, with her sleek black hair falling perfectly around her shoulders, her lips painted in a shade of red that matched her power and confiden

ad always called him, her eyes lighting up a

ached. "Vicky," he said, his voice smooth, though his mind sti

I couldn't stay away. I had to see you." She reached out, brushing her hand against his a

l. "It's not finalized yet," he said, glancing at the divorc

into a satisfied smile. "Good," she murmured, stepping closer

is was what he had wanted, wasn't it? To end things with Isabella and pick up where h

before him, the morning light casting a golden hue over the bustling streets of Manila. He had built this life

in a long time, he wasn't so

im back, her tone softer now, more

er. "Yeah, everything's fine," he said, forcing

ck. "Our future," she whispered, her breath warm agai

ut his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake the image of Isabella walking away last night, her face so composed,

ing back slightly to look at him, her b

me, but quickly masked his reaction. "No," h

her eyes sharp. "You're not ha

elt heavy on his tongue. "Isabella and

But as her lips met his, Alejandro felt nothing. No spark, no passion. Just the weight

he had barely slept, her thoughts consumed with the whirlwind of emotions that had engulfed her since

rowing inside her giving her strength. For the first time in a long time, her decisions weren'

she would do it with her dignity intact. But more than that

she reached for it, her heart skipping a

o Re

n others dismissed her as nothing more than Alejandro's wife. He had always seen more in her, seen her potential.

ned the

you ever want to discuss bus

to rely on a man to make her way in the world, and she wasn't about to start now. B

d a quic

rco. I'll be

stood, the morning sun filtering through the curtains. Today was the firs

es were still red from crying, her cheeks pale from the lack of sleep. But bene

end. This was ju

ure Alejandro Santia

country. It was a gathering of elites, the kind of place where deals were made and alliances were forged. Normally,

s he could make or the connections he co

t called, hadn't tried to fight the divorce. She had simply... disappea

the familiar faces of CEOs and politicians, socialites and power players. But

s everyone turned to l

caught in his thr

bel

red. She wasn't the wife he had kno

posture regal. Her dress was an elegant deep red that clung to her figure, accentuating eve

d... brea

wasn't

. Alejandro's jaw clenched at the sight, his chest tightening with something he refused to name. Jealousy? No, it cou

e moved through the room with ease, commandi

she would walk away quietly and disappear from his life. But here she was, s

Alejandro realized he

top. There was no warmth in her gaze, no softness. She looked at him with a

ceful nod, she turned away,

s heart pounding in his chest. He had let her go. He had told

ng the way she had transformed in the span o

sure of