VALERIAHer words struck a chord deep within me, a chord that resonated with the pain and regret I had buried for so long.The past... It was the past that had shaped me and molded me into the person I am today. How could I possibly let go of it? How could I let go of the very thing that had defined me for so long?But could it be true? Had my fear of letting go, my inability to move beyond the pain and betrayal, been the very thing holding me back?It was easier said than done, but as I glanced at my children lying unconscious on the mat, I knew I had to try—for their sake.Damn it! I can't afford to lose my precious boys! They were literally the air I breathed.Then, the witch’s next words made my heart nearly leap out of my chest. “More importantly, Valeria,” she continued, her tone turning grave, “you have three days to figure out your healing powers and heal your children, or else...”The pause was heavy, her expression growing even more grim. My breath hitched in my throat. Rees
REESEI couldn’t shake the witch’s words from my mind, no matter how hard I tried. Her warning echoed in my head, gnawing at my thoughts like a relentless whisper. "You must stay united as a family," she had said, her voice laced with a gravity that left no room for doubt. But how could I bring us together when Valeria kept pushing me away?My chest tightened at the thought of Valeria, and I wondered if she was alright.I couldn't deny how much I feared for her, bearing this burden alone.She kept pushing me away, shutting me out, and I understood why—hell, I deserved it. I was a monster to her in the past five years.But now, for the sake of the kids and maybe even for the chance of us becoming whole again, we needed to stand together.I had been striving to become a better man for her and the kids. I really hope that this time around, she will give me the chance to prove myself to her and the kids.Valeria had been running from her feelings for far too long; she had always kept me a
VALERIA“What on earth is this?!” I cried, my voice laced with fear. “Get it off me!”The first thing I noticed was the light. A soft, ethereal glow that seemed to seep out from under my skin, illuminating my trembling hands. I stared at them, horrified as if they were no longer my own. My breath hitched in my throat, panic blooming like a wildflower. I tried to shake it off, flailing my hands desperately as if that would extinguish the strange light.“Get it off me, Reese!” I screamed again, my voice trembling with fear. The glow was spreading, becoming brighter, and I felt like I was losing control of myself. I’d never felt anything like this before—this alien surge of energy coursing through my veins.But Reese… Reese didn’t seem to share my terror. I looked at him, expecting the same panic reflected in his eyes, but instead, there was a calmness, a strange sense of assurance that unsettled me even more.“Valeria, calm down,” he said, his voice firm but gentle, like he was coaxing
REESEValeria!!!I had caught her sleeping in the children's room that morning as early as 3 am. The kids' fevers were still evident, but I could tell it was gradually ebbing out like the tides on a beach. Could it be there that her healing powers were gradually resurfacing?Oh, poor Valeria...My heart lurched at her pathetic state. Her head was lolling forward as she dozed off, her chest shaking steadily. She's been stressed the past few days and even more stressed and worried since the witch's foreboding words.Granted, I'm also worried as much as she was, but worrying sick wasn't going to help matters. Someone needed to be the strong one here and not lose all his shit and hope all at once. Damn it, I didn't want to lose my kids...With a grunt, I carried her into my arms and headed to her room.I looked down at her sleepy face. My heart skipped a beat. Even asleep, she looked breathtakingly gorgeous.I reached her bedroom door and pushed it open with my feet.Carefully, I placed
REESEBut the thing was that I wasn’t sure if I had earned it.As the kids’ laughter filled the garden, I shoved the doubt aside and focused on the moment, on the peace we had finally found. For the rest of the day, we let ourselves enjoy the calm. The kids played, we had snacks, we watched TV, and for a while, it was easy to pretend that everything was perfect.But for how long?I just wanted to be sure that she's finally free of the past—once and for all.That night, after the kids had been tucked into bed and the house was wrapped in silence, I found myself standing outside Valeria’s door.Fuck! What the hell was I even doing? I couldn't sleep a wink. I was still worried about Valeria, considering everything we had been through. It must have been tough for her.I knocked softly, my heart thumping harder than I expected. I didn’t know what I was doing, only that I needed to see her.The door opened almost immediately. Valeria stood there, her brow furrowed slightly as she looked at
REESEThere are some moments in life when everything aligns, when the weight of your heart becomes light, and joy seeps into your bones until it consumes you. This was one of those moments for me. Valeria had said yes. She had accepted my proposal, and the world suddenly felt brighter, fuller, and alive with possibilities. I couldn't contain my happiness; it surged through me like a storm.I couldn't stop smiling. My heart swelled with joy, warmth spreading through every fiber of my being as I replayed Valeria's acceptance of my proposal over and over in my head. She said yes. The woman who had been the love of my life, the mother of my children, had agreed to marry me again. My head buzzed with excitement. The moment felt surreal, like a dream I never wanted to wake from.I had been planning to buy her a customized designer ring for weeks, maybe even before I dared to ask her. So, I already started making arrangements long before her answer. Something inside me knew she would say yes
VALERIAI didn’t want to wake up if this was a dream!Reese actually did this?!!!When Reese pulled me aside that evening after our bath, my curiosity had been piqued. He had a kind of glint in his eye. It was something playful yet secretive, and I could feel the energy between us, electric as always. I watched as he slid a small, sleek envelope across the bedside table, his lips curving into a knowing smile.My heartbeat spiked up a notch in my chest, a soft thrum that matched the eager anticipation rising inside me."Open it," he said, his voice smooth like velvet.I stared at the envelope, my fingers hesitating for a moment."What is in here, Reese?" I quizzed, eyeing the envelope curiously. What was he planning? I wondered."You will see, my love. Just open it already, Valeria.""Okay, let's do this! I'm nervous, though!" I wailed.The paper felt cool and smooth against my fingers as I slowly tore it open, my hands trembling slightly from excitement.Inside were four glossy ticket
VALERIAReese’s brows were furrowed in concentration, but there was an ease to his posture that I hadn’t seen before. There was a major turning point, not just for his business but for us. We had weathered so many storms, and now we were finally on the other side.As he finalized his report, many investors came rushing towards him, flashes of cameras on us as they all congratulated him."Accept my hearty congratulations, Mr. Reese Carter. This is an outstanding success indeed,” one of the investors said, smiling at him as they shook hands."Thank you. But please, this success doesn't belong to me alone but also to my amazing and beautiful wife, Mrs. Valeria Carter whom everything wouldn’t have been possible without," he announced, gesturing towards me, and instantly, all the attention turned towards me, taking me by surprise. Then he winked at me with a wide grin plastered on his face.My heart raced, but I quickly straightened up in front of the camera and gave my best smile despite