The hospital room fell silent as Alejandro Montellia's furious voice thundered through the air. The paparazzi, who were previously relentless in their pursuit of a story, now cowered in the face of his anger.
His bodyguards, a formidable group of individuals, stood tall and imposing, ready to carry out his every command.
At that moment, Alejandro's eyes were ablaze with fury, and it seemed as if the very air around him crackled with tension. He took a step forward, his presence commanding and powerful, and the paparazzi instinctively took a step back, their cameras and microphones trembling in their hands.
"You heard her," Alejandro's voice was sharp and cutting, his words laced with a dangerous edge. "She has nothing to say to you. Show some respect and back off. What are you people, seriously?"
The paparazzi, now subdued by his forceful presence, hesitated for a moment before slowly going their separate ways.
"And for your damn good, I suggest you delete every photo you have taken before you taste my wrath. Understood?"
The weight of his threat hung heavily in the air, and they knew better than to push him any further. It was as if they had seen glimpses of this side of him before, the side that was unyielding and unforgiving, and they were not willing to test the boundaries of his fury.
" How did this happen? How can careless paparazzi enter my hospital like that? Aren't there any securities these days?" He turned to the nurse.
" I don't know what happened, Sir. But thank God you arrived on time,"
"Whoever was in charge of today's safety, I am considering firing them all!"
The nurse sighed as she looked at me, "I'm Miss Camilla for what has happened," She looked back to Alejandro, " I am done with her for now,"
"Good," He smiled.
As the room cleared, Alejandro's attention returned to me, and his expression softened ever so slightly.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said, his voice now gentle and concerned. "Are you alright?"
I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. Despite the pain and confusion driving within me, there was something strangely comforting about having him by my side. Maybe it was because he seemed to understand what I was going through, having faced the relentless attention of the media himself.
"They can be ruthless," he continued, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and empathy. "But don't worry, I won't let them bother you anymore. I'll make sure they stay away."
The fact that someone like him was with me at this time felt like a relief, and I found myself surprisingly grateful for his protection. I had never expected to find an ally in him, especially after our brief encounter at the masquerade ball, but at that moment, he seemed like the only person I could trust.
"Thank you," I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.
Juan's gaze softened, and he reached out to gently squeeze my hand. "You don't have to thank me. Just focus on getting better. If there's anything you need, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask."
With that, he turned to the nurse and spoke firmly, "No more paparazzi. No one gets access to her room without my approval."
The nurse nodded, her eyes wide with surprise at the authority Alejandro commanded. "Of course, Mr Montellia. I'll make sure of it."
As the door closed behind the nurse, leaving us in a rare moment of privacy, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of gratitude towards him.
Despite our complicated little story and the rumors that surrounded us, he was standing by my side, protecting me from the relentless media circus that threatened to consume me.
Something that could be done by Marcus's authorities but no. No one came. Not even the maids.
"You don't have to do this, you know," I said, my voice tentative. "I mean, we barely know each other. You don't owe me anything."
His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something vulnerable in his gaze. "Maybe we don't know each other well," he admitted, "but that doesn't mean I can stand by and watch someone suffer unjustly. Besides, I have my reasons for wanting to help you."
"I appreciate everything you've done for me, Alejandro," I said, my voice trembling. "But once Marcus wakes up, he's going to be furious. He's capable of doing terrible things, and I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
His expression softened, and he placed a reassuring hand on mine. "I can handle myself, Camilla," he said firmly. "And I won't let anyone harm you, including Marcus. You don't have to go through this alone. Let me be there for you."
Despite his confidence, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. "You don't understand," I said, tears welling up in my eyes. "Marcus can be dangerous. He has a way of manipulating situations, and I'm afraid he'll do something to hurt you or use you against me."
His eyes narrowed, a flash of anger crossing his features. "I won't let him do that," he declared. "I'll take whatever measures necessary to protect you, even if it means confronting him directly. I will say it again. You don't have to face this alone, Camilla."
His determination was both comforting and unsettling. I knew that Juan was more than capable of handling himself, but I didn't want to see him get caught up in the toxic mess that was my life. I had enough on my plate to deal with my own emotions and the aftermath of the accident.
His determination was both comforting and unsettling. I knew that Juan was more than capable of handling himself, but I didn't want to see him get caught up in the toxic mess that was in my life. I had enough on my plate to deal with my own emotions and the aftermath of the accident.
"Please, Juan," I pleaded, "just promise me that you'll be careful. Once Marcus wakes up you will stop seeing me. I don't want anything bad to happen to you because of me."
He sighed, understanding the depth of my concern. "I promise," he said, his voice gentle. "I'll be careful and I will do what you say but I won't let him harm either of us. But I need you to promise me something too."
I looked at him, curious about what he could want me to promise. "What is it?" I asked cautiously.
"Promise me that you'll let me be here for you," he said earnestly. "Let me support you, let me help you through this difficult time. You don't have to face everything alone, Camilla. I want to be there for you if you'll let me."
I looked at him. Why didn't I meet him first? When my mother was in that critical situation, why didn't this man appear? Out of all the people in this world, why did it have to be Marcus and not people like him?
"What's wrong? Did I say something you did not like?" He asked, his smile turned into confusion.
"No, you didn't. And I promise,"