Valentina's POV Each time I see or think about him, I feel the urge to do something rash; to hurt him for betraying me. As much as I don't want to take any revenge on him anymore, I am tempted to take back my words and do the needful, then maybe I will finally be happy. I don't like how I feel at the moment. The sinking feeling is back, probably because I am disappointed to have seen him today again, this time not with Brenda but with a different girl. That jolting is gone. All I feel for him now is pure hatred. I wish I could turn back the hands of the clock and make sure that our paths never crossed. I wished I wasn't that curious to know more about him which made me fall deeply in love with him. I wish I hadn't said yes to him when he asked me to become his girlfriend. Reluctantly, I drop my bag and take off my shoes before sitting quietly on the bed, ignoring my weak limbs. I ordered the maids to bring my bed back to my room even though it is still cold but I will manage. I
Rocco's POV A candlelight dinner date is what I have planned out for the evening. Frankly, I was looking forward to this evening when I was at the office and I kept wondering if going back home to change was the best. I couldn't go back home and I am thankful I wore something good today. I am dressed in a slim-fit suit with black suede shoes. I look around the empty restaurant and finally at the table filled with candlelight and a bouquet of flowers. Valentina was right. There is little we can do to help my mother. This is why we are doing this. It won't hurt to act for a little while because Valentina and I are getting along well, pretty quickly. It will make Mother happy. It also will not hurt if we fake a pregnancy just to make her happy. I can't continue to live with this grief. The earlier I accept reality, the better for both of us. Even for Valentina. If Mother dies, I see no reason why we should continue with this marriage, except of course for the contract. We alread
Valentina's POV Impressive is an understatement of Rocco's behavior tonight. First, he sent me a message for the very first time since we have crossed paths with each other and ended the text with a heart emoticon. Second, he was polite enough to tell one of the guards to drive me down here. Third, he got me flowers, apart from the necklace from last night which I haven't brought myself to try on yet. Fourth, he is being one heck of a gentleman. He is trying to make me forget Fred that easily by insisting on calling me Val. I can't help it but that name stirs up something in me that I can't figure out. It is not just anger or the remembrance of Fred. It is something unspeakable that I haven't figured out on my own yet. He was right in saying that I haven't gotten over Fred yet. If I had gotten over the idea, I wouldn't have cried last night. I didn't particularly cry. A tear actually rolled down my eyes. And I was quick to wipe it off my face because I already made a vow neve
Rocco's POV Having a taste of her sweet lips makes me lose my mind and I find myself leaning in closer for more and expecting her to open up for me to explore the insides of her mouth. Instead, she places her two hands on my chest and pushes me away roughly, her face in a deep frown with her eyes in a depth of annoyance for what I just did. Rather than feeling sorry, I plaster a wide grin on my face and she pushes me off the bed. "What the hell was that for? Are you crazy?" She thunders in anger and I find myself laughing on the floor. What exactly is amusing to me? I do not know. "A practice. We might have to kiss in front of Mother tomorrow…" "What?" She furrows her brow, the anger increasing. I rise slowly and sit back on the bed. "We are going to meet with Mother tomorrow." She remains silent and I try to read through her expression, feeling bad for kissing her without permission. But I don't regret it because her lips were inviting and sweet. She tastes like mint. Slo
Valentina's POV Rocco is holding grudges against me because of what I did to him last night. That is how it seems to me because all through the ride to his parent's mansion, he was quiet and back to that rude guy I know him to be. Well, I thought he was beginning to change but now I am damn sure he has several personality disorders. Why the hell will he act like he is cool with me this minute and then the next minute, he is aloof? He kissed me last night. I controlled myself from slapping him. I have always hated the idea of kissing another man who isn't Fred but Rocco kissed me last night unexpectedly. I don't know why I didn't stop him or slap him after I managed to push him away but I think it is because we are legally married and he can kiss me. I just don't like the idea personally. Besides, it was just an act as he said. A practice I mean. This way, if he tries to do something similar in front of his parents, I won't be caught unawares and I won't do something rash eithe
Rocco's POVThe moment we get to the shade and I help her sit down before sitting across from her, she picks up a paper and throws it at me.I was expecting a long moment of silence from her before I eventually asks her to forgive me but from the look of things, I have already been forgiven. She is just ignoring me on purpose.I take the paper to see if it is actually a newspaper. When I drop it over my lap, I see the headlines.Rocco Lorenzo, the CEO of Multi-Million Company seen with his newly wedded wife having a private dinner at ...."I look up to see Mother's expression. Still unreadable.Did my plan work?"Is it true?" She demands weakly, her hands trembling a little. I notice she isn't as lively as she was the last time we came here for dinner. She seems to be getting weaker every day.I nod without a word.There is a picture of Valentina and I attached to the news. I don't understand why she is asking me if it is
Valentina's POV I stare at my mom in horror as she adjusts in her seat with a look of guilt. My Father is also sitting, just like always opposite me, watching her too with an angry expression. I shouldn't have come here. My mother will never change from the woman she has always been. She had kept all of these in check simply because Father could provide for all her unnecessary demands. But now that he can barely buy her designer bags, shoes and clothes, she is hell-bent on frustrating his life. This man is barely holding up and this is how she wants to help him. She stretches her hand to touch me but I stand up abruptly, making her hand drop. My anger has increased ten folds. Probably because she made me yell at Rocco for no reason. I thought he was being selfish again, just like every other time when he cares about only himself and not me. This time, I was wrong. "Valentina, you should go home. It's getting late", My dad says after clearing his throat. "Rocco and I have no b
Rocco's POVI am restless.I couldn't follow her because I was dumbfounded till she was out of sight. I never thought she would do a rash thing like that and I wonder where she has gone to.The more it gets darker, the more worried I become.Is she safe? Where exactly is she?The first emotion that struck my heart while she raced away was fear. Fear that she is going. Gone forever and I might never see her again.We haven't achieved our aim yet. Mother is just getting along well with me and there are more expectations from her.If Valentina goes away just like that, where do I start from? Valentina is the only one making the fear of losing my mother lessen bit by bit. Unconsciously, she has taught me what it means to accept whatever is to come; both good and bad.If we prepare for it and it comes, it won't hurt too much while the unexpected one would hurt painfully.I won't say I am looking forw
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