CELINE HERRERA POV Grandfather looked uncomfortable for once in his life as the two families were introduced, and I could tell from the perpetual frown that was etched on his face that he was not happy that I was getting married, that too before his beloved Delia. And Belshar was also a business rival.He didn't hide his judgment and disappointment but I could also tell from the look on his face as the night wore on that he was already scheming in his head on ways to use this connection to his advantage.Only Séda had accompanied Belshar, but I could tell they came with a team of guards who were probably all around our mansion to ensure the evening went as planned. Grandfather on his part got the best chef and made sure the dinner was befitting for Belshar and his Mom.Dinner went mildly well even though Delia moaned and bitched throughout. I was sure she did it to get Belshar's attention, but throughout the suffering ordeal, I knew he didn't glance at her for once because I could f
CELINE HERRERA POV PAST"I hate you!" Crystal yelled, the lightning rendering the skies making the statement even more severe. "You have everything and yet you can't even let me have just one thing that I want... Are you really my friend... Is this how you are going to treat me after all these years" Tears streamed down my cheek but the rain wiped them off as soon as they dropped. "You do not get to say that Crystal!" I yelled, matching her riotous energy and stepping into her space. "Do not think for one minute that you get to use that line on me. Do you not get tired of coming to me every other year and making the most ridiculous demands? What haven't I let go for you huh? I gave up Asher for you didn't I, I let you get first place in all the exams in high school, I applied to a different college cause you didn't want me to go where you were and now you want my fucking kidney. What are you going to ask for next, my freaking heart"She shook her head, the motion making her neck loo
DELIA HERRERA POV "Why are you just allowing her to marry Belshar? Their wedding is this week. What about me? This was not part of the plan" I screamed, my hands flying to my hair while my whole body shook almost convulsively. I was losing my freaking mind and grandfather looked totally nonchalant about it. "Say something! Fucking say something damn it" I roared. "Enough of your tantrums! I told you this was a bad idea from the very start.. what would you have me do against someone as powerful as Belshar" "If you had just cut her off then this would not be happening. She's not even a real Herrera and she killed your son. My mother died because of her.. how can you let this happen!".Grandfather stood up, walked toward me, and then grabbed me by my shoulders and stared at me for awhile until the trembling restless energy that coursed through my veins lessened. "That's enough now my lovely child, take a deep breath and calm down so we can talk about this rationally," he said and I t
DELIA HERRERA POV PASSION GARDEN Once I stepped into the garden house I saw him and my heart gave a little jump in my chest. God, he made me so mad even when he was doing nothing. He stood tall in a tailor-made impeccable suit, his gaze focused on one of the flowers in particular. Why a flower garden of all places? I bet he was doing it on purpose because he knew just how much I despised settings like this. Was his one goal in life just to annoy me or what?He had his hands tucked into his pocket and his stance screamed power and authority and all that combo just made me more furious than I already was. I really should have drank a bottle of wine before coming here because there was only so much I could take in a day."If you stare at me for much longer you might really fall in love with me Delia," he said making me blanch from where I stood then he turned to face me, a knowing smirk on his lips, his hazel eyes a light shade that shone with amusement.I scoffed, then rolled my eyes
DELIA HERRERA My marriage was registered and In the news a day before Celine's wedding and I couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she joined us for dinner tonight.I knew she had no plan for a bachelorette party because the only people who would have been in attendance had had no choice but to attend the small ceremony we'd held to commemorate my wedding. Grandfather had made it absolutely necessary. Celine had not come of course since she made an excuse that she was going to be getting her wedding gown that day but dinner was a different ball game and she had to come.I couldn't wait to gloat in her face. She thought she could one-up me but I was going to make sure that things never go the way she wanted them to. Marrying Enoch had not been part of the plan but Celine had left me with no choice since I hated the thought of her getting married before me. And Grandfather was right, Enoch was really the right candidate if I ever wanted to outshine Celine. But that didn't me
CELINE HERRERA POV Tears welled up in my eyes as I yanked open the door to my house and stepped into my little sanctuary. I took in the familiar interior then squeezed my eyes shut and slipped to the floor. The tears fell in torrents. They hadn't stopped falling since the night I'd left Bella's place and tonight Delia had managed to push me so hard, I'd said stuff that I normally wouldn't. I rubbed my hand against my face and flinched in pain as my hand rubbed against the crusty dried blood and the small cuts on my face. Picking myself up from the floor, I made my way to the bathroom and washed all of the blood off, then I stared at my reflection for the longest time. I took out the first aid box then treated my wound and put bandages on the most nasty of the cuts.My phone rang and I glanced to see that it was Julie calling. I picked up the phone and answered the call."Celine, oh my God, thank God you picked. I thought you were still mad at me" I still was but I also heard that
BELSHAR NESSAR ABED Everyone was gathered at the church and as I took in the expectant faces of all the guests, all I wanted was to get the charade all over with. Séda had planned the whole wedding so of course I'd expected it to be grand. Most of the time I did whatever it was they wanted just so they didn't focus all of their attention on me but marrying Celine who was an illegitimate child had been all my decision and I was sure the wheels in their head were turning as to why I was doing all this.Everything was a game to my family and the dynamic was such that the weak didn't survive for too long. I'd survived for so long because I had Selene by my side but she was gone and I knew that If I showed any crack I was going to end up dead like Antonio my older brother and Angelo, my stepbrother. It was just me and Kail now and I was sure mother and father were salivating to know who was going to come out on top.They were crazy but my family's had always been. Selene had been the onl
CELINE HERRERA POV The piano piece sounded like an intro to a horror show, and as I got closer to the altar with Belshar standing and staring at me as if I'd bolt at any second, I felt the seriousness of the situation and that there was no way for me to back out. I was fucking doomed.Séda was by my side as soon as I reached the aisle where she was sitting. She took my hand, kissed my cheek then met my gaze, the smile on her lips not quite reaching her eyes."I am so happy you showed up for your wedding Celine. I almost thought I'd have to kill you if it turned out you ran away" she whispered so only I could hear then chuckled when she saw me clench the flower I was holding tighter. "I am just joking love, you shouldn't take everything so seriously, it's really a bad habit.. now off you go, let me not keep you waiting any longer," she said and patted my back. I walked away from her but I could feel her gaze boring into my back and even though she had said it was all a joke, I knew t
CELINE HERRERA POV The shot was a warning and Delia flinched, getting distracted for a second, but that was all I needed. I shoved at her hard and she fell to the floor, a gasp escaping her lips. The gun skidded out of her hold and she crawled after it. I got it before she could, then I kicked her in the face with my leg. She grunted, her head smacking against the hard concrete. She slumped to the floor, blood seeping out of the cut on her head. The cops lying in wait all rushed up to the roof, then they swooped in and grabbed her by the arms, handcuffed her hand, and dragged her to her feet. Delia looked around wildly as her shock wore off, and then her gaze met mine in disbelief. "How... How" she stuttered but I felt no pity for her. I'd always wanted her to pay for her crimes and now that it was happening, It felt like a breath of fresh air."It was pretty easy Delia. You are not as sly as you think you are" Once I was sure they had her secure, I walked toward her and wasn't s
CELINE HERRERA POV "I'm so glad you are here Grandma. I thought you wouldn't make it" Grandma held my face In her hand, a smile on her face. "I would travel over the seven seas just to celebrate you, my child.""Aww, that is so Sweet. I am so sorry for the stress though. It must have been exhausting for you""You don't have to apologize. I should be able to do this much after everything that happened" I frowned. "Didn't we say we were going to forget about that, Grandma?" "Oh right, we said that. I'm sorry, I keep forgetting about that. You look so beautiful by the way. You're so pretty, it's making me tear up" she said and I laughed "You're going to make me cry too, Grandma"She patted my head and then looked around. "Where is Belshar. Why isn't he here by your side? He's been gone for a while hasn't he""I'm sure he'll be back soon," I said, glancing around. The music suddenly got louder and the DJ encouraged everyone to get on the dance floor."See, he should be here with you.
DELIA HERRERA POV Celine was smiling and moving through the crowd. She looked so happy that it made me sick. I watched as she spoke with some group of people, the happy smile on their faces making my fist clench. Bunch of people pleasers. I was sure most of them didn't even like her. They were all just pretending so that they could get something out of her. It had been annoying to find out that despite all the money I'd siphoned out of the company, she'd still managed to rebrand it and keep it running. Then she went on to change the name, erasing Herrera from it. She destroyed my very legacy. All the time that I suffered, she'd spent it in achieving great things and being happy with Belshar.Tremor racked through me all of a sudden and I swayed on my feet. My hand trembled and my body grew hot. I knew exactly what I needed. The darn pills that Zane had gotten me addicted to. Why hadn't I taken the stupid pills? I thought I could survive without them but now as I shook like I was c
BELSHAR NESSAR ABED The party was in full swing. My gaze stayed on Celine as she laughed and mingled with the guests, and I couldn't help but fall deeper in love with her. She was so damn perfect, she made my heart ache. As if attuned to my gaze, she glanced up and our gaze clashed. Her eyes brightened, then she blew me a kiss. I made a show of catching it then grinned as she grinned bashfully and put her hand over her heart.I mimicked her gesture and then gave a nod back. Celine's smile widened, but then she pressed her lips together and pointed with her chin that someone was behind me."Belshar" My expression hardened as I turned to face Kail. It was one thing that Celine had invited him to the party but that he was shameless enough to come was another. "Thanks for inviting me..." "Don't bother with that Kail, I didn't invite you. I am also sure you know how I feel about you being here. Didn't I warn you to stay out of my sight" He blanched, then stepped back. "I just wanted
DELIA HERRERA POVZane was right about everything and I hated that he was. His words rang in my head, driving me Insane.Wanting to get rid of those voices In my head, I reached for the bottles of pills, my hands trembling as I uncapped them. I glanced inside it and noticed that there wasn't much left Inside. I frowned, wondering just how many I'd used up in two days, then recalled that each time I felt even the slightest discomfort, I'd drowned the pills as if they were the solution to all my problems... Maybe they were. I didn't feel as shitty when I was high on them.I picked out two of the pills and then stopped as I brought them to my mouth. Was I really going to do this too myself? Was I just going to watch everything crumble like dust around me?I couldn't. Throwing the pills away, I capped the bottle shut and got up from the bed.A quick shower helped to reduce the tremors in my hands and also helped clear my head."You are Delia Herrera, Delia," I told myself because it was
DELIA HERRERA POV "You said you wanted to watch me kill Celine. It's been three days now and you still haven't told me how that's going to happen. Are you stalling because you're having second thoughts? You've also been spacing out lately. Are you thinking about her " I asked unable to keep it in.After the last sex we had on the day he arrived, he hadn't touched me and it was driving me Insane just thinking that it was because of Celine. It was infuriating and recalling his words about how he was going to let me kill Celine because he couldn't have her made it worse."Are you not going to answer me" Zane glanced at me from across the table then sighed, before flinging his spoon to the wall. "Can you stop? You're fucking ruining the romantic atmosphere, Delia" he growled but I was too pissed off to care about his anger."You're so fucking delusional. There's nothing romantic about this setting" I screamed then dragged my hand through my hair, before clutching at it tightly and pull
CELINE HERRERA POV "I think I am going to take some time off work" I got out and Belshar's gaze jerked to mine in surprise as he stopped pacing.He'd been walking in circles for a while and at first I just thought he was agitated from excitement, he was, but he was also worrying and I could see it on his face.Belshar was damn perfect at hiding his emotions, so if he was so expressive this time, it meant he was really stressing over it."You are" he asked, his tone disbelieving. Deep down I knew he was throwing a fist in the air. "Are you sure about that" I gave a quick nod, then smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. I think Karen should handle things in the meantime. She's really the best at what she does. I'm sure she'll be able to handle things in the office without me, Besides, I feel like if I don't stop working, You're going to pace a hole into the ground" I joked, then narrowed my eyes "Tell me the truth, you were trying to come up with a reason to make me stop going to work, weren't you"
CELINE HERRERA POV "Congratulations, Celine. You are approximately four weeks pregnant" the doctor announced and I jerked into a sitting position, my eyes widening as I looked from the doctor to Belshar whose jaw was literally on the floor.He'd stepped inside the room just in time to hear the news and It was a miracle that he didn't drop the glass of water he'd gone to get."I'm pregnant?" I asked dazedly.It was quiet for just a second and then Belshar threw a fist in the air. "Yes! That's what I am talking about" he grinned as he rushed at me and engulfed me in his strong arm, then he proceeded to pepper kisses all over my face while I struggled to shove him off. "Oh my god, Belshar" I groaned even as I laughed. "You're suffocating me" I got out and he quickly let go of me. "Are you alright? I didn't mean to hold you like that" he asked as he looked me over, worry written all over his face. "Will you cut it out? I am perfectly fine. Stop fussing already" "You're carrying a ba
DELIA HERRERA POV "A present," I asked, my heart thudding hard against my ribcage. Zane nodded. "Yes, I did. " He said and pointed to the shopping bags he had dropped beside the bed. It wasn't what I was curious about but I forced a smile to my lips. I've learned that if I was patient enough with Zane, he would eventually tell me what I wanted to hear."Thank you so much, Zane," I said and picked them up, my hands trembling. Zane noticed it and my breath hitched in fear when he frowned. He grabbed hold of my hand and I held my breath, waiting for him to hurt me. "Have you been skipping out on your pills You're shaking so badly" I let out a gasp of air. "There are only two pills left and I didn't know what day it was. You've been gone for so long..." "I was gone only for a weak" I fidgeted. Had it really just been a weak? It felt so much longer. "You never let me go out of the house, so I can't tell how long it's been" "Are you saying you want to go outside""No of course not