VALENTINO“Never,” I strained the words, held her shoulder, turned her towards the door, and pushed her out.“Excuse me now,” I smiled sheepishly and closed the door in her face. Turning back to look into the room, I muttered to myself, “How the hell am I going to survive in this place? Did Valerio set me up?”I fumbled with my phone, dialed Valerio while pacing to and fro the barely managed compact room.“Did you set me up, you brat?” I seethed under my breath, trying to control the loudness of my voice. I wouldn’t give Rose the satisfaction of knowing how dissatisfied I was.“You sound angry, brother,” Valerio replied as Valentino chuckled to himself.“You’re making fun of me now, yeah?” Valentino asked with an outraged voice.“I did it for your good. Staying over there with her is the best thing you would ever do,” he replied.“Do you bloody know the state of this place?” I asked through gritted teeth. “I won’t be able to survive.”“Ah… I forgot. You’re the golden grandson of the c
ROSEI was so immensed in the kiss that I forgot every words exchanged from our previous banter. All that mattered that moment was him in my embrace.As he pinned me to the wall in my room, he kissed and explored those places in my body that he knew turned me on. And like an insatiable fool, I surrendered all over again.He stopped abruptly and looked at my face, his hair tousled as he smiled. I could also see how his eyes glinted.“Say you want me.” I said as our breath both ragged rhymed with each other, both staring at each other but rather have the other person’s mouth in theirs.“I need you, Valentino.” I said shamelessly as I raised my hand to his face.I just couldn’t say no. I could never tell him no.Those times I did in the past, it was all a facade.At first when I saw him at the door, standing there like a package sent for me for my birthday wish, I was dumbfounded. But then reality dawned on me that same moment.We would have a rough future together. He would.And as if w
ROSE"Valentino... I can't." I forced myself to stand up from the bed, guilt washing over me.He also sat up and looked beside him to see me trying to avoid his gaze, aware of how much I was hurting.“Why?” he asked as I glanced to the side.“I know you don’t care about my grandfather and stuff. Something else is holding you back,” he stood up and adjusted his pants while watching me intently.“It all still falls on Valerio,” he said, standing up.“No... it’s—”“It’s fine.” He took a deep breath. “I mean, situations like this frustrate me.” He muttered under his breath and walked out of the room, even as I made to run after him.“Valentino. Wait, listen to me,” I said when we got to the living room, as he was making his way to his bedroom.He stopped in his tracks and hesitated before turning to look at me.“What?” he asked sarcastically.“Valentino... I...” I started to explain, but suddenly it felt futile.“I won’t be able to live happily with you, knowing how much hurt all of you..
ROSEWe stood staring at each other for what felt like an eternity as I began to nod my head. “Fine, your anger and hate are warranted, but I won’t have you accuse me of throwing myself at you, Valerio,” I said calmly, trying not to sound desperate.“I didn’t think that you were,” he drawled sarcastically, tucking his hand in his pocket, his gaze fixed on me. “I mean, I don’t care what you do...” He chuckled bitterly. “I'm just pissed that my brother played some trick to bring me here,” he completed, pausing, seemingly waiting for me to respond with more hurtful words.“But he just ruined my mood by bringing me here,” he said, his eyes filled with disdain, leaving me swallowing hard.“Do you hate me that much?”“I don’t have time for this,” he replied, still staring at me, contradicting his words by his unwavering attention.“I did everything for your happiness, Valerio,” I started to say desperately.“I didn’t think you were an expert to decide what was good for me and what wasn’t,”
ROSE"Valentino. No... please don’t... Valentino!" I gasped as I sat up, waking almost immediately from my nightmare."It’s a dream. It’s just a dream," I reassured myself, taking a quick glance around the room where I lay, surrounded by all-white walls and a bed. I noticed the hospital clothes I wore."What the hell..." I felt a throbbing headache and instinctively moved to hold my head, realizing a drip was fixed to my hand."Valentino..." I muttered, the dream and the memory of the last call I had flashing back to me.As I placed my leg on the floor, the door opened, revealing Valerio walking in."Valerio..." I called, almost seeking comfort from him.He rushed towards me as I attempted to reach out."Valentino," I said, trying to catch my breath. "Where is Valentino? Is he fine? I need to see him. Please, I beg you. I had this crazy dream where..." I started to babble as he held my hands, looking at me carefully. I fought back tears, feeling stressed, hot, and irritated."How are
ROSE“Grandfather what is this?” Valerio asked immediately as he stared at the uniformed men.The chairman simply ignored me as he kept his gaze on me. “Arrest her!” He pointed angrily at me as I stared in confusion as they charged towards me but Valerio was quick to come in between us.“Stay back! What the hell grandfather?!” Valerio fired angrily at his grandfather while Vicente also moved close to me as if they were both my bodyguard who was rather die before letting the touch me.“Move!” The chairman fired angrily at them. “The both of you!” He seethed.“You have no right to arrest her, grandfather. Why the hell are you bent on oppressing her?” Vicente asked immediately.“You know nothing!” He retorted. “She is no innocent woman! She has been chaos since she came into your lives! Can’t you see?!”“You have no right to say that, Grandfather! And what charge are you arresting her for?” Valerio challenged this time, still standing protectively in front of me while I just watched the
ROSE“Mr Giovanni.” I called calmly and sat up staring at with fearful gaze. He pressed a button as the electric chair moved swiftly into the room, and as always he was closely followed by Marco, who was giving me an apologetic look, as if they were not here for anything good.I made to stand up to greet him, but the pain in head suddenly intensified as I winced and held my head, I was sure how Marco quickly came to stood by my side trying to see if I was alright.“Are you okay?” He asked with a worried look and as I was about to reply, the chairman cleared his throat loudly, interrupting us as Marco quickly let go of my hand as if it was some kind of infected thing.“I’m sorry chairman.” He bowed slightly and went to take his place at the back of the chairman.The chairman eyed him sternly as he turned his attention to me, his eyes reminding me of Valentino’s every single time, but just the sterner version.“Just because the boys stopped me then doesn’t mean I will give up.” He start
ROSE“Valerio….”I held the phone tightly to my ear, desperation creeping slowing as my whole body quivered with tension.“Is that about Valentino?” I asked quickly waiting desperately for an answer even though I could only hear muffled voices from the background. I didn’t wait for him to answer again as I turned off the phone and hailed a cab, and headed straight to the hospital.I rushed down the hospital lobby to the hallway where Valentino’s room was situated. I met his brothers outside the door. Valerio was sitting on the Chair outside, his legs crossed while Vicente paced about with a troubled expression.“Rose.” Vicente saw me first as I started to approach them. Valerio shifted his gaze to me as he stood up simultaneously.“Where were you and-“ Valerio started to say but I cut him short with an impatient tone.“Valentino.” I said immediately, as I swallowed hard trying to catch my breath. “What happened to him?” I asked as I looked from one brother to another.“Ah…that…”Vale