Temptation

Chapter 57 - Even if it bleeds

Xavier's pov

I'm not afraid of my father, people usually think that I am. In order for me to make a life of my own, I need to obey his rules, it doesn't matter to him that I'm twenty-two or a grown adult. There's only so much my mother can do, he is an evil man to me because he despises me. I hate to admit it but I need help, we live in a world where I have to do whatever it takes to survive.

I'm used to every girl falling to my feet but with her, god did she prove me wrong. Once I took a look into her eyes, I saw a beautiful girl with trauma trapped behind her eyes. Her attitude and dark humor are what drew me to her, I knew that I was playing with something very dangerous. I was hoping that I wasn't going to ruin her, seeing with Marcus brought me so much jealousy.

That fucking bastard doesn't deserve her, the word about Esmerelda Santos, in general, spreads around like a disease. When I found out what he did to her, my heart broke for her, I assumed she's not the type of girl to stay after one gets cheated on but that's when I realized that's what happens when you really love someone. I didn't even expect her to get cheated on in the first place. You are willing to do anything if you love them, I know that alcohol makes you do shitty things, so I understand him but the second time he broke up with her? That's where he fucked up.

Her snarky comments and her perfume automatically filled up the hallways. Cigarettes, leather, lavender, you can smell her scent from a mile away. I know she hates me right now but soon she will understand why I did this, I'm just hoping she sees who I really am.

End of POV

I've had a long day and I head back to my uncle's house to talk to Jayden. Once I get through security, I see several workers pacing all over the place.

"What the hell is going on here?" I yell and a worker stops to talk to me.

"Mr. Santos wants to see you in the boss's office, he's waiting for you there, he said it was urgent."

I walk fast to my uncle's office to talk to Jayden, something is off, I haven't seen the house this crowded before. I open the door to see Jayden drowning in paperwork.

"Oh my god are you okay?" I see him chugging down a glass of red wine, he only drinks it when he's stressed.

"No Esmerelda I'm not okay, I'm surrounded by so much paper. This is why I don't do this shit, where were you, it's been hell in here!" He slams his fist on the desk.

"That's what we need to talk about, I'm in big trouble-"

"What did you do Esmerelda, we cannot afford problems right now."

"I didn't do shit, but I was offered a deal by someone by the name of Xavier Morales. You may even know him as Andrew Martinez, the little fuck is a liar."

"Dammit I liked him, so he lied about who he was? Why?"

"His daddy forced him to do it, but that's nothing from what I was told. His dad is a sick bastard who believes I killed my parents and thinks I'm fucking psycho. Here's the thing, it only gets worse, the deal he made me was if I wanted your dad to be freed I have to marry him or I go to prison and he doesn't get out."

"What?! This cannot happen, you and both know that once you get married the man becomes in charge now. It's not very feminist-friendly but it's just how it works, we can't do anything about that, what are you planning to do?"

I take a deep break and pull up a seat next to him.

"I took the offer-" I say to Jayden until he cuts me off

"Pendeja, eres bien estupida. Do you have any idea what you have just done? My dad is going to go crazy about this Esmerelda!"

"It's not like I have a choice Jayden! It's either we're both free or we spend the rest of our lives in jail. Once I signed the book with my own blood, I made a promise that I'll do whatever it takes. meaning if I have to sacrifice myself to save us then I will do it. He claims he doesn't want anything from me but my help."