Chapter 51

Alejandro’s POV

For a second, I thought I heard her wrong.

“No.”

The word didn’t register properly. It just hung there, out of place, like it didn’t belong in this moment. Like it wasn’t meant for me.

I blinked once, my grip tightening slightly around the ring box.

“What?”

It came out quieter than I intended.

Mira didn’t look away.

“I said no.”

This time, there was no mistake.

The wind felt colder.

Or maybe that was just me.

I straightened slowly, the ring still open in my hand as I searched her face for something—anything—that would make this make sense.

A joke.

A misunderstanding.

A delay.

But there was nothing.

Just that same look. Soft. Apologetic.

Final.

My jaw tightened.

“…Say that again.”

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, like she didn’t want to but knew she had to.

“No.”

Something in my chest snapped.

Not loudly. Not dramatically.

Just enough.

Enough to make everything shift.

I let out a short breath, nodding once like I was processing it normally.

Like this wasn’t completely absurd.

“Right,” I said, a dry edge creeping into my voice. “Okay.”

But it wasn’t okay.

Not even close.

I closed the ring box slowly, my movements controlled, deliberate.

Because if I didn’t keep control, I wasn’t sure what I’d say.

“What changed?” I asked, my gaze locking onto hers again. “Because the last time I checked, we were heading in a very different direction.”

She swallowed slightly.

“I know.”

“Do you?” I pressed, stepping closer. “Because I don’t think you do, Mira. I don’t think you understand what you’re saying right now.”

“I do,” she said quietly.

“Then explain it to me.”

Silence.

Of course.

I let out a humorless laugh, running a hand through my hair.

“Unbelievable.”

My mind moved quickly, connecting things I didn’t want to connect.

The tension.

The distance.

The way she avoided my eyes earlier.

And then—

Ace.

My expression hardened instantly.

“…Is this because of him?”

Her brows pulled together slightly.

“What?”

“Ace,” I said flatly. “Is this about Ace?”

The moment the words left my mouth, I saw it.

That hesitation.

Small.

Barely there.

But enough.

I nodded slowly, something dark settling in my chest.

“…Of course.”

“Alejandro, it’s not—”

“Do you love him?”

The question cut through everything.

Sharp. Direct.

Unavoidable.

She froze.

And that was all the answer I needed.

A laugh escaped me.

Low at first.

Then louder.

“Wow,” I said, shaking my head as the laughter turned almost hysterical. “I should’ve known.”

“Alejandro—”

“That kiss,” I continued, ignoring her, my voice laced with disbelief. “I should’ve known it meant something more.”

“It didn’t.”

“Oh, really?” I shot back, my eyes locking onto hers. “Because from where I’m standing, this looks exactly like it did.”

Her hand reached for mine suddenly, her fingers wrapping around it before I could pull away.

“I don’t have feelings for Ace.”

I stilled.

Her grip tightened slightly, like she needed me to hear this.

“None,” she added, her voice firm now. “I care about him as a friend. That’s it.”

I searched her face.

For a lie.

For hesitation.

For anything that would confirm what I already believed.

But there was nothing.

Just sincerity.

And somehow, that made this worse.

“Then explain it,” I said, my voice quieter now but no less intense. “Because right now, nothing you’re saying makes any sense.”

She hesitated.

Again.

And I felt my patience thinning.

“I can’t,” she admitted finally.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

“Of course you can’t.”

“Not right now,” she corrected quickly. “But I will. I promise you, I will.”

I looked at her, really looked at her.

Trying to understand what I was missing.

“What does that even mean?” I asked.

“It means there are things you don’t know about me,” she said softly. “Things I should’ve told you earlier.”

My jaw tightened.

“That’s not exactly reassuring.”

“I know,” she admitted. “But I need you to trust me on this.”

Trust.

The word felt almost ironic right now.

“I’ll tell you everything,” she continued, her voice steady despite the tension between us. “Everything you need to know about me. And after that… if you still want to marry me—”

She paused.

And for some reason, that pause hit harder than her rejection.

“I’ll say yes.”

Silence.

I stared at her.

Trying to decide if this was a joke.

Or worse—if she actually believed that was enough.

“That’s your answer?” I asked finally.

“It’s the only one I can give you right now.”

I let out a slow breath, stepping back from her.

Because standing too close suddenly felt like a bad idea.

Everything felt… off.

Out of place.

Like I was standing in a moment that wasn’t mine anymore.

“Alright,” I said after a beat, my voice neutral now. Controlled.

Too controlled.

She watched me carefully.

Waiting.

Probably expecting me to push.

To question.

To demand answers.

But I didn’t.

Not now.

Not like this.

“Let’s go,” I said instead.

The ride back was quiet.

Painfully quiet.

Her hand brushed against mine once, like she was about to reach for it.

I moved it away before she could.

Not aggressively.

Just… enough.

I kept my gaze forward, my expression unreadable as the city lights passed by outside.

She tried.

I could feel it.

The small glances. The slight shifts like she wanted to say something.

But I didn’t give her the space to.

Because if she spoke, I might actually respond.

And I wasn’t sure that would end well.

So I stayed silent.

And she eventually did the same.

When we got back, I stepped out of the car immediately.

“Mira.”

Her voice followed me before I could move too far.

I stopped.

Turned slightly.

“It’s late,” she said, her brows pulling together. “It’s past ten. Where are you going?”

I didn’t hesitate.

“Marcus.”

He was already stepping out of the front seat.

“Take me to the office.”

Mira blinked.

“What?” she asked, stepping closer. “Alejandro, it’s 10 PM. What work do you have at this time? Just come inside.”

“No.”

The word came out sharper than I intended.

Her expression shifted slightly.

“Dro—”

“I said no, Mira.”

Silence.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my tone back under control.

“I have things to handle.”

She stared at me for a second longer, like she wanted to argue.

But she didn’t.

“Fine,” she said quietly.

I nodded once.

Then turned and got into the car without another word.

The drive was quiet for a while.

Marcus didn’t speak.

Smart.

I leaned back slightly, my gaze fixed ahead but unfocused.

Her voice replayed in my head.

No.

My jaw tightened.

“Marcus.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The woman from the store.”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second.

That was all I needed to know I wasn’t going to like his answer.

“I ran into some complications,” he admitted.

I turned my head slightly, my eyes narrowing.

“Explain.”

“The CCTV footage from that day…” he started carefully. “It’s gone.”

My expression darkened.

“Gone?”

“Yes, sir. Completely wiped.”

That wasn’t normal.

Not even close.

“And the shop?” I asked.

“Nothing useful,” he continued. “No records. No clear identification. It’s like… someone is actively trying to hide her.”

Silence filled the car.

Heavy.

Calculated.

I exhaled slowly, leaning back again.

Of course.

Of course it wouldn’t be simple.

“Keep digging,” I said, my voice colder now. “I don’t care what it takes.”

“Yes, sir.”

My gaze shifted back to the window, watching the city blur past.

Mira’s face flashed in my mind.

The hesitation.

The confusion.

The secrets.

Something was wrong.

Not just with her.

With everything.

And I was done being the only one in the dark.

My jaw tightened slightly as I made a silent promise to myself.

I would find out the truth.

All of it.

Who that woman was.

What Mira wasn’t telling me.