Back to Love: A New Beginning
Chapter 208

Chapter 208:

Alvaro drove to the top of the mountain and stopped where the road ended.

I had been to this overlook before. Derek had brought me here by bike back then. This was where he made love to me for the first time,

“Aren’t you tired of sitting around all this time? Come on. Let’s get out of the car and get some fresh air.” He didn’t wait for me to answer and got out of the car the next second.

I held back and sat there for a while, watching his every move and trying to gauge his thoughts.

Alvaro slowly made his way to the platform and leaned over the railing, taking in the view below. He looked cold and ruthless the last time I saw him, but today he was all smiles. Even his characteristic cruel look was gone.

I thought he wouldn’t hurt me until the matter of his brother was resolved. After all, I was still counting on Derek to get Raul out of jail.

Consoled by my reasoning, I opened the back door and followed him cautiously. However, I made sure to keep some distance. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. For all I knew, he could push me off the cliff.

He turned and gave me a broad smile. I had no way of knowing what was going through his head. In any case, a kidnapper could never be a good person, regardless of his motives.

Alvaro reached into his pocket and felt around, still smiling. Then, with a loud snap, he brandished a knife whose blade glinted in the sun. I was so frightened that I took several steps back. My knees were shaking.

“What are you doing?” he seemed pleased by my reaction and his grin widened even more.

He went back to the car and opened the trunk, humming a tune under his breath. He pulled out two apples and sat down on a stone step – so he was going to peel apples?

The fact that I flinched and almost ran away at the sight of the knife really bothered me. Hadn’t I rationalized with myself that he wouldn’t hurt me? Why was I acting like a pathetic coward?

“Do you want some?” asked Alvaro, holding up a peeled apple. I declined and looked away.

But that only made him stand up and come over to me. His smile had not left his lips.

This time, however, I stood my ground. Luckily, he walked past me and back to the railing. “Don’t worry,” he said as he turned to me, “They’re not poison apples from a queen or anything.”

Ha! I couldn’t help but grimace.

“Aren’t you embarrassed, referencing a fairy tale like you’re some pure, innocent guy?” He didn’t say anything, but took a bite of the apple. His sharp eyes did not leave my face, and his smile gradually faded.

It was replaced by a meaningful smile.

“No one is born evil. In the beginning, we are all pure and innocent. We only become monsters when the world turns its back on us and hands us a brutal fate. The truth is that every cold-blooded person is forced to become that way.”

His words struck me, and I could see that there was a depth to them that no one knew. Apparently, he had been subjected to that brutal life he spoke of, which had probably contributed to his current vicious nature.

I kept silent as he settled into a more comfortable position and continued to eat. Then he threw the two apples over the railing without even finishing them, as if he had suddenly lost his appetite.

A long silence followed.

Despite my prejudice against him, I could clearly see that something tumultuous was brewing inside him, especially when he was silent like this.

“Don’t you like me?” his question was so abrupt and unexpected. It snapped me out of my musings and I was once again met with that pleasant smile.

I snorted and rolled my eyes. “You kidnapped me, how do you expect me to like you? Did you expect me to thank you for what you did?” Alvaro didn’t respond.

This prompted me to go ahead and rage at him. “How shameless of you! I can’t believe you asked Derek to give you a million dollars if he couldn’t save your brother. He doesn’t owe you anything.” That seemed to have an effect on Alvaro.

He blinked then and his smile intensified even more. “Is that what he told you?”

I gave him a sardonic look that said I didn’t need to be told to see through his greed.

Suddenly, he started walking in my direction. As he got closer and closer, I found myself stumbling over the railing. He put his hands on either side of me, effectively trapping me.

Still, I showed courage. “Get away from me,” I said in a calm but firm tone.

Alvaro stared at me, his eyes shining. “I’m afraid you’re wrong about one thing. Did you just say he doesn’t owe me anything? Well let me tell you this. The debt the Sullivan Family owes me is not something that can be settled with a million dollars.”

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