YVONNE "I guess," I shrugged, feigning nonchalance when I finally found my tongue to speak. "Why do you ask? Do you know them?" I retorted. "Yes. My father has been doing business with them since the eighties," he boasted. I forced myself to smile despite the annoyance growing inside me. Who are these Rogers? Are they some big shots? Probably. I sighed in relief when he finally let the topic go. He must have felt my indifference on the subject. We ate dinner while they casually talked. Unlike this morning, they aren't talking about business anymore, so I can somehow relate. I laugh with them and answer to the best of my ability every time they try to engage me in the conversation. I glanced at my phone to check the time. Can I sneak back to our hotel room? I don't think they will notice my absence anyway. But I have no choice but to endure. I sighed in relief when the dinner was finally over. Just when I thought that we could go back to the comfort of our suite, I heard the
YVONNE I squeezed my eyes shut. I can feel my world spinning around with my overflowing thoughts and the excessive amount of alcohol in my system. I had the urge to throw up all the contents of my stomach. Who could have done this? I wanted to cry. I tried hard to gulp the lump in my throat. I poured another glassful of whiskey. I drank it straight, wishing it would clear my airways. "Are you trying to get drunk?" I heard Jade laugh beside me. I turned to look at her which I immediately regretted. My dizziness worsened because of the sudden movement. I opened my eyes and tried to focus my vision. "How about you?" I said, my words slurring no matter how I try to keep my tongue straight. "I'll just go to the ladies' room," she said instead of answering my question. "Wait. I'm coming with you," I pulled myself up from my seat and took a deep breath while steadying myself. "Where are you going?" Vlad asked when he noticed us. "To the ladies' room," I said. "Are you okay?" he
YVONNE "Okay," Vlad muttered after the blank silence that passed between us. "Bye," I ended the call and pocketed my phone before turning back to Jade who's now staring at her reflection in the mirror. "You look like shit," I blurt out before I could stop myself. I chewed on my bottom lip. Me and my big mouth! "Yeah, right," she chuckled, which surprised me. I thought she would slam my head on the counter after saying that. She must be really drunk. "Here," I handed her the wet wipes. "Take this." "What am I going to do with that?" she cocked up an eyebrow while eyeing the pack as if it was the filthiest thing she had ever seen. She has a lot in common with Vlad more than I thought. There's no doubt he was the one who raised her. "Eat it," I snapped impatiently when she just kept staring at it. I didn't know she could be stupid when drunk. I snatched a folded wipe from the pack and handed it to her. "Wipe your face," I ordered. Should I record this on video? I bet this is
VLADIMIRI was startled when Yvonne suddenly stood up. She told me she needed to go to the ladies' room."Are you okay? Want me to come with you?" I asked, but she refused.That's when I realized that she was going with Jade. I watched her stalk Jade, who obviously looked drunk with the way she walked.I kept glancing in the direction she went in and my wristwatch as minutes passed. What's taking them so long?"Hey man, drink up," Eric said when he noticed that I was distracted."Yeah," I nodded. I grabbed my glass and drank my shot straight before getting my phone to call her."What's taking you so long?" I asked when she finally picked up."Do you need help? I can go there." I offered when she said that Jade was drunk. She must be throwing up or something."No, I don't think she'd like that. I'll just call you if I can't handle it," she hurriedly said."Okay," I answered reluctantly. I didn't want to stop talking to her but she had already ended the call. I reluctantly put the phone
YVONNE I woke up to the feeling of my body lightly swaying as if somebody was cradling me to sleep. My lids felt heavy. and my head is pounding so badly.What happened? Did I fall asleep in the hammock? Because I swear I can feel my body rocking from side to side. It was so dark that I couldn't understand what was going on.I was forced to keep my eyes open, trying to train them to see in the dark but failed. My clothes are the only clear thing I see because they are white."What's going on?" I murmured. I felt my body sprawled on the cold floor. When I tried to sit, I realized that my hands were tightly tied behind my back. Oh god. Fear swiftly crept through my whole body. "What happened?" I muttered, my forehead creased in confusion. I looked around, trying my best to adjust my vision in the dark. Using my elbows, I tried to prop my upper body so that I could sit while still thinking about how I ended up in this dark, creepy place. Slowly, things started to dawn on me until I r
YVONNE "Tell him we're in the sea!" I ordered. She looked at me incredulously. "What?" she asked with disbelief. "Sea?!" "Yes! I'm sure we're on a yacht or another water vehicle of sorts. Can't you feel the motion?" I desperately asked. "Okay, okay! I just want to get out of here!" she retorted before turning back to the phone. "Yvonne assumes we're on a yacht," I heard her tell Vlad. She stopped to listen to whatever he was saying. "Yes! Please hurry!" she cried. "Vlad, I'm scared!" My nostrils flared while looking at her. Why does she have to be with me? But oh well, I won't be able to talk to Vladimir if she isn't here. More importantly, being with her upped the chances of being saved. Now I wouldn't have to worry that Vlad might not pay the ransom or worse, just let me die at the hands of my abductor. Especially now that it's only a matter of time before I get exposed for my real identity. I don't know if he knew about the article I found on the internet. I wasn't able
YVONNE"Hey!" Jade yelled. "Where are you taking her?"My goodness! Why does she have to intervene? It's not like she could do anything against these men!For fuck's sake, we were in the same boat! Literally and figuratively! Does she want to get hurt too? I thought as they dragged me out the door struggling."Yvonne!" she screamed desperately.I kept thrashing, trying to get myself free from their grasp even though I knew it was futile. I was dragged across a narrow hallway until we stopped in front of a door. The other man knocked twice before pushing it open. They rashly threw me in. My legs fumbled, causing me to fall. I winced in pain but I made sure not to make any sound."Get up!" somebody grabbed my hair to pull me up. My teeth sank on my bottom lip in an attempt to stop myself from screaming.It was so painful! I thought my scalp would be peeled off from my head! Damn it!I looked up and saw a man standing in front of a bed. I gasped as my head started to run wild.My eyes w
WARNING. GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AHEAD.YVONNEHe raised his hand to cup one bosom inside it. I shut my lids tightly. I don't want to see what he's going to do to me. He gently cupped my breast, his thumb circling my nipple. I thrashed and tried to move away from him despite being restrained."Stop moving!" he snapped. His hold on my chest tightened."No! You stop this!" I growled. I am so mad. How dare he touch me like that? I want to kill him right now!My jaw clenched when he crouched down and buried his nose against my neck. I wanted to kick him away from me but I couldn't move my legs. Damn it."Aaah!" I screamed so loudly when I felt him moving down, trailing kisses on my skin."Stop!" I growled. He laughed as he took a step back away from me. I sighed in relief until I saw him grip his whip again.Oh no...I watched him raise his hand and snapped it in the air. The leather strap landed on my side, the tip curled and hit my back. I bit my lip to stop myself from making any sound that mi
YVONNE I took a deep breath while the elevator moved up. We were heading to the penthouse. I didn't know what to expect. The anticipation is fucking killing me. What if I just volunteer to leave? I'm sure Vladimir wouldn't mind. I chewed on my bottom lip. He would probably appreciate it. Should I? I gasped when the elevator pinged, signaling we reached the right floor. We're here. I heaved another lungful of air before stepping out of the elevator. The short ride felt suffocating. The bodyguards walked me to the unit. I scanned my index finger and sighed in relief when I realized I still had access to the front door. He's not kicking me out. At least, not just yet. If I thought he would kick me out when my identity was uncovered, now that Riva turned out alive, it felt all too real. I was kind of expecting to see them in the living room, waiting for me, probably with my luggage and the divorce papers in hand. But the unit was too quiet when I stepped in. It was empty.
YVONNEI was beyond dumbfounded. I didn't even realize we had already arrived at the hospital. I can't believe I was kidnapped twice in just a short matter of time."We're here," the driver said.Two men escorted me to the emergency room. I told them I was okay and there was really no need to go here but then I remembered how I was bashed in the head with a gun. That part of my head was still throbbing but the crazy events of the night made me numb.The nurses immediately checked if I had wounds. The area where I was hit was tender and sore but it didn't have an open wound."We still need to check. You could have internal bleeding or concussion," the attending physician said when I told them I wanted to go home already.That sounded over dramatic. I wanted to insist on being discharged, but then I remembered I may not have a house to return to anymore.Riva is back. The thought brought a bitter taste to my tongue. She is Vladimir's real wife. Where will that leave me?"Okay," I weakl
YVONNEHow is this even possible? Am I hallucinating?I know I've only seen her in pictures, but...I glanced at Vladimir. Looking at his shocked and pained expression, I knew I was right. It was Riva standing behind the second-floor railing."Dad, stop this! What else do you want?" she cried, weakly sliding onto the floor. I don't think she noticed Vladimir yet."Hush, mia cara," her father cooed before turning to Vlad who still hadn't recovered from his shock.I couldn't blame him. Even I was left gaping at the scene unfolding right before my very eyes."Did you miss Riva?" her father taunted him.A loud gasp echoed. I looked up to see Riva staring back at Vlad. My heart clenched painfully when I saw the longing in her eyes, which mirrored the same expression in Vlad's. The more I stare at them, the more real it gets. She's alive. Riva is alive. I felt an inexplicable stabbing pain in my chest."V-vlad," she called, her voice sounded pleading.Her father gestured something and the
YVONNEWhat the hell is going on?!I tried to call for help but the car made a sharp turn, causing my head to hit on the door.Damn it! I groaned in pain as I felt the car going faster. The speed and the hit on my head made me a little dizzy. Despite that, I still tried to look outside to see where we were heading but couldn't see anything clearly.It was dark and we were going so fast. I grabbed onto the door handle when the man suddenly hit the brake. I almost slammed into the back of the shotgun seat. "Where are we going?" I asked while looking at the man who had taken me. He was wearing a ski mask, making it impossible for me to recognize him.Is this Raoul, Riva's brother?"Who are you? Why are you doing this?!" I cried but he didn't bother to respond. He just kept on driving as if he were in a race.Memories from the last time I was kidnapped replayed in my head like a broken record. No. I won't let it happen again. I looked for something I could use in the backseat. My eyes wi
VLADIMIR"Which of your wives are you looking for?" he smirked. The daunting smile on his crooked lips told me he knew something I didn't."What the hell are you talking about?" I grunted impatiently. I looked around, hoping to see Yvonne, but she was not anywhere in sight. What is he planning to do to her?"Oh," he clutched his chest as if he was in pain. "Have you already forgotten about my daughter? You're hurting my feelings, Vladimir," he chuckled.I frowned. Why is he acting like this? Is he taking his daughter's death lightly or is he mocking me?Fuck him."Let Yvonne go," I growled. "She should be out of this. Whatever happened in the past has nothing to do with her!""Do you think I didn't know that?" he chuckled humorlessly. "But you are in no position to give me orders. You are in my territory. I can get you killed in a snap of a finger."Well, that's what he thinks."Tell me, did you really forget about my precious daughter?" he asked. "Don't you think it's insulting that
VLADIMIRI wanted to be with her. Today, a press conference will be held to address the issue of Yvonne's past and real identity. It had been a hot topic in the business world and started to affect the value of our stocks in the market.Yvonne wanted to speak the truth about the issue. I was advised by the company's public relations director against it, but I still went on with my decision. I know this is a big deal for her and I wanted to be by her side.Unfortunately, I couldn't.Blaze just called me. They already knew where Leon Vitelli was hiding. We needed to quickly devise a plan to take him down. I have to be there to ensure he will be caught."He was spotted going into a warehouse near the bay this afternoon," Blaze pointed at the large map on the screen."We already planted a mole inside," he added."Good," I calmly nodded even though the gears in my head were turning rapidly.We talked about how we were going to capture Leon and his son, Raoul. I clenched my teeth when Riva's
YVONNEI covered my ears with my hands. I can feel the car shaking with the force of the gunshots coming from high-caliber guns. I know Vladimir's cars were all bulletproofed. But would it really last from this kind of attack? It felt like the glass was being hammered by the raining bullets. "What's happening?!" I asked no one in particular. My voice trembled with fear. Aside from Matias who sits with me on the backseat, we have a driver and another member of the security team riding shotgun.It didn't do anything to make me feel safer though. I know they are all capable and well-trained but this scene seemed to be straight out of a damn action movie!"We're getting ambushed," Matias hissed.I tried to peek outside despite the paralyzing fear taking over my body. I immediately saw three black vans parked in front of us, blocking us from driving forward! Most of the shots were coming from them.I shrieked and ducked when a louder noise came up. Shit! I feel like the windshield is goin
YVONNEI breathe heavily, taking in a lungful of air hoping it would somehow calm the brewing storm inside me. I am sitting backstage waiting for my cue to come out.I fidgeted my fingers on my lap. My palms were cold and sweating. I had taken a peek earlier and saw how many people were eagerly waiting outside. I took another breath."You can do this," I whispered.Vladimir agreed to my request. The company's PR team arranged a press conference to address the issue. I am given a chance to tell my side of the story. I can speak out my truth.I don't know how it would turn out in the end, but that doesn't matter now. This is me taking back the reins of my life. This is me taking the first step to get my freedom back.I know not everyone will understand. Speaking up will not magically turn the situation around. I know that. I have prepared myself for that. ,q1My heart thumped wildly inside my chest. This is gonna cause too much trouble. Vlad might hand me the divorce papers after this.
YVONNE I love you... The realization hit me like a bullet train. Damn it! The euphoric feeling from the mind-blowing orgasm he gave me quickly dissipated into the air.You're so stupid, Yvonne! I bit my tongue as I cursed myself internally. I almost said it out loud at the height of my emotions. I am still gasping for air while he gently rolled off me.He put his arm under my head, then pulled me closer. I looked at him. His eyes were closed while catching his breath. There were beads of sweat on his forehead due to the strenuous activity we just finished. He must be running for the hills now if he heard me say those words.I wouldn't blame him if that happened. Even I find it ridiculous! I wanted to laugh even though I didn't find it funny. But do I mean it? Do I really love him? I thought while staring at him.Love. It sounded foreign. I didn't know it was part of my dictionary until now. I don't think I ever felt it. Nobody ever loved me. I never loved anyone either. Love was