BELLATRIX.... After enough persuasion, I was finally able to go to the office. Victor wanted me to stay home and rest after that incident, but I felt there was no need for that. Also, I recently revealed our relationship to Logan and did not want him to think I was taking any advantage of it. When I reached work, I found him smiling with a colleague at his desk. Approaching my desk beside his, I greeted him. The smile on his face vanished, and an awkward expression lingered there. He left with that colleague with an excuse. It was disheartening. Did I make a mistake by informing him? He returned after some time and silently sat in his chair. I pushed my chair near his desk and directly looked at him. "Why are you avoiding me?" I asked openly; I needed to clear the air between us. I only have a few friends, and I don't want to lose them over a silly reason. He blinked. "I-I wasn't." He frowned; his face was nervous. Sigh... "I know it was unexpected, but please, I only have two
BELLATRIX.... For a long time, I couldn't utter a word. Florence Valdez called me? Why? "Bella, can you hear me?" Her voice rang in my ear again. "What do you want?" I feel annoyed by her call. There was silence for a few seconds before she spoke, "I know you weren't expecting my call since we don't share... any pleasant bond. But Bella, I... I wanted to talk to you. So, I was thinking if we could meet tomorrow. Can you?" It's quite shocking to get a call from her and even her request to meet. In five years of living together, she never talked politely to me once. What forced her now? Is it because of Victor's identity, or... for Neil? "Please, Bella, for once meet me," she says again. Although rejection was just hanging on my tongue, I changed my mind and shrugged, "Alright... But remember one thing, Florence: any funny move, and I'll ruin you." "No, I promise you that I only want to talk to you." There was a slight tremble in her voice, as if she were scared. However, this
VICTOR.... My private jet landed at the airport as I slowly walked down the jet, with Luis and Avon following behind me. My mood was quite ruined, thanks to a few pieces of news I received before flying back from Russia to the country. It turns out my little bird met Florence, and she hid it from me. Though she did nothing to keep it a secret, I'm still mad that she didn't inform me beforehand. Well, she just earned a punishment for herself! However, the worst news was that the reason I returned to America a few months earlier followed me here. Though, throughout my investigation, I've realized that someone from my family arranged that attack, I'm still unsure of who that person is and do not know how he would attack again. This time, I'm more scared for Bellatrix. She didn't know I had returned today; I was about to surprise her, yet she beat me to it. Now, it'll be a surprise punishment for her. I feel my body hardening just at the thought of that... "Luis." "Chairman." "Inf
BELLATRIX.... I lay on the bed, my mind drifting to Florence's words... Although I have always said I don't care about my parents, a part of me still hurts. Are they really my biological parents? This one question has lingered in my mind for the last five years. I was kidnapped at eight years old; ten years have passed in between, and their hearts' changes toward me... Neil's changes toward me were logical; with time, he had perhaps changed according to his parents and environment. But what about my parents? Do parents' hearts really change for their children? *Sigh...* If one day I am blessed with children, I will never treat them the way my parents did. I will love them so much, and I know Victor will do the same... Mmm, in that thought, does Victor want children too? With me? I blink, suddenly realizing that we never really discussed this matter. What if... he doesn't want to? He never shared his desires regarding this matter. An abrupt frustration coursed through me. I sat u
BELLATRIX.... The next day, I woke up with sore legs, a raspy throat, and a gleeful heart... I stretched my body before rolling over to my husband and hugging him. His huge arms wrapped around me as I lay on his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat. It was so peaceful, a dream come true. I never realized life could be so beautiful. Aside from stress, the pressure to fit into society, making the family proud, and fighting for their attention—which I have always received negatively—there were insults, mockery, and schemes... There was no kindness or delight in my life. But with Victor, those seemed just a part of life that gets suppressed by his love over time, healing my deeply wounded soul along the way. He knows that I met Florence yesterday; I did not attempt to hide it. However, he did not ask about it at all, which gives me a sense of freedom... He had given me space and trusted me enough to let me handle it on my own, which made me love him more. His hand was caressing my low
VICTOR.... I stood before Grandpa's lifeless body in the coffin... He was handsome as usual, a little pale though. It was still somewhat unbelievable for me that he is no longer with us... with me. His last words are still echoing in my ears... For some reason, now it feels as if he knew of his impending death. That strange desperation in his weak tone suddenly became clear to me. But now it's too late. I wish I had been beside him in his last moments. A hard lump is forming in my chest; it's so painful realizing that another of my beloved ones has left me forever. Sigh... I feel a soft touch on my hand; without looking beside me, I knew it was my wife. Honestly, if it weren't for her, I would have been broken quite badly. She is giving me her strength. It turns out that in giving me one support, God has taken the previous one. She silently holds my hand and leans on my arm. "He has worked hard for a long time; it's time for his rest," she whispers softly. "Hmm... He looks peac
VICTOR.... I stared at his back; soon, he disappeared into the crowd of people at the funeral. I frowned before getting inside the car. Bellatrix had witnessed all of it. She felt the strange tension within him too. "What is it?" Slowly, I opened the note: 'Tomorrow, at four in the afternoon, at Charlie's House, I will wait for you. Text me your answer if you can come.' "Who is Charlie?" I heard Bella's curious tone. "It's not really a person he meant; Charlie's House—it's a meatball restaurant a little way from the main city," I explained. Since childhood, I have seen Grandpa visiting Charlie's House at least once a month. Sometimes, he even took me with him. The owner, Charlie, used to adore us and respected Grandpa a lot. In Grandpa's heart, no one could make meatballs like Charlie, so no matter how far away it was, he would always visit. Although I have heard that a few years earlier, Charlie died. At that time, Grandpa was really sad. He had built a good bond with Charlie
VICTOR.... I froze, staring at the old man before me. "What about them?" I asked coldly, suddenly feeling insecure about his mention. What secrets could there be regarding my parents? Daniel's gaze lowered as he slowly brought out an envelope from his blazer pocket, placing it on the table before looking up at me, clear guilt lingering in his gray eyes. "Years ago, your parents died in a plane crash. You were a child back then—helpless and vulnerable," he spoke. "Master Ryder was broken too; he loved his daughter so much. Even though it was an accident, Master's mind couldn’t accept it. He had a doubt that it wasn’t just an accident, so he started investigating. I was always beside him and secretly ran the investigation for him and realized that..." He paused abruptly. I swallowed hard; my heart was tightening as I could guess his next words, and I wasn't wrong at all. "We realized that the master's doubts were true; it was a planned murder..." My breath stopped for a few secon
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