Rocco's POV Like an erupting volcano, I burst into my parent's mansion with anger coursing through me and stormy red eyes. I stalk towards the second living room when no one is in sight the moment I enter, except for the maids whom I do not feel like talking to. The person I want to see is my mother. And dad. They both caused this. If only they didn't try to force me or blackmail me into marrying that crazy woman in the penthouse, maybe I won't be this frustrated, angry, and sad, and I would probably be on my way to work, excited for a new day's challenge. They caused this so they should answer for this. During the wedding yesterday, I realized mother was the one behind it all. She was the one who reminded my dad about it and pushed him to force me into this. This is just unfair. This is unfair. This is sheer wickedness. Just before I get to the living room, Nita appears. When she spots me, she smiles and waves her hand but I shove her away and enter to see mom sitting on her
Valentina's POV Frederick is the type of man who loves a woman with everything he possesses. He was the exact type of man I wanted; one who loves fiercely and passionately. One who loves me for who I am. One who doesn't criticize my shortcomings but accepts and loves them as well. A man who looks at me and smiles for no reason. A man who loves even my dirtiest moment. That is Fred. This is the exact definition of Fred. He is that man. And it was so hard not to fall deeply in love with him. The way he loves me, the way he smiles at me, and the way he shuts me up with a kiss whenever I am in the mood for an argument always gets me weak in the legs. I keep loving him every single day for loving me despite everything. But one thing is an obstacle. His cheating nature. I doubt if Fred would ever stop doing that. Being with Brenda is what broke the camel's back and I don't ever want to be with him again, even though it hurts. It hurts so much. My heart hurts. It feels like a fire
Rocco's POV My gaze darts outside the car window, watching the rain pattering and the droplets sliding down the window as I ignore the fear consuming my insides. I left the office before the rain began so I could come back to my parent's mansion to see mom or dad. But on second thought, I decided to see Anita instead. Mom will never tell me what it is. Dad must have sworn to secrecy never to tell me either and it's breaking me. Curiosity is killing me. My mother is dying and I didn't even notice a strange thing? Is this how much I have distanced myself from my family? What exactly is happening? Where exactly is it hurting? Why did Anita use the word "dying" instead of sick? Is it something incurable? Mother doesn't even look sick. She looks as healthy as always. She even looks more beautiful recently and the thought of it almost makes me tear up. My mother can't die. No. I will do everything in my power to see to it that she survives this but first I need to know the source
Valentina's POV It thunders continuously and I scramble out of bed with agitation. This is the third time I am getting out of bed because of the scary rambling of the thunder. Right now, I am done with the idea of sleeping alone in this goddamn cold room. When I was home, whenever it rains and there is thunder, I always run to my parent's room. Whenever I feel uncomfortable running over to them, I take solace in Fred. That fucking idiot. Now I hate him so much for thinking I will overlook what he did with Brenda simply because she was the one who seduced him. How could he allow her to do that to him on two different occasions and he expects me to take him back? If I hadn't gotten married to a man like Rocco, would he have called me so we could meet? Even though my heart still beats for him, I want to get rid of all the memories I had with him and I know the best way to do that is to have good times with someone else so it will be easier to erase the ones I had with Fred. It w
Rocco's POV I was slightly frightened when she spoke up. I never thought I would meet her up here in my room. It was the least I expected. My banging headache, my sorrow and the bad effect the rain has on me today aren't helping matters. I came into the room with my eyes close. I just wanted everything to go back to normal; the way it used to be when I had no problem in the world and even if I do, I always go home to talk to mom about it and it will be resolved. Most of the problems I always had always had to do with my company. Mother is always ready to help. Sometimes, when I need Dad's help, I indirectly sort out his help by going to my mom. She is my backbone. She gives me a shoulder to lean on. She is my mentor. She is a good woman with a heart of gold. Why is Valentina in my room? I ask inwardly when she waves a hand at me to jerk me out of my reverie. The headache I am feeling is a result of the accumulated stress and also the thinking I have been doing all morning. I a
Valentina's POV Rocco is good-looking but dumb. When I said we should grant his mother's wish, I didn't mean having sex but the horrified look on his face says it all. That was his own interpretation of my statement. I lived with Fred yet I never had sex with him because I wasn't ready. What then will make me have sex with Rocco whom I am not even attracted? Nothing. "I am not talking about sex, silly", I rush forward toward him. He sighs with relief and finally nods his head. "Why will you even think of that? You are not even my type", I voice out before I can control it. He does not answer and I bite my lips in regret for saying that. "Besides, it is against the contract…" "You are not my type, either", he brushes past me to go to the bathroom. I thought he wanted to take a bath but a second later, he comes out with a wet face. Well, we are even now. He is not my type and I am not his type. "Won't you ask me what I meant?" I follow him behind as he walks to the bed. He sl
Rocco's POV When she isn't out after five minutes, I let out a sigh, not out of surprise because I know she is the world wide known definition of tardiness. She is never early to anything. Not even our wedding. Who am I to even think today will be different? That woman is just one out of a hell of bat-shit insane women out there. I used to think I have this sort of effect on women but Valentina is an exemption. I never thought I would also be ever cool-headed with a woman but Valentina is that woman who is suddenly turning me into a cool-headed man. How can I keep up with my arrogance when she doesn't even give me room for that? How can I keep up with my stubbornness when she is way more stubborn than I am to the point that I get exhausted and tired of going back and forth with her with words? At this point, I think I am just going to let her have her way. I have a lot to deal with and having to put her on my list of problems right now is not something I can afford to do. My m
Valentina's POV For the very first time in years, I feel great sympathy for someone who isn't Fred or Brenda or my parents. My life has always revolved around these people; my parents, my ex-boyfriend, and my best friend. They mean so much to me and I loved them without any care in the world. I can do anything to make them happy as long as I am also happy and my heart flutters. Seeing them happy invariably makes me happy too, so I make efforts. But today, I find myself wishing things are different and Mrs. Lorenzo isn't sick. Rocco doesn't look himself. It looks like his real self is out of that body. He was just nodding meekly to everything I said with a far distant look on his face. I read people's actions as well as the words that come out of their mouths. Mother calls me a psychic. I just love doing that. Thankfully, we didn't fight today. It feels like we have been married for a hundred years and today feels like one out of the thousand days that we have no reason to bick
Rocco's POVNervous is an understatement of how I feel. This isn't the first time Valentina and I are doing this but it feels like the first time. It feels like this is what will determine our forever after. It feels like a dream too and I can barely think of anything else other than to get this done with."Hey, relax man", Richard chuckles as he throws a Rolex wristwatch at me. I catch it and heave a deep sigh of relief.This isn't a big deal, I remind myself. This isn't a big deal.We are renewing our vows and this is what makes it a big deal to me."Are you ready?" he shouts from outside the curtains.Still fixing the wristwatch on my wrist, I nod intermittently and exhale deeply.He claps his hand as a signal for me to come out. I take a quick step further and another until I am outside where my groomsmen are lined up waiting for me.They are all dressed in black suits while I am wearing a three piece Blue Weddi
Valentina's POVHis 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. Rocco 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
Rocco's POVThe 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 Valentina'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 Valentina 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.&n
Rocco's POVIgnoring 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 Valentina 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 everythi
Rocco's POVHE IS NOT YOUR FATHER, ROCCO! 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 REG
Rocco'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
Rocco's POVThe glances I was stealing at her did not make me realize we were being followed until I turned the next corner and saw the black big van behind us trailing us from a distance.Intentionally, I took another turn to see if the van would follow or not and they did follow us at a safe distance, to avoid arousing my suspicion.Valentina is sitting next to me while I am driving. She is slumped in the seat looking exhausted, probably from too much crying or the information that my supposed Father tried to hurt her Dad.She saw this coming and this was the reason why I was stealing glances at her.It was in admiration for her intelligence. She is beautiful whether exhausted or not and it makes me think of where we are in our relationship at the moment.I thought we would resolve everything tonight since Mother already brought the issue up but that will no longer be possible because of what happened.What I have to be worrie
Rocco's POVSlamming my fists on the steering, I let out a growl of frustration as my head drops to the wheel.I hate him with all my being.I hate him for pretending to be my father all these years. I hate him for everything.After letting out several puffs to calm my nerves, I finally step down from the car. I close it back and walk straight into the hospital.I wonder when Mother will be finally discharged. Even if he wanted her back into the mansion, I wouldn't have allowed it. I have plans of keeping her with me till everything is resolved.After making plans to keep her in my house, I was a little scared she might want to go back home but now that he is throwing her out, it will work to my benefit. I can never let her take him again and I need to know what exactly is happening and why all of this happened.After all, he asked me to demand questions about this from her. I only hope she answers me this time and does not lie
Valentina's POVI can't breathe.There is a huge lump stuck in my throat, stopping me from breathing properly. I try to open my mouth and take in as much breath as I can and it works.Finally, I exhale, my nose stiff and cold.My breathing isn't steady. It is beating wildly and heavily within my rib cage in rage. My head is pounding so hard and my eyes brim with tears.I am not thinking about Rocco now. I am thinking about Fred. I am thinking about how Fred and I got separated and how I ended up being a wife to Rocco who is now obviously cheating on me with his first love.Fred and I got separated because he cheated on me with my best friend and the same thing is happening again but this time with a man I vowed to love months ago even though I didn't mean to keep to the vow.I shouldn't have fallen head over heels for him but how can I not when he always acts so sweet and tells me how much he loves me?This isn't part of