie please,in thus country dismmising justice is easier than demanding it!" I scoffed at her words.
"I want you to file a warrant against the man who claims to be the owner of the neighbourhood!" I gave the order and hearing no wasn't what I wanted.
"Jaime aguire??" She said his name.
"Acusse him of exortion" I told her immediately.
"latercia when you show the reports to the news,make sure you show him in an incriminating light!" I said to my other partner latercia a popular and influencial journalist.
"You can count on me altergracia!" just what I wanted to here
I ended the call after that resting my head as my driver drove straight to my mansion.
~ SANDAVOL MANSION ~
"How's everything in my house?" I asked my maid as I entered the house.
"Excellent as always ma'am!" She bowed just as I liked it ,they bowed to my feet.
"where's my family?!" I threw my bag on the couch.
"Your husband is waiting for you in the bedroom maam" thus stupid woman.
"my family I mean my sister and my niece stupid!!" Yes I am married, if marrying a man old enough to be my father meant me getting all his wealth I did it.
"Aunty!!" I turned seeing my most beautiful niece isadora run to me.
"hi sweetie!" I hugged her smiling.
of course I smile only to the ones dear to me which are my elder sister Regina the only family I have left and my niece.
I only love this two people apart from them I love no other being in this world.
"welcome home sister!" Regina smiled at me.
"Why are you dressed in an apron sister were you the one in the kitchen?" I frowned, after all my constant talk she still liked to work..I have the money I can buy a whole agency of chefs.
"I spend a lot of time alone here soo..." She said.
"Don't exaggerate Regina, you almost sound like a prisoner here" I scoffed at her.
"okay all I ask is that you never leave without bodyguards, people know we're well off and we need to watch out for them!" I had to make them understand that.
"especially you isadora, you're so young and oblivious to the dangers lurking outside" I was just her age when I met with those devils.
They called them the monkeys,four cowards,a rapist gang 15 years ago...but I called them demons,and those demon created me ,they made the lady I am today...
They killed the old altergracia who used to love, care and support creating this feared woman whose name drills fear into many hearts.
and oh no...i don't mind at all..I love this new me..... feared,vicious, ruthless and cold hearted me basked with the power of money which is the king of the present and oh wow....I'm the QUEEN.
To be continued
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Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Anya Petrova has always lived life her way-strong, fearless, and in control. But when she's bought by Viktor Romanov, the most dangerous man in Moscow, everything changes. He says he owns her now, but Anya has never been one to bow to anyone. Viktor wants more than her obedience-he wants her to give in to him completely. But Anya is not the kind of woman to back down, and the tension between them is as dangerous as it is irresistible. Viktor is used to getting his way, and Anya's defiance only makes him want her more. But she's not someone he can easily control. The more she fights, the deeper Viktor falls, and soon, what started as a battle for power becomes something much more dangerous. But Viktor doesn't know everything-Anya has secrets even more dangerous than his own. As desire clashes with control, they're drawn into a world of secrets, betrayal, and a passion they can't deny. But with enemies everywhere, trusting each other might be the most dangerous risk of all. Warning: Mature content, blood, fights, and explosions.