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
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.”
‘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
[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
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
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
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.
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
As the luxurious cruise cut through the sparkling waters, heading towards a secluded island. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the scene. On the deck, Richie stood beside Valeria, his arm wrapped around her protectively.Valeria gazed out at the horizon, a mix of excitement and nervousness evident in her eyes. Richie asked while smiling warmly. “Are you ready for this, Valeria?”Valeria nodded her heart racing with anticipation. “I think so. It's so surreal to be back when my delivery is near.” The cruise dock at a private pier, and Richie led Valeria down the gangplank onto the pristine sandy beach.The air was filled with the scent of tropical flowers, and the sound of gentle waves lapping against the shore. Richie walked ahead
The sun dipped low on the horizon as Gabriel rode hard through the sprawling fields of his family's estate. His steed pounded against the earth, kicking up clouds of dust in its wake. Sweat trickled down Gabriel's furrowed brow, his heart pounding with urgency.As the imposing gates of his ancestral home loomed into view,
As Gabriel stepped out of the car at the airport, a sense of unease pricked at the edges of his consciousness. He glanced around, taking in the bustling activity of the terminal, but everything seemed ordinary at first glance.As he walked towards the entrance, two men suddenly appeared from his periphery, one on each side. Their movements were swift
As Liam reached Valeria and his hands come up to gently grasp Valeria’s shoulders, causing her to turn towards him. Her eyes, wide and questioning, lock onto his. Soon after Valeria felt his grip becoming rough around her shoulder.Liam spoke to her coldly, his voice a low whisper. “Valeria, you need to come with me. Now. You are misunderstanding things.”Valeria spoke, confused and anxious. “Dad? What’s—what’s happening?” Without another word, Liam presses a discreet button on his watch. Within seconds, two guards appear at his side, their faces stern. Valeria’s confusion deepens, and a flicker of fear passes through her eyes.Liam spoke to the guards, without breaking eye contact with Valeria. Take Ms. Valeria up
As Valeria closed the door behind Gabriel, a sense of unease settled over her. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their father's decision than met the eye. Pacing the room, her thoughts swirled with questions, her brow furrowed in frustration."Why isn't Dad doing anything to settle the matter with Bella?" Valeria muttered to herself, her voice tinged with concern. "Sending Gabriel away won't solve anything. If anything, it'll only make things worse."As she pondered the situation, a sense of determination welled up inside her. She couldn't sit idly by while their family was torn apart by conflict. Taking a deep breath, she made a silent vow to herself to uncover the truth and set things right.With resolv
Gabriel felt a wave of gratitude wash over him at his sister's words. Taking a seat beside her, he reached out and gently took her hand in his own. "Thank you, Valeria," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I appreciate your understanding. I'll do better, I promise."After his conversation with his father, Gabriel felt a weight lifting from his shoulders as he embraced the idea of a break. Determined to clear his mind before his trip to Europe, he decided to take the first step towards making amends for his recent behavior.With a resolute stride, Gabriel made his way to his sister Valeria's room. He paused outside her door, steeling himself for the conversation ahead. Raising his hand, he hesitated for a moment before gently rapping his knuckles against the polished wood.
His father regarded him with a measured gaze, his expression unreadable. "And what exactly did she do to provoke such animosity from you, Gabriel?"Gabriel hesitated, the weight of his father's scrutiny bearing down on him. He knew he couldn't reveal the true extent of his feelings, the jealousy and resentment that simmered beneath the surface. Instead, he chose his words carefully, masking his true emotions behind a facade of righteous indignation."It's nothing specific, Father," Gabriel replied, his tone clipped. "Just...small disagreements that have escalated over time. I assure you, I have no personal vendetta against Bella. Not anymore.”But his father's piercing gaze seemed to see through his facade, a silent challenge in his eyes.
But even as she clung to the hope of Markos's return, doubts crept into her heart, fueled by the events of the evening. She couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal that lingered in the air, the sense that everything she believed in was slowly crumbling around her.As she lay on her bed, lost in her thoughts, Valeria made a silent vow to herself. She would hold onto her love for Markos with all her strength, trusting in their bond to see them through even the darkest of times. And until the day he returned to her arms, she would wait, her heart filled with unwavering faith and love.With a heavy heart and tears streaming down her cheeks, Valeria closed the door of her room with a resounding slam. The sound echoed in the empty space, a tangible manifestation of her inner turmoil. Leaning against the door, she felt
Eros tightened his grip on her hand, his gaze filled with urgency. "Please, Bella," he implored, "you need to calm down. We'll talk about it later, but right now, I need to get you out of here."Reluctantly, Bella nodded, allowing Eros to lead her towards the grand entrance of the house. The cool air greeted them as they stepped outside, the soft whisper of the breeze a soothing contrast to the turmoil raging within Bella's heart.As they walked through the garden, Eros kept a steady pace, his presence a reassuring anchor for Bella amidst the chaos of her emotions. He listened as she poured out her frustrations, her words tumbling out in a rush of pent-up feelings."I just don't understand, Eros," Bella confessed, her voice trembling with emoti
In the family kitchen, where Valeria, Liam, and Gabriel were seated around the table, savouring their breakfast together. Liam asked while glancing over his newspaper. “Lily, have you made any plans about when you're going to venture out to explore the cities?”Valeria spoke while sipping her tea. “I've been thinking about it, Dad. Maybe next month. I want to finalise a few things before I set off. Moreover, Lucas is still little.”Gabriel was forking a piece of pancake. “You sure you don't want some company? I can take some time off work. Martha is with Lucas and dad is with him too.”Valeria answered while smiling. “Thanks, Gabe, but I think I need to do this on my own. It's kind of a personal journey