It had been four days since Jason was rushed to the hospital. They'd been told that he just fainted out of nowhere, but Alexia was certain that there had to be more to it. Whatever it was, she wasn't going to visit him. He had been released from the hospital the same day he was rushed there, and ever since he'd been absent from college. Ryan and Chaz were both in a mood, which affected Chloe too. Apparently Chaz had apologized to her in more than one way and they were back on track.

The two were back to arguing about the gender of the baby and everyone was relieved.

Though that was solved, there was still the Jason matter. Ryan and Chaz wouldn't tell her what had gotten him so wound up, but she knew it was bad. Doctor Malone had emphasized on how important it was that they didn't stress him out, otherwise he wouldn't be able to handle it. He handled everything pretty well, Sola, the Maldives, the confession that someone was after someone... but whatever he heard after that must've broken him down.

Alexia was so concerned, she laid awake at night, twisting and tossing, and when she finally fell asleep, she dreamed about Jason's touches and kisses. She felt weary after having to feign everything she felt for Jason, for Damian. It was a good thing he wasn't so attentive, because otherwise he'd definitely notice something off about her. For example, the way she shuddered whenever he touched her leg. Or, that she burst out in tears every time she was supposed to orgasm. Or how she's been avoiding him, the wedding, and her family at all costs.

Daddy Valdez was still set on the decision and questioned Alexia about the upcoming wedding every chance he got. Alexia didn't dare to say it out loud, but she thought Emilio was excited for the wedding for one reason: the family would supposedly unite. For one day, at least.

And although the thought was quite sweet, Alexia still disliked her father for it. If he wanted everyone to get along he could also just kick Damian out and start acting like a damn father for once, but no. She would never be able to get rid of the utter confusion that settled in her belly every time she thought about her father's love for her fiancé—what was there to love?—but again, pushed the thought away.

There were more confusing things than her father's and fiancé's relationship. For instance, her sister's infatuation with her fiancé. Or Jason fainting.

There she was, back to square one. Her mind spun over and over but in the end she always ended up thinking about the same situation, the same person and the same dilemma.

Because God, did she love that man. She loved him with every fiber of her being, adored him like she's never adored anyone. Alexia pined for him, the longing prickling in her every limb whenever she saw him. It was too tough to watch him and talk to him all whilst knowing that she'd go home to her psycho fiancé and his sickening shenanigans.

The only thing that kept her going was the fact that Jason was safe. Out of harm's way, more like out of Damian's way. Either way, Jason was safe and so far Damian hadn't attempted to stab him, thus, Alexia was satisfied.

But that didn't mean she was actually happy.

Alexia sighed, putting down the little fork she'd been squeezing. Her older sister, Cat, looked at her with big eyes. "And?"

"It's fine."

Cat clacked her tongue and shook her head, shoving the plate with the piece of chocolate cake to the side. "Not good. She needs to be wowed." She spoke to the lady in the pencil skirt, impatiently shooing her away. The woman muttered an 'yes, of course', and disappeared between the two doors again, leaving Alexia alone with Cat.

"Cat, like I said, I don't need to be wowed. I like chocolate cake, it works for me." Alexia took a deep breath, crossing her legs underneath the table. Her gaze couldn't help but drop to the hot pink So Kate Louboutins hugging her feet. Every woman loved Louboutins, especially ones that were able to afford them, but yet again, Alexia wasn't feeling it.

It was Saturday morning and the girls were at a place called Cakeworks Studio, trying to find the perfect wedding cake. Alexia had been dragged here by Cat, forced to dress up and plaster a fake smile on her face, but she wasn't into it.

Fuck this wedding. Fuck the cakes. Fuck Damian. What was she doing here?

"You love food. If the cake doesn't make you want to orgasm, it's not good enough. A wedding isn't just a party, Lex. It's a wedding! You're promising to stay by this man's side for the rest of your life! Aren't you excited?"

It seemed that no matter how many times Alexia told Cat that she was in love with Jason and definitely not interested in Damian, she kept on forgetting.

"No, I am not. I hate Damian." She tiredly mumbled, her eyes still on her shoes. The air-conditioning in the shop was good enough to cause chills up her spine, but she knew that the second they'd step outside they'd be hit by a wave of undeniable hotness.

Stupid weather. It wasn't even July yet and they were already scorching from the heat.

"Like I said, whatever issues are going down between you guys, the moment you see him standing by the aisle it'll all disappear. Like dust. Weddings do that." The worst part was that Cat looked fully convinced, her eyes glazing dreamily. Alexia snorted.

"I doubt it."

"I don't." she retorted, "I mean... look at him. The man is a beauty. I don't understand how you aren't head over heels for the wedding. I can't imagine marrying a man so sweet and so handsome." Cat's cheeks reddened.

Alexia had to do a double take. Was she hearing this right? Was Cat talking about Damian's so called pros? Was she, Catalina Valdez, insinuating that if Alexia wasn't in the picture, she'd jump his bones?

Did this explain the reason of her absence? Did this explain why she jumped to his defences?

"Why don't you marry him, then?" Alexia queried, knowing that Cat wasn't good in keeping secrets and usually spilled everything. She didn't really want Cat to marry Damian—not out of jealousy, but because he was a psychopath and a sociopath and on top of that he was a tad homicidal and obsessive.

Besides, sex wasn't his forte.

"I can't do that! He's your fiancé!" Cat screeched, flabbergasted. "I mean, not that I've never went there—oh God. I just—I mean that if I had a choice, I wouldn't mind marrying him. But I mean, obviously he's your fiancé, I would never want to break that up! You're perfect for each other, if only you were just a little bit nicer to him. He doesn't like that you're so mean all the time, you know? He told me a couple of weeks ago. He's really nice, Alex. Buys me stuff all the time. Wait, no, I mean that he comes with me while I buy stuff. For fuck's sake, that's not what I mean. Forget that I ever said that. Did I already mention how much he loves you? He does. A lot." And as if her word vomit wasn't enough, Cat's eyes closed in defeat, and Alexia realized something she should've realized a long time ago.

Cat was in love with Damian. Her sweet, bubbly, loving older sister was in love with the man that had caused all of these conflicts. The man that got one of Jason's friends killed and the man that had taken it upon himself to assassinate their mother. The man that had tried to get rid of Jason in many occasions. Her fiancé. Cat was in love with Damian?

First, Alexia felt nothing but surprise rushing through her veins. "You love Damian?" Cat had never actually said it, perhaps it wasn't true.

"Did I say that? Shit. I didn't mean to. Oh my God, you must hate me now. I can't help it, I swear, he's just so amazing. Everything he does is to help people! He's helped dad with mom's passing and he's helping the business and he's helping me and the way he jokes around and the way he laughs and the way he bends so he can cheer me up... I love how he makes sure I'm alright at all times and I love the way he kisses me and touches me—"

"Hold up." Alexia cut her off, anger pulsing through her body. Cat looked like she became aware of what she'd just said, her eyes widening and fear crossing her face.

"Alexia..."

"Are you telling me you've gone with Damian? Behind my back?"

"Alexia..."

"And you kissed? He touched you? Let me guess, did he fuck you?" Alexia spat, trying to stifle the anger. It wasn't that she was annoyed with Damian's disloyalty, after all, she wasn't that loyal to begin with. She loathed that man and felt not a single ounce of jealousy after Cat's messy confession.

It was more the betrayal of her own sister that touched her. Sure, Alexia hated Damian and wanted nothing more than getting rid of the man, but Cat didn't know that. Cat didn't know about the things Damian had done and the people he'd hurt. She didn't know the reason that Alexia was still engaged to him. All she knew was that they were having a couple of issues, but they were still happily engaged. Cat thought Alexia and Damian loved each other.

How was it possible that Cat had gone after her own little sister's fiancé? Out of all the men, Damian? Really? Had she no respect? Is that why she was so invested in the wedding? Guilt?

"Alex, please." Cat murmured, her shoulders slumped. There was nothing left of the proud and charming Latina she usually was. Alexia glared at her, "Well?"

"We've had sex."

"How many times?"

Cat cringed. "A couple." She whispered, but then she quickly added, "He's made clear that he still wants to marry you. I know he loves you, Lex. I know he does. Don't blame him."

And she was still defending that sick son of a bitch?

Alexia was fuming. She pushed back her chair, the wood eerily scraping against the tiles on the floor whilst getting up and manoeuvring to the door. Cat had mimicked her actions, following her. "No, wait, Lex! Alex, please. Please don't go. I swear, they were just silly mistakes."

"Silly mistakes?" Alexia turned around sharply. Although Cat was taller, she cowered under Alexia's gaze. "You fucking slept with my fiancé more than once and you're calling them silly mistakes? Are you a fucking imbecile?" her voice was loud and clear, and Cat flinched.

When Alexia comprehended that she wasn't going to respond, she lowered her voice. "Do you love him?"

"N-no, no, he loves you, Alex. He loves you."

"Do you love him?" Alexia hissed, her heart whamming in her ribcage. Damian would never heard the end of this, never. He may have manipulated her father, he may have assassinated two people, he may have played the game in a way that caused Alexia and Jason to be apart, but he would not mess up her sweet sister, the one that didn't hurt a single soul. She was going to kill him.

"I—I—"

"Do you?" Alexia urged, the anger still dominantly taking over her body. She didn't know who to knock out first, her stupid sister or her mental fiancé. Jesus, did Cat even know the crap she'd gotten herself into?

"Yes." Cat whispered, not daring to look into Alexia's eyes. Alexia growled, pushing her sister out of the way, opening the door and disappearing outside.

xxx

Twenty minutes later, Alexia stormed into the ample Valdez house. Usually, Saturday noon meant that no one other than her father and Freddie were home, but somehow everyone was present this time around. Stefano was asleep on the couch in the living room, while Maya and Teo were frolicking on the couch across the room. Dominic, Carina, Freddie and baby Toby were all in the kitchen, playing some kind of game with Toby in Carina's arms. Emilio had just walked down the stairs in time to be on the receiving end of Alexia's outburst.

"Where is he? Tell me! Where the hell is he?" she'd nearly screamed, her obnoxious voice gaining all the attention. Teo and Maya came running to the foyer to see what all this uproar was about, and Dominic seemed to be doing the same, ordering Carina to take the kids upstairs.

"Alex, I don't know what you're talking about." Emilio raised his eyebrows, genuinely dazed. Alexia knew this, but still felt the strong disliking grow.

"Where the fuck is Damian?"

And as if on cue, the prince of hell himself waltzed down the stairs, passing a bewildered Emilio. He looked tranquil, a knowing smile curling his lips. Despite the free day, he was still dressed in his usual Armani suit.

"Here I am, princess." His use of the nickname Jason had given Alexia pissed her off even more, her chest heaving up and down. "Do not call me that, you senseless psychopath."

Damian's eyebrows downed on his eyes. She knew she had to be nice and all for their arrangement to still stand, but he had crossed a line. Having sex with other women? Fine. She didn't care in the slightest, she hated his guts. But having sex with her sister, undoubtedly leaving Cat crushed behind by the end of the process, was crossing a line. Alexia shuddered at the realization that Cat had been—or still was—that close to him, that he'd manipulated her enough for her to trust him.

"Would you like to elaborate this outburst?" he questioned, his voice low. Alexia took a couple steps closer to him, pressing her pointing finger against his chest forcefully.

"You know I don't care about who you're sleeping with, not even a tad, but out of everyone you could've had sex with... Really? Cat?" her eyes were narrowed, deeply looking into Damian's, who showed no emotions whatsoever.

Damian stayed silent.

"I fucking hate you!" Alexia rasped, "You'll kill her! If not mentally, then probably literally. You will not touch my sister again, not under my watch. If you ever, and I mean ever, do anything that could hurt her, I will strangle you. God I can't believe this..." she trailed off, shaking her head. Cat would end up getting hurt nonetheless, because she was already in love with Damian and Damian was less than two months away from marrying Alexia.

Teo cleared his throat. "You," he pointed at Damian, "Slept with... Cat?"

Maya had snaked an arm around his waist, desperately trying to keep the explosion from happening. Teo was still recovering and anything out of the ordinary could mess up the healing process.

However, it was Dominic who looked more wound up. He stepped forward, pushing Alexia out of the way and cocking his head to the side, his eyes almost on fire. "Speak, you dick." He hissed. Dominic was calm, relaxed and tried to stay out of drama whenever it occurred, so if Dominic was angry and cussing, it meant that something had to be really wrong.

Damian took a deep breath, a sly smirk breaking on his face. "What if I did?"

But Dominic had no time to react, because in just a split second, he was jolting away and Damian was shoved against the wall, his head making a loud sound as it collided with it.

Stefano's athletic six-foot-three body towered over Damian's, his muscles tensing and his eyes dark. He had him by the collar, pulling him away from the wall and then proceeded to thrust him against it again. "You fucked not only one, but two of my sisters?" he rasped furiously.

An angry Stefano was a sight you'd rather not see. He was muscles on muscles, not a single trace of fat to find. From the popping neck vein to the raw and defined calves, Stefano was easily the strongest out of everyone in the family, if not the business. He worked out in the gym more often than not, and if he'd laid down the booze, Stefano would be unstoppable. You wouldn't guess it, but underneath the thick layers of endless muscles, Stefano had a big heart.

He didn't tolerate people toying with his sisters, especially not sexually. Though Alexia had asked him to back off after Damian had ordered her to do so, he seemed out of control.

Damian snickered devilishly, raising his eyebrows but never uttering a word. Stefano growled loudly, bashing the side of his head with his strong fist. "I fucking held back for Alexia's sake, but you're a dead man now."

Damian blinked, clearly in a daze. Blood started streaming out of his nostrils, but a the same, a demonic grin curled his lips. He was unaffected by the whole ordeal, even if he'd lose his face to Stefano's punches.

"Fucking bastard, I'll make sure you'll never be able to smile again." Stefano seethed through gritted teeth, his fist colliding with the middle of Damian's face. Alexia swore she could hear something crack, but Damian never broke character. Albeit everyone could only imagine the pain he must be feeling.

Good, Alexia thought. Feel it.

"Stefano, that's enough." Emilio's voice echoed through the foyer, putting a hand on Stefano's shoulder. Stefano wildly shrugged it off, paying his father no attention.

"Stefano." Emilio said, louder this time. "I said, that's enough. You haven't even given him the chance to explain or defend himself."

Alexia's mouth fell open. "Explain or defend himself? He slept with Cat, dad! You're still defending him?"

Emilio ignored his youngest daughter, his eyes fixated on Stefano. "Let go, son."

Stefano looked like he was in a dilemma, contemplating his father's commands. Alexia was certain that Stefano would bash Damian's skull if he could, but Stefano was a family man, and he was the only one that still tried to be on Emilio's good sides. Thus, he let Damian go.

"Now, Damian. Go wash up. We'll discuss this later." Emilio spoke.

Damian's smile turned into a thin line. "Alexia, come up with me."

"No."

"Your choice." Damian shrugged, turning around. He was faintly limping but didn't let it affect his demeanor. "If anything happens to lover boy, that was all you." He added, not looking at her.

Emilio looked like he hadn't heard it, but the others definitely did. They were all staring at her, wondering what she'd do. Alexia ran a frustrated hand through her hair, following Damian up the stairs while she tried to ignore the sinking feeling of her stomach. Jason. He was the most important pawn in this. Perhaps this was the last straw for Damian, perhaps he'd go after Jason first thing when he's feeling better.

No. She can't let that happen.

Damian's proud grin didn't go unnoticed by her, but she averted her gaze, instead deciding to look at the people she left behind downstairs. Teo was scowling, trying to get out of Maya's grip whilst Stefano seemed to be in the same position only his anger was multiplied by a thousand, trying to pry himself out of Emilio's hold without hurting the man. Dominic stood to the side and suddenly he was up the stairs.

Alexia exhaled in relief, realizing that her brothers would never leave her alone with anything or anyone dangerous, never mind Damian. It was in that moment that she realized she was shaken to the core, her limbs trembling and fear infiltrating her mind.

She was scared of Damian, scared for Jason and scared for herself. Damian had proved numerous times that he was fully able to go through with whatever he threatened to do, and yes she was scared and yes she was a pussy.

They entered Damian's office. He locked the door before turning his back to it and eyed her with a new fierceness she didn't like.

He was enraged, his pupils dilated in that one weird way that made him look like a snake, and his eyes were dark. Black. Though he was still bleeding out of his nose—which had now made its way down his neck to his expensive suit—Damian looked unfazed and most importantly, sullen.

"I thought I told you not to play with me." He conveyed in a hoarse voice, his eyes narrowed. Alexia told herself to suck it up and straightened her back, "You will never touch Cat again. Never."

"Ah," Damian snickered, "Poor, sweet Catalina. One of the easiest to manipulate. She loves me, did you know that?" his eyes glinted in satisfaction. Alexia had to stop herself from piercing them with her Louboutin heel, mainly because she loved the shoes.

"You manipulated her into thinking that." She hissed in response.

Damian rolled his eyes, "Semantics. In the end, she loves me. She's pretty fun, actually. I love toying with her. She's definitely more submissive in bed than you are, although I have to admit you've been the same lately. Anyway, Cat is a fun addition, and I want to keep her."

"What do you mean, you want to keep her?"

"I want to keep fucking her. I barely ever see you with college and all, so having Cat around is nice." Damian's words were lightly spoken, but Alexia almost leapt forward to rip off his tongue.

"Don't you touch her," she spat, "Never again. She has nothing to do with this. Nothing."

"I'm not saying she does, sweet Alexia. She's just something to pass my time with. Should we go ask her what she wants? If she wants to stop having sex with me, I'll stop." Damian's laugh was enough, because Alexia knew that when Cat loved, she loved deeply, and the grip he had on her was too strong. Still, Alexia wasn't ready to give up on her sister yet.

"Just stop it. Stop doing it. She'll accept it and move on." She commanded, "Out of fucking everyone Damian, you had to pick Cat?"

Damian sighed, discarding her question. "Now," he purred, "I'm done with this subject. Let's move to a more important one—what did I tell you about public outbursts? Don't you worry, princess, you're not the one who'll feel the consequences... Jason McCann is."

-

a/n: I looooove this chapter, I don't know why. Hope you liked it as much as I did! Don't forget to vote and comment hunnies. Also, happy 4/20, make sure to get stoned off your ass!!!