The Billionaire’s Regret -Alessa (by Bukolami) novel Chapter 25

**Shadows Beneath the Silent Moon**
**Rising Echoes by Aiden R. Vale**
**Chapter 25**

Rico slowly lifted his gaze and fixed it on the boss, but his expression was neither defiant nor indifferent; it was laced with a deep-seated respect. He felt the weight of the moment, the gravity of their shared history hanging in the air.

“Wow, how did I miss the engagement party, wedding, and honeymoon?” he asked, his voice tinged with genuine surprise as he finally caught sight of Alessa, the woman who had become an unintentional focal point of his thoughts.

A soft chuckle escaped Rico’s lips as he gently withdrew his hand from Alessa’s grasp. Throughout this tense encounter, she had clung to him as if he were her lifeline, her anchor in a stormy sea of uncertainty.

“This is Alessa,” he introduced her, his tone shifting slightly as he gestured towards her. “She helped with the stuff and got arrested too.”

The boss tilted his head slightly, scrutinizing Alessa with a keen interest. Alessa met his gaze with unwavering confidence, her eyes sparkling with a hint of defiance, which he found both amusing and intriguing.

She didn’t seem the least bit intimidated by the powerful man before her.

“Why are you here?” he inquired, his voice steady yet probing.

Alessa turned her head towards Rico, seeking his silent approval. He nodded encouragingly, urging her to speak her truth.

“I’m with Rico,” she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper but filled with a quiet strength.

“Hmmm,” he nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated her words.

“I could swear I’ve seen you before,” he muttered, but his voice carried enough weight for everyone to hear.

Of course, he had seen her; she was married to the most significant man in the city, a fact that hung heavily in the air.

“What’s your name?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Alessa,” she answered, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, a habit she had developed in moments of anxiety.

“Alessa?” he echoed, clearly expecting a surname to follow.

“Just Alessa,” she stammered, a pang of pain striking her heart at the admission. “I… I don’t have a family.” The words felt foreign on her tongue, and she was taken aback by the vulnerability they revealed. She had never imagined herself in such a position, uttering those words that echoed her loneliness.

“Hmmm,” he replied, his expression inscrutable.

“Are you sure about her?” The boss turned his attention back to Rico, his tone shifting to one of skepticism.

“Yes, boss,” Rico affirmed, his voice steady, a hint of protectiveness lacing his words.

The boss shifted his focus back to Alessa, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“You’re with Rico, but do you truly wish to stay with him?” he asked, his voice low and deliberate.

“Yes,” Alessa replied without hesitation, her head nodding firmly.

In that moment, she had made a silent vow to herself, ready to face whatever lay ahead. What could possibly be worse than the gnawing emptiness of despair and hopelessness that had plagued her?

“If you agree to stay, there’s no turning back. The moment you stepped foot in this place, you became entangled in our world. Are you prepared for whatever may come your way?” he pressed, his eyes locked onto hers.

“Yes,” Alessa responded, her voice rising slightly, infused with newfound determination.

**Chapter 25**

A hearty laugh erupted from the boss, a sound that echoed around the room, prompting the men to join in the mirth, their laughter mingling with the tension that hung in the air.

He nodded at one of the guards, who approached Alessa with a purposeful stride, an ominous air surrounding him.

Before she could fully comprehend his intentions, he swiftly placed a cloth over her nose. Panic surged through her as she instinctively struggled against him, her breath becoming shallow and frantic.

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