[After 2 weeks]
In Valeria's spacious and sunlit bedroom, soft curtains swayed gently in the breeze, allowing dappled sunlight to filter through. Valeria sat at her vanity table, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. ‘I cannot believe two weeks just passed like that.’
Her expressions were a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The room was adorned with delicate fresh flowers. The whole room was giving the wedding vibes and adding to the air of romance and elegance.
It was not long before when a middle-aged woman entered, with a warm smile and gentle demeanour. “Good morning, Miss Valeria.” She carried a large garment bag over her arm, her steps careful as she approached the bed.
The door creaked open, and Richie sauntered into the room with an air of arrogance. His eyes gleaming with undisguised desire as he takes in the sight before him. His gaze lingered on Valeria, who stood before the mirror in her wedding gown.A vision of ethereal beauty. An evil grin spread across Richie's face as he let out a low, appreciative whistle, his voice dripped with lustful admiration. “Well, well, well... Look at you, sweetheart. Ain't you a sight for sore eyes?”Valeria's stomach churned at the sound of Richie's voice, his lecherous gaze making her skin crawl. ‘This idiot!’ She stiffened and her fists clenched at her sides as she met his gaze with a mixture of disdain and repulsion.Valeria’s voice turne
On the deck of a majestic cruise ship, where the sun set in a blaze of orange and gold. Casting a warm glow over the sparkling waters of the ocean. White chiffon drapes fluttered in the gentle breeze, framing the open-air chapel that has been meticulously prepared for the occasion. Guests gathered eagerly, their excitement palpable as they awaited the arrival of the bride and groom.As the strains of soft music filled the air, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the open sea. The ceremony was intimate yet grand, a celebration of love but in reality it was a trap for Valeria. Everything was perfectly placed and set for the wedding. Richie had called every aristocratic person from the business world.As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and purple. As the evening unfolded, t
As the guests disembark from the cruise, a flurry of activity ensues on the bustling dock. Luxurious cars lined up in an orderly procession, their designs gleaming in the golden light of the setting sun. One by one, the guests made their way to their waiting vehicles for the after ceremony party.Among the throng of departing guests, a sleek black limousine pulled up to the dock, its tinted windows hiding the occupants within. “Come!” As the chauffeur stepped out to open the door, Richie emerged from the crowd, his arm extended to escort Valeria to their awaiting ride.Valeria followed even though her expression masked in a veil of disgust. She accepted Richie's hand with a
Richie led Valeria through the opulent corridors of his mansion, the soft glow of dimmed chandeliers casting a warm light on her path. Valeria's flats clicked against the marble floors as they walked inside, her eyes taking in the tension of the situation.As they reached the door to Richie's private study room, he turned to her with an evil smile, his hand resting ligh
"And what about us?" she whispered, her voice barely above a hoarse whisper. Richie glanced up, his expression hardening at the sound of her voice. "There is no 'us,' Valeria," he replied curtly, his tone devoid of any warmth or affection. "There never was ever."The words struck Valeria like a physical blow, the pain of his rejection cutting deeper than any knife. She thought of him as a partner who had f
As the pain continued to grip her in its merciless hold, Valeria's cries grew louder, more desperate with each passing moment. Her body shook with tremors, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she fought to hold onto consciousness.And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the pain began to ebb away, leaving Valeria shaken and drained, but somehow still standing.
With that final admonishment, Richie swept out of the room, leaving Valeria alone once more with her tears and the weight of her despair. She watched him go, her heart heavy with a sense of resignation as she resigned herself to the cruel reality of her existence—a reality in which she was nothing more than a pawn in Richie's game of power and control.As Richie turned to leave, a glint of cunning flashed in hi
"You'll regret this," he seethed, his voice a low growl of warning.But Valeria stood her ground, her chin lifted defiantly as she met his gaze with unwavering resolve. "Maybe," she conceded, a flicker of uncertainty dancing in her eyes. "But I'd rather face the unknown than continue to live in fear of you."With that final declaration, Valeria turned away from Richie, her steps f
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