Chapter 2

"Four hours," Pandora mumbled. Her eyes were fixed on the clock, waiting for dawn so she could meet with Antonio.

After accepting Jose's proposal, he didn't let his hands off her waistline throughout the evening. She had to put up with his whiffy breath, and now, he was lying right next to her with his lips widely opened as he snored.

She couldn't take it. She could no longer bear the horrible breath and sound of his snores as loud as a train's horn.

It was just 3:30 am, and she couldn't close her eyes. She sighed as she slowly placed her feet on the cold floor before reaching for her slippers. She walked out of the room as quietly as she could ever be. Straight to meet with Antonio, but it was dangerous.

Jose hates Antonio and never likes how close he is to Pandora. Despite knowing that Antonio had been her assistant for ten years, he despised him.

When she got to the guard's room, she stood in front of Antonio's. Before she raised her fist to knock, the door opened, and he dragged her in.

"It's dangerous to knock. You never know who is awake."

"Thank you. Antonio, about the text you sent, I couldn't sleep. I need to know what you meant by Rodrigo is still alive." Her eyes were probed at Antonio's. Her heart is beating erratically.

She was anxious but still tried to control herself. She couldn't fathom the fact that Rodrigo might be alive. She was overwhelmed by mixed feelings of sadness, anger, and pain.

"He is. My contact was able to perform the autopsy. It proves that the victims were Rodrigo's foster father and an unidentified male. The doctor said a family stopped by and requested the deceased. We believe it's Rodrigo. During the fire, he was seen in a restaurant having lunch with a woman."

"A woman?" Pandora asked in a low soft tone.

Her heart was coming to a clunking stop in her chest as her eyes were fixed tremendously on Antonio. The thought that Rodrigo didn't just abandon her but was living a good life aggravated her.

"What else?" She tries to hide her feelings despite knowing Antonio can read through her.

"He just disappeared. I believe he changed his identity and that of his wife. With these little details, we now know that Rodrigo is indeed alive." Antonio hoped to see a smile on Pandora's face, even if it were a scoff.

But she looked like she was trying so hard to hide the pain that engulfed her heart.

"Pandora" He held her hand and pulled her closer for a hug.

"We will find him."

"I don't know if I want to." She sobbed.

"Of course, you want to. You've been looking for him for the past eleven years, way before we met."

"But he moved on!" She screamed. "He moved on. He didn't look for or think about me. He moved on." She fell to her knees, sobbing. To her-she believes that Rodrigo got involved with another woman and was living his life while she was still living in the past.

"We haven't confirmed their relationship. Listen to me." Antonio placed his hands on her cheeks.

"He is alive. That is all that matters for now. We can now slowly figure out how you can break your engagement with Jose."

"It's not very easy. He covered up the murder of the detective, the one I killed, to gain his trust. He has the evidence. He knows about our alms dealing. If he becomes the president, even if I succeed in running away now, he will still come for me. He will find me, Antonio. I'm at his mercy."

"Let's focus on making him lose his influence and the election." Antonio helped her stand on her feet.

"Because Rodrigo is in this mess, I hate looking for him. Maybe he was doing the same, but he was busy having lunch with a woman." Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"We still haven't confirmed their relationship. Go back in and get some rest."

"I will sleep on the couch. That room stinks of Jose's bad breath."

—

The morning light shone through the curtains, and the rays rested on Pandora's eyes. Slowly she opened her eyes only to find the servants hovering around and the living room filled with flowers.

The chandelier was being changed, and the curtains were not the same ones she had seen the night before.

"What is going on?" She asked, but no one paid any attention.

"You are awake, mi amor." Jose's voice interrupted from behind, and he walked closer to her.

"How was your night, senorita?"

"What is going on here, Jose?" Her brows furrowed.

"Oh, it's our engagement party today. I will announce to the world that I'm getting married in a month." Jose laughed.

"Marriage? Don't you think I have the right to know about that?" Pandora was furious. She couldn't believe he had fixed their wedding without her consent.

"I just want you to relax—no need to stress yourself. I will handle everything. So for now, go and prepare for the party, darling." He chuckled and touched her cheek.

Pandora hit his hand and walked away. When she got to the bedroom, she locked the door and rushed to get a pillow.

"Arrrghhh" She screamed. She walked to the closet and found a dress on a mannequin in the middle of her closet.

"He even got me a dress."

—

The party was noisy. It wasn't the kind she liked. There were tons of guests, and most were politicians. Even the current president was present.

Pandora tries her best to hide from Jose during the party. She has remained hidden her whole life, but now, she was engaged to an aspiring president. Jose didn't have an opponent. He immediately took down everyone that came out from the other party. There was no doubt that he would become the next president of Mexico.

"I found something else," Antonio whispered in her ears.

"What is that about?" Her gaze was fixed on Antonio. With the way he looked anxious, she knew it wouldn't be something he could say in such a crowded place.

"Let's go somewhere quiet." She held his hand as they walked in haste. Her gaze erratically drifted around. Her body collided with others as her feet moved quickly despite her being on a six inch heel.

Suddenly she stumbled on the short stairs before her and fell on a stranger. He had a broad chest and smelled like lavender. She felt his arms, lifted her, and dropped to the ground. He was so tall that even with her six inch heel, her head only reached his chest.

"Saunter." The man muttered in her ears as he released his grip on her.

"Thank you," Pandora muttered without glancing at the stranger. She walked forward but suddenly stopped when she heard the same stranger talking to someone.

His voice was familiar. She could recognize it anywhere. That same voice sent shivers through her spine and made her nights sleepless. The same man that ruined her life-

"Juan Aguirre?" Pandora muttered as she turned around. It's been ten years since she heard that voice, and it still haunts her in her sleep.

She slowly walked towards the man. Tears gathered in her eyes as she recalled his favourite line.

"Hey, kitty, it's time to party. Go out to the floor and shake that ass."

His mockery laughter was what she became accustomed to. Juan Aguirre was her worst nightmare. The man that made an underage girl become a stripper.

Suddenly, Juan seemed to be alert and started walking away from there. His steps were quick, making Pandora believe he had recognized her.

Pandora walked after him as fast as she could, with a vengeance rushing through her spine.

Pandora chased Juan to the garden, which seemed even busier than the living room. She kept looking around, but he wasn't in sight. She tried forcing her way through the noisy crowd. She caught a glimpse of him, and as she wanted to run after him, she felt someone's arm grab her and swing her around.

"You fool!" Pandora slapped the man and turned to check for Juan, but he was gone.

She stomped her heel on the ground and turned to look at the man in anger. "How dare you?"

As her gaze met him, her heart pounded. Tears instantly gathered in her eyes, and her lips were mumbling.

"Drizella?" The man called her.

"Rodrigo?"