Valerie's POVThat idiot is with Brenda.He lied to me. He told me they weren't dating. He told me he had stopped talking to her yet I just saw them together in a club, holding hands.What am I supposed to think? Am I supposed to think that they bumped into each other in the club coincidentally?I guess I am at fault here.Brenda, Fred, and I go to different clubs every week to have fun, and Cart's Club is one such club. I never gave it any thought that we would meet there. We only went to Cart's Club once. We had a regular club downtown and we frequent there more, I guess that is why I never thought I was going to run into them there.I was only making an effort to cheer Ryan up and make him stop brooding over his mother's sickness.I even thought he was going to act lovey-dovey with me when I called out their names but he didn't, yet I am always making an effort to make us look real in front of everyone.He is such an asshole. We shouldn't have gone to the party in the first place.
Ryan's POVFor the first time in years, my conscience is judging me for how I acted to Valerie's accusation last night and how she expected something else from me.I am not supposed to feel bad for her because she is not a good person but I can't help not feeling bad for not being there just like she expected of me.She was right.I am selfish. She helped me but it never crossed my mind to help make her ex-boyfriend jealous and for him to realize what he has lost.This might be because I really feel that losing her is a great thing. After all, she is full of trouble and no man might want to be with her.I feel this is why he broke up with her. But on second thoughts, it is obvious they both loved each other despite her shortcomings but they broke things up because he cheated.Why do men cheat?This takes me back on memory lane and makes me sigh as I sit at the back of the car with a box in my hand.I am going home.I bought a gift for Valerie to apologize for what I said last night. I
Valerie's POVEach time I see or think about him, I feel the urge to do something rash; to hurt him for betraying me.As much as I don't want to take any revenge on him anymore, I am tempted to take back my words and do the needful, then maybe I will finally be happy.I don't like how I feel at the moment. The sinking feeling is back, probably because I am disappointed to have seen him today again, this time not with Brenda but with a different girl.That jolting is gone. All I feel for him now is pure hatred. I wish I could turn back the hands of the clock and make sure that our paths never crossed.I wished I wasn't that curious to know more about him which made me fall deeply in love with him. I wish I hadn't said yes to him when he asked me to become his girlfriend.Reluctantly, I drop my bag and take off my shoes before sitting quietly on the bed, ignoring my weak limbs.I ordered the maids to bring my bed back to my room even though it is still cold but I will manage. I heard th
Ryan's POVA candlelight dinner date is what I have planned out for the evening. Frankly, I was looking forward to this evening when I was at the office and I kept wondering if going back home to change was the best.I couldn't go back home and I am thankful I wore something good today. I am dressed in a slim-fit suit with black suede shoes.I look around the empty restaurant and finally at the table filled with candlelight and a bouquet of flowers.Valerie was right. There is little we can do to help my mother. This is why we are doing this. It won't hurt to act for a little while because Valerie and I are getting along well, pretty quickly.It will make Mother happy.It also will not hurt if we fake a pregnancy just to make her happy. I can't continue to live with this grief. The earlier I accept reality, the better for both of us. Even for Valerie.If Mother dies, I see no reason why we should continue with this marriage, except of course for the contract. We already signed it and
Valerie's POVImpressive is an understatement of Ryan's behavior tonight. First, he sent me a message for the very first time since we have crossed paths with each other and ended the text with a heart emoticon.Second, he was polite enough to tell one of the guards to drive me down here.Third, he got me flowers, apart from the necklace from last night which I haven't brought myself to try on yet.Fourth, he is being one heck of a gentleman. He is trying to make me forget Fred that easily by insisting on calling me Val. I can't help it but that name stirs up something in me that I can't figure out.It is not just anger or the remembrance of Fred. It is something unspeakable that I haven't figured out on my own yet.He was right in saying that I haven't gotten over Fred yet. If I had gotten over the idea, I wouldn't have cried last night.I didn't particularly cry. A tear actually rolled down my eyes. And I was quick to wipe it off my face because I already made a vow never to cry fo
Valerie's POVI keep tossing in bed, unable to find some sleep. The weather has suddenly become cold and I am on alert for rain, even though the forecaster said it won't fall in the next couple of days.I keep thinking about what happened at the restaurant, every single detail of what happened played itself in my head.From my anger to my laughter to the show and the cameraman.Who is he?I asked Ryan but he only smirked. He must be proud of himself for what he did.I have two answers to the question about the cameraman. He is either from his mother or one of the paparazzi who would publish that picture first thing tomorrow morning for the public eyes to see.I should be happy, right?Fred would see it and Brenda too. He might probably boil in anger when he sees the clear affection between Ryan and me and then Mrs. Lorenzo would see it too and she would be happy.For no reason, I don't feel happy or proud about what we did. I thought it was ok with me to act like we are real and in lo
Ryan's POV Having a taste of her sweet lips makes me lose my mind and I find myself leaning in closer for more and expecting her to open up for me to explore the insides of her mouth. Instead, she places her two hands on my chest and pushes me away roughly, her face in a deep frown with her eyes in a depth of annoyance for what I just did. Rather than feeling sorry, I plaster a wide grin on my face and she pushes me off the bed. "What the hell was that for? Are you crazy?" She thunders in anger and I find myself laughing on the floor. What exactly is amusing to me? I do not know. "A practice. We might have to kiss in front of Mother tomorrow…" "What?" She furrows her brow, the anger increasing. I rise slowly and sit back on the bed. "We are going to meet with Mother tomorrow." She remains silent and I try to read through her expression, feeling bad for kissing her without permission. But I don't regret it because her lips were inviting and sweet. She tastes like mint. Slowl
Valerie's POVRyan is holding grudges against me because of what I did to him last night.That is how it seems to me because all through the ride to his parent's mansion, he was quiet and back to that rude guy I know him to be.Well, I thought he was beginning to change but now I am damn sure he has several personality disorders.Why the hell will he act like he is cool with me this minute and then the next minute, he is aloof?He kissed me last night. I controlled myself from slapping him. I have always hated the idea of kissing another man who isn't Fred but Ryan kissed me last night unexpectedly.I don't know why I didn't stop him or slap him after I managed to push him away but I think it is because we are legally married and he can kiss me.I just don't like the idea personally. Besides, it was just an act as he said. A practice I mean.This way, if he tries to do something similar in front of his parents, I won't be caught unawares and I won't do something rash either forgetting
THIRTY-EIGHT MONTHS LATER Valerie's POV With a frustrated groan, I give up on the dress as I watch myself in the mirror, thinking of what to do about this mess.The seamstress should be blamed for this but I am not in the mood to blame anyone at the moment. What I want and need right now is another dress that fits in and can accommodate me and my big belly.The knock on the door pulls me out of my thoughts and the seamstress comes in with another beautiful white dress, making my face light up and my worry vanish into thin air.She smiles back at me when she notices the relief on my face.My makeup is done. My hair is done. My shoe is ready. My jewelry is on. What is left is my white dress.Just then, the door opens again as noises fill the air and Kayla and Kyle stroll in pushing each other playfully. Kayla is dressed in a Floral Bow Tulle Ivory Cap-Sleeve Princess Pleated Ball Gown while Kyle is in an Ink Blue Stanford Suit makes me smile broadly.My wish and that of Ryan came
Valerie's POV His lips capture mine as his hands work on my long hair while I cling to him as close as I can because I can't get enough of him. As he kisses the life out of me, a small groan leaves my mouth and suddenly, he pulls away, making me flutter my eyes open.With a smile, he caresses my face. I concentrate on his expression trying so hard to figure out what he must be thinking.I made us come here for a good reason and I know he is a little sad about it. Today is the final judgment for Mr. Lorenzo, Anita, Brenda, and Celina. Ryan was getting prepared to go to the court when I suggested we take a day trip here. I wanted to see the mountains and more of nature and coming here was the best idea.I didn't want him to go to court to be reminded about the death of his kind Mother. I didn't want to go either because I don't want to feel any iota of sympathy for any of those criminals, especially Brenda.She must have thought she would get out of this because I am Ryan's wife. I g
Ryan's POV The denial and her expression said it all; she doesn't want the baby and it takes me back to my shell of grieving.Hearing about the news of a baby coming made me forget my sorrows for a second and reduced the pain of losing someone who means so much to me.I am not superstitious but it felt as if the baby was going to be a replacement for my dead Mother. Now, my hope has been shattered by Valerie's outburst and confidence about not being pregnant.Her parents were extremely shocked too. It proved to me that I was wrong about her joking over a serious matter like that.I didn't say a word. I just remained quiet till when it was time to discharge her and we came home.It's been days and Valerie isn't saying anything yet about the baby. If she doesn't feel the baby, then am I supposed to wait till her belly begins to protrude before bringing this issue up and resolving it once and for all?The baby is a blessing. Coming to us at this time is a blessing, why then does she ke
Valerie's POV With her beautiful black hair around her shoulder, she smiles down at me, making a cold spine run down my spine.She is dead, isn't she?Then why am I seeing her and why is she smiling at me?Did I do something wrong to her and she is smiling instead of reprimanding me?Am I dead? Why am I seeing a dead woman?Ryan and I were at the graveyard where she was buried. She is dead but I can't seem to remember the last thing that happened before I got here.Is she alive? Is she hiding somewhere just to be safe from that monster she calls a husband?No, I shake my head involuntarily. This can't be. I saw her cold feet and a pale body. She was extremely cold all over and heavy. She is indeed dead.With a low gasp, I try to twirl around so I can flee from the dead but my legs are stuck on the ground. I look down at my feet and they are buried deep in the ground.I almost let out a yelp in fright but she stretches an arm at me, still smiling brightly. "My child."My child?Despit
Ryan's POV Ignoring the emptiness I suddenly felt when her body was lowered feet down the ground, I glanced away to stop myself from breaking down but it was impossible because the action alone hit me hard.She is gone. Never to be seen again.I want to break down now but I can not. I am a man. I have a wife who is looking up to me. The way Valerie reacted to her death was shocking and I have to control myself so she doesn't end up crying again.But I can't hold it back.How can I when this woman meant so much to me? Is it the pain of losing her when I least expected it? Or the pain of thinking about the people who killed her?Maybe if it had been a natural death, I wouldn't be in so much anguish. Maybe if it weren't planned by the people I know, I wouldn't be hurt this way.Why her? Why Mother?Everybody loved her. She was a great woman. She was wealthy but no one knew she was because her husband was handling everything except, of course, her supermarket which is now closed down.Lo
Valerie's POV Moodiness and lack of appetite are now Ryan's favorite pastime. He barely spoke a word to me last night after we left the police station without seeing the Commissioner who had already left before we got there.We couldn't see the suspects either and we had to sleep in a hotel nearby.I was able to catch some sleep but Ryan could barely sleep a wink. I feel his pain and I hope he gets over this soonest.He almost left me still sleeping in our hotel room this morning so he could come to the police station without me. The running sound of the shower woke me up and I jumped down from the bed.I ended up not taking a shower because he was in a rush to come here.Now that we are here, we are still yet to see Mr. Lewis and I wonder what exactly is going on. I had to excuse myself to come to get us some coffee as breakfast before he comes.As soon as I pay the cafe man, I hold the two cups of coffee in my hand and turn round to take the door out when I bump into a hard wall,
Ryan's POV HE IS NOT YOUR FATHER, RYAN! I LIED.These were her first words to me. If only I was there before the last moment, I would have heard her say them to me herself instead of writing them down.I wanted so desperately to hear the whole truth from her but I wanted to give it time. I wanted it to be the right time to ask so she wouldn't give me an excuse not to talk about it but now she is gone.I will never hear her talk to me again.I REGRET LYING TO YOU, SON. IT WAS NOT IN MY INTENTION TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS WORTH IT. APPARENTLY, HE ISN'T WORTH IT.I THOUGHT I COULD CHANGE HIM. I THOUGHT I WAS DOING A GREAT JOB CHANGING HIM FROM THE MAN HE USED TO BE BUT NOW THAT IT IS TOO LATE, I REALIZE HOW MUCH DAMAGE I HAVE CAUSED TO YOU AND MYSELF.YOUR BIOLOGICAL FATHER DIED A MONTH BEFORE YOU CAME TO THE WORLD. DAVIS STOOD BESIDE ME AND HE WAS LIKE A FATHER FIGURE. I NEVER KNEW HE HAD ULTERIOR MOTIVES.I REGRET HAVING YOU USE HIS SURNAME INSTEAD OF DARCEL'S NAME. I REGRET
Valerie's POV The sight of her cold feet almost sends me spiraling to the floor as I let out a loud gasp with my hands flying to my mouth.She is no longer the woman I came here to visit yesterday. She is pale white and gone.This is when it suddenly dawns on me.When I heard Celina telling Ryan over the phone that his Mother was dead, I almost laughed out loud because I wasn't shocked like Ryan was. It felt like a joke.How could she be dead? We saw her yesterday, she was getting better than ever before, then how could she be dead today?The added information about the attack on the hospital is enough to make me believe as well as the sight before me.She didn't die a natural death. She didn't die due to complications from the surgery. She didn't die as a result of the fake cancer diagnosis. She was killed.I begin to go down slowly as I continue to watch her from where I stand. The sight of her feet is doing unimaginable things to my reasoning.She shouldn't be dead. That bastard
Ryan's POVShe is gulping down the whole content of the wine and looking away to make me think she wasn't staring at me peeling off the baggy shirt and trouser she gave to me on behalf of her dad.All of a sudden, I feel like taunting her a little about it. This is definitely not the first time she is seeing me naked, so why is she uncomfortable with it?Well, maybe it's because it's the second time. We have had sex only once and that was the first time she saw my nudity and also the first time I saw the beauty beneath her clothes.I know this is definitely not the right time for this but I can't help it. Coming here was the right decision and I feel more than relieved to have gotten help from Mr. Lewis."Hey", she shoots to her feet abruptly as I approach her and she begins to walk to the door, hiding her face from looking down at my naked body.Laugh erupts from my stomach, not at her action but at the fact that the door is locked and the keys are with me.There is no escape route.