The Billionaire's Dangerous Obsession (Nivera) novel Chapter 203

Chapter 203

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The afternoon light dimmed into soft amber as the city skyline burned in gold. Nivera had spent the last few hours wandering around the penthouse, exploring every corner like a restless ghost, the floor–to–ceiling windows, and the cold perfection of the rooms.

It was beautiful

painfully so. The kind of place people dreamed of living in. But as much as the space exuded safety, luxury, and peace, it also screamed Alejandro. His taste. His control. His world.

Everywhere she turned, she felt him.

In the dark polished wood, the scent of his cologne lingering on the couch, the faint rumble of his voice echoing in her mind.

She had tried to distract herself – from watching some TV, to taking a warm bath, watching the city from the massive windows – but her thoughts always circled back to him. To what he was doing, where he was, and why she couldn’t stop feeling like a piece of her had followed him out the door.

He had texted hours ago, saying he had sent Martins to bring some food up to her and that was the only interaction she had had with him after he had left.

She was about to reach for a glass of water when her phone buzzed. The sight of her mother’s name flashing across the screen made her heart skip.

“Mom?”

“Nivera!” Aria’s voice burst through the line, breathless and panicked. “Where are you? We came to the hospital, and the nurses said you’ve been discharged. Liam and I went to the mansion, and you’re not there. What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Nivera immediately straightened, guilt flooding her chest. She had forgotten to update her mother. “Mom, calm down,” she said softly, forcing her voice to stay steady. “I’m fine, I promise.”

“Fine?” Aria repeated, disbelief heavy in her tone. “Do you have any idea how terrified we were? I nearly called the police! You should’ve told us you were leaving.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” Nivera rubbed her temple. “Alejandro took me to one of his penthouses. He thought it would be safer here until things settle down. That’s why we didn’t go back to the mansion.”

There was a pause on the line, followed by a sigh that carried both exhaustion and relief. “A penthouse?”

“Yes,” Nivera said with a small laugh. “You’d like it here, Mom. It’s quiet. I can see the whole city from the window.”

Before Aria could reply, another voice cut in. “You sure you’re okay, sis?” Liam’s tone was calm but edged with

and something else.

concern

–

“I’m fine, Liam.”

“I don’t trust him,” Liam muttered in the background. “He can’t keep dragging you around like this. You just got shot, for Christ’s sake. You should be resting, not—”

12:03 Thu, Oct 9

Chapter 203

“Liam,” Aria warned softly, but Nivera could hear the protective edge in her mother’s voice too.

Nivera closed her eyes, “I promise, I’m safe. He’s taking care of everything

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“Taking care of everything,” Liam echoed, sarcasm dripping from his word. “You said that before. That man has danger written all over him, Nivera. You think he won’t drag you down with him eventually?”

“Liam.” Nivera smiled faintly. “I’m fine. He didn’t drag me anywhere. He’s… just being careful. You both can stop worrying.”

“Careful or controlling?” he muttered.

Nivera ignored the sting those words left behind. “He’s doing what he thinks is right. That’s all.”.

The silence that followed was tense and heavy. Then, Aria’s voice softened again. “I just want you to be careful, sweetheart. You’ve been through enough already. I don’t want to lose you too.”

“I know,” Nivera whispered. “I’ll be careful, Mom. I promise.”

There was a pause before Aria spoke again, her tone carrying that fragile warmth only mothers had. “We’ll come by when it’s safer, alright?”

“Alright.”

When the call ended, the room felt too quiet again. Nivera set the phone down and sank onto the couch, letting out a shaky sigh.

Speaking of her mother, she remembered the conversation she had with Aria while she was in the hospital.

While she was happy that she and her mother were now on good terms, the promise she’d made came flooding back. She had vowed never to let herself be trapped in a loveless, one–sided relationship. She had promised not to settle for crumbs of affection from a man who couldn’t love her the way she deserved.

And yet here she was.

Living in his space–breathing his air.

Her heart tethered to a man who might never say he loved her.

It was maddening.

Alejandro had changed, she couldn’t deny that. The man who once treated her like an inconvenience had become her anchor. He was still possessive, still ruthless in his protectiveness – but now there was something else in the way he touched her, looked at her, said her name it all felt like love. And yet…

She could still hear his voice from their other conversations.

“No one gets to touch what’s mine.”

“You don’t walk away from me, Nivera. Not when I’m the only one who can keep you safe.”

12:03 Thu, Oct 9

Chapter 203

“You think anyone else could handle you? You’d burn them alive before they even got close.”

Those words had thrilled and terrified her in equal measure.

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it was something deeper,

Every word, every gesture, had sunk into her bones. It wasn’t just possessiveness something raw. But was it love? Or was she reading too much into the fragments he allowed her to see?

He never said I love you. But wasn’t love just that

Or was it just possession masked as affection?

She didn’t know anymore.

-care, protection, the ache in his voice when she got hurt?

Nivera rose from the couch and wandered to the window again. The city glittered beneath her, alive and indifferent. Her reflection stared back at her in the glass – pale, tired, uncertain.

She pressed her palm against the cool surface and whispered, “What are you doing, Nivera?”

A lump formed in her throat. She thought about her mother again – about Aria’s soft eyes, her weary smile, the way she’d stayed with a man who dimmed her light year after year. Nivera had always wondered why she never left. Why she endured.

Now, standing here, she understood.

Because sometimes love

—

or what felt like love

–

was harder to escape than hate.

She blinked back tears and let out a bitter laugh. “I’m becoming her.”

Her phone buzzed again. For a heartbeat, her chest tightened with the foolish hope that it was Alejandro – but it wasn’t. A message from Martin popped up, informing her that Alejandro was still out handling “unfinished business.”

That did nothing to calm her.

Restless, she moved to the kitchen, trying to distract herself. She made tea, though her hands trembled slightly as she poured the water. Everything reminded her of him his mug on the counter, his cologne in the air, his jacket hanging near the couch.

–

She had been with him for months now and she knew he hadn’t spent time here so how the hell could she smell him everywhere?

The ache in her chest became unbearable.

Her fingers twisted as she thought about all the times she had seen him push people away – his anger, his pride, the darkness he wore like armor.

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