17

Valeria sat in Markus's study while staring blankly, her hands trembling as she clutched the divorce papers. Her heart felt heavy, but her expression was calm and composed. This time, she wasn’t going to let him dictate everything.

Markus leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching her with his usual air of indifference. “Well? Have you made up your mind?” he asked coolly, his gaze fixed on her as though he was scrutinizing her every move.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Yes,” she said firmly. “I’ll sign the papers.” Markus raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden agreement. “That’s refreshing,” he said with a sarcastic smirk. “But I’m guessing there’s a condition?”

Valeria stepped forward and placed the papers on the desk. “I want the house on Eastwood Hill,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. “And ten million dollars. That’s my price for signing these else i am not going to.”

The room fell silent for a moment. Markus stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he leaned forward, a mocking smile spreading across his lips. “Well, well,” he said, his tone dripping with condescension. “Look who’s finally showing her true colors.”

Valeria’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t falter. “The innocent act was convincing, I’ll give you that,” Markus continued, his voice laced with mockery. “All this time, I thought you were just some naïve little girl trying to play the dutiful wife. But here you are, asking for millions and a house. Bravo, Valeria. Truly.”

Her jaw tightened, but she refused to back down. “Think what you want, Markus,” she said, her voice firm. “You wanted this divorce, and I’m agreeing to it. But if you think I’m going to walk away empty-handed after everything I’ve been through, you’re wrong.”

Markus let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “So this is what it’s come to. Fine. You want the house and ten million dollars? Consider it done,” he said, leaning back in his chair with a smug grin. “If that’s what it takes to get you out of my life, then it’s a small price to pay.”

Valeria felt a pang in her chest at his words, but she refused to let it show. “Good,” she said simply, her voice steady. “I’ll wait for the papers to revised before I sign.”

Markus tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Of course you will,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You wouldn’t want to miss a single penny, would you?”

She met his gaze, her expression unflinching. “This isn’t about the money, Markus,” she said quietly. “It’s about respect. Something you’ve never given me.”

For a moment, Markus’s smirk faltered, but he quickly recovered, waving her off dismissively. “Whatever helps you sleep at night,” he said, picking up a pen and twirling it between his fingers. “I’ll have the papers revised and sent to you tomorrow. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Valeria turned on her heel and walked out of the study, her head held high. But as soon as she was out of sight, she felt her composure crumble. ‘What is happening?’ Tears pricked her eyes, and she had to stop in the hallway to steady herself.

Valeria walked down the grand hallway of the Moreno mansion, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors. Her pace quickened as she made her way to her room, wanting to escape the confrontation and mocking with Markus.

Once she reached her door, she paused for a moment, her hand trembling as it rested on the doorknob. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, before opening the door and stepping inside. The room was quiet, bathed in the warm glow of the late afternoon sun streaming through the sheer curtains.

Closing the door behind her, Valeria leaned against it for a moment, her head tilting back as she let out a shaky sigh. ‘What have I gotten myself into? My goodness!’ Her chest felt heavy, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her, but she forced herself to stay composed.

As she moved toward her bed, her hand instinctively went to her stomach, resting gently over the slight swell that only she knew was there. Her fingers brushed the fabric of her dress as she stood still, her mind racing.

“If he knew…” she whispered softly to herself, her voice trembling. Her thoughts drifted to Markus’s cold words in the study, the way he had mocked her and dismissed her so easily. “If he knew about the child I am carrying, would he have cared? Would it have changed anything?”

The answer came to her almost immediately, and it was like a dagger to her heart. ‘No. He wouldn’t have cared. Marus had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me, that he couldn’t love me and never would. To him, I am a mistake, an arrangement forced upon him by his mother. Nothing more.’

Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to cry again. She couldn’t afford to break down, not now. Instead, she rubbed her hand over her stomach in a soothing motion, her touch gentle and protective.

“You’re better off this way,” she murmured softly, her voice barely audible. “He doesn’t deserve to know about you, and you don’t deserve to be a part of his cruel world.”

She moved to sit on the edge of the bed, her hand still resting on her stomach. A small, bittersweet smile tugged at her lips as she thought about the life growing inside her.

“You’re all I have now,” she whispered. “And I’ll do everything I can to protect you, to give you the life you deserve. Even if it means doing this alone.” The thought of raising the child on her own was daunting, but it also gave her a sense of purpose she hadn’t felt before. 

She had spent so much time trying to win Markus’s approval, trying to make their marriage work, but now she realized it was all for nothing. He was a man who would never change, who would never see her worth.

Valeria exhaled deeply, trying to steady her racing heart. “I did the right thing,” she told herself firmly, her voice growing stronger. “I had to let your father go. For both of us. It is better for us to stay away from him.”

She leaned back on the bed, her hand still protectively cradling her stomach as she closed her eyes. For the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to think about a future where she wasn’t bound by Markus’s indifference. 

Inside the study, Markus sat in silence, staring at the papers on his desk. Despite his mocking words, something about Valeria’s mannerism and tone fascinated him. For the first time, he wondered if he had misjudged her since she had been working to fix their non-existent relationship. 

Valeria lay on her bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling, her thoughts racing as her hand absently rested on her stomach. The decision to keep her pregnancy a secret weighed heavily on her, but she knew it was the right one. She needed space—away from Markus, away from the mansion, away from everything.

As if on cue, her phone buzzed on the bedside table, pulling her out of her thoughts. She reached over and picked it up, the screen lighting up with a familiar name. Bella. A small smile tugged at her lips as she answered. “Bella,” she greeted softly, her voice tinged with relief.

“Valeria! Finally, you pick up,” Bella’s cheerful voice came through the line, a stark contrast to the heaviness that had consumed Valeria all day. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you! Are you okay? You sound... different.”

Valeria hesitated for a moment before responding. “I’m okay,” she said, though her voice betrayed her. “It’s just... been a lot lately. I’ve been feeling so suffocated here, Bella. I need to get away for a while, from my marriage.”

Bella’s tone shifted, concerned replacing her earlier cheerfulness. “What’s going on, V? Is your husband alright with you? Did he do something? Who even is he? Where are you right now?” 

Valeria sighed, sitting up on the bed and running a hand through her hair. “It’s complicated,” she admitted. “I can’t talk about it right now, but I need a break. I was wondering... could I come stay with you for a week? I just need some time to clear my head.”

“Of course, you can!” Bella said without hesitation. “You don’t even have to ask. My door is always open for you, Valeria. Come as soon as you can.”

The warmth and sincerity in Bella’s voice brought tears to Valeria’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Don’t thank me. Just get yourself here, okay?” Bella urged. “And don’t worry about anything. I will have the room ready for you.” Valeria nodded, even though Bella couldn’t see her. “I’ll pack tonight and leave first thing in the morning.”