Mrs Rodriguez walked into Vanessa's room and met her lying on her bed, with her face buried in her pillow. She could hear her sniffling.
That's how it has been the past few days. Vanessa cries at any slight chance she gets, and it was slowly getting on her nerves. She had warned Vanessa about marrying this man, but she didn't listen to her, now she's facing the consequences alone, hurt and pregnant with the child of a man who just dirvoced her. "And what do you think you're doing?!" Vanessa mom asked, her expression stoic as she walked closer towards the bed. Vanessa raised her face up and stared up at her mother. "I'm sorry" she muttered, raising her hands up to her face to wipe her tears away. "You don't have to apologize" her mother's face softened. "I understand that you're heartbroken and sad, but trust me, crying won't solve your problems. You'll just end up draining up all your energy" Her mom stated as she sat on the bed beside Vanessa. "You should be strong, for the sake of your unborn child. You shouldn't let your past define your future" she stated as she held Vanessa's palm tenderly. "Don't be weak. Don't ever give your enemies the satisfaction of seeing you sad or broken!" She squeezed her palm. "Be strong, Because no daughter of mine is a weakling. Understood?" She asked. "Yes Mother" Vanessa responded, her voice firm. Her mother's words suddenly gave her a new sense of purpose in life. She was going to stop being a weak lady and be strong for the sake of her child. She'll work hard to give her child a good life. And she can only achieve that when she starts moving on from the past. "Lunch is ready. Take a bath and come downstairs" Her mother informed as she stood up from the bed and walked towards the door. "Be strong my dear" She Whispered. She gave Vanessa a final glance before leaving the room and shutting the door behind her. Vanessa slowly stood up from the bed and made her way towards the bathroom. She stripped her clothes off her body before standing under the shower, as she let the cold water Cascade her smoothe delicate skin. She took in a deep breath as some images of Riccardo flashed before her eyes. Subconsciously, she moved her hands and placed it on her stomach. "My baby, Mom will work hard to give you a good life" she whispered to herself. With a renewed sense of purpose, she took her sponge and began scrubbing her body hardly. To others, she was just scrubbing her body. But to her, she was scrubbing away the feeling of Love for Riccardo, the feeling of sadness. She was going to be strong for herself and her unborn child, and if one day she was ever going to cross paths with Riccardo, she was not going to take it easy on him! After washing her body thoroughly, she rinsed off the soap, then walked out of the bathroom, with a towel wrapped around her body. Walking inside her walk in closet, she picked out a white Floral dress and threw on her body. She brushed her hair and tied it into a bun. She stared at her face in the mirror. She was looking thin and pale. She couldn't help but wonder why she had to go through all these for Riccardo. Was loving someone really like that. Well obviously it was, but not anymore. She walked out from her room and made her way towards the dinning area. The maids had already served the dishes and her mother was seating on one of the chairs waiting for her. Vanessa pulled out a chair and settled on it, before facing her mother. "Where's Dad?" She asked looking around the dinning room. "He had an urgent meeting to attend to" Her mom informed. "He'll be back soon. Don't worry" she added. Vanessa nodded her head as she began eating her meal. Once she was done, the maids cleared the dishes while her mom led her to the living room. Entering the living room, Vanessa met a lady and a young man standing there. "Who are they Mom?" She turned to her mother and asked. "They are your personal assistant and bodyguard respectively" her mom informed. "What do I need them for?" Vanessa asked, surprise evident in her tone as she glanced at the figures that stood before her. "You'll be working in one of your father's company soon. Get ready" she stated, with that she walked out of the living room, leaving Vanessa with the two persons she didn't know. "I'm Lily" the female introduced as she stretched out her hands for a hand shake, which Vanessa accepted hesitantly. "Vanessa" she muttered. "How long have you been working for my mom?" She asked. "Two years now" she replied. "It's a pleasure to meet you" she let out a small smile. "I'm Diego" the guy finally introduced himself. Vanessa nodded her head in response. "What do you want to do now Ma'am?" Lily asked. "Let's go shopping" Vanessa replied. It would help her take her mind off somethings. "I'll get the car ready" Diego informed before leaving the living room. Vanessa informed her mom before leaving. She settled inside the plush seats of the car, with Lily beside her. As Diego drove past the streets, she stared out of the window as she reminisced her life with Riccardo. Diego brought the car to a halt in front of a big clothe store. Vanessa stared at the building, it looked fancy, obviously not everyone could afford it. Diego opened the car door for her and she alighted. But as she was about to walk into the store, something caught her eyes. The sight of two couples, the woman was heavily pregnant while the man held her hands carefully as he assisted her in getting inside the store. Vanessa slowly moved her hands and placed them on her stomach as she sighed SADLY.A NEW CHAPTER Three years later. Ethan and Emma were running around, playing tag with Riccardo, who pretended to struggle to keep up with their speed.“Daddy, you’re too slow!” Emma giggled, darting away as Riccardo reached out to catch her.“Oh, I’ll get you!” Riccardo teased, his playful growl making both kids squeal with delight.Vanessa leaned against the doorframe, cradling her six-month old daughter in her arms. The baby cooed softly, her tiny hands grasping at the edge of Vanessa’s blouse.“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, Sofia?” Vanessa whispered, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s soft hair.The past three years had been a journey of hope, love, and healing. Vanessa’s diagnosis had been a heavy weight, but with Riccardo’s unwavering support, they’d found the best doctors and treatments. Through hard work and a little luck, her. condition had stabilized.“Mommy, come play!” Ethan called, his dark curls bouncing as he ran toward her.Vanessa smiled, walking over with Sofia in
TWO DAYS LATER Vanessa’s heels echoed on the marble floor of her office as she paced back and forth, her phone pressed to her ear. Her movements were sharp, her mind racing. For weeks, she had been gathering evidence against Alexander Grey.He had done too much harm, kidnapping Ethan and Emma, orchestrating the failed attempt on her life, and lurking in the shadows, ready to strike again. But she wouldn’t let him win.Her phone call ended with a click, and she stared out of the large window overlooking the city. The evidence was solid. It wasn’t just a small victory, it was the beginning of the end for Alexander Grey. She took a deep breath, her hands clenching at her sides.“Ms. Rodriguez?” Diego’s voice interrupted her thoughts. He stepped into the office.She turned to him, her voice calm but firm. “It’s time, Diego. I’ve sent everything to the authorities. The files, the recordings, everything. We’re moving forward.”Diego nodded, his respect for Vanessa clear in his eyes. “They’
ONE MONTH LATERThe sun hung low in the sky, casting golden light through the windows of Vanessa’s office. She sat at her desk, focused on reviewing a stack of reports. The past month had been hectic. Riccardo had recovered, Lucas had been relentless in tightening security, and life was slowly falling back into its usual rhythm. But today felt... different.Vanessa glanced at the calendar on her desk. It was her birthday, but she had no plans to celebrate. Birthdays had never been a big deal for her, especially not now when there was so much work to do. She sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she reached for her pen.A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, expecting Lily or Diego with an update.The door opened, and Emily poked her head in. “Ms. Rodriguez, sorry to bother you, but can I steal you for a moment? There’s a small problem with Ethan and Emma.”Vanessa frowned, setting her pen down. “What’s wrong? When did they get back?"
The warm sunlight streamed into Juliet’s room, touching her skin and making her stir. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking at the brightness filling the space. For a moment, she stayed still, letting the peace of the morning calm her. Then it hit her, like a storm rolling in.She remembered.Her heart began to race as memories came rushing back. She could hear her stepmother’s cold voice, the cruel words that had shattered her world. Juliet had overheard her stepmother plotting to kill her, all for her father’s money and property. The betrayal still burned deep in her chest.Her breathing quickened as more came back to her. The fear. The panic. She could see herself running, her steps fast and desperate as she tried to escape. She had been so scared that she hadn’t noticed the car. She remembered the blinding headlights, the screech of the tires, and the sharp pain when she hit the ground.And then... Romeo.He had been the one to save her. She saw his face in her mind, calm and stro
The quiet hum of the machines filled the room as Vanessa sat by Riccardo’s side, her fingers gently brushing against his cool hand. Each second felt like an eternity as she waited for Lucas. The sound of hurried footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Vanessa glanced up just as the door opened, and Lucas stepped in. His tall frame filled the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room until they landed on Riccardo. His face, usually composed, twisted with worry and anger.“Vanessa,” Lucas said, his voice low but steady. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, his gaze fixed on Riccardo. “How bad is it?”Vanessa stood, smoothing her hands down her blazer as if it would steady her nerves. “The doctor said he’s stable,” she began, her voice quiet but firm. “The bullet missed his vital organs, but he lost a lot of blood. He hasn’t woken up yet.”Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening. He pulled a chair beside Riccardo’s bed, his hands curling into fists on his lap as he stared at his unconsci
Vanessa paced outside the operating room, her heels clicking softly against the sterile tile floor. She kept her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her fingers gripping the fabric of her blazer like it was the only thing keeping her together. Lily and Emily sat on the nearby bench, their faces pale and somber. Diego stood close by as he watched the hall for any sign of the doctor."I can’t believe this is happening," Vanessa muttered under her breath, her voice thick with emotion. She stopped pacing and turned toward the small group. "He took a bullet meant for me.""Ms. Rodriguez," Lily said gently, her voice trembling. "It’s not your fault."Vanessa shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. "How can it not be? If he hadn’t been there..." Her voice broke, and she quickly looked away, blinking back tears.Emily, sitting with her hands folded tightly in her lap, glanced up. "He’ll pull through," she said, though her voice lacked confidence. "He’s strong, isn’t he?"Vanessa n