VALENTINO"I retrieved the TV remote from Marco and turned off the television. Glancing at Rose, she appeared pale, as if she had just witnessed something deeply disturbing."Rose," I called out, reaching towards her, but she quickly moved away in shock."Damn," I muttered quietly."Marco," I beckoned, and understanding my intent, he moved towards her."Let me take you home," he offered. As I expected, she accepted, and they departed, not acknowledging Valerio. Valerio, in turn, knew better than to approach her.Initially, I thought he might follow them, but I hurried ahead and met him, only to receive a firm, dismissive look."Go away," he said calmly, but his tone betrayed irritation."Don't talk to her. This isn't her fault," I insisted, staying composed as he scoffed, ran his hand through his hair, and advanced, locking eyes with me."When you came to my room the other day, suggesting we set aside our differences and live as a family for Rose, I couldn't believe I fell for your de
VALENTINO"What do you mean?" I asked calmly, suppressing the unease churning in my stomach as fear took hold. My grandfather could be loving as a grandfather, but as Giovanni Sabatini, it spelled nothing but trouble."And you will stay out of this," he pointed at me, eliciting an incredulous chuckle from me."You know that's not possible. What are you planning to do? I told you she's gone! Let her be, Grandfather, I beg you," I pleaded desperately, observing him pull out a file from his desk and place it on the table.Upon opening it, I saw the compensation for breach of contract."We both know this is unnecessary," I remarked with an edge in my tone, attempting to maintain calm."Unnecessary? Yes, it is! Just like it was unnecessary for her to be involved with you and your brothers!""You're making this sound as if she killed someone. Cut it out!" I fired back. I came here to reason calmly with him, but it seemed the Sabatinis resolved things through violence."She killed me! She ki
VALENTINO“What?” He raised a brow in confusion. I drew in a deep breath. It was better to speak the truth and get this over with.“Rose is a fraud,” I calmly stated, while he observed me as if waiting for me to continue.“Actually, Grandfather hired her, believing she was a family psychologist. Her task was to live with us and help us bond.”“When I say 'us,' I mean... you know, all of us,” I reiterated, unsure of what was running through his mind.“No wonder,” he muttered softly. “So, what's false about her?” he prompted.“She isn't a doctor. She posed as her twin, Renata Arturo, a renowned psychologist,” I explained, noticing Vicente's raised brow.“She's a con artist,” I said in a hushed tone. I had considered leaving that out or fabricating her real occupation, but it was only a matter of time before she found out. It seemed pointless to hide it.“So, what...” He began to say, but his question seemed to get stuck in his throat.“What was her motive for lying?” I watched as his fa
VALENTINO“Talk about the devil.” Vicente muttered while watching his immediate step brother while I just stood and stared at him like he was never meant to be here and also meant to be at the same time.“Why did you stop? Come on, go on.” Valerio said with a sarcastic tone as he watched me, with a feigned amusement.“It wasn’t her fault that she tried to make you happy again.” I could only say as I watched him shook his head.“Right? Not her fault? She was quite passionate even for a fake.” He replied as I cursed under my breath. This was going no where. With the expression on his face, and him being this sarcastic, it would be impossible to break through whatever Barrier he had built.“Will you watch Grandfather hurt her then?” I asked with a defeated tone as if that was my last card to play.“You know how Giovanni can be when he quite passionate about something.” Vicente chimes in as he narrowed his eyes to look at him.“You too really did gang up.” Valerio said with an incredulous
VALENTINO“Rose, that isn’t—”“I need an answer, Valentino,” she cut in calmly as he watched me intently.“I want to know where I stand so I will know how to fight back,” she stated as a frown started to creep on my face.“I’m not a rebound,” I said after a moment of silence.“No one said you are,” she said as I swallowed.“You chose Valerio,” I said again, trying hard to divert from the question, and as the smart person that she was, she quickly grabbed on.“It seems you don’t feel like answering the question,” she chuckled bitterly.“It’s not necessary,” I countered.“Let’s focus on you…” I paused and spoke again. “You and Valerio,” I said with so much difficulty as she watched me and sniffed.“Yeah. Right. We should,” she nodded, but it seemed to me she was saying something while her heart was saying another. How did we all get into this complicated situation... I thought in agony.“So what’s the plan?” she asked, and I suddenly realized I didn’t have one. But that didn’t kill my m
VALENTINO"Please stop this, Valentino, I beg you," Rose whispered desperately to me, but I didn’t bother to spare her a glance."I didn’t ask you questions when you came in here a few minutes ago, bargaining with my grandfather even after the deal we had to stay together," I said, observing the pain in her eyes. It seemed like she was coerced into this, but I was hurting too."You will have to step down from the position of president if you continue like this," my grandfather's voice cut into our conversation. Still, with that Sabatini pride running through both our veins, I turned to look at him with a challenging stare. "I thought it through. I don’t care," I said with a cocky grin, though I was actually lying. I had never imagined giving up my position as president for anything in my life."You will regret this, Valentino," my grandfather continued to threaten. He knew my soft spot and was banking on that, but there was something that fascinated me more, something I wanted more."
VALENTINO"Come on, Rose. Don’t do this. Let’s not do this to each other," I said, hating the fact that she might bring up believable lies to make me back off."You never seem to learn, Valentino. I thought you were the smartest," she said again as I watched her."The travels to find Bella, Vicente. I saw how crazy you were over me... then I thought, why not? Why don’t I use him as a means to an end since he’s willing to do my bidding," she said with a cocky smile, a sharp contrast to the Rose who stood before me a few minutes ago."Stop," I said absentmindedly, hating how much her words were getting to me."All this time, all I ever wanted was Valerio, and—""Don’t try to damn tell me you never cared about all of us all this time!" I interrupted sharply, now evidently angry. Her plan had worked."I did it for the money. I am a con artist, remember," she replied with a drawl."I get to have Valerio, the one my heart beats for. Get you to help me get Vicente on track, and you... you se
ROSEI stared uninterestedly at the TV series airing, seeing a sharp resemblance to the dynamic of the relationship between me and the Sabatini brothers.I sighed for the umpteenth time, realizing the overwhelming sense of loneliness. It had been two weeks, and the solitude seemed never-ending, deepening with each passing day, making me more miserable than ever. Yet, I couldn't shake off the guilt, thinking about what my presence would do to the brothers.“You deserved it, Rose. You deserved it,” I muttered to myself, sighing again.“It’s not our fault,” Arya cooed as I rested my head on the sofa I sat on.“Don’t try to pacify me, Arya. You are also hurt. Don’t pretend you’re fine,” I murmured, sensing her pain too.“I hope they are fine,” I fought back the tears, recalling the tense scene with Valentino, the clash with Grandfather, and the ensuing drama.A knock on the door cut through my thoughts as I walked over, wondering who it could be.Had the chairman found my location?Had he
ROSE"What’s with the face?” Renata turned to the passenger side to look at me.“Marco said to come in now,” she said as I sighed, nervously tucking my fingernails into my mouth.“How will he react when he sees me?” I turned to look at her; she smiled. “I mean, I just left like that without a real goodbye, like a selfish….” The words hung in my mouth as she placed a hand on mine.“Don’t… this is for your happiness. These past few days have been hell for you. I won’t let you leave here without meeting him at least once,” she said. When I still seemed hesitant, she continued.“I heard he has been combing the whole world trying to find you. Imagine how he is going to feel,” she said with a reassuring smile, and I gave her a tight smile.I would fool myself if I said that served as any comfort. “Well… I guess I have to go now,” I said as Renata nodded.“Yeah… Go on, don’t keep your man waiting,” she teased, and I returned a tight smile.Now in front of Valentino’s office, the door suddenl
VALENTINO“What the hell is this?” I raised up the file the head of strategy department in the New York just brought in, as I stared at the blonde with a pissed expression.“Sir, it’s the….”“Fuck this.” I muttered under my breath as I stood up, the other man’s head slightly bowed in fear.For the past three days here in New York, I have been on the edge. Every single thing got me pissed. And this was bad, it got worse everyday as the project we are working on was being hindered due to lack of progress.“Leave now.” I cupped my face in my palm. “Until you find a better plan.” I raised up my head to look at him, so he could understand the gravity of the situation from my expression.“Alright sir.” His American accent came out calmly. They were used to it. Or maybe they forced themselves to just bear with my cranky attitude.I rested back on the leather chair following the sound of the door closing and closed my eyes, took in a deep breath and her image mirrored in my head.My eyelid fl
VICENTEFew months later….“Calling out of the blue to pick you up , eh? Do I look like your manager or driver?” Marco asked Vicente who occupied the back seat, while he drove, his eyes on the road.“Must you complain about everything, Marco? I just called this once and you can let it slip.” I replied, my eyes out in the window as I take in the afternoon view of Venice, it wasn’t like there was anything fascinating about it, I just wanted to be distracted.“Plus my Manager is on a break….”“A break you let him have. And now you’re being all grumpy towards me. I still think it’s unfair.” He looked at me through the rear mirror but I didn’t spare him a glance.“You don’t look good, Vicente .” He said again after a moment do silence.“It’s feels so empty.” I mumbled to myself as I reminisce on how the recent days felt like hell….all because of the absence of one person.“What?” Marco asked, completely confused.“I wonder if they feel it too.” I said again. “My brothers.” I looked throug
“Vicente.” I called slowly, the smile on my face fading away as I watched me intently. As we both stared at each in silence, he suddenly burst into a smile while I watched in confusion.“What’s with the look?” He asked with a chuckle, while I stared in confusion.“Ugh?” I asked, blinking.“I should be asking you that.” I licked my lips nervously, desperate to understand what was going through that head of his.“I pulled a little joke and you fell for it immediately? How cute.” He played with my cheeks as I let out a sigh and forced a slight chuckle….while throwing my face to the other side.The feeling of guilt overwhelming me again.Like hell I would believe that, it was a mere joke. I caught a sign of it. A sign of pain.I stood up abruptly as he followed me up too and stared at me with careful gaze.“I need to go.” I said, looking at him.“Ugh?” He raised his gaze in confusion, and for a minute I got lost in that curious wide eyes of his. As he watched me, it felt like he was sendi
ROSE“What were you trying to do?” I forced my gaze away from Valentino to Valerio who scoffed in disbelief.He stared at me in the disapproving glare that he as trying to moderate. But his emotions won’t let him.“I heard everything. The conversation between you and Vicente.” I said as he raised his brow in a knowing stare while I pressed my lips.“It doesn’t give any right to act out, Valerio.” I said again, everything coming out of my mouth with so much difficulty because the difficult part was yet to come. The reason I was here.“You can’t keep supporting him in this bloody time!” He seethed angrily as he watched me, his expression a mixture of anger and denial.From the corner of my eyes, I could see Valentino watching us. I bowed my head slightly as I played with my fingers, my whole body tensed.I couldn’t back down. I can’t go back on my word just because of the kind of emotion that was flowing through me at that point.“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I said and raised my head t
“What is it?” I watched him,a little scared of what to expect.I wasn’t sure why. But when it concerns Rose. It was good enough to get me nervous.He sighed heavily and shoved his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t be telling you this but….”“Go on Vicente.” I chimed in smoothly as he watched me with a nervous expression.“It was a setup.” He said as I raised my brow. “What is?” I asked.“The whole thing.” He said again.“Ugh?” I prompted, now feeling uneasy at the way he was breaking the words, mounting my fears.“When I visited Valentino the other day, I….”He started to shake his head as if trying to remember.“I overheard him and the doctor talking. About his blood pressure.” He said but I still couldn’t understand where he was heading to.“Isn’t it normal for a doctor to discuss the patient’s condition with him?” I asked with a slight chuckle, as I tried to cover my fears with a feigned smile.“Yeah. I think he told him to disclose it to your guys intentionally to….”“To get Ros
VALERIO “Fuck!” I muttered under my breath as I turned to see my brother staring at me and Rose as if he couldn’t comprehend what was right in front of him.Vicente closed the door as quickly as he opened it and walked away.“He looks pissed.” I turned to Rose who had her hand stuck in her head as if thinking of what to do, but was obviously stuck.“I’ll go talk to him.” I said and licked my lips in exasperation and stood up, watched as she crouched up her legs and folded her arms around him, her gaze away from mine.“Hey.” I started to move close to her but she moves slightly away from me as if she was tasked to stay away.“Go to Vicente.” She looked up to me quickly.“He would get things wrong.” She said with a worried expression.I sighed and nodded then moved away from the bed. “Tell him what?” I asked, my voice starting to sound irritated as she raised up her head to look at me in disbelief.“Anything!” She retorted angrily. “What if he goes blabbering to Valentino about this?”
VALERIO I moved closer and deepened the kiss, as if scared that she might change her mind at the last minute. I didn’t need any more confirmation from her as she held my head to her.Closely, as if I might withdraw.As we deepened the kiss as the minute passes, flashes of her rejecting me after all of this ends starts to come to my mind but I blocked out those thoughts as I led her instinctively to the bed.As we kissed, I placed her hastily on the bed, our panting breath, the only thing that filled my head as the urgency of the situation seized me.“Valerio.” She pushed me back as I stared at her flushed face, and maybe a hint of guilt starting to show.“This is the last time.” The words came out of her mouth and I didn’t even know how to react to it.She was looking at my lips like a snack that she has always wanted and has now gotten the chance.“Last time?” I asked, my voice choked with emotion as she causally shifted her gaze to my eyes.“I chose Valentino.” She said as if even
ROSE“Thank you, doctor.” I managed to say despite the huge lump of pain I was feeling in my chest at that point. But Valerio stood up abruptly and walked out of the room without saying a word as I shifted my gaze to gus retreating figure, watched as he banged the door following his exiting.“I’m sorry about that.” I turned to apologize to the doctor who just managed a tight smile. Obviously, that didn’t settle well with him. And Valerio obviously wasn’t feeling what he said. I stood up and walked away, dragging my feet down the hallway.“Follow him or him….”Arya asked through the mind linked in my head.I knew who she was referring to as him or him.I didn’t reply that, just made my way out of the hospital, and if I was mistaken, I saw Valerio’s car pass in front of me, speeding up without a care in the world.I clenched my fist and swallowed, as I tried not to stagger due to how weak I suddenly became.This is extremely tiresome. And what’s worse, I can’t leave everything and leave