The Billionaire's Dangerous Obsession - Chapter 79: Chapter 79

The drive back to his mansion was quiet, but with a strange kind of stillness that had Alejandro occasionally flicking glances at Nivera.
She hadn’t said much since they left the hospital mainly because she was busy with her phone instead of paying attention to him.
Would it be bad if he broke that thing so she would talk to him. The small conversations they had made the ride always enjoyable, but the brat has abandoned him for her phone.
How rude?!
A little ding on his phone, made him turn his attention from Nivera.
Staring at the car screen, he saw he had received a message from his secretary who was reminding him of the fact that had a meeting soon and asking why he wasn't in the office yet.
Shit! He cursed under his breath after he read the message.
Antonio was usually the one who handled this meeting which was why he had forgotten about it.
He immediately stepped on the gas pedal so he could drop Nivera home and head back to the office.
He barely glanced at the time as he pulled into the driveway of his mansion.
The digital clock on the dashboard told him he was running late.
But when he parked the car, he noticed someone he wasn't expecting to see, a man in a crisp black suit, stepped forward from the entrance.
It was his mother's driver. If he was there, then that meant that…
"Sir," he said as Alejandro rolled down his window.
“My mom is inside?” He asked, but they both knew the answer.
"Yes, she is,” the driver confirmed.
Alejandro's brows lifted. "Did she say why?"
He knew his mother was close to the driver, which meant there was a chance he had an idea why his mother was here.
The driver gave a slight shake of the head. "Only that she wanted to speak with you."
Alejandro cursed inwardly.
"You can go," Nivera said, her voice finally slicing through the silence. "I can handle your mother."
But Alejandro was already stepping out. "I’ll just say hi. Won’t take a minute.”
“You sure you have time?” she asked quietly, watching the tension that pulled at his brows. “Are you late for a meeting?”
She had seen him glancing at the glance one to many times and he had increased his speed. That only led back to one thing, he had somewhere he had to be.
“Yes,” he said plainly. “But it’s my mother.”
Nivera followed him inside, her shoes clicking softly on the polished marble floor.
The mansion was eerily silent, the usual rustle of staff missing. Something felt different. Off.
They’d barely made it into the living room when the sound of a blade hitting the chopping board echoed from the kitchen.
Alejandro paused.
“She’s in the kitchen?” he asked aloud, more confused than surprised.
Nivera wondered why Alejandro sounded confused. All the times his mother had been there, she spent much time in the kitchen, preparing meals for them.
“Shit!” She suddenly heard him curse.
Without waiting for confirmation, he made a sharp turn and headed down the corridor.
Nivera hesitated for half a beat before following. Alejandro was already pushing the kitchen door open when she caught up.
Inside, the scent of herbs and citrus clung to the air. Marceline stood by the counter, her elegant frame outlined by the sunlight pouring in from the high windows.
Her back was to them, shoulders stiff, her hand moving quickly and erratically as she chopped at a lemon—only, it wasn’t being sliced. It was being obliterated.
She appeared too disconnected. Her lips moved slightly, like she was murmuring to herself, and her fingers were dangerously close to the blade.
Alejandro’s eyes narrowed. “Mom,” he called gently, stepping forward.
She didn’t respond. Her movements didn’t slow. Was she having another episode? He wondered.
“Mom—”
He reached out and gently placed a hand on her wrist.
The moment his skin touched hers, she flinched violently.
Nivera froze.
In one terrifying motion, Marceline turned on him. Her eyes, which had always looked at him with affection and longing, were now filled with something else. Something darker.
Hatred.
Her hand jerked violently, and the knife came swinging toward him.
Alejandro’s reflexes were sharp. He caught her wrist midair, gripping it tightly as the blade trembled in her grasp. His expression didn't change, but his eyes… his eyes betrayed the split-second of shock that flashed through him.
“Mom,” he called, his voice lower now. "It’s me."
Nivera’s sharp gasp shattered the tense atmosphere, and the sound seemed to pierce through the haze Marceline was trapped in.
She blinked. Once, then twice as she looked at her surroundings trying to understand what was happening.
Her face collapsed in confusion and horror.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, letting go of the knife. It clattered against the tiles. “Alejandro… I… I didn’t—”
Alejandro exhaled slowly, his fingers sliding off her wrist. He didn’t say anything, didn’t even look at her. Instead, he turned to Nivera.
“I have to go.” That was all he said.
Without another word, he bent down, picked up the knife, placed it on the counter with deliberate calm, and walked away.
“Wait,” Marceline said quickly, stepping toward him. Her voice was trembling. “Please, at least let me—”
But he was already turning toward the hallway.
Nivera turned to Marceline, who was visibly shaken. “I’ll talk to him,” she said quickly, before hurrying after him.
“Alejandro!” she called, catching sight of his figure, already halfway to his car.
He didn’t slow.
“Alejandro, wait!”
He reached the car, opened the door, and slipped inside. The window rolled down halfway.
She rushed to his side. “Alejandro!”
“Keep her away from the knives,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. “And if she ever falls into that trance while you're around, get the hell away from her.”
The window began to close, his tone final.
“Wait, are you—” she started, but he didn’t let her finish.
The car pulled away from the driveway, disappearing down the long road in a blur.