CHAPTER 1 Valerie's POV "How can you just send me away to some stranger?" my voice echoed loudly across the hallway. The rage in my voice can be easily noticed. I stare at my grandparents in shock and confusion. "Valerie, it's for the best." my grandma says quietly, trying to calm me down. "No!" I shouted. "Just tell me the truth, you guys just want to abandon me also just like my very own parents did ten years ago. Am I really that much of a burden that you all pass over to the next available person when you're done with me?" I say, my voice cracking at the end. By now my face was already drenched with my own tears, eyes puffy and begging for acceptance. I couldn't believe what was happening. "Shut up!" my grandpa shouted at me. "You're getting married to Mr Stephano and that's final! I'm sick of these childish games. You're turning twenty soon for god sake" He continues, the look in his eyes held so much hate and annoyance it broke me. I have never seen him act this way before
Chapter 2Valerie's POV"Not bad..." He says after checking me out, his icy gray eyes looking at me like he was staring into my soul. I scoffed at his comment, could he get any more rude? I think quietly."What's your name?" He asks."Excuse me?" I ask in return." What-is-your-name?" he deadpanned, annoyance written all over his face."Drop the act, I'm aware you've been keeping tabs on me for almost a month now. How is it possible you don't already know my name" I say, rolling my eyes at him.He takes a quick step towards me, closing the distance between us. His hands reached for my neck and enclosed it, his grip not tight enough yet to stop my breathing entirely. "You better watch your mouth kitten, you might not survive another day here if you continue like this. Now what the fuck is your name" He said coldly, his grip on my neck tightening."Valerie" I choked out."Good girl" He says then releases my neck from his right grip making me pant heavily. Turns his back and starts hea
Chapter 3Valerie's POV"Follow me" He says, then got up from his chair. Ignoring his unfinished food, he heads out.I quickly got up and rushed after him, curious on what was happening. It was already really pretty late when we stepped out of the mansion."Where are we going?" I ask, following him as he enters one of his numerous cars."Just shut up and follow me, do you want to find out or not" He asks coldly.Not wanting to annoy him any further, I keep quiet and just wait patiently till we get to the destination. We past through familiar streets, I've come to memorize by heart. We were heading to my grandparents house I figured. But why?It hasn't been a day since I left this house. I wasn't feeling really excited to return because of how betrayed I felt towards my grandparents. Although staying with Stephano wasn't an exciting option...Soon after we arrive and he the parks in our driveway."What are we doing here?" I ask in confusion."Again, stop with the questions." he deadp
Chapter 4My vision is suddenly covered by a black cloth placed over my head. Strong hands circling around my waist, pulling me back with so much force."Hello darling" I hear an unfamiliar voice say.I try to scream for help but his other hand immediately covers my mouth, muffling my voice. I start thrashing around, trying to free myself from his tight grip. I managed to remove the blind fold from my eyes."Stay still, don't make this any harder. Well… if you don't want to get hurt" He says, voice coated in anger.Ignoring his demands, I continued to try and free myself.I wanted to scream but the person behind me still had his hand over my mouth, then hurled me inside the car, it was a black van I had always seen in movies associated with kidnapping. I looked around and saw two masked men in the back seat and one masked person in the front. The car speeds down the unfamiliar streets. After what seemed like hours of driving the car finally came to a halt. Someone picked me up and too
Chapter 5Valerie POVI know I said Stephano wasn't going to bother showing up to rescue me. But that was just me talking shit so his men would release me... although that didn't work out.Not once did I really think I was going to spend a whole day here! wasn't Stephano the most powerful man in the country. How then couldn't he get me out of here?It was already the next morning and I was extremely weak. I hadn't eaten a thing! I regret leaving the house very early yesterday without even eating breakfast.No, scratch that. I regret leaving the house entirely. At least I don't starve there, and I'm definitely not tied up. I feel so much cramps everywhere from being tied to the chair all day.I shiver at the possibility of spending another day here. I was going to be welcoming death soon at this rate. I feel my eyes water, but really what help would crying offer?"Get the girl!" I heard a voice shouting in panic from outside the door.What exactly was going on?seconds later the door b
CHAPTER 6I rush downstairs in a haste, very worried about Pat. I seriously hope she wasn't dead because then I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if she died. Stephano wouldn't be that brutal I hoped in an attempt to convince myself she wasn't there.After reaching the sitting room I saw some of Stephano's men standing in the room together with some of the maids. Stephano was also right in the middle.I noticed Pat sitting on the ground gently holding her left hand. I noticed blood pooling from her arm down to the tiled floor. I exhaled in relief noticing she wasn't dead yet, Stephano only shot her in her arms. I know that's serious too, but I'm glad it wasn't worse than that. I stand still watching everything happening."Take that as a warning, talking too much isn't allowed here. Never forget any of the golden rules" Stephano stated coldly."How could you do that?" I screamed at him."Don't." he says glaring at me."Pat did nothing wrong!" I screamed again.He gave me a death glare
CHAPTER 7Finally recollecting myself I ran into the bathroom still very naked. Sighing as the steamy water from the shower runs down my body. I scrubbed my body thoroughly, mentally trying to erase the feel of Stephano's hands on me."I hate him" "I hate him"I chant quietly trying to get it into my head. I smile in relief feeling a lot better after I managed to convince myself that I hate him. After I was done with my bath, I put on a simple summer dress. I wasn't going anywhere so there was no point dressing up. I walk out of the bedroom and skip downstairs in a rush, wanting to check up on Pat.I felt guilty for what happened to her, yes I didn't shoot her but if I hadn't talked about it with Stephano she wouldn't have been hurt by now."Hey" I say to one of Stephano's numerous maids."Yes Mrs, how can I help you?" she asks."Where is Pat?" I questioned."She's having an off day because of her arm injury. She's currently in her room in the maid's quarters down the hall" she rep
CHAPTER 8I cleared my throat and shifted my weight from one leg to the other, desperately wanting the awkward silence to come to an end. They seemed comfortable staring at me like that was totally normal.His parents were perched at the end of their seats. Eyes like hawks as they take a long look at me, from the tip of my head to the end of my shiny black boots. The look of distaste settled on their face as they mentally judged me."Is this her?" Stephano's mother asks, turning her gaze away from me to her son. Her voice undeniably laced with spite."Yeah, meet Valerie my wife and Val this is my Dad and Fiona my step mom" Stephano stated."Nice to meet you guys" I say, forcing a smile on my face so I would look more pleasant in their eyes."I wish I could say the same. tsk" she said with a frown on her face. Stephano's Dad also didn't seem pleased to see me here.A scrowl immediately appears on my face.STEPHANO'S POV"Fiona keep the attitude, for once at least" I said, already gettin
Author's POV*Fifteen years later*Time had passed awfully fast.Memories and moment been shared continuously and continuously.Fights been fought together.It was Christmas Eve.The family had finally come together to celebrate for the Christmas. It was a tradition that they had kept alive for years. No matter what happens or what they are doing, they always come back to celebrate the Christmas together. It was something that Fiona really looked forward to every day. She loved spending time with her husband and her kid. So no matter what, they always came together for that. The sitting room was adorned with decoration but that brightest decorations of all was the magnificent Christmas tree that stood proud and tall at the middle of the room.The star at the tip added to the brightness and the gift beneath added to the atmosphere of festivity.Laughter echoed at the dinning room. Aiden Fiona, Eric and Esther were seated serving each other foods as they talked to each other about thei
Author povA month had passed since Esther had given birth. The baby Jason, was growing really well and it almost seemed like had two mothers.Fiona had become really attached too him over the month.Going to Esther's house, they all ate and had a little party and Fiona ate all of the food.Her craving and appetite was growing and growing and growing.After their visit to Esther's house, they went to watch a movie together and Fiona ate two buckets of popcorn and still took Aiden's.He stared at her in disbelief as she ate whatever was edible. Even the food she hated as a norm was now her favorite.At night, he had to buy snacks Incase she would begin craving unnecessarily. Sadly, most of the snacks he had gathered, she always rejected.However, she was getting incredibly sensitive."I'm hungryyyy I want pasta!" Fiona cried out from the bedroom.Aiden was in the kitchen which was a complete mess, cooking pasta that she had been crying about for two hours now.She had requested for a sa
Author povStanding outside the bar, to a corner with lights but devoid of people, Fiona had her eyes closed as she breathed slowly. She felt tired and dizzy and was incredibly craving for alcohol which she couldn't drink. She had to hold on for a few more months.She placed her hand on her stomach, smiling slowly. "Soon." She told herself."Well, well, well." An irritating gruff voice erupted behind her and her eyes snapped open.She turned to the direction to see up to twenty men. They were all holding guns and pointing it at her.Fiona sighed. She thought that all her problems was over but of course she was wrong."What?" She asked angrily."What an attitude." One of them chuckled and she felt someone grab her from behind.She screamed, kicked straight in the groin and turned to look at him as he fell to the ground."Moron! Can't you see that I am a pregnant woman?!" She screamed furiously and snatched the gun away from him, shooting him straight in the head then turned to the othe
AUTHORwhat he had always wanted was the happiness of his daughter and he can't be any more thankful for this. Immediately after the marriage, Fiona and her friends decided that they wanted to go hang out at a bar. Fiona's father wanted to stop them but he thought that thet knew what they were doing and that he should not get involved. He also told himself that he should stop trying to get involved in his daughter's life and stop trying to tell her what to do and what not to do. It just didn't sound okay for him to do that to her..He and his wife went back home after the wedding. Fiona's mother could not hike back her tears. She immediately started crying when they got home. "Why are you crying? Aren't you the one who always said tgat I was being too hard on her and Aiden?" He asked his wife. "Of course you were being too hard on them before this! It's just.....my daughter is finally married and I can't help but feel sad about it. I feel as if it was only a day ago when I held her
AUTHORDo you really think so little of me Fiona?" Aiden asked Fiona. He knows that she was saying all of this because of the pregnancy hormones and that she doesn't really mean it but he was hurt that she'd ever consider that he'd leave because she lost her shape after giving birth to her child. "I don't think that way of you at all. I know that you love me but people change right? What if I go out of shape and you decide that I am no longer what you want?! I think that I am going to lose my mind for real if you leave me....I can't handle that for the life of me" she told AidenAiden took her hand in his "I am just going to tell you this once Fiona so listen. You're pregnant with my child. You're putting your life on the hold to have my child. I am never going to leave you just because you lost your shape after having my child. And for goodness sake, even if you grow old and become ugly, I won't leave you. I am not with you because ot my looks. I am with you because I love you. The
FIONA'S POV"You know that I am not doing anything and that they are actually right. I don't want that at all. I want to do something to earn my keep. I know that I am pregnant but that doesn't mean that I am handicapped. I can still do something " I said. I don't like the way Aiden keeps treating me like I can't do anything for myself. I think that I am going to lose my mind if he keeps treating me like this for the duration of my pregnancy. I'd definitely lose my mind if this continues itself. "Who said that you're not doing anything by being here with me? Seeing your face everyday motivates me to work harder. And once I am motivated to work harder, it means that I can earn a lot of money for the company and those people talking will get paid on time. So you see, you being here is actually helping everyone. Do you see how much you're helping me out now?" Aiden asked me. I could not help but burst into laugher when I heard this. "You're impossible Aiden! I can't believe that you
AIDEN'S POVI entered my office after I was done with the meeting. I sighed. All of the people who are working for me are really stressing me out. They are supposed to do thier jobs but there's nothing that anyone of them can do right. They keep making mistakes on top of mistakes. They are all starting to get on my nerves. .I took off my tie as soon as I entered my office and lossened the first buttons of my shirt. I saw Fiona sleeping on the couch. I frowned. Isn't she uncomfortable?!I have told her many times that she doesn't need to come here for me and that she can just go back home and rest once the pregnancy gets too much for her and she wants to sleep. Why doesn't she ever listen at all ? "What are you doing here Fiona?" I asked as I tried to position her on the bed without waking her up as quietly as I could.I took a blanket and tried to cover her with it but she woke up anyway. "What are you doing here Fiona? Didn't I tell you that you can go back and sleep whenever y
Author's POVFew weeks later. Fiona groaned loudly as she entered into the fitting room for yet another time. This was the fifth....sixth? Honestly she's lost count of how many it was. Her mom and Eric's wife Esther were there with her. She went out to show her critiques who sat regally on the chair sipping lemonade. She eyed them dubiously and mouth "really??" With an arched eyebrow. They were only sitting there, enjoying a glass of lemonade and scrolling through the magazine while Fiona was made to endure the prickling and prodding of the stylist. "What do you think??" She asked without much enthusiasm. She felt beautiful but she wanted to hear from them. She gasped, stood up and walked towards her with beaming smiles on their faces."Oh my! You look adoring." Esther squealed into her hand and giggled excitedly. Fiona rolled my eyes as her mum and Esther passed a secret look at themselves. It was secretive if they were passing those looks in front of her. She almost facepalm
Author's POV"I suggest you avoid doing anything that could bring back those painful memories." He said to him quietly.Aidan nodded diligently, his eyes filled with a brimming happiness that seemed highly contagious. "She has been greatly traumatized and her brain is still having problem accepting the reality. Care and rest is all she needs right now. And do ensure that she eats a lot of food and makes she doesn't get upset" Rodriguez added calmly. Aidan had rushed out to call the doctor when the initial shock had wear off him. And thank goodness he did. "I congratulate you once again Mr Aiden." He bowed stiffly, before moving out. Since the doctor didn't want Fiona to listen in on his diagnostic, they were conversing in the corridor.The thought of Fiona going through the hardship of accepting the harsh reality was already hitting Aiden.... hard. A trickle pain of hers turned to an ocean of his own. If he could take her pain as his own, he would. Without thinking twice!He str