year

ut one thousand

such an amount

f as I pressed my forehead against

p me." I whispered t

behind the bakery across

mach cried from hunger. But my mother's pale and fragil

e cafe that she went to. I decided to gi

café, there were a lot of noises

uckily, it was the manager who was standing t

in a calm and

t can I o

sk if you need anybody to assi

waiter," she replied, tapping

, I will do it, please, Ma," I whisp

see how despe

uddenly snapped her finge

large caram

rista

ed to me, cro

ineteen on the outdoor terrace. Fast. If you

it?" I

hone buzzed, and I decided to check it out, onl

worsened overnight, and she has

t crack

ath st

s felt

o, no..." I

urring m

ond, I didn't see

y arm jerked, and

upward and splashed across a man's g

fr

fro

r, please, I'm sorry." The wor

d his he

ole pedestrian pause and watch the film, which I had ju

ro De L

and dangerous billionaire in the city of Mexi

ice low and dangerous,

it sounded. He washed over me slowly as I murmured, "I'm...sorry.

how much th

own wide and my heart beat

-dangerously. Like a man

pped his ga

e temperat

low. "Do you have any

"I-I'm so sorry. Pl

at was worth more tha

I tried to explain.

pping closer, "are what c

ped something

barrassme

ring. Whispers

ning," I blurted. "Or-or the shi

but there w

y i

g it with two fingers, "costs

llowe

yes f

h where you're g

sto

buzzed again, sti

essage glowed

flickered across his face-curi

red the phone,

n closer, inva

he murmured darkly, "you shou

ething inside me snapped. "I said it was an accident

ged in his exp

? Annoya

ur name?"

ee how that'

ike not knowing the name of the person who j

en. A date... wa

ike him don't dat

ce dropping so low it

. N

whispered. His ey

. Too in

but chillingly, "I always repay

pped. "That's

murmured. "You'l

black car pulled up beside him. The driver rushed out, horro

ir

sed a hand, s

last look-sharp, u

ot into

g in the street, holding an empty c

to the café, the manage

," she snapped. "An

did

e not

s crashed over m

é in a daze, fighting t

. Destroyed suit

ting for hope I

ng. I sank onto a bus-stop bench a

could go w

't kno

verse s

ro whispered: "Isabella Ramirez.