Chapter 37 ۵ Cariño

YARA'S POV

I stepped into the house and for a moment all I heard was the quiet hum of my mother's voice and the faint clinking of glasses. I closed the door softly behind me. It had been an exhausting day, and all I wanted was to flop down on my bed and do absolutely nothing but sleep for hours. But then I heard it, a low, familiar voice.

My heart stopped.

It couldn't be. I brushed back the chilling feeling that spiralled up my spine, it's nothing. I convinced myself.

"Yara, is that you?" my mother called from the living room, sounding happy as ever.

I didn't answer right away. My feet felt glued to the floor, my breaths suddenly shallow. That voice was all I couldn't think about......It was impossible. I had to be imagining it.

I forced myself to move, each step heavier than the last as I approached the living room. My chest tightened, and the air felt suffocatingly thick. And then I saw him.

Alejandro.

I gripped the doorframe to steady myself, my vision blurring for a second as my mind struggled to catch up with what my eyes were seeing. He was sitting on the couch like he belonged there, his arm draped lazily over the backrest, sipping on a cup of coffee. His suit was sharp, charcoal gray, his dark hair falling just slightly across his forehead in that infuriatingly perfect way it always had.

And his eyes, God, those eyes. They met mine, dark and unreadable, and my stomach flipped. Why was he here? What was he planning?

"This is my daughter Yara, she's been helping us sell the properties...." He started. Then he turned to me and continued"and this, Yara, is Mr Moreno. He's buying the north property from us" he said with a smile on his face.

He was doing what?

He looked calm, like he hadn't almost given me a heart attack. Like he hadn't haunted me for the past year. I couldn't breathe. My throat closed up as I stared at him, frozen. This wasn't real. This had to be some cruel hallucination, some trick my exhausted mind was playing on me. He wasn't here. He couldn't be here.

But then he stood, setting his cup down on the table.

"Yara" he said, his voice smooth, with that touch of calculated warmth that always made me second guess myself. "It's a pleasure to meet you"

Pleasure to meet me?

I felt the words punch me in the stomach. His face was unreadable, his tone polite, distant as if he didn't know me. As if he hadn't once kissed me like I was the only thing keeping him alive. As if he hadn't shattere me into a million pieces and left me to pick them up on my own. I wanted to scream at him, to demand answers, but I couldn't move. My father beamed at the interaction, clearly thrilled about whatever deal Alejandro was dangling in front of him.

Alejandro extended his hand toward me, and I stared at it, every nerve in my body screaming. I didn't want to touch him, but my parents were watching and I couldn't let them see the panic clawing at me. Slowly, I reached out and the moment our hands touched, it was like a jolt of electricity shot through me.

"Nice to meet you Mr Moreno" I managed, my voice shaky and hollow.

Alejandro's lips curled into a faint smile, and for a second, something flickered in his eyes, something I couldn't decipher. But it was gone just as quickly as it came, replaced by that cool, practiced composure.

Alejandro turned his attention back to my parents as though I weren't even standing there.

Why was he here? I questioned, my mind spinning.

I couldn't take it. I muttered something about needing a moment and stumbled out of the room, my legs weak, my pulse hammering in my ears. I barely made it to the bathroom before I locked the door and leaned against it, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.

This wasn't happening. It couldn't be real.

He was the one who sent me away so why was he sitting there buying a property from my parents?

I gripped the edge of the sink, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

I thought I'd never see him again. I didn't want to see him again.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. But no matter how hard I tried, the image of him sitting so casually on that sofa wouldn't leave my mind. And the worst part? He'd acted like he didn't even know me. Like I was nothing more than a stranger.

It was a game, one I knew he would play mercilessly. And somehow, I already felt like I was losing.

As my legs gave out beneath me. I slid to the floor, my head in my hands, and tried to make sense of what just happened. My breathing was ragged, each inhale sharp and painful, like shards of glass cutting through my chest.

What was he doing here?

Why now? Why, after all this time, would Alejandro show up?

I buried my face in my knees, trying to steady the whirlwind in my head, but it was impossible. My heart was still racing, my body trembling as if it remembered every touch, every word, every cruel, calculated moment with him.

He had ruined me once. Torn me apart and left me hollow. It had taken me months to put myself back together, to build a life where I didn't wake up every day with his name on my lips, his voice in my head, the feeling of his touch on my skin. And now, just when I thought I was finally free, he was back.

And worse, he was here. In my home. With my family.

I gripped my hair, pulling at the roots as the pressure in my chest built, threatening to crush me. My mind was racing, spinning out of control with questions I didn't want the answers to. The thought of him made my stomach churn, bile rise in my throat.

My breaths came faster, panic rising as I tried to piece it together. Was he here to punish me? To drag me back into his world?

I couldn't let him do it.

But even as I thought the words, I knew how impossible they were. This was Alejandro. He didn't ask for permission. He didn't leave people with choices. When he wanted something, he took it.

And he was here now, in my home, with my parents, smiling like the devil wearing a saint's mask.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I couldn't let him see how much he affecterd me. I couldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing he still had this hold over me.

But the truth was, I was terrified. Because no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, part of me knew the truth, he hadn't just come here to ruin me. He had come here to remind me that no matter how far I go, I would never truly be free of him.

The thought of being back in my life again, ruining me bit by bit, making me love him and then pushing me away again made my eyes sting. I felt as if the walls around me were closing in and all I could do was cry. Cry over the questions I didn't have answers to, cry over the chilled feeling in the pit of my heart.

I tried to wipe my tears but they only came faster. I couldn't catch my breath, couldn't stop the sobs that ripped through my chest.

Why? Why was he here? After everything, after the silence, after the year of trying to forget the dark hold he had on me, he just appeared.

My hands trembled as I pressed them to my face, my sobs coming in ragged bursts. I tried to make sense of it, but all i could feel was the crushing weight of his presence, suffocating me.

After a few minutes, I got up, splashed my face with cold water. I couldn't let him ruin me again, I just couldn't.

I stepped out of the bathroom, making my way to my room. I stopped outside my room door, my heart slamming in my chest as his voice cut through the thick air like a knife.

"......I'll come back the day after tomorrow to sign the papers" Alejandro said, his tone smooth and steady, the way it always was when he was in control.

Then, my father's voice, deeper now, filled the silence. "That's fine, Mr Moreno. But......my wife and I won't be here that day. We've got business to attend to. But no worries, our daughter, Yara, will be here. She usually handles all the paperwork for us"

My blood turned to ice.

My hands clenched the door handle, quickly slipping inside my room. How could this all get worse, my dad was getting me to help do Mr Moreno's paperwork.

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself not to break, not to lose control again. But the thought of facing him, just him and me, made my heart beat in the worst way possible.

The sound of the door closing downstairs broke through the haze of my panic. Alejandro was gone. I hadn't even realized I was holding my breath until the tension in my chest finally loosened. I let out a shaky exhale, the weight of his presence still lingering in the air.

Before I had a chance to steady myself, I heard my dad's familiar footsteps coming up the stairs.

The knock on the door came softly, but it still made my heart skip in my chest. "Yara? You in there?"

"Yeah, Dad" I called, trying to sound normal, but my voice cracked at the end, betraying me.

He pushed the door open, his face full of concern. "You okay, sweetheart? You look......a little pale"

"I'm fine" I lied, forcing a smile that felt like it might crack under the pressure. "Just tired"

He didn't buy it. I could see the way his brow furrowed, how his eyes flickered to my still damp cheeks. But before he could say anything more, he quickly pushed the subject aside. "Listen, I need you to do me a huge favor. Mr Moreno is coming back in two days to finalize the papers for the deal. And we won't be here that day so could you do a favour for me and be there to sign off on everything?"

I took a deep breath, trying to gather myself, but the panic started clawing its way back into my chest. I shook my head, not even thinking as the words rushed out. "I don't think I can, Dad. I mean-" I faltered, but my voice was firm, despite the knot in my throat. "I'm not feeling well. I-I don't know"

I could see the disappointment in his eyes before he masked it with a forced smile. "Yara, please" he begged, stepping further into the room, his hands clasped in front of him like he was praying for me to understand. "You know how important this deal is. I can't lose it. He's paying six times the original asking price for that land. This is huge for us"

My heart twisted as I watched the way his eyes softened, pleading with me.

He stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder, his voice a little firmer now, but still gentle. "Yara. Please...i wouldn't ask if it weren't important. You're the only one who can help with this"

I closed my eyes, defeated. "Fine" I whispered. My voice sounded foreign to my own ears, reluctant, fragile. "I'll do it"

"Thank you, sweetheart"

As he left, I sank back onto my bed, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. I had no choice now. I had to face him again. Alejandro. The one person I had worked so hard to forget, the one person I had tried to shut out of my life.

AUTHOR'S POV

Yara's eyes barely closed in the hours leading up to the day she had to face him again. The thought of seeing Alejandro again made her stomach twist into tight knots that wouldn't loosen. But, she had no choice but to pull herself together.

Her hands shook as she tried to brush her hair, her reflection in the mirror a blur of done makeup and ironed clothes. She couldn't tell if she was trying to look presentable for herself or for him. A rush of disgust bubbled up in her throat, but she swallowed it down, willing herself to focus. She didn't even know what she was doing anymore, getting ready for him, after everything.

When the doorbell rang, it felt like her heart stopped.

For a second, she stood frozen in place, her body stiff with terror. Then, as if on autopilot, she walked toward the door. Each step felt like it took a lifetime, her breath shallow as she tried to steady herself. She reached for the handle, her fingers trembling, and before she could stop herself, she opened the door.

And there he was.

Alejandro.

He stood there, casually hands neatly in his pockets, like nothing had happened. Like he hadn't torn her life apart. His presence hit her like a punch to the gut, and all the air left her lungs in one sharp, painful exhale.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. She just stared at him, her mind scrambling, her heart pounding in her chest, her words stuck somewhere deep in her throat. She wanted to scream at him, ask him what the hell he was doing here, why he had come back, why he had ruined her life. But all she could do was look at him, his sharp features, the coldness in his eyes, a coldness that somehow still held a warmth that made her feel sick.

"Yara" his voice was low, controlled, like he hadn't just invaded her life again. He was calm, too calm. As if he wasn't seeing her crumble before his very eyes. "I've missed you cariño" that damn nickname, it had her folding in any way imaginable.

Good to see you again? The words hit her like a slap, and the fury inside her started to rise, faster and faster, until it was boiling beneath her skin. She felt that anger twisting and twisting.

Her voice, when it came, was a hollow rasp. "Why are you here?"

He didn't answer, just stood there, his gaze flicking briefly over her face. As if he was studying her. As if he was.....waiting for her to be okay with his presence.

"Don't you dare act like nothing happened, Alejandro" The words came out in a raw whisper, her chest tight with the hurt that still clung to her. She couldn't control it anymore. She took a step forward, her hands shaking in fury, the tears burning behind her eyes. "Answer me. Why were you here, talking to my parents? What's your game Alejandro?"

He didn't react, just leaned in slightly, his eyes dark with something unreadable. "Yara, let's talk inside"

The suggestion, the calmness of it, only fueled her rage. She clenched her fists at her sides, her body trembling, her anger now taking over everything. "No. No, you're not welcome here. You need to leave. Leave me alone Alejandro and don't ever com-" She couldn't even finish the sentence, the weight of everything crashing down on her.

"Yara-"

"No! Go away. I don't need you. I don't want you in my life anymore"

Her chest was heaving with each breath, her voice breaking with every word.

He just looked at her, as if waiting for her to finish her little tantrum which only infuriated her more. Why was he so causal about this.

Just as she turned to slam the door shut in his face, his hand shot out, grabbing her arm with a grip that burned into her skin. She froze, the shock of his touch making her heart skip a beat. His fingers curled around her wrist, tightening with a force that was unmistakable, and before she could process anything, he was pulling her inside.

"No" She wrenched against him, desperate to break free, but he was stronger, and she was already in too deep. "Let go of me, Alejandro!"

But he didn't listen. He didn't even seem to care. He only dragged her further inside, into the living room, his hand still wrapped around her arm, his grip never loosening.

"Stop!" she cried, her voice breaking apart, and for a moment, her body felt like it was going to give out on her, her knees threatening to buckle under the weight of the years that had passed, the agony, the confusion. She thought she was over this. She thought she was stronger than this.

Alejandro finally stopped, his grip still firm but not painful, his dark eyes burning into hers. There was no arrogance, just an intensity that made her stomach twist. Yara's breath came in shaky gasps, her chest rising and falling too fast as she wrenched against him, but he didn't let go.

"Let me go" she whispered, but the fight in her voice was fading, drowned by the exhaustion weighing her down. She wanted to scream at him, claw at him, push him away but all of that required strength she no longer had.

Alejandro exhaled, almost like he was tired too. But that couldn't be true. He was always composed, always unreadable. And yet in the way his fingers flexed against her skin, in the way his jaw clenched ever so slightly she saw something there, something that made her ache in a way she hated. He reached up suddenly, and before she could stop him, he cupped her face. His touch was warm, firm, his thumbs brushing against her damp cheeks, wiping away the silent tears. Her breath hitched, her body betraying her. She hated this. Hated how easily she melted into his touch despite everything he'd done. Despite how much she wanted to run, her body leaned into him, recognizing something in him that she wished it didn't.

"Yara" he murmured, his voice low, controlled, too controlled. "Stop fighting me stupid girl"

His words sent a fresh wave of anger through her, but it was weak, dulled by the overwhelming pain that had been building inside her for a year. "You don't get to come back after all this time and-" She sucked in a sharp breath, shaking her head furiously. "You pushed me away. You made me leave"

A flicker of something flashed across his eyes, gone too fast for her to decipher. He didn't deny it. He didn't try to justify it. He only held her closer, his arms wrapping around her fully now, pulling her against his chest.

"I'm sorry cariño. I never meant to hurt you" She could only cry more into his chest. His warmth surrounded her. It was cruel how familiar he still felt. Cruel how safe she felt in his arms despite knowing better.

"Why did you ruin everything....." she sobbed.

"Shhh cariño" he hushed her, his voice softer, lower.

Yara's fingers curled into fists against his chest, her nails digging into the fabric of his suit. She let out a shaky breath, her body trembling against him. "Why? Why are you here?"

For a moment, he didn't respond. His grip on her tightened ever so slightly, like he was afraid she'd slip away if he let go. Then, he leaned in, his lips brushing against her hair, his breath warm against her temple.

"Because you were never meant to move on. You're mine princess"

Her heart stopped. A shiver ran through her.

She pulled back just enough to look up at him, to search his face for some kind of explanation, but all she found was that same dark intensity, the same quiet possessiveness that made her both furious and weak at the same time.

"You don't get to decide that" she whispered, her voice shaking. "You don't get to come back and act like I still belong to you"

His hand trailed down her back, resting at the small of it, anchoring her in place "Don't I?"

Yara swallowed hard "no, no you don't Alejandro, not after everything. I've moved on I have someone else now Alejandro"

She quickly pulled away from him, now that his grip was looser. He cleared his throat, the mention of someone else clearly ticking him off.

"Where are the papers?" He spoke, staring at her closely.

She wiped her face, trying to compose herself as best as she could. This wasn't about emotions. This wasn't about him. She walked over to the table, grabbing the documents, her fingers gripping them tight as if they could somehow shield her from what she knew was coming. She walked toward him, holding them out. "Here" she spat, barely able to keep her voice steady. "Now sign them and leave. Just....just leave me alone, Alejandro"

He didn't look at her as he took the papers from her hand, signing them without hesitation. She watched him, fury seeping into her veins as she realized how easily he was moving through this. How easily he was ignoring everything she had been through, everything they had been through.

Once he was done, he handed the papers back to her, and for a split second, she thought maybe he'd walk out the door. Maybe this would be over, but he didn't. Her heart pounded harder.

Instead, he took a slow, deliberate step forward.

"You got what you wanted" she forced out  "Now leave"

But he didn't. Instead, he leaned in, like he had all the time in the world to toy with her. He lowered his head, his lips so close to her ear that she could feel the warmth of his breath ghosting over her skin. The worst part was she didn't even try and move. And then he whispered, dark and sinful "Julian can't make you beg the way I can princess" her breath hitched. The heat of him, the low rasp of his voice, it sent a rush of something dangerous straight through her veins.

Her fingers clenched tighter around the papers, his presence clearly doing something to her.

Alejandro noticed.

Of course, he did.

His lips curled at the corner, his mouth just barely brushing her jaw as he tilted his head. Not a kiss. Just a ghost of one. A promise.

Her breath hitched. "You'll never give me what Julian can Alejandro, you're disgusting"

His chuckle was slow, dark, teasing. "Am I?" He husked, his fingers lightly tangling in her hair, pulling enough to make her lightly gasp.

"You remember, don't you?" he murmured, his lips now hovering just over hers, close enough that if she swayed even an inch, they'd be touching. "How it felt when I had you shaking underneath me. The way you begged. The way you fell apart for me"

A sharp, involuntary shudder wracked through her.

She hated him. Hated him for knowing exactly what to say, exactly how to unravel her. Hated him more for how easily her body responded.

Her skin burned where he touched her. Her breaths came too fast, too shallow.

She stared down at the floor needing to break out of the intense trance she was stuck in "No. I don't remember" she whispered, but it wasn't convincing.

Alejandro smiled.

"No?" he mused, his thumb brushing against her lower back. "Then why are you avoiding eye contact?"

Yara's pulse pounded in her throat, fury and desire warring inside her, twisting into something she didn't know how to fight.

So she did the only thing she could.

She shoved him. Hard.

He barely stumbled, but the amusement in his eyes darkened into something more heated, more primal.

"I hate you" she hissed, breathless.

Alejandro smirked, lazily adjusting his cuff like she hadn't just tried to push him away. Like her every move didn't turn him on.

"Maybe" he murmured, his gaze dragging over her, devouring her. "But you don't hate the way I make you feel" And in that moment, she realized just how much power he still had over her.

"Leave Alejandro. Please..." he looked at her for a few seconds before finally turning on his feet.

"I'll see you around, love" he spoke before leaving.

Yara stood there, frozen, her breath coming in shallow, quick gasps, as the door clicked shut behind him. The silence in the room felt suffocating, louder than any noise could ever be. She felt the walls closing in on her, like the space around her was no longer her own. Her mind raced, but all the thoughts clashed with each other, tumbling in a chaotic spiral of confusion and pain. She wanted to scream. She wanted to break everything, throw the nearest object out of the window just to feel something other than the hollow ache that spread through her chest. Her hands shook at her sides, the adrenaline that had coursed through her veins now giving way to the cold emptiness. Alejandro's words echoed in her mind like a curse.

Tears welled up again, threatening to spill over, but Yara forced them back. She couldn't cry. Not now. Not after everything. She had to be strong. For herself. For the life she was trying to build. The life she had worked so hard to build without him.

But it wasn't that simple, was it?

She could still his lingering touch on her skin. The smell of his cologne. All she could think about were those countless nights, all those nights where he had taken her to her limits. Had her shaking, shattered, begging for more. It was true, it was something Julian couldn't give her but she knew better than to give into him.

All she could hope now was that she'd never have to face him again.

A/n

sorry for the late update I've just been so busy <3