Just then, a nurse walked into the room, carrying a tray with several medications. "Time for your meds," she said, smiling at Juliet.Romeo took this as his cue to leave. He pushed the door open, and stepped out into the hallway. The nurse and Juliet were now alone in the room.Outside, Romeo's chauffeur was waiting for him, standing beside the sleek black car. As Romeo approached, the chauffeur quickly opened the door for him. Romeo settled into the soft leather seat, feeling the familiar comfort of his luxury vehicle.The chauffeur closed the door behind him and walked around to the driver's side. He got in, adjusted his mirror, and glanced at Romeo through the rearview window. "Where to, sir?" he asked.Romeo thought for a moment before responding. "Take me to the office," he said finally.The chauffeur nodded and put the car in gear. They glided smoothly away from the hospital, heading towards Romeo's company headquarters.***VANESSA'S APARTMENTVanessa sat at her vanity table, f
"You're welcome." Riccardo whispered.Vanessa took a deep breath as she heard her name again. "You should go now," he said. She glanced at Riccardo one last time, then opened the curtain and walked onto the stage.The crowd was huge, and Vanessa saw Lily and Diego smiling at her. She smiled back and stepped forward to take the microphone and her award."Congratulations, Ms. Rodriguez," The female host said with a big smile, handing her the glass award. "Thank you so much," Vanessa said, taking it from her.The host nodded and gestured for Vanessa to give a speech. Vanessa held the microphone and looked out at the crowd. She felt a little nervous, but happy. She began to speak, her voice clear and strong."Thank you so much for this award. I'm truly honored. I want to thank my team for their hard work and dedication. You guys are the best!To my family, thank you for always supporting me. I love you all.And to everyone here, I'm grateful to be part of a community that values hard w
Vanessa couldn't wait for the event to be over so she could go home. The room was filled with chatter, bright lights, and clinking glasses, but she just wanted to be away from it all. She shifted from one foot to another, feeling the ache in her heels. She glanced around the room, trying to distract herself from the uncomfortable feeling that had settled in her chest. Whoever that guy was, she didn’t like the kind of aura she was getting from him. It felt dark, heavy. like a storm brewing on a sunny day.Her eyes darted around, till they fell on Tiffany, she was here at the award ceremony.Did she come here to represent her parents? Vanessa thought.Their eyes met but she quickly diverted her gaze.She suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Riccardo who was standing beside her.It took her a minute to understand that other important Figure who had just received their own award were standing beside her and having small chats.Riccardo kept staring at her, his dark eyes u
LUCAS'S MANSIONLeila walked into the house with her bag and her jacket already opened. Today had been a hectic day for her at work, and Lucas was to busy to come pick her up.She made her way towards the kitchen, opened the fridge and gulped down a bottle of cold water.She trashed the can in the waste bin before walking out of the kitchen.She proceeded to her room. She pushed the door open and walked in, her steps faltering. She threw her bag on the bed and sprinted towards the bathroom.She needed a cold bath. She decided to use the bathtub instead of the shower. Thirty minutes later, she rinsed her body and stood up from the bathtub.She wrapped a towel around her body, before making her way back to her room.She put on a blue night dress with a robe.As she stood in the mirror brushing her hair, her eyes moved down to her neck.The scar from the knife was still visible. Her hands slowly reached for it and she caressed it carefully.How could humans be so Ruthless? She thought.J
ST. MARTINS HOSPITALJuliet sat on her bed, the nurses had just finished giving her some drugs and she wasn't feeling sleepy yet.Her Boss had not come to visit her, she didn't really mind because she knew how busy he was. And he had been with her since the beginning of her accident. So she understood that he needed to face his work.She massaged her ears slowly. It still hurt from the severe bleeding. She sighed as she remembered what the Doctor said about her loosing her memories.How was she supposed to get Revenge and her Father's company back if her Memory is gone?A thought crossed her mind and she stood up from her bed, and went towards the table.There was a Notebook and a pen on it. She quickly settled down on the chair and picked up the notebook and began writing down about herself.The reason she left America, why she came came. The Accident, her Ex-boyfriend, Stepmother and Step Sister, Her Dad and also, her Boss, Mr. Blackwood.She wrote down all the important details, in
Diego looked at Vanessa in shock. "What? You want to visit Spain now?" He asked, raising his eyebrows."It's not a Visit, Diego. This is a serious matter.""I don't want my kids feature to be in jeopardy, because of some old family feud." Vanessa declared, leaving no room for arguments."What about Ethan and Emma?" Diego asked worriedly."I'll be back by tomorrow morning. When they return from School today, let them stay indoors." Vanessa stated.Diego wanted to protest but relented. "I'll go with you." He said."No. Stay with Lily and Emily, and help me take care of my kids." She said rising from the couch.Just then, a knock sounded on the door.Vanessa glanced at Diego. "Help me check if Lily has arrived?" She asked."Okay." "Good. Book the flight. Let me get changed." Vanessa muttered, now walking towards her room.Diego sighed lowly and backed away from the couch, going towards the door. He swung the door open and met an unexpected visitor standing before him."Hey, Xavier." He
ST. MARTINS HOSPITALJuliet had been sleeping in her room since the previous night, not making any attempts to wake up.The Doctors and nurses were begining to get worried, the only thing that reassured them was the continuous rise and fall of her chest.They had already contacted Mr. Blackwood who had brought her to the hospital. She was sleeping like someone who was unconscious and the nurses who were in charge of taking care of her were worried because she had not eaten neither had she taken her drugs."When do you think she'll wake up?" One of the nurses asked another who was seating beside her in Juliet's room."I don't know. I'm scared." The second nurse replied, fiddling with fingers. They were both kept in charge by the Doctor to take care of Juliet."Yeah. I've never met a patient who sleeps like this when she's not unconscious.""Do you think she's in the after world? Maybe seeing a family member who she loved dearly.""What? Do you really believe stuffs like that?""I don't
Vanessa's father stared at her in surprise. "You've met him?" He asked, settling down on his swivel chair opposite Vanessa. "Not really. I saw him at a recent award event. He was staring at me like a creep." Vanessa cringed as she explained to her father. He sighed, his face twisting in pain as he spoke. "Alexander's father... he was my partner. We built this company together. We were like brothers." Vanessa's eyes narrowed. "What happened?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "He stole from us, from me. A lot. I don't know how much. He hid it well. But I knew something was wrong." Vanessa's grip on her chair tightened. "Why didn't you stop him?" She asked, staring at her father. Mr. Rodriguez's eyes flashed with anger. "I trusted him. I thought he was my friend. But he was manipulating me, using me." Vanessa's voice was laced with disgust. "He used you?" Mr. Rodriguez's jaw clenched. "He did. And when I found out... he was gone. Vanished. Left me to pick up the pieces. Left th
FEW MINUTES LATERVanessa grabbed her bag and cast one last glance at Riccardo. His face was unreadable, his dark eyes steady as he stood by the doorway."I'm leaving," she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder."I’ll come back to pick Emily later," she added firmly."Sure," Riccardo replied, his voice calm and steady. "Stay safe."Vanessa gave a small nod, muttered, “I will,” and headed out the door.Outside, the cool evening air greeted her. Diego stood near the car, his posture straight as ever. The moment he saw her, he moved quickly to open the car door."Thank you," she said, stepping inside. The faint scent of leather filled the air as she settled into her seat.Diego climbed into the driver’s seat and glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "Where’s Emily?" he asked."She’s staying at Riccardo’s for now. I’ll pick her up later," Vanessa replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked out the window.Diego nodded silently. After a moment, he asked, “Where to?”
Vanessa pushed open the door to the guest room. The bright overhead bulb illuminated the space, making the white walls appear even more pristine. She expected to see Emily fast asleep, curled up under the neatly folded comforter. Instead, Emily sat cross-legged on the bed, her phone in her hands, scrolling leisurely.Vanessa paused in the doorway, tilting her head. “Why did you say you needed a nap if you’re not even sleeping?”Emily looked up, a playful smile on her lips. “I realized you both needed to talk. So, I gave you privacy.”Vanessa blinked, taken aback by the bluntness of her response. She stepped further into the room, closing the door gently behind her. “Wow,” she said after a moment. “That’s... unexpected.”Emily shrugged, setting her phone aside. “It wasn’t a big deal. You both looked like you had things to say.”Vanessa sat down at the edge of the bed, her movements slow as she processed Emily’s words. “Well, thank you. That was thoughtful of you.”“No problem.” Emily’s
Vanessa glanced around the house as Riccardo led Emily toward the living room. She had only been here once before, and that was under far different circumstances, desperate and frantic, begging him to help find her missing kids and Emily. The house still felt foreign, despite its warm lighting and elegant decor. The scent of polished wood and faint cologne lingered in the air, a reminder of Riccardo’s presence everywhere.She followed them into the spacious living room. The walls were lined with tall bookshelves, the shelves neatly filled, and a large painting hung above the stone fireplace. Vanessa took a hesitant seat on the soft gray couch, her posture stiff. Emily, on the other hand, settled in comfortably, running her fingers over the plush throw pillows.“Ms. Rodriguez, this house is so beautiful,” Emily said, turning her head to glance at Vanessa with wide, admiring eyes.“Yes, it is,” Vanessa replied simply, her gaze briefly flickering to Riccardo, who was pouring tea from a s
Two hours later, Vanessa leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as she glanced at the time on her laptop screen. It had been a long day, and the weight of it was beginning to settle in. She was just about to shut her laptop when a soft knock came at her door."Ms. Rodriguez, are you done for today?" Emily’s voice came through as she peeked in.Vanessa glanced up with a small smile. "Yes, dear. I’m just about to wrap up."Before she could finish, the door opened wider, and Lily walked in with Emily now standing beside her, both carrying the faint energy of people eager to leave for the day. Vanessa clicked her laptop shut and rose from her swivel chair, picking up her jacket from the back of it. She took a moment to stretch, rolling her shoulders as she approached them.But as she moved, her mind drifted back to Riccardo. She’d been curt with him earlier, perhaps too curt. A twinge of guilt poked at her chest.Was I too harsh? she wondered. He had helped her find her children, a
The restaurant buzzed with quiet conversation, and the ambient lighting made everything feel intimate yet professional. Vanessa stepped inside, her tailored navy-blue dress exuding confidence. Her sharp heels clicked against the polished floor as a hostess guided her to the reserved table.Mr. Kenwood stood when she approached, offering a polite smile. “Ms. Rodriguez, always a pleasure.”Vanessa extended her hand. “Mr. Kenwood, thank you for meeting me.”He gestured to her chair, and she sat gracefully. A waiter appeared, pouring wine into their glasses and presenting the menus.“You’ve been keeping quite busy, I hear,” Kenwood said, sitting across from her.Vanessa nodded, her fingers resting lightly on the menu. “That’s one way to put it. Expansion doesn’t happen without a bit of chaos.”“Chaos is an understatement in your case.” He chuckled. “I’ve seen your numbers. Impressive growth, but it comes with risks, doesn’t it?”Vanessa met his gaze, her tone steady. “It does. But calcula
Diego brought the car to a gentle stop in front of the company building. Vanessa stepped out gracefully, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. Lily followed closely behind, carrying a tablet and a folder, while Emily trailed them with an eager smile. Diego nodded and drove off to park the car in the designated lot.The glass facade of the building gleamed under the morning sunlight, and Emily tilted her head up to admire it.“This place is stunning,” Emily said quietly, taking in the sleek design and bustling energy of the entrance. It was her third visit here, but she still felt a sense of awe.Vanessa smiled at her enthusiasm. “Ready to get to work?” she asked as they walked through the rotating glass doors.Inside, the lobby buzzed with activity. Employees moved with purpose, their voices mingling with the faint hum of computers and phones.Vanessa glanced at Lily as they headed for the elevator. “Lily, what’s my schedule for today?”Before Lily could respond, Emily piped
Vanessa woke to the warm rays of sunlight streaming across her bed. She blinked a few times, her vision clearing as the golden light bathed the room in a soft glow. Stretching her arms over her head, she let out a long sigh and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.Padding across the cool wooden floor, she made her way to the large window. She pulled the curtains open fully, letting the sunlight flood in. The view of the busy city stretched out below, alive with the early morning hum of cars and distant chatter. Vanessa stood for a moment, taking it in, before turning toward the bathroom to start her day.The scent of lavender soap filled the air as she finished her shower. She wrapped herself in a soft towel and stepped out, her skin still damp and cool from the water. Dressing in comfortable jeans and a light sweater, she tied her hair into a loose bun before heading to the kitchen.The kitchen smelled faintly of coffee from the day before, and Vanessa immediately set to work. Th
Vanessa adjusted her coat as she walked out of the hotel room. Emily followed closely, her steps quick to match Vanessa's pace, while Lily and Diego trailed behind. The morning air was crisp, and the sound of their shoes echoed in the quiet hallway.Emily had been staying with them ever since her school closed for the year. Her parents were constantly traveling, leaving her alone in their large house. So, when Vanessa suggested Emily come along to her company, she jumped at the chance.Outside, Diego opened the door to a sleek black van parked in front of the hotel. Vanessa helped Emily climb in before settling into her seat. Lily slid in beside her, while Diego took the driver’s seat. The van purred to life as Diego drove out of the parking lot, blending into the light traffic of the morning.Emily turned to Vanessa, her voice hesitant. “Ms. Rodriguez, are you sure this is a good idea?”Vanessa glanced at her and smiled softly. “Trust me, it won’t be bad at all,” she said reassuringl
Vanessa pushed her chair back slightly and turned to her kids. “Emma, Ethan, how’s the food?”Ethan, with his mouth full of bread, gave her a thumbs up, while Emma nodded enthusiastically. “Grandma’s food is the best!” she declared, grinning at their grandmother, who beamed with pride.Vanessa chuckled softly, shaking her head. The warmth in the room was almost enough to make her forget her troubles. Almost.Her mother sat down, smoothing her apron as she did. “Vanessa, are you staying long this time?”Vanessa hesitated, her fork hovering over her plate. “No. I have a lot things to take care of." She replied with a small sigh.Her mother studied her for a moment, her sharp eyes catching the tension in her daughter’s posture. “If there’s anything you need to talk about, you know I’m here,” she said gently.Vanessa forced a smile, nodding. “I know, Mom Thank you for being here."Ethan piped up, breaking the somber moment. “Can we go to the beach tomorrow, Mommy? Please?”Vanessa ruffled