VALERIO "What did you just say?" My grandfather growled at me.I felt Rose's gaze on me, though I wasn't looking at her. I could sense her shock."Yeah," I said firmly, meeting his eyes. "She's carrying your great-grandchild."His face turned from red to outraged. "How is that possible?" he roared angrily, but I stood my ground."Valerio," murmured Rose beside me, sounding like a child asked to stay quiet during an important conversation."There's no need to hide it, Rose," I said, giving her a knowing look, which left her confused."But I'm not--""How is she pregnant by Valentino?" I turned to my raging grandfather. I was committed to playing this role perfectly until the end. It was Plan B and our last resort, so it had to work."Oh... how did she get pregnant by Valentino?" I crossed my arms, pretending to contemplate deeply. "Here's how the process goes... they both..." I glanced briefly at Rose and the unconscious Valentino, then back to my grandfather. "Get intimate, you know,
VALERIO She sighed and big her lips. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this.” She turned by back at me to look at Valentino she bit her fingers in that way she does whenever she was nervous. “We shouldn’t have lied.” She turned to look at me again.“I didn’t mean to lie.” I said as she watched me in total astonishment.“But the way you spewed those lies effortlessly made even me to believe you.” She said with a wide eye.I watched her in silence for a while the spike up. “Fine.” I said. “It was pre-planned.” “Pre-planned? How? Do you intend to put some baby in my womb before the test? Just what were you thinking when you thought of pregnancy?” “I thought of you being in prison again, and I couldn’t take in that image, Rose.” I said as I watched her face softened in worry.“I can’t fight my grandfather with the kind of power he has. He isn’t joking around when he planned to keep you locked in for the rest of your life, Rose.” I said with a strong gaze as if to emphasize how much se
ROSEI paced the hallway in front of the laboratory where the test was being carried out. This was driving crazy. This whole Valerio’s idea which seemed unreasonable.“You still have the chance to tell me the truth.” I stopped on my track and turned to see the chairman alone with me on the hallway, staring at me with that angry look that showed the whole situation was weighing on him.I dropped my hands whose fingers were tucked in my mouth by my side and watched him. “What truth?” I feigned confidence. Valerio said to trust him. Damn….I should try but it was fucking hard.He exhaled and let out a deep groan while throwing his face to the other side.“Fine. There is no use arguing with you.” He raised his hand and pointed at me as I swallowed, completely intimidated but trying not to let it show. “You charmed my grandsons and get them to turn against me. Something, I can’t even do.” He letbouta soft scoff. “Valerio now dances to your tune. And now, you are going to use pregnancy to
ROSE“So I have come to a conclusion that Rose will be staying with me, at the main house till further notice.” He dropped as my mouth dropped in shock.“What?!”“That won’t be possible.” Valerio said smoothly as if he had the final say.“Isn’t that too much?” Vicente chinned in.“It’s not.” The chairman maintained his stance without wavering. “That is my responsibility.” He continued. “Till Valentino wakes up, she should be under my care. I can’t obviously let her live with you both in the same house. Who knows what other atrocities you all would engage in.”“We are not kids, Grandfather. And don’t talk to Rose like that.” Vicente started to attack him again.Seemed things has been quite tight between them during this period. With the way Vicente has been attacking him.“You don’t get to have a say on this, Vicente.” The chairman said sternly but Vicente wasn’t having it with him.“You have be hostile towards her all this well and all of sudden, you want her to start living with you?
ROSE“Marco….”I called the Marco who was driving me in the limousine back to the house as he looked by his side to regard me and listen to what I have to say.“Yes, Miss.” He replied and my mind suddenly went blank on what to say. It is just ten minutes since Marco came to the hospital saying the Chairman has asked him to bring me home. The same home he was hellbent of throwing me out.And to make this thing more crazy, I was the only allowed to enter the car. His grandsons were let to use any of mode of transport home.Oh well, that wasn’t the point. The point is still that I am now his sole focus and I can’t even do anything about it.“Miss?” Marco called again, his eyes still on the road, as I snapped out of my thoughts.“Ah….”I entwined my fingers nervously on my leg. “You see…the whole chairman’s being overprotective thing and….”“If for your own good, Miss Arturo. I promise.” He said, his eyes still on the road.“Ah…I see. That’s your view on this.” I started to nod. “And there’
ROSE“Hey…you okay?” He asked again as I feigned a smile. “Yeah sure. I am.” I said quickly, looking to brush off further conversation.“You were talking about the pregnancy.” Marco asked still driving as I bit my lips.“It’s nothing. Just kinda scared since it’s my first and Stuff.” I shrugged as he nodded slowly.“Don’t worry. The chairman won’t let anything happen to you. To the chairman, it’s like you are carrying Valentino in your womb. He will make sure you get the best treatment in the world.” He said as I nodded with a tight smile as I rested back on the chair. What I need is Valentino to wake up. I thought painfully as I unconsciously rubbed my body, as if there were invisible shivers.Few minutes later, we got home and it hasn’t changed a bit, my room was still the same. As I sat on the bed and rubbed the soft mattress….I just couldn’t help but reminisce about Valentino. That night when we had laid….“Hey….”The door opened abruptly as I raised my head to find Valerio stand
ROSE“Why are you here?” He asked still crouching down, while regarding me with that ever gentle look.“Ah….”I quickly looked away and stood up, having how breathless I became that moment.Why was I feeling this way? Yeah, I know how crazy Valerio drove me. But I came back to this house for Valentino, right?Or else I would have just eloped with him, instead of meeting him around in the night like two teenagers who are crazy over each other but are forbidden to meet. “Your grandfather….,”I started to say but hesitated for a while as I watched him stand his gaze intent on me. The old man has been clashing with them too much lately, and everything seemed to be my fault. And all for nothing. It nagged me to some extent. “What did he do?” He asked with a frown perched on his face.I watched him for while, as if is face would tell me exactly what to say. But I realized something, I felt a burning need within me. During dinner when he placed a held me, and few minutes earlier when I was
ROSE“What games are you playing, Rose.” He asked as my heart went out to him at that moment.None of this was his fault, his attraction towards me.“Stay away from me, Valerio.” I said with a straight face as started to walk away but he held my arms in time, his face more like a frustrated person who was desperate.I turned to look at him, trying to hard the fact that I am struggling with my decision too. “Why?” He swallowed as he stared at me, giving me the expression that made me want to go back to my words.“Like I said…..”I said slowly. “I am pregnant for you brother.” I completed with a defiant look.Some had to stop the madness that the two of us were involved in. No matter what, we would find ourselves involved in each other and I too, would be always filled with guilt.This time, as I walked away, he didn’t bother to go after me. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. Was this similar to a breakup scene in a melodrama. It hurt more than the Tv series detect it to be. I sniffe
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