BELLATRIX.... Life couldn't be happier than it is now. My husband, my friends, and well-wishers—everything feels so surreal to me. Before meeting Victor, I never realized that life could be this sweet. I can only thank God for giving me Victor. Our past few days have been full of ups and downs regarding some revealed truths and criminals. However, it's all good now. Dad and Ambrose Ryder are undergoing strict trials. Both Victor and Roy are involved in the case, and for certain, they will be punished. Mom and Florence did not come after me either. I am quite sure Victor has taken care of it too. Sigh... Slowly, I caressed my belly. I'm now in my fourth month, and my belly has shown up. A few more months only, then we'll be holding our firstborn. The thought itself sends shivers through my every vein... The knock on the door broke my thoughts as I saw Luciua standing with a glass of milk in her hand. I smiled and nodded, "Come." She walked toward me, holding the glass, and gave
BELLATRIX.... I stood at the corner of the funeral home, my eyes blurred, unable to focus on anything but the smiling photo of my father. I wasn't surprised when, last night, the news of his death came to the imperial palace; perhaps I was expecting it. I had seen him in the hospital two days ago. That twisted feeling after seeing his condition—a part of me was prepared for this day. Yes, I know he had hurt me, prioritized Florence over me, turned out to be the killer of my husband's parents, and even attempted to kill him in Russia. He even unhesitatingly signed the document severing our relationship. However, in between all that, there were also memories of the first eight years of my life. Those memories were amazing and pretty evident in my heart. With my grandparents and my parents, especially Dad. He adored me; sometimes, he was my partner in crime and saved me from Mom's scolding. Those memories may be long forgotten by my parents, but I still cherish them. After all, tho
VICTOR.... I have seen my little bird maintaining herself strongly. She was sad, no doubt, but she was fighting it to remain calm. The death of her father was sudden. But, at least, in the end, he gave her a feeling of his daughter, which she always craved for... My thoughts broke at the ringtone of my phone. It was Uncle Larry. As soon as I received the call, I heard his panicked and shaky tone, "M-master, ma'am... She fell off the stairs! She's bb-bleeding...." I froze... Nothing I heard after that. "Go home!" I almost roared at the chauffeur, who immediately obliged my order. I don't know how I ran inside, but the scene in front of me terrified me. Bella was lying on the floor, and Uncle Larry and the other servants were around her. Her legs were covered in blood! I rushed to her side, and Uncle Larry immediately moved away. "Master! I've called the ambulance! It's on the way...." He perhaps said more, but I could not hear any more of his words. My focus was on the woman in
BELLATRIX.... "Mommy." I heard a baby voice ringing in my ear. I looked around; where is she? I don't see anyone. "Mommy, don't you see me?" Her voice was soft. "No, where are you?" I shouted. "Mommy, please, come to me." She said again as I started running nowhere. "Where are you?" I screamed. Suddenly, I found myself on the stairs. In front of me was... "Lucia!" Her eyes were evil. She stepped toward me. "I'm sorry," she said, and then pushed me. "No!" My voice echoed in the hollow. My eyes flew open, and a heavy breath escaped me as I was greeted by a pure white ceiling. Wh-where am I? Am I stuck in nowhere? Am I dead? I was confused. I looked around. Everything around me was either white or off-white. There was a monitor beside the bed, beeping continuously, and a wire attached to the back of my hand. It took me a while to realize my surroundings. I am in the hospital. I look around again; I am alone in the room. How did I end up here? I tried to recall, and some vag
VICTOR.... "Open your mouth." Stella held a slice of apple in front of Bella's mouth. Slowly, without a word, she took the slice and chewed on it.I was watching her, standing on the other side of the hospital room. I was on a call, yet my focus was on my wife.Twenty-four hours had passed since she came out of that nightmare, still in a daze but much better than before. However, after she woke up and cried, she did not speak in the last twenty-four hours, as if she had lost her voice.Doctors said that it's due to the aftershock, but soon she would be fine. The main danger is gone; it's now upon her adaptability. We must be patient and give her enough time to adjust.Feeling frustrated, I turned around and left the room. It's hard to see her this way; I just can't.I walked out into the huge garden of the hospital, where the patients were walking, some maybe talking with their family members. I chose a quiet place and sat on a bench.I rubbed my face. I am not quite sure how to hand
BELLATRIX.... I look up at my husband, to whom I could not look since yesterday. How can I even look at him after breaking his dream like that? I have failed him, failed myself, and most importantly, I have failed as a mother.I could not protect my child. I trusted the wrong person, and now... my heart clenches at the reminder of that moment. Exactly right here, it happened.Victor stared at me; his beautiful green eyes held many emotions."Will you take me?" I ask again, hoping that he'll take me to her. Though I am not sure if she is alive or not.He raised his hand and touched my cheeks, slowly caressing them with his thumb. "Of course, whatever you wish."He took me out, and we sat in our car. Lucia was kept in an interrogation cell with high security. Of course, Victor used his power here, and none can blame him for that. She's the killer of our unborn baby. However, surprisingly, she is still alive but beaten very badly. She was arrested and sent to the interrogation room, wi
BELLATRIX.... "The person who wanted to kill you is your mother."As soon as those words left her tongue, I fell backward. The door of the room swung open at the same time as I heard hasty footsteps getting closer to me, and before I realized it, I was caught back in a pair of strong and familiar arms.I stared at her, dumbfounded. When she said that, I would never have imagined 'the person' she referred to; she did not lie. I would have never envisioned this, even in my nightmares!"What?" I asked, breathless."I did not lie," she muttered, hugging her knees. "She and her daughter threatened me that if I failed to kill you, they would hurt my mother... And now, I have failed," she sobbed.I don't know whether I should be happy about the fact that she told me or go into shock again; I have no fucking idea.I was in a daze when I was pulled back by my husband. He had already picked me up in his arms and started walking out, muttering, "I shouldn't have let you in here alone. Fuck!"Wa
BELLATRIX.... Is he joking? That's the first line that came into my head. I sharply looked at his face; there was no trace of humor there; instead, worry and fear lingered on his features.My heart twisted strangely... That means he did not lie.When I said nothing, he touched my face. "Baby, calm down. What I am about to tell you won't be easy."I swallowed hard. At this point, I am numb, but I want to know. "O-kay..." I replied breathlessly."Bella, Mrs. Valdez is not your biological mother. She did not give birth to you. But... Mr. Valdez is your biological father," he said, dropping another bomb over my head.My mouth agape, my gaze blankly watched him.He sighed, caressing my neck. "It does not end here, Bella. There are many more. Do you want me to continue? Or do you want to see for yourself?" He gestured at the file. I once glanced at it and gulped hard again. The idea of my life being imprinted in that file did not please me; in fact, it was scarier. I shook my head, "No, y