**Valerie** My brows furrowed in confusion. How? Why would he say that? He doesn't even know that I'm married. But before I had any time to process his words, he turned to Freya. "This is Valerie Thorne. She's the most beautiful woman in the world, and she's my girlfriend." He brushed my hair slightly with his free hand, the touch sending a shiver down my spine. Most beautiful woman in the world? My cheeks turned a bright shade of red as I extended a hand to her. The woman didn't take my hand. Instead, her smile faltered, a flicker of disdain crossing her features. "Oh, you're his girlfriend?" she echoed, the words laced with a chilling disbelief. Before I could respond, Lucas cut through the awkward silence. "Yup. And nice catching up, but we should get going." His tone was firm, effectively brushing off her condescension. A surge of pride and satisfaction coursed through me as I watched Freya's smile vanish completely, replaced by a look of stunned disbelief. We moved a
**Valerie**Even Adam gasped. I watched his shoulders sag in what I believe was defeat.The man’s eyes scanned the room slowly, searching for last-minute bids. Though his eyes lingered on Adam for a while, perhaps expecting him to counter the offer.I rolled my eyes at him. Really? He should end this already.“Pièce de résistance has been sold for twenty million dollars,” the auctioneer shouted, his face beaming.The room erupted into applause as Lucas was declared the winner. I leaned over, my voice barely audible. “Twenty million dollars?”Adam's defeat was satisfying, but I didn't like the fact that Lucas had to spend so much money in the process.Lucas smirked, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he leaned forward. “I told you I'd get it, didn't I?” he muttered casually, more of a statement than a question. So I didn't answer; I just shook my head slightly.“Our next piece for tonight is the exquisite ‘Midnight Mirage’ by Alexis LaRue,” the auctioneer announced, shifting our focu
**Valerie**Adam's eyes caught mine for a brief moment, and I could see the anger beneath his calm facade. I swallowed and looked away, not wanting to figure out what he was thinking. I wasn't scared, though. I shouldn't be. I couldn't be.Lucas reached for my hand and gave it a light squeeze. I smiled and looked up at him, grateful for the support he didn't even know that I needed.I held onto his hand for a few more minutes, just enjoying the warmth and comfort his touch brought. My gaze roamed the emptying hall, my eyes catching some members of security rushing up to the stage with towels in hand.“Maybe we should leave now,” I suggested to Lucas after a while.At this point, they'd carried Mr. and Mrs. Harrison off stage. The hall was basically empty, save for Adam and Karen, who remained in their seats, and a few workers still roaming about.Lucas seemed to search my face for a moment before speaking. “We could take our time if you want.”Take our time?“Why?" I blurted out with
**Third person**Karen let out another loud laugh. Her tone was filled with mockery and amusement. “I should have known something was wrong when ‘Ashleeey’ didn't come for you.” She air-quoted the word ‘Ashley,’ disdain resting on her tongue.Then she paused, her smile vanishing completely and replaced with a fierce look. "If Ashley's ghost was truly roaming around, you'd be the first one she attacks!” She spat. “After all, you're the son of a bitch who killed his pregnant wife!”Adam recoiled, taken aback by Karen's words. He scoffed, disbelief clouding his features. How could she put it on him? When she was just as bad.“You must be delusional,” he snarled, facing his wife head-on. “Why do you think she wouldn't have come for you? Aren't you the whore of a sister who was sleeping with her man?!” He let his disgust-filled eyes rake over her. “Plus you fucking killed her too!”Karen lounged forward, her face contorted in rage as her palm flew in the air, aiming for Adam's face. But Ad
**Valerie**“Wait…” He paused, processing my words. Then a proud laugh ripped from his throat. “That was intentional?”I smiled but didn't say a word. I just allowed him to take his time and catch his breath until he spoke up again.“But doesn't that mean you'll lose Adam as an ally?” He asked with a thoughtful expression.I shrugged. “I don't have use for him anymore,” I replied sincerely.“Fucking bastard is getting what he deserves,” Matt seconded with a nod. There was a brief pause on the other end before he spoke again. “There's something I want to tell you about that Gary Miller. How does the weekend sound? It's not urgent.”“Yeah, there's that guy,” I sighed out. “Weekend's fine for me, Matt.”“Okay, good, I'll see you then.”“Yeah, bye.”The line went dead, and I placed my phone away, my mind shifting to the bug in Adam's bedroom and what new recordings it must have acquired.After the bloodbath yesterday, Karen must have had some things to say. Actually, not ‘some’... She mus
**Valerie**I was sitting across from Tessa at work, my mind wandering and a thousand thoughts trooping in.So they're not my parents? Explains everything.Or did Karen just say I'm not her sister to make her seem less bad?But if they're not my parents, then who are they? Are my real parents still alive? Where are they?“Val?” Tessa's voice snapped me out of my daze.I blinked rapidly to suppress the tears welling in my eyes before I looked up at her. “Uhm, yeah?”She studied my face for a moment. “You good?”I nodded. “Yeah, sure." I tried to make my voice seem cheerful. "What's up?”She side-eyed me, her face screaming, ‘I know you're not fine, but it's okay if you don't want to tell me what's wrong.’ Then she pushed a document over to me.My face lit up, my eyes shifting from the document that was now in my hand to her face. “Is this what I think it is?”"Who knows?” She smiled, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Check it out."My hands got to work immediately, opening the envelope
**Valerie**“Karen?” I echoed, my heart racing, and he nodded.“Just be quiet,” he whispered and gave me a reassuring look before stepping out.After he left, I moved to the door and pressed myself against it, my ears straining to eavesdrop on their conversation.“Hey babe, what do you say about lunch?” I heard him say to Karen.“Lunch?” Came her response.I imagine her face was twisted into a scowl because he continued, “I don't know why you think that about me. I'm sorry, okay? I'm not behind those pranks.”A pause. Then, “Why are you acting so strangely right now?" Karen's voice asked. "You didn't give a shit that I thought you were responsible for the pranks. So why are you apologizing all of a sudden?”“That's not it,” he chuckled, but I could hear the tremble in it. “I thought your meeting ended a while ago. What are you still doing here?” I heard the clinking of heels get closer and closer to the door. Then it stopped.“Let's talk things over. Let's go for lunch, okay?” I ima
**Lucas**“Valerie!” I shouted as I watched the taxi drive away with her.“Fuck!!” I yelled. I ran a palm across my face, my heart pounding as I pulled at my hair. Why do I keep fucking things up? Just why??!I groaned and then jogged back to the garage, deciding to drive to her house. “I hope she's headed home,” I muttered frustratedly.How was I supposed to explain things to her when I clearly know how this looks? But how do I convince her? I'm quite sure that nothing happened. Even though I was drunk, at least I'd remember bits and pieces of the sex afterwards—that's if it did happen—but there was nothing at all. Nothing.Just as I approached my car, Angela blocked my path. “What are you doing?” she asked.I shrugged, moved away from her and took another route, but she was quick to block my way again. “Why are you going after her when I'm here?”“Angela. Move,” I gritted out slowly, my patience wearing thin.“Why? I'm the one who loves you. I can make you happy.” Then her eyes dil
**Third person**Eighteen hours had passed since Valerie's disappearance.Lucas stood in the center of his living room, surrounded by computers and anxious faces. His team of experts, handpicked from the best in the business, worked tirelessly to track down any lead on his woman.But so far, neither his team nor the police have been able to come up with anything tangible. There was also no signal from the tracker in Valerie's necklace. Either her kidnapper knew that the necklace was bugged and got rid of it, or they were under water, in a bunker, or somewhere that'll block the signal.One thing for sure; he'd find Valerie and he'd find her soon. Even if it meant turning the planet upside down. She'd be found.News about her and disappearance was all over the media and there was a huge cash prize for whoever brought relevant information on her whereabouts. Lucas ran a palm across his exhausted face. Deep lines creased his forehead, and his jaw was set in a rigid clench. "Broaden the
**Third person**It was almost as if Valerie disappeared just when Elliot blinked. After dismissing the woman who'd come to talk to him, he looked up but he didn't find his boss.Damnit! He'd clenched his jaw and quickened his pace, his hand instinctively resting on the gun holstered at his hip as he rushed outside. Eyes scanned everywhere around but there was no trace of her. "Miss Thorne?" he called out, his mind racing. “Ashley?” He called louder.“Valerie?”There was no response. Immediately, he dialed her number… once, twice, thrice… until it was unreachable.He'd rushed over to some passersby to ask if they'd seen her… There was nothing. Shit! Just then, his phone started ringing. Elliot pulled the device out and stared at the screen, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he registered the caller ID—Mr. Stone.He took a deep breath and then pressed the answer button.*****************************Valerie's eyes fluttered open, her gaze was blurry and unfocused. She tried to sit
**Third person**Valerie's blood ran cold as she stared at the picture attached to the message. It was a picture of a small boy, no more than two years old. The fact that he was a spitting image of Lucas Stone had goosebumps erupting all over her skin—same blue eyes, jet-black hair, nose, lips, jawline…Val's heart rate increased. Her son was truly alive?“We’re heading to the hospital; Mr. Stone said we're meeting him there?” Elliot asked, his hands already on the ignition.Valerie nodded absent mindedly and he started the car.She felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she stuck her head outside the window. Breeze hit her face but it did nothing to calm her. She knew that she had to lose Elliot, and fast. As the car moved through the city, she spotted a convenience store up ahead and made a split-second decision. "I need to stop and get some water," she said suddenly.Elliot frowned and glanced at the bottle of water sitting in the middle of the car compartment.
**Third person**Valerie's smile broadened into a full-blown grin. "Oh, don't think it's unfair if justice isn't served for your lover's sister."Karen frowned, her eyes narrowing. "My lover? What do you mean?" What did this have to do with Victor, she hasn't even heard from him, Karen wondered.Valerie locked her eyes onto Karen's. "Victor, your bodyguard... the one you've been fucking.” She paused to study Karen's face—she didn't look so confident anymore. “But you killed his sister."Karen's face drained of blood, her eyes wide and her lips parting with shock. Valerie continued, "The young lady who took care of Nathaniel Scott."Dread coursed through Karen, her mind shifting back to the night Nathaniel was killed. He'd been with a woman, and when Adam killed Mr. Scott, the woman witnessed it. Karen had to silence her.A small smile found its way to Valerie's lips as she studied the horrified look on Karen's face. "So now, does it finally ring a bell?"Karen's eyes stung with tears
**Third person**Valerie woke up to a wet sensation on her clit. A shiver coursed through her spine, her nipples hardening.The sensation continued, and she was forced to open her eyes. She wiped her heavy eyes with the back of her palm and then looked down between her legs, where the source of the heat she was feeling came from. Lucas, with his head between her thighs, looked up, his tongue still whipping her sensitive clit. “Morning, babe,” he murmured. Valerie blinked a couple of times to clear her eyes. She arched her back and she cried out in pleasure when he slipped a finger inside her. “W-what are you doing?” She managed to ask between moans.He smiled and looked up at her again, with those dark, desire-filled eyes. Her cheeks flushed as she noticed her pussy juice rubbed all over his mouth and its surroundings. “I've always dreamed of waking you up like this,” she murmured, his voice rough.Lucas slipped another finger in her and began pumping, his tongue returning to her c
**Third person**Karen's face went pale, and she was silent. The officer spoke up again. “What will it be, Mrs. Smith? Will you rat your parents out to save your skin?”Finally, Karen's eyes flashed with defiance, locked on the officer’s. "No."The officer's expression didn't change, but her voice took on a slightly harder edge. "Mrs. Smith, we have evidence. We know your parents were involved. It's better for you if you cooperate."Karen's jaw set, her eyes blazing with determination. "I said no," she hissed. The officer pressed her lips into a thin line stood up. “Very well then,” she sighed out in resignation. “I'll ask you again after you spend a week in this shithole. I'm sure you'll have a change of mind.” Then she shrugged and gave Karen a wicked smile. “That's if you survive it. Because this place is no place for a pretty girl like you.”“Go to hell if you think you can scare me!” Karen snapped, trying to seem confident even though her voice trembled slightly.”The woman smi
**Third person**Wait… Valerie just stood still for a few minutes, her mind blank, her head spinning.A gentle tap from Elliot had her snapping out of her daze. She looked up at her robot. “It's fine, he's a friend. Give us a moment, please,” she murmured absentmindedly. Elliot glanced at Victor briefly, a warning flashing in his eyes before he stepped back.As Valerie's eyes locked onto Victor's, she felt goosebumps erupt all over her skin. The initials "VA" flashed into her mind. He was the anonymous person who had been helping her all along. How??"How are you...?" Valerie's voice trailed off as the memories came flooding back. The first time he'd texted her, she was literally about to enter Adam's office with a knife. He had been standing just outside the door. So she didn't think too much about him. He was Karen's bodyguard. He had always been in plain sight, but she never recognized him. Even on the yacht... he was always there. He knows about all Karen's plans; that's how he
**Third person**“I thought the reality sank in after you cried for help?” Lucas mocked, his eyes shooting daggers at Adam. “If I think about what you tried to do to my woman, I still have this urge to kill you regardless.”Adam's jaw clenched again at the mention of ‘my woman’. But he didn't say a word about it, he wouldn't dare.Lucas placed the paper and pen that he was holding on the table. “Sign them now while I'm being nice,” he ordered, his voice a low growl that had Adam forcing a lump down his throat. Then he removed his feet from Adam's hand.Adam cried out in relief.Using his other hand as support, Adam tried to massage the hurt one into shape, but it was numb anyway. He looked up at Lucas, “My fingers… I—I can't sign.”Lucas shot Adam a glare without saying a word. He didn't need to.Adam swallowed, and quickly, he picked up the pen with trembling hands and scribbled his signature on the paper. His jaw tightened when he finished signing. So he is actually divorced from A
**Third person**“I'll get you, I promise,” she swore, and then climbed out of the window, still flashing the knife in her hand.Karen sprinted to her car and leapt inside. Her shaky hands found the ignition, her eyes watching Elliot who was almost closing in on her as she sped away.Elliot paused to catch his breath, his hands on his waist as he watched the back of Karen's car helplessly. Then immediately, he rushed inside to check up on the women.He apologized to the frightened women, then he cleaned Frances’s wound. Afterwards, he called Lucas to inform him. And as expected, Lucas was fuming. ****************************Valerie sat on the hard chair, her fingers drumming on the desk as she waited with her eyes fixed on the door where Adam would emerge. An officer brought him out, his wrists cuffed to a chain around his waist. His eyes met Valerie's, and his face brightened.Adam looked worn out, his skin pale and his eyes sunken. His hair was disheveled, and his clothes were w