BELLATRIX.... We all followed Grandpa into the huge dining area and took our seats. Grandpa sat in the head chair; next to his right was Ambrose, with Emily beside him. Next to his left was, thankfully, I, and beside me was Victor. Dad reluctantly took his seat at Victor's side, and Mom sat next to Dad with Florence and Neil. Next to Emily was Giana. I looked at Victor from the corner of my eye; he was still graceful, with coldness swirling around his head. He was pretty much steady, unlike me, who kept trying her best not to panic in any situation. Servants started serving meals as I looked around through my lashes. This is very awkward, sitting in a room full of people who hate me from the deepest part of their hearts. If it weren't for Victor and Grandpa, there’s no way in hell I would have been here! "I'm hopeful that all you've heard about the new seven-star hotel project of RD Group," Grandpa said as he began helping himself to some vegetables. His assistant came forward and
VICTOR.... "Liar! She hurt Florence! The entire mall was present there!" Giana screamed. "I've witnessed it with my own eyes!" "Really?" I scoffed, tilting the glass of wine before taking a sip and putting it back on the table. "Then I'm concerned for your eyes, sister." Giana gasped; she perhaps did not expect such boldness from an ordinary man, especially in the presence of Grandpa. But being a spoiled kid, she misunderstood me and my politeness toward them. "How dare you talk to my sister that way?" the other spoiled kid, Neil, shouted from the other side. "We all know how Bella always tried to sabotage Florence! I'm not even surprised at the news!" He defended his boneless fiancée, who did nothing but sit on one side and enjoy the fight. I sneered, "Yes, of course, you're not." I arched a brow, challenging him to speak further if he dared to. Tonight, I'm going to put all of them in their places and close this shitty argument of accusation over Bellatrix. I've had enough of t
VICTOR.... Either Mrs Valdez is too bold, or too naive to not realise her favourite daughter's schemes yet. I felt Bella turning rigid at her mother's words. She only stared at her mother, with distress beaming her eyes. Her luscious breasts were moving up and down heavily, she was trying her best not to panic. I tightened my grip on her hand and turned my sight to the aggressive woman, who herself should've no right to call herself a 'mother'. "She isn't the only one available to donate kidney, Mrs Valdez." My cold voice boomed in the room. "Bella has no blood relation with your daughter, but still you deliberately pushed Bella against her will when You could've find another donor easily, but You did not think about her once before forcefully taking her to the hospital and tried to operate out her kidney." There was no mercy in my tone and the truth silenced the entire hall. "What are you..." Brandon opened his mouth, but I've got not chill, not when they all have gone against
BELLATRIX.... My eyes fly open; the touch of his lips on mine sends a sudden jolt of shock through me. His masculine scent, mixed with wine, is so God damn intoxicating. My heart races, and my body shivers. His lips on my mouth are the least thing I've ever expected, yet they make me feel sinful. A part of me wants to turn and run, never to look back... but another part of me wants to give in, to see what will happen next. I feel so ticklish between my legs; it is strange and horrifying, yet oddly satisfying... This is my first kiss; I had saved it for the love of my life, but now I'm giving it to someone I've just met. It is so terrifying, yet feels so oddly right. I'm uncertain of my feelings. Oh God, what's happening to me? I'm losing... Oh fuck! I gasped when he suddenly flipped us, pushing my lower back onto the stool. My back leans against the bar counter while he pushes my legs open and claims his place between them. His hand tightened around my neck as he kissed me hungr
BELLATRIX.... Jumping out of bed, I rushed toward the door. I must tell Victor about it! God, I've been selected for a job! My first ever job! However, just as I opened the door, the images from an hour earlier flashed right before my eyes, making me stiff. I... H-how could I...? Shaking my head, I closed the door again, leaning against it. I sighed. It seems like this wasn't the appropriate time to face him, especially after the way he left. Once again, those thoughts embarrassed me. Was I so bad at it that he left that way? But... it was my first fucking time! I... Oh Lord, sigh... Self-conscious, I slowly dragged myself to the bed and tucked myself under the duvet. Facing him next would be way too awkward! UGHH! While trying to distract myself, I started thinking random things, and soon my eyelids grew heavier before I was drowned in darkness. ******** His hands touched my inner thighs dangerously, making me moan in ecstasy, "Victor." I screamed out his name when his finger
BELLATRIX.... Thousands of negative possibilities started frightening me as I stood in line. Dad's stern, cold voice... a sudden summons; this did not make sense to me. "Ma'am, is everything alright?" Mathew's sudden, concerned tone broke my thoughts, making me look up at him with slight dizziness. He frowned, perhaps because of my drained face. "Ma'am, do you want me to call sir?" he asked again. "Huh? N-no! I..." I licked my dry lips before gazing at him again. "I-it was my father; he w-wanted to see me," I murmured. My voice was barely a whisper, but he caught it. His brows furrowed deeply. "Do you want to visit him?" His question was the same thing that was roaming around in my head—Do I? The truth was, I wanted to run far away from my family. The excitement and hopes I had before returning to my family five years ago had, over time, crushed me a billion times and left me traumatized. I frankly didn't want to see him or any of my family members, but still, there was a little
BELLATRIX.... I gazed at my mother, powerless and paralyzed on the ground. I could not feel my breathing; for a moment, it felt like my world was falling apart and melting into the fire I was thrown into fifteen years ago. I couldn't help but smile at my mother. It was neither bitter nor cold, just a smile that was a pure reflection of my sorrows, realizing that I had manifested nothing at all. I was never going to enter the picture since I was taken out of it—It was always Florence, no matter what. "Please, Bella." There was pure desperation in Mom's voice, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I... I'll make sure she never does anything wrong again, Bella. One last chance, Bella, please." She was practically begging me. I've never seen my mother like this. She's always been a proud woman, and seeing her broken, even after the revelation of her crimes, she was still holding the same love for her. Is this called motherly love? Then why only for Florence? I'm also their daughter; then w
VICTOR.... "Madam Dubov has taken a random bus after coming out of her parents' house; I'm following her." - Mathew I read the text for the 100th time before my eyes followed the bus she was traveling on, again... I was returning home after sending Florence to where she deserved to be sent a long time ago. I wanted to inform Bellatrix about it personally, and that was the reason I left home earlier this morning. But Mathew said she went to Litech Corporation for a job. I was a little surprised and strangely disheartened when she did not say anything to me about it. Although I'm happy for her success, I hoped she would share her mirth with me. Later, Mathew informed me that she visited her parents after receiving her father's call, which made me frown. I knew why they called her; it was certainly about Florence. But why was she upset? What happened in her parents' house? Worried, I asked my driver to follow her through the tracker I had placed in her wedding ring; it was only for h
ONE YEAR LATER.... BELLATRIX.... I stood in the bathroom, my body shivering, and drops of tears rolling down my cheeks... No, I'm not hurt; I'm emotional, and this feeling... It's beyond any joy and fear I could ever feel. I stared at the two pink lines on the pregnancy kit. Yes, I'm pregnant again. I sobbed loudly, and suddenly the door of the bathroom swung open, revealing my anxious husband, who was waiting outside. He rushed inside. "Wh-what is it?" He was worried and nervous too. I felt so weak and sat on the toilet seat, showing him the kit. One glance at it, and he froze. Slowly, he bent down beside me, watching the kit. He looked up at me, his eyes teary... "Is it a yes?" I nodded. "Y-es." I choked on my tears, smiling and crying at the same time. As soon as I confirmed my pregnancy to him, he dropped his head on my thigh and started crying. It was the same emotion for him. "We are... pregnant," he spoke between his tears, and I nodded. I hugged his head as we shed t
BELLATRIX.... I inhaled a deep breath before stepping inside the funeral home. I had avoided this topic after Victor informed me about her death two days ago. However, I came today for her funeral.Why? Well, I don't even know myself.I felt nothing for her anymore. The tie I had with her was brutally severed. Still, I wanted to see her, which was pretty surprising for me too.As usual, Victor accompanied me.Stepping inside, I walked toward her coffin. I saw her daughter, Florence, was there too, with police officers guarding her.The mother and daughter had both been sentenced to fourteen years of imprisonment.Seeing me, she tried hard to rush to me, but the officers did not let her. She glared at me hatefully. I knew that if she got a chance now, she would kill me. Well, unfortunate for her, I am not available for that.She was dragged away by the officers as I ignored her and looked at Rebecca's coffin. Her face was pale and slightly bluish. There was no charm on her face anymor
VICTOR.... Life wasn't the same after the truth was revealed. My always-smiling little bird isn't the same anymore... She smiles, but the pure charm she had is no longer in her.It's been a couple of months since all the miseries, cruel truths, and heartbreaks, and Bella was the one hurt the most during that time, which changed her a lot.After returning home and seeing her mother that day, she only asked me two things: 1. To give Lucia's mother a standard life.She did not want that lady to suffer because of what her daughter did. Her mother did not know about Lucia's crime, and when she learned, she cried and asked for forgiveness again and again. She did not ask to free her daughter, though. Perhaps she too realized the severity of her daughter's actions.And 2. Bella demanded to keep Florence and Rebecca separate and never let them know about each other. She wanted Rebecca to suffer, which I obliged gladly. After that day, she did not speak about them, nor about her biological m
BELLATRIX.... The revelation was hard, yet nothing is harder than losing a child. Perhaps because I have digested the shock of losing my child, I did not react harshly toward the unsaid truth.This taught me one truth, though. Now I know why my father used to be the one caring for me. Now I know why he wanted to see me on his deathbed and not Florence, because I was his biological daughter. I do not justify his actions, though; I never will..."Baby, we are here," Victor said to me, breaking my thoughts.I turned to him in a daze. "Huh?""We have reached here," he said again.I looked out of the car window. We are at the same investigation center. Our chauffeur opened the door, and we stepped out of the car."They are here?" I asked as my husband held my hand."Hmm. They have been brought for investigation..." He turned to me. "Are you sure you want to see them?" I squeezed his hand, locking our gazes. "Don't worry, I am fine... My mother taught me to face the hardest phases of life
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
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.... 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
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.... "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