Chapter 21 ۵ Scars

ALEJANDRO'S POV

I hadn't seen Yara for a week. Not even a single glimpse of her since that night I took away her dignity, I enjoyed every second of it. She was purposely avoiding me, I could tell. To be completely honest, I didn't care. The last thing I needed was a distraction. I had to get back on track. I leaned back in my chair, taking a break from marking paper assignments. All I could think about was her. The way her body arched under my touch, withering away. No matter how much she tried to hate me, I knew that deep down I was her only escape, the thought of it gave me complete satisfaction

I took a sip of my whiskey. She was haunting my ever thought, making her dick harder and harder. All I wanted was to feel her wet little lips on my cock. Hear her moan, fuck her raw, make her scream. I was growing mad under my thoughts.

She was like a puzzle I couldn't solve but couldn't walk away from. She didn't belong in my world, the idea of her trying to escape it made something dark in me tighten.

The memories clawed back again. Her tremors beneath my touch, the loud moans, and the flickers of desperation in her gaze as she tried to keep herself steady. There was power in knowing she feared me, that she felt trapped and vulnerable, and still couldn't break away. The thrill of it hummed through me, stronger than any rush I'd felt in years.

Fuck

A knock at my door pulled me back to the moment. Camilla's voice broke through, soft, nervous. "Sir, sorry to interrupt.....Yara wanted to ask something"

I felt the irritation prickle under my skin. "She can't ask me herself?" I liked that she was scared of me, intimidated. But I hated when she showed it.

Camilla glanced away, her voice almost a whisper. "She wanted to know if she could see her parents"

The request hit me like a slap, cold and sudden. I gripped my cup of whiskey, almost breaking the glass.

Was she that fucking stupid? Her parents? She thought she had the right to make demands? Anger surged, raw and immediate.

I spoke through gritted teeth. "Leave" I ordered, waiting until Camilla left before I let out a long breath, if she thought she earned even the slightest bit of freedom she was wrong. Yara would stay here, where I could unravel her, pull her apart thread by thread, until she had nothing left.

I took a deep breath, marking the last of my assignments before stalking downstairs.

She was sat down, braiding Elena's hair, playing at innocence, a small smile flickering across her face. I couldn't help but notice that when I did happen to see her she was always wearing baggy clothes, trying to hide her figure.

I didn't hesitate, walking into the room, I grabbed her arm, yanking her away from Elena, dragging her with me to my office. Closing the door shut behind me.

Yara's face went pale as she looked up at me, but I saw the defiance there, even if it was masked by fear. I leaned in close, letting the weight of my anger bleed into my words. "You aren't fucking seeing them" My voice was low, but the edge cut through the air between us. Did she think this was a game? That she could just go back to her cozy little life whenever she felt like it?

"Because they're my family!" she shot back, her voice shaking with that blend of desperation and anger that made her so infuriating.

I clenched my jaw, barely holding my control. I wanted to tell her no, lock her up, remind her of exactly where she stood. She was in my world now, surrounded by walls of my making. Her family was gone, and every bit of her life outside these walls was as good as dead. But something in her voice stirred something darker in me. I liked the idea of dangling her freedom in front of her, making her try her hardest to earn it, watch her hope just enough so I could tear it away again.

"No. Yara, fuck no" I said, letting the venom seep into my tone, "you haven't earned that freedom yet"

Her defiance flared again, and she stepped closer, pushing against the invisible line I'd drawn. "And how do I earn that, huh?" she spat, her voice full of fire, trying to stand up to me. She didn't know what she was asking for.

I didn't respond, just looked at her, letting her words hang in the air. The silence stretched, and her fists clenched, a small, futile attempt to stand her ground. "You're so damn infuriating!" she shouted.

"Yara..." My voice was warning, but she didn't stop.

"I thought you were going to your precious strip club anyway, huh?" she sneered, taunting me, trying to provoke.

"Yara-" I gritted out, but she cut me off.

"You know what? I'm done with you!" She turned, as if she could just walk away from this, but I was faster, catching her in my grip, holding her close enough to feel her heartbeat racing.

"Get off me!" she thrashed, trying to push me away, but her fight was nothing against my grip. She punched at my chest, taking out all her anger on my body.

"Yara, listen to me"

"Let go, what do I have to do to earn freedom? Sex? Is that what you want Alejandro you want to fuck me?" she hissed, her nails digging into my arms, barely scratching the surface. Her resistance only made me tighten my hold, like holding onto a struggling bird that had no chance of escaping.

"Don't say another fucking word"

"If that's what will earn me my freedom I'll give it to you" she mumbled sadly.

Without thinking, I grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at me, my fingers digging in just enough to remind her who was in control. "Do you ever shut up?" The words left me with a quiet, icy edge.

"I'll let you Alejandro, I'll have sex with you, but you have to leave me alone, okay?" She spoke as I let go of her go from my grip.

She unbuttoned her shirt, taking it off then she unclasped her bra, pull it away from her form leaving the top half of her body completely naked.

She moved towards me, dropping to her knees. Her hands taking off my belt with ease compared to before. She unzipped my trousers. I hated this, I hated how easily she was willing to give me something I've craved for so long only so that she could be free from me. I was her one personal hell.

"Get up Yara" she ignored me and instead attempted to take off my trousers. My hand stopped her. I grabbed her wrist, pulling her up from the floor, earning a little wince from her pretty little mouth.

She looked out of it, like she was done. She just wanted to get away from me as quickly as possible and go back to her old life. We both knew that wasn't possible, this was something she couldn't move on from. She'd still have to see me at university, there was no escape, no freedom and I knew that deep down she knew that.

I pulled her into my chest her bare cleavage pushing against me"fucking stupid girl"

She stilled for a moment, her breaths shallow, then I released her, shoving her back. "You can see them" I spoke watching the surprise flicker across her face.

Her shoulders dropped, and she looked at me with a mix of relief and confusion. For a second she looked as if she forgot about the fact she was in front of me, not wearing a bra. When she caught me looking she instantly picked up her shirt from the floor, slipping it on, avoiding all eye contact with me "Thank you" she whispered, almost as if she didn't believe it.

I watched as her eyes made contact with mines, she slowly moved closer to me, her shirt not fully buttoned up. Her hand hesitantly reached up to my jaw, her fingers lightly breezing over the stubble I forgot to shave off.

What was she playing at?

I hated that feeling, I wasn't used to it, used to love, or whatever this was, grabbing her hand I moved it away from my face "go to sleep yara"

As she stepped away, I felt the weight of my decision settle over me. The thought of her reconnecting with her family, it filled me with a kind of loathe I couldn't place. She had a family, something she loved, something that still gave her hope. Completely opposite to what I grew up with, a family where love was a lie.

She stood there reluctantly. Finally, buttoning up the top buttons of her shirt. I watched as she played with her hair, twirling it around in her finger, that same hair pulled to push her into obedience.

"Alejandro?" She hummed.

I looked at her ushering her to carry on.

"Will you sleep next to me?" She asked, but her question didn't hold confidence. She already knew what my answer was going to be

"No, I have some important business"

"What kind of business?"

"Nothing you need to know"

"Please don't go, I- I need help with an assignment . Please Alejandro" I couldn't help but smirk.

"Figure it out Cariño" I leaned down to roughly kiss her temple before leaving, ignoring her eyes that were practically begging me to stay.

I would let her think she had her freedom, let her glimpse at it just enough to make her believe in it. And then I would take it all away, tear it down around her, until there was nothing left of the girl who had come here so full of fight. Let her try to leave, I'd always be waiting, ready to remind her exactly who she belonged to.

YARA'S POV

It had been months since I last saw my parents, and the ache to reconnect with them was gnawing at me more than I wanted to admit. When Alejandro told me I could visit them, it almost felt like he was offering me a taste of freedom, though I knew better than to believe that completely. Still, I found myself eagerly slipping into his pristine car. As I waited for him in the car, I couldn't help but think of all the possibilities when I'd see my family. I'd been telling them I've been too busy with university. I'd call them, text them but when they would ask when they'd next see me I was forced to lie.

I mean what was I meant to tell them that I was practically chained to my rich and smart professor's mansion? Doesn't exactly sound bad.

Deep down I knew that I would never be able to mention all of the things Alejandro's done to me to my parents. I just couldn't, I didn't want them to view me like that. I didn't want them to scold me for being a 19 year old adult and still not being able to escape from him. It was like I was bound to him, there was no escape. Or maybe....i didn't want to escape?

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the drivers door opening and in came Alejandro. He quickly glanced at me, before settling down in the car.

"Put your seatbelt on Yara" he instructed, watching me until I did it.

"Thanks for driving me" no reply. And with that he started up his car, instead of his usual Porsche he decided to drive a Tesla.

He drove in silence, hands steady on the wheel, his jaw set in that familiar way that told me he wasn't in a mood for chatter. The quiet felt too heavy, though, so I broke it with a tentative question. "How long will you let me stay?" I asked, my voice softer than I intended, almost like I was testing the water.

Alejandro's eyes stayed fixed on the road, but I saw his jaw tense slightly. "A few hours" he said bluntly, shutting down my attempt at conversation without so much as a glance in my direction.

I swallowed hard, feeling my heart sink, but tried again. "It's been a while, so they'll probably want to catch up......."

His hand tightened on the wheel, and I could see the muscles in his forearm flexing, a silent warning. "Yara," he said, voice sharp as a knife "I really don't give a shit"

The words hit like a slap, and I bit back the retort that was already forming on my tongue. A wave of frustration surged through me, but I buried it, staring out the window instead, trying to let the passing scenery distract me. But the silence only amplified the tension in the car. I stole a glance at him, his face hard and unreadable, and the irritation bubbling inside me grew.

I crossed my arms, leaning back against the seat with a huff. He must've sensed my frustration because, without warning, his hand moved from the gear shift and settled heavily on my thigh.

I sucked in a sharp breath, the warmth of his palm spreading across my thigh, a fierce reminder of his control. His fingers pressed into my skin, possessive and firm, and my body betrayed me, shivering under his touch. My heart beat faster, caught between anger and something dangerously close to desire.

"You have something to say, cariño?" His voice was a low murmur, laced with a mocking tone that only fueled my frustration.

I glared at him, finding my voice. "Why do you always have to act like this? It's like.....like you enjoy making everything difficult"

A dark chuckle escaped his lips, and he slid his hand further up my thigh, his fingers brushing close enough to my core to set my skin on fire. "Difficult? You have no idea, Yara" he replied, his tone almost condescending, sending a flush of anger through me. He carried on, his fingers moving towards the zip of my loose jeans "Maybe you just don't know when to stop talking"

I pushed his hand away, feeling a surge of defiance.

"It's not my fault you hate me so much you don't want to speak to me"

He looked over at me, his gaze intense, narrowing with a dangerous glint. "Hate? That's rich, coming from you" he bit back, speeding up the car.

"I wouldn't have to hate you if you acted like a normal human being" I retorted, feeling my heart race as the argument escalated.

His eyes flashed with something unreadable, and for a moment, I thought he might pull over right there and show me exactly what 'hate' looked like. But he took a deep breath, his gaze shifting back to the road, his jaw clenched tight. "Think what you want, Yara. I'm done talking about this" he said coldly, shutting me out completely.

The rest of the ride passed in tense, brooding silence, neither of us willing to break it. I stared out the window, my chest heavy with unspoken words, each mile stretching the distance between us even as we sat inches apart.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally pulled up in front of my parents' house. I exhaled slowly, steeling myself, trying to shake off the lingering tension from our argument. Alejandro's gaze remained impassive, his face a stony mask as he glanced at me.

"I'll wait out here. Remember a few hours, ok?" he said flatly.

I hesitated, guilt gnawing at me despite everything. "It'll be quick, I promise"

He just nodded, eyes distant, and I slipped out of the car, closing the door quietly behind me. My parents' house felt like a sanctuary, a place untouched by the chaotic pull Alejandro seemed to have on my life.

The moment I stepped through the familiar door, the scent of my mother's cooking washed over me, warm, fragrant, comforting. It pulled at me like a thread connecting me to a past that now felt like it belonged to someone else. I hadn't realized how much I missed it until I was standing here, breathing it in, a bittersweet ache settling in my chest.

"Yara!" My mum's voice was the first thing to break the silence. Her face lit up, her warm brown eyes softening as she opened her arms for me. I rushed forward, wrapping my arms around her, feeling the warmth of her embrace fill every empty, aching corner in my heart. She held me tightly, her hands moving over my back like she was checking to make sure I was really there. "It's been so long, meri jaan (my life in Urdu)" she murmured into my hair.

"I know, Mama" I whispered, squeezing her harder, as if I could somehow make up for all the missed moments with a single hug.

Before I could pull away, a small whirlwind crashed into my side, almost knocking me off balance. "Oh my g-" my little sister Jasmine who barely showed me any affection squealed, her arms wrapping around me as she jumped up and down, her infectious energy lifting the entire room.

"Jasmine!" I laughed, looking down at her bright, mischievous grin. She'd grown taller, only by the smallest bit, and there was a new spark in her eyes, a kind of confidence I didn't remember from before. "I didn't think it was possible but you've grown a few centimetres"I teased, she slapped my arm.

"Shut up!" She grunted rolling her eyes.

"Duh, I'm sixteen. I'm basically an adult" she declared, flipping her hair dramatically as I laughed at her.

"An adult? Please" I teased, raising an eyebrow as I nudged her playfully. "I bet you're still scared of spiders"

"Am not!" she shot back, but the fear was still quite evident.

"I bet you're still scared of heights!"

I laughed, feigning shock. "I'll have you know I'm very brave now. I face my fears every day" I said, trying to sound dignified. She burst out laughing, and I couldn't help but join in, the sound filling the room like music.

Jasmine looped her arm through mine, her voice taking on a playful lilt. "Well, you'd better tell us everything. And I mean everything. I need to know whether or not I'll be prepared enough for university" She shot me a mischievous look.

"Especially about any cute guys you might be seeing"

"Jasmine don't embarrass your sister like that" spoke my mum.

My stomach twisted at that, Alejandro's face flashing in my mind before I quickly pushed the thought away. "No cute guys, just a very busy life" I said, rolling my eyes for effect.

Jasmine gasped, leaning closer. "Ooooh? Now you have to tell me!"

"Ok, I'll tell you all about it later," I promised. "But right now, I'm starving?"

Smiling my mum guided me to the kitchen. She laid out a spread of dishes, each one more fragrant and inviting than the last. There was warm rice, spicy lentil soup, and lamb kebab, dishes that had been woven into the fabric of my childhood.

As we sat around the table, Jasmine took her seat next to me, practically bouncing with excitement as she piled food onto her plate. "Come on, Yara, give us the real scoop. Tell me about all the terrible, embarrassing things you've been up to"

"Oh, I think that's more your department" I shot back, raising an eyebrow as she pouted. "Remember when you accidentally FaceTimed that boy from your science class and left it on for hours?"

Her face flushed bright red, and my mum chuckled as she stirred her tea. "Yasmine, really?" She couldn't stop laughing.

"It was an accident!" Jasmine wailed, covering her face as we all burst into laughter. The sound of our voices filled the kitchen, a warmth I'd almost forgotten wrapping around me like a soft blanket.

"Mum, where's dad?" I frowned not seeing him anywhere.

"He's at work, he'll be home any minute now" I smiled.

The hours slipped away as we talked, laughed, and teased each other. With every passing minute, I felt the stress and weight of the outside world melt away. Here, I was just Yara again, the sister, the daughter, the girl who could laugh freely without glancing over her shoulder.

When my dad arrived home everything felt complete.

Jasmine showed me her new bed, and all of her new clothes. Making me watch as she put them on and showed them to me. We caught up with each other. I told her about all of the interesting stuff at my university, excluding Alejandro. And she told me all of the interesting stuff at her secondary school.

She wouldn't stop blushing over a guy, Zayn. The way she spoke about him, it was like she was in love.....at 16. But of course, she denied it and claimed that she hated him and that he was the most annoying boy on earth.

My mind went to Alejandro. Quickly, I glanced at my phone that was on do not disturb, my heart dropped. It was already 8pm I'd been here for six and half hours straight. It was dark, the sky outside a deep indigo scattered with stars. I'd promised Alejandro I'd be quick, and instead, I'd lost myself in the comfort of home, forgetting that he was waiting outside.

I quickly rushed downstairs "Do you have to go already?" My mum asked softly, her gaze filled with the same sadness I felt.

"I......yeah, I'll visit again as soon as possible" I said, the words bitter on my tongue as I hugged her one last time, feeling the pang of leaving even as I held her and my dad close.

Jasmine wrapped her arms around me again, squeezing tight. "You better come back soon, okay?"

"Of course, I will Jas" I said, managing a smile "Don't get too tall while I'm gone" I joked.

She groaned, rolling her eyes. "I'll try, but I make no promises"

With one last look at the house, and one last bye. I slipped out the door, the warmth of their laughter still echoing in my ears as I stepped into the cool night.

When I stepped out, the sky was a dark canvas above me, stars scattered across it. I squinted through the dimness and spotted Alejandro's car parked around the corner just where I'd left it. He was still there. The sight made my heart twist uncomfortably. I made my way over, hesitating just outside his window before opening the door. He was leaning back, looking out through the windshield with that unreadable expression, his fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel.

"I......I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take so long" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He turned to look at me, his eyes dark and piercing. The weight of his gaze made me feel small, like he could see right through me, but I forced myself to hold it.

"Get in" he said finally, his tone low and unreadable.

I slid into the seat, shutting the door carefully. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, almost suffocating. I could feel his gaze on me, a mix of disappointment and something else simmering just below the surface.

He didn't say a word as he started the car, his fingers gripping the wheel with that same controlled intensity. The guilt gnawed at me, the weight of my mistake pressing down, filling the silence with an unbearable tension.

"I.......I didn't mean to make you wait so long," I said quietly, hoping to break through the cold wall between us.

He glanced at me, his gaze sharp and unforgiving "I told you to keep it short"

I bit my lip, feeling my cheeks heat up, caught between frustration and remorse. I opened my mouth to argue, but the look on his face told me it was pointless. Was he going to punish me? That was the only question ringing through my head.

The rest of the ride was silent, the air thick with everything we hadn't said. A strange unease settled in my chest, an uncomfortable reminder of the tension that bound us. Every glance he stole, every sigh that escaped him, only reminded me of how tangled up I was in his world, and how impossible it was to break free from it.

We arrived at Alejandro's house. The sky was pitch black, the only light coming from the dim glow of the house's windows. My breath shook as I exited the car, the cold air biting at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill running down my spine.

I hadn't expected to see my parents, not really. But now that I had, I couldn't deny how much I had wanted it. The brief moments of warmth, the way they held me, the desperate promises of getting me back.......It all made me wonder if I could ever escape this place, or if I was meant to remain trapped in this gilded cage he'd built for me.

I followed the gravel path up to the front door, Alejandro walking just ahead of me, his presence looming like a shadow.

When we reached the door, I hesitated for just a second, swallowing the knot in my throat. But then I remembered. I had to keep my composure. I couldn't show him fear, at least not too much.

Alejandro didn't bother with pleasantries. His hand gripped the doorknob, and I followed him into the grand foyer, the heavy door closing behind me with a thud that echoed through the silence of the house.

I stood there, uncertain, my hands trembling at my sides. He had let me see my parents, but what now? What would his punishment be for me taking too long? My heart hammered in my chest, the weight of the unknown pressing against me like a vice.

Before I could ask, Alejandro's voice cut through the silence, low and measured, but there was something in his tone that made my stomach drop.

"Did you think you'd come back here without consequence?" His words felt like a trap, his gaze never leaving me.

I swallowed hard, eyes on the ground as I tried to steady my breath "I......I didn't mean to take so long. I'm sorry" I murmured, but I knew it wasn't enough. He wasn't the type to accept apologies, not from me.

I finally gathered the courage to meet his eyes, though my voice trembled. "Will you punish me for it?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them, and I hated myself for even asking. But the fear was too real, the power he wielded over me too suffocating to ignore.

He stood still for a moment, his eyes dark, unreadable. The air around us seemed to freeze, thick with tension. I waited for him to speak, every muscle in my body tight, ready for whatever he would do next.

"Just go to your room" he said then, his voice a low command.

Without waiting for my response, he turned, walking away with that same deliberate stride, as though nothing in the world could ever challenge him. I stood frozen, every part of me fighting the urge to beg, to plead. But I knew better. He enjoyed seeing me squirm, just as much as he enjoyed watching me break.

I turned slowly, making my way to my room, knowing that when he did decide to deal with me, it would be in a way I would never forget.

🎀🎀🎀

I sat on my bed. Waiting.

It has been two hours and Alejandro still hadn't come up to my room, did this mean he wasn't going to punish me? Relief flew over me.

I waiting a few more minutes but me being impatient I couldn't wait any longer. I made my way downstairs, finding something to do, anything.

As I explored more and more, the louder and louder became the sound of someone arguing over the phone.

I followed the sound, knowing it was him.

"What the fuck do you mean they found out where my mother lives?" His voice echoed inside of the kitchen. I had no idea what he was on about, but to say he was stressed out and angry was an understatement.

"I pay you for one fucking thing and you can't even do that properly!" I peered through the door, trying my hardest to make sure he wouldn't see or hear me.

"Son of a bitch" he seethed through gritted teeth, slamming his glass of whiskey down on the table.

"I swear to god, if anything happens to my mum, you're fucking dead André. Go fucking fix you mess" he threw his phone down to the table.

His fingers pressing against the bridge of his nose.

"Fuck!" He roared, hurling his glass to the floor, shattering it into pieces, making me jump.

I involuntarily let out a gasp....he turned to find me. I stood there, frozen.

"I-...."

"Yara, what are you doing here" he sighed, standing in the glass.

"I told you to stay in your room Yara"

I slowly walked closer to him, realising how much of a mess he was. His hair was unruly, his white button up had a spot of red on it. My eyes winced trying to see where the source of the blood was.

A cut from the glass was on his cheekbone, he acted like it wasn't even there.

Alejandro's gaze bore into me, sharp and intense, his face a shadow of rage and something else I couldn't quite place. The glass shards crunched under his shoes as he took a few steps closer, every line of his body tense and ready to snap.

"I told you to stay in your room, Yara" he repeated, his voice tight and biting.

I swallowed, unable to hide the tremor in my voice. "I-I was just.......I was bored........."

His laugh was cold, humorless, sending a chill down my spine. "So, you thought eavesdropping would help? Brilliant plan" He wiped his hand over his face, smearing a little of the blood across his cheek, almost like war paint. The sight made my stomach twist, but I couldn't look away.

I stepped closer, daring to reach out "You're bleeding"

He didn't flinch, but his jaw tightened.

"Does it look like I care Yara?"

Ignoring his hostility, I took another step, trying to get a closer look. His shirt was slightly rumpled, the collar open just enough to reveal his neck tense with anger. And that red spot, just below his collarbone, was fresh, seeping through the white fabric. My heart hammered as I instinctively reached toward it, fingers brushing his shirt before he jerked back, snatching my wrist with a bruising grip.

"Don't touch me" he warned, his voice low and seething.

I yanked my hand away, irritation flaring up inside me. "Fine! Then maybe you shouldn't be bleeding everywhere like some......some.....wounded animal"

His eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering in them.

I tried to stand my ground, my heart beating faster. "Maybe next time I just won't be nice.......not like you deserve it" I mumbled the last part just enough for him to hear it. He watched as I got dangerously close to the glass that was scattered all around me.

Before I could blink, he moved closer, gripping me by the waist and lifting me up onto the countertop, effortlessly setting me above the mess of glass. I gasped, clutching his shoulders to steady myself.

"What are you doing?" I hissed, trying to slide down, but he pressed a hand against my thigh, holding me in place.

"Keeping you out of trouble" he muttered, his voice rough, almost distracted, like he was barely containing something darker.

I glared at him, pushing at his chest. "I don't need your help, Alejandro. I can walk just fine without you throwing me around!" He leaned in, bringing his face close enough that I could feel his breath on my skin. "You don't seem to realize, Yara, you're the one who walked into my mess. If you get hurt, it's on me. And I don't need you making things worse right now"

"You think I asked for this?" I snapped, my voice rising. "I didn't want to get dragged into......into whatever it is you're dealing with"

His hand tightened on my thigh, the pressure both intimidating and possessive "Dragged? You were the one creeping around, Yara, no?"

"You-!" I shoved at him again, the fury burning through my fear. "You can't just throw people onto countertops and expect them to stay quiet. You don't own me" A faint smile curved his lips, cold and dangerous. "Oh, Yara. That's exactly where you're wrong" He released me, taking a step back but keeping his gaze locked on mine.

I jumped down from the counter, ignoring the sting of glass under my feet.

He gave a soft, mocking chuckle, barely more than a whisper. "You just can't seem to accept the truth" his tone making my hands ball into fists. But he turned away, picking up his phone and ignoring me as if I were nothing more than an inconvenience.

"Go back to your room, Yara. You've seen enough" He spoke dismissively, not caring even a single bit about the small cuts on my feet from the glass. I mean to be completely honest that was my fault.

I hesitated, standing there in the chaos he'd created, feeling a surge of emotions, fear, anger, confusion, all tangled together.

"What was that phone call about?" I spoke following him out of the kitchen.

"Nothing that needs to concern you. All you need to know is that my parents are visiting tomorrow morning" I froze in place as he walked away.

Catching up to him again I spoke "what do you mean your parents are coming over?......"

"You can't speak English?" I rolled my eyes, why was it so hard to ask questions to this man.

"Do I have to meet them?"

"Yes. Remember, you're Elena's babysitter, nothing more" nothing more those words hit me a little harder than they should've.

"Well how about I just leave the house whilst they are staying over?" I suggested an idea that I knew he would most definitely say no to.

"They're staying for 2 days. There's no way I'm letting you out for that long"

"What do you think I'm going to run away and never come back to your precious home?" His jaw clenched.

"Yara" he warned making me shut up.

"Well I expect you have some rules set for me for when they come?" I watched as he mused a smirk.

"I do, and I expect you to follow them"

"And if I don't?" I challenged.

"I think you already know the answer" he stared at me a sinister expression on his face.

He was going to punish me if I didn't follow along. I looked down at the floor, feeling intimidated by his dominant presence.

"I want you to address me as Sir-" he couldn't even get another word out before I spoke.

"I'm not doing that" I said firmly, crossing my arms over my chest, standing my ground despite the overwhelming tension that seemed to hang in the air between us.

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took a slow step toward me. The space between us felt suffocating, like he was trying to assert his dominance even without words. I could feel the weight of his presence pressing down on me, but I refused to back down.

"Why not?" he asked, his voice low and controlled.

"Because I'm not your fucking servant" I shot back, the words slipping out before I could even think about the consequences. The defiance in my tone matched the fire burning inside me. He couldn't just expect me to fall in line, to submit to his every whim.

Alejandro's lips curled into a tight, almost amused smile, but there was nothing kind in it. It was cold, calculating. "You think you have a choice?" His voice was almost a whisper now, but it held an edge that sent a shiver down my spine. "I can make you do anything I want, Yara. You can pretend you have control, but you don't"

I wanted to say something, wanted to argue, but the way he looked at me, like a predator sizing up its prey, made my words stick in my throat. The confidence he exuded, the absolute certainty that he could bend me to his will, was terrifying.

"I don't want you to talk to my parents, not a single conversation. Don't argue with me or defy me, and every night I expect you to come to my room before you sleep, you'll be sleeping on my bed" it was like he could already sense the defiance. And before I could even speak, he reached forward, grabbing my arm with a force that made me flinch. He pulled me toward him, forcing me into his chest. My pulse raced, heart pounding against the cage of my ribs as I struggled to break free. But he wasn't letting go. His grip was like iron.

"Alejandro" my breath shallow, panicked, but he didn't seem to care.

"Don't defy me Yara.....for once"

He held me there, the tension between us palpable, until I couldn't breathe. It was like he was testing me, pushing me to see how far he could go before I cracked. But I wasn't going to crack. Not yet.

"It's not like you ever listen to me" my heart hammered in my throat.

I stared at Alejandro, my eyes lingering on the scar that peeked through the open slit of his shirt. The way it marred his skin, jagged and deep, it looked like it had been earned through a lifetime of violence. I couldn't stop myself from asking, even though I knew it was a question that could trigger something I wasn't prepared for.

"Alejandro?" I said softly, trying to break through the heavy tension that lingered between us.

"Hm?" His voice was clipped, almost dismissive, but there was something in his eyes that shifted, like a subtle guard went up.

"Where did you get all those scars from?" I asked, genuinely curious but also feeling a strange urge to understand the man standing before me, despite the danger, despite the coldness.

His body tensed visibly, and the heat that had been so prevalent in his presence before seemed to drain from him. He let go of me abruptly, stepping back and distancing himself. His hands found their way to his sides, and his eyes never left me, but the intensity in them shifted to something darker, something I couldn't place.

"That's none of your fucking business" he replied, his voice low, sharp. His expression was unreadable, but I could see the muscles in his jaw tighten, his posture stiffen. He wasn't going to answer.

"S-sorry" I muttered, trying to defuse the tension, but his reaction didn't sit right with me. I could feel it in the air, the walls he'd put up, the sharp turn his mood had taken. It was obvious that I'd struck a nerve, and it made me uneasy.

"Go back to your room" he said abruptly, his voice cold and final. He didn't look at me again as he turned and started walking away.

I stood there, feeling the weight of the exchange hang in the air. His avoidance, the way he shut me down, there was more to it than he was letting on. I wasn't going to let it go so easily.

Later, when I found Camilla in the hallway, I couldn't stop the question from slipping out.

"Camilla" I said, my voice low "can I ask you something?"

"Of course my love" she replied, her mood cheery like usual.

"Alejandro has these.....these scars on his body. Do you know what they are from?"

She stiffened immediately, her face paling at the mere mention of his injuries. She avoided eye contact, her gaze flitting nervously around as if she could feel the weight of Alejandro's presence, even if he wasn't nearby.

"I- I can't talk about that Miss" she started, her voice trembling. Her reaction only confirmed that there was something dangerous tied to those scars, something that even Camilla wasn't willing to discuss.

"But you know something, don't you?" I pressed, leaning in slightly. "You don't have to tell me everything. I just want to understand him more Camilla"

Her eyes widened, and she looked over her shoulder, as if expecting someone to be watching. "I'm not saying anything about that, I'm sorry Miss Yara" she replied quickly, her voice strained. "All I can tell you is that........Alejandro and his father don't get along. They never have"

"Why?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "What happened between them?"

Camilla shook her head, her lips trembling as she struggled to find the right words. "I don't know, Yara. I'm sorry. I can't talk about it, sir would kill me if he found out I told you without his permission"

I didn't press further, but the question still lingered in my mind. Alejandro's scars.........the tension that had flared when I asked him about them........it all felt connected.

His relationship with his father, something was clearly wrong there. And the more I thought about it, the more it seemed plausible that his father had something to do with the scars. The way Alejandro reacted to anything even remotely related to his past, the way he shut me out, it all pointed to unresolved pain, maybe even a deep, hidden trauma.

I found myself questioning everything about him, more than I had before. Why did he act the way he did? Why was he so cold, so calculating? Was it because of what had happened with his father? Had his upbringing twisted him into the man he was now?

The answers were just out of reach, but I couldn't stop myself from wanting to find out more.

A/N

- thanks for all of the support! Enjoy <3