"How are you feeling?" Valeria blinked, her vision clearing as she took in her surroundings. Memories of the operation flooded back to her—the fear, the uncertainty, and finally, the overwhelming relief of waking up to find Markus by her side.
She reached out to Martha, her hand finding hers in a silent gesture of gratitude. "I'm... I'm okay," Valeria murmured, her voice still hoarse but filled with newfound strength. "Tired, but okay. Argh, my back hurts.”
Martha nodded understandingly, her gaze softening with concern. "You have been through quite a lot, miss. But you were strong. I am all here for you." Valeria offered Martha a weak smile, touched by her motherly reassurance. "Thank you, Martha. For everything."
Martha leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to
As Martha gently assisted Valeria in sitting up on the hospital bed, the door to the ward swung open, admitting a soft glow of light and the hushed murmurs of footsteps. Valeria's heart skipped a beat with anticipation, her eyes brightening as she watched a nurse enter the room, cradling a swaddled bundle in her arms."Here he is your son, miss Valeria," the nurse said with a warm smile, approaching the bed where Valeria sat, her eyes sparkling with joy. “He is so healthy. You are lucky that you both survived.The condition you were brought here, the chances were very low.” The nurse informed her.Valeria's breath caught in her throat as she beheld her newborn son for the first time. “My baby!” He was a vision of perfection, his tiny features s
Valeria took a deep breath, her resolve hardening as she made a decision. Looking up at Martha with determination shining in her eyes, she spoke softly but with conviction."Martha, thank you for everything. But I think I need to find a shelter or someplace to stay with my son," she said, her voice steady despite the lingering uncertainty. "I want to make sure we have a safe and stable environment to call home."Martha's expression softened with understanding, her eyes reflecting both pride and concern. She reached out and squeezed Valeria's hand in a gesture of support. "I understand, dear," Martha replied, her voice gentle. "Just know that you're not alone in this. I will help you in any way we can."Valeria nodded gratefully, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders at Martha's words."Thank you, Martha," Valeria said, her voi
Valeria sat curled up on the slightly worn-out couch. The soft glow from the window beside her cast gentle shadows on her silhouette. The quiet of the evening wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, and for a moment, she forgot about the chaos in her life.But then, a sudden knock shattered her peaceful sleep. Startled, Valeria looked around, her heart pounding with uncertainty. Martha came out after putting the child down. "Who could that be at this hour?" Martha murmured, her voice trembling slightly because no one should come.The knock came again, more urgent this time, reverberating through the small apartment. “Stay here, I will check.” Martha moved cautiously toward the door, her hand trembling as she reached for the handle. Valeria sat cautiously on the sofa, her senses on high alert.
"But how... how is this possible?" Valeria stammered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I thought... I thought I was alone in this world. How come you popped now out of nowhere claiming to be my brother? And what assets are you talking about? I have nothing to my name for Richie to claim.”Gabriel reached out to take her hand in his, his touch grounding her amidst the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "You were never alone, Valeria," he said, his voicefilled with warmth and reassurance. "I have always been watching over you, even when you could not see me. And you have no idea how much wealth you have on your name, sis.”Valeria's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she absorbed Gabriel's words, a sense of belonging washing over her like
The grand manor stood imposingly against the backdrop of the setting sun, its ancient stone walls whispering tales of generations long past. Valeria was still savouring the moment when she saw a man coming out of the main ingress. She couldn’t help but feel emotional seeing the man on the wheelchair.Gabriel, his features etched with concern, hurried across the manicured lawn towards the entrance where a guard was gently wheeling out an elderly man in a wheelchair. "Father!" Gabriel's voice echoed through the courtyard, carrying a mixture of excitement and af ection.The elderly man turned his head, his weathered face breaking into a frail smile at the sight of his son. His eyes, though tired, sparkled with reciprocation. "Gabriel," he murmured, his voice soft and raspy with
As the golden hues of afternoon danced across the courtyard, Liam felt a chill in the evening air. With a tender smile, he looked down at the infant cradled in his arms, feeling the warmth of the child's breath against his chest.But he couldn't ignore the growing sense of fatigue on Valeria’s face. Liam raised his one hand and gestured to the guard who had brought him. "Please," Liam murmured softly to the guard standing nearby, his voice a gentle plea, "could you assist me inside?"The guard nodded understandingly, stepping forward to lend a helping hand. “Yes, sir!” With careful precision, he guided Liam's wheelchair towards the grand entrance of the manor, mindful of the child Liam held in his arms.Liam clutched baby Lucas close to his chest, un
As Gabriel led Valeria down the hallway towards her room, her small hand clasped tightly in his, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement mixed with nervousness. This was her new home, her new room, and her new life, her father and brother’s presence."Here we are," Gabriel announced, stopping in front of a door adorned with a delicate wooden carving. "Your room, sis. And don’t worry about Lucas. I will take care of him, you should take a nap meanwhile. Also, dad and Martha are there to tend him."Valeria's eyes widened as she took in the sight before her. The room was bathed in soft light filtering through gauzy curtains, casting a warm glow over the space. A cozy bed with a quiltedcoverlet sat against one wall, a plush rug adorning the floor b
Just as the weight of their shared grief seemed almost unbearable, the soft click of the door opening drew their attention. Gabriel, with his mischievous and light laugh, stepped into the room, his eyes twinkling with affection."Well, well, what do we have here?" Gabriel exclaimed, his voice filled with playful amusement. "Looks like I stumbled upon a rather dramatic and sad moment between you two."Valeria couldn't help but smile through her tears at Gabriel's gentle teasing, grateful for his ability to lighten the heavy atmosphere with his infectious laughter. “Such a dramatic father daughter duo.”Liam chuckled softly, shaking his head at Gabriel's antics. "Oh, you know, Gabriel. We do love a bit of drama." Gabriel crossed the room with a playful swagger, ta
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