Valeria stepped into the towering glass building, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor. The receptionist had already directed her to the top floor, where Adrian Reed’s office was located. With a steadying breath, she adjusted her blazer and knocked on the door. "Come in," a smooth, confident voice called out. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, expecting to see a middle-aged executive with graying hair and a stern expression. Instead, a man in his mid-thirties leaned casually against his desk, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "You look surprised," he observed, eyes flicking over her face with amusement. Valeria blinked. "I— I just assumed—""That I’d be old?" He chuckled, shaking his head as he crossed his arms. "Happens more often than you’d think." She felt heat rise to her cheeks. "No, I just— I wasn’t sure what to expect."Adrian Reed was nothing like the corporate tycoons she had imagined. He was tall, well-built, and carried an effortless ch
Valeria stood outside Reed Corp, her arms wrapped around herself as the cool evening breeze brushed against her skin. The city lights flickered around her, illuminating the towering glass building behind her. ‘Why there is no cab around?’ She glanced at her phone, checking the time as she waited for her cab. Just then, a sleek black car pulled up beside her, the tinted window rolling down effortlessly.“Need a ride?” Valeria turned to see Adrian Reed, one hand casually resting on the steering wheel, his expression unreadable yet slightly amused.She hesitated. “Oh… no, thank you. I already called a cab.” Adrian arched a brow. “You’ve been standing here for nearly ten minutes. I doubt it’s coming anytime soon.” He gestured to the passenger seat. “Come on. It’s late. I’ll drop you off.” Valeria bit her lip, unsure. “I don’t want to trouble you.” she remarked. “It’s not trouble, Valeria,” he said smoothly. “I’m offering.” There was something about the way he said her name—steady, fami
As the car rolled to a stop in front of Valeria’s house, Adrian shifted in his seat, glancing at her. She looked tired—her eyelids drooping, her hand resting idly over her stomach as if in silent reassurance."We're here," he said gently, but Valeria only blinked slowly before nodding. She reached for the door handle, stepping out with a little more effort than usual. Adrian watched as she fumbled with the keys in her hand, swaying slightly. His brows furrowed in concern."Valeria—" Before he could finish, her knees buckled. "Shit!" Adrian was out of the car in an instant, catching her just before she collapsed onto the doorstep. One arm wrapped firmly around her waist while the other slid under her legs, lifting her effortlessly.Valeria gasped in surprise, her fingers instinctively clutching his shirt. "A-Adrian, I can walk—" she insisted. "Clearly not," he interrupted, his voice laced with both concern and frustration. "What the hell is wrong with you? You didn’t even eat properly.
Adrian reached for the water jug, his movements smooth and practiced as he poured a glass and set it in front of her. Valeria watched him carefully, a peculiar feeling gnawing at the back of her mind. ‘There is something about him—something familiar but I don’t know what?’She picked up her fork as Adrian placed a serving of pasta onto her plate. The steam curled upward, carrying the scent of garlic and fresh herbs, but her mind wasn’t on the food anymore.Instead, she found herself tilting her head, eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. “Adrian…be honest with me.” she began slowly, twirling the fork between her fingers. “Have we met before?” His hand stilled mid-motion. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but Valeria caught it.Adrian recovered quickly, placing the serving spoon down before leaning back against the counter. He crossed his arms, his usual confident smirk slipping into place, but something flickered in his eyes—something guarded. “We went to the same college,” he
[A few months later]"What do you mean by this, huh? Is this some kind of joke?" Markus yelled at the man who stood in front of him quietly, the atmosphere of the room had suddenly gotten chilly since the secretary broughtup the news. Markus had no clue why that would ever happen. The news had shaken him to the extent that he started wandering in the office."I'm sorry sir, but the news is absolutely true." He shot up from his seat and shouted at the man again, while Markus snatched the tablet from his secretary’s hand and smashed it into the wall. Howcould the man swallow the big news that the only woman of his life, precisely his ex-wife, was getting married to someone!
Valeria could not move from her place upon seeing Markus right in front of her. He was hugging Adrian and seemed elated to be there as a guest. However, the moment when Markus glanced at her Valeria immediately knew that his intentions were not good. The way he locked his gaze with her, it was a malicious stare.The woman was unsure how she should proceed with the whole thing. She had to greet Markus as a stranger because Valeria hadn’t told Adrian about him. It was obvious from her horror struck face that Valeria was caught red handed for hiding stuff from her husband-to-be.Markus could potentially see that and winked at Valeria to bring her back from the nightmarish reverie. However, he was deeply depressed upon seeing Valeria’s bulging 6 months old pregnant
Nonetheless Adrian called him in by wrapping his arm around Markus's shoulder, Valeria on the other hand kept quiet watching the two guys who would perhaps soon turn into nemesis! After all, how could Adrian easily let her go when he truly loved Valeria? And definitely not when she was going to give him a child very soon."Here, meet my better half-to-be, Valeria Malcolm." After both of the men were done with their bickering, Adrian turned towards her and introduced Markus to Valeria. Whereas Markus winked at Valeria once again with a snickering expression,making her gulp the worst fears. She had already seen it coming and was definitely not ready to face him.However Valeria became alert at once when Markus openly challenged her nonverbally to save her marriage. Markus&rs
[A few minutes ago] 'Dang! She is treating me like a stranger apparently, huh. But you can't trick me with that nonchalant look. I know you are affected by me, Valeria.' Markus stared at her butt as Valeria took her leave, she clenched her fist which indicated her anger and nervousness. And he knew every single gesture of hers, it wassomewhat easy for him to figure out that she was clearly troubled by him. Although it was already obvious. The man traced his thumb over his own lips while looking around for any spying eyes. Markus had been visiting Adrian every now and then, before he took over the business and became occupied. Since Adrian and Valeria gave his responsibility to the butler, Markus had to ensure no staff member of the house would catch him doing evil with Valeria. 'I want to know first whether you still have some soft spot for me or not. Oh, Valeria! You little sneaky hamster!' Seeing her suppressive panic Markus was elated, he was sure how to proceed now. But before
The gentle sway of the cruise ship sailed Valeria into a state of relaxation as she reclined on a cosy couch in the private cabinRichie has led her to. The room was adorned with soft, nautical-themed decor, and the soothing sound of waves making her calm. Valeria yawned, feeling the exhaustion from pregnancy.Richie smiled tenderly at Valeria, noting her weariness. He gestured towards the plush bed nestled in the corner of the room. “You look like you could use some rest, Valeria. Why don't you lie down and take a nap? I'll be right here if you need anything. By the time you will wake up we will be at the shore.”Valeria nodded gratefully, feeling grateful for Richie's thoughtfulness. “Thank you! You are so concerned about both of us.” She stretched
Valeria was seated by the window, her gaze fixed on the calm sea scenery outside. She appeared lost in thought, a faint smile playing on her lips. The door creaked open, and Riche entered the room, his presence filling the room with a vibrant energy.Entering with a confident stride he approached Valeria and asked her. “Valeria, my dear, are you ready to go home now?” He sat on the bed with Valeria and kissed her forehead.Valeria turned from the window, her eyes brightening at the sight of Riche. She shot up gracefully from her seat, a sense of excitement twinkling in her eyes. She could not help but feel good at the thought of going home.Valeria kept smiling warmly as he responded to Riche. “I've been ready since the moment you came here, richie.
After bidding Markus and Richardson bye, Valeria made her way to her room. ‘Something is definitely not right with Markus.’ With each step, her thoughts swirled with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Valeria knew that things were not simple as they seemed because a man like Markus was not going to leave her alone.Entering her room, Valeria closed the door behind her and sank onto the edge of the plush bed, the events of the morning weighing heavily on her mind. As she gazed out of the window at the moonlit sea, her thoughts turned to Markus's unexpected surprise. ‘I cannot believe that Markus can change his mind. He certainly has something going on in his mind.’"Why did Markus call Richie," Valeria mused aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. "Especially when he initially wanted to ruin our weddi
Markus hesitated for a moment before replying, his gaze turning somber as he tried to generate some excuse for Valeria's disappearance. "I have no idea yet but I am looking into this matter.” Markus explained, her voice tinged with anger. “Don’t worry I am personally looking into this. You two relax and go back home together.”Richardson's jaw clenched with fury as he absorbed Markus's words, his mind reeling with the realization of the danger Valeria had faced. "I swear, I will find whomever is responsible and make him pay for what he has done," he vowed, his voice filled with steely determination.But even as Richardson spoke, a sense of gratitude washed over him as he looked at Markus. “You have to look into this matter, Markus. I want the names!” Knowing that without his intervention, Val
[Chapter 41]As the massive cruise ship finally docked at the harbour, a flurry of activity ensued on the deck. Richardson’s demeanour exuded confidence. “Finally! I am here for you, Valeria.”As he made his way down the gangway, his eyes scanning the shoreline for a familiar face.Waiting patiently at the edge of the dock was Markus, his gaze fixed on the approaching ship with a mix of anticipation and excitement. ‘Forgive me for doing this without asking you, Lily. But now I will only fix things for you.’As Richardson descended the gangway, his eyes locked onto Markus, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. With purposeful strides, he made his way towards his cousin."Markus!" Richardson called out as he reached by his side, his v
‘Ironic. Isn’t it? I want you now but it is too late.’ As she disappeared inside, Markus watched her go, a sense of peace settling over him knowing that he had been able to make her happy.With a smile of his own, Markus turned his gaze back towards the port, his heart filled with love and gratitude for the woman who had captured his heart. ‘Only if you had loved me this way truly, Lily.’ He saw her going inside when the elderly maid came to fetch her. Valeria’s responsibility was given to her fully and she fulfilled it effectively.As Markus stepped out of the car and onto the soft sand of the beach, he felt a sense of tranquillity wash over him. The gentle sound of the waves lapping against the shore soothed
As much as she did not want to believe in him, something told Valeria that he was telling the truth this time. She reached out to gently caress his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingertips. "Markus," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion, "I never realized...I…"Markus silenced her with a tender smile, his eyes shining with love and affection. "I've never been good with words, Valeria," he confessed, his voice soft yet resolute. "But know that every moment I spent without you, after you were gone, away from me and all I had was those memory we created together, were the only things which made me see the depth of my love for you. Seeing you becoming someone else’s made me realise my true emotions for you. I know I am very late to confess all this but still I want to say this.”
Markus offered her a faint smile, gratitude shining in his eyes. "It's not your fault, Valeria," he reassured her, his voice warm with affection. "If anything, it made me realise just how much you mean to me, how much I never want to hurt you again."Valeria's question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions. “Lily…I…” Markus's expression shifted, his features contorting with a mixture of guilt and anguish. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry, as he struggled to find the right words to explain his actions. "Valeria," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, "I... I don't have an excuse for what I did that night. It was inexcusable, and I regret it more than words can express. I still do regret doing everything which hurt you and made you cry.”V
Markus's gaze softened, his eyes filled with a mixture of regret and sincerity. He took a deep breath, his grip on Valeria's hand tightening slightly as if seeking comfort. "Yes, it is," he admitted quietly. "I'm sorry, Valeria. I should have chosen a different place for us tonight. I didn't mean to bring back any painful memories."Valeria reached out and placed her free hand on top of Markus's, offering him a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, Markus," she said softly, her voice filled with understanding. "That was in the past. What matters is that we're here together now. What is important is that we have moved on."Markus met her gaze, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Valeria," he murmured, his voice tinged with emotion. "You always know how to make everything better. And I promise to make everything