BELLATRIX.... My heart hammered within my chest as my eyes flew wide. Oh, thank God! I murmured in my head. If it hadn't been for Mathew, I might have been... "Ma'am!" a voice shrieked, and I froze. Right before me, I saw Mathew rushing toward me. Wait... If he didn't save me, then who did? Immediately, I pushed myself up onto my feet and turned to see the person, only to gasp. My eyes widened, and my hand flew to cover my mouth. "Roy!" I cried out in both mirth and shock. It's him! Roy Stafford! My best friend besides Stella and the only man I had ever been close to, except for Victor, and of course not in the same way as my husband, but as friends. "Oh my God!" I immediately hugged him, so glad and relieved to see him after five freaking years! "I cannot believe you are in front of me!" He chuckled. "Well, I am here now and on time, I guess." He patted my head. I broke the hug, looking him up and down. "When did you arrive in the country? How are you here?" I asked, still su
VICTOR.... I was devastated; the truth had ripped me apart somehow. The man I had trusted and always looked up to turned out to have lied to me for years. I was closer to Grandpa Gregory than to my paternal grandfather. Though he died when I was three years old, I don't feel that I could ever be as close to him as I was to Grandpa Gregory. Time used to fly when I was with him, and he loved me so much, always keeping me close to his heart. Well, I used to think that way until I learned the truth. When he sent me away from him, I was hurt. My life seemed to crumble all of a sudden. I don't know whether to be angry with him or to pity him. I used to think about how my little bird was so strong even after being ousted by her parents each time they chose Florence over her and never acknowledged her. Well, now I have a glimpse of that heart-wrenching emotion. Although compared to her pain, mine is nothing, I still feel like I am sinking into a dark ocean from which I might never return.
VICTOR.... I composed myself. "Baby, he might have work to do. Why don't we leave him alone?" "Leave him alone?" Bella frowned at me before her gaze fixed on Roy. "Are you that busy that you can't even spend some time with us? Come on, Roy, we just met today after so many years!" At this point, I really wanted to punish her so badly! "Well, you are right; we just met. I think I can keep the work aside for some time. A man shouldn't always be busy with work after all, right, Victor?" He arched a brow at me with a slight smirk, clearly challenging me. I gritted my teeth. "Of course, why not? Welcome to our residence, Roy Stafford." I had no choice; I didn't want to hurt my wife. "That's good!" Bella clasped her hands with a huge smile on her face. "I will go and inform Uncle Larry; we will have Roy's favorite dish today!" She left. Both Roy and I stood face to face, the smiles on our faces gone. I slowly walked toward him, neither of us breaking the gaze. "Do not come too close t
BELLATRIX.... I look at him; his starving eyes are on me. I bite down on my lower lip... I am trying to find any changes due to my pregnancy when he comes in. I initially want to tell him, but the way he pins me up, I cannot decline and flow with his demands, making them mine too... I need him so badly. He is on his knees before me, with a mischievous smirk on his face. I gulp with new anticipation. Slowly, he takes my right leg over his shoulder, making me stand on one leg only. I feel like I'll fall, but fortunately, he is securely holding me. His wandering needy tongue pushes within my hungry pussy. "Victor!" I gasp out loud, one hand trying to grip the mirror while the other flies to his hair, grabbing it tightly. My breath heaves again; it's a delightful feeling for a woman to be eaten out by her husband. He made me cum several times in the same position. My legs turned numb, and my waist hurts. I could not take anymore and cried out for him to stop; only then did he stop a
BELLATRIX.... The next day, I woke up with a huge grin on my face and turned to see my sleeping husband beside me. Leaning toward him, I kissed his cheeks and left the bed. I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Drops of cold water relaxed my body. After coming out of the short cold shower, I found Victor awake. His eyes looked up at me, and my heart almost stopped... His face seemed more gorgeous, and his messy morning hair—oh God! This flawless man is my husband and the father of my baby. He stood up, all in his naked glory, and majestically walked toward me... He held me by the waist and pulled me closer to him, his morning hardness poking my belly. He nuzzled my face. "Did you shower without me?" His husky voice and chesty groan almost made me moan. I tilted my head, giving him more space to continue his sweet torture on my neck. "You were sleeping, love," I murmured breathlessly. "Hmm, how about I mess you up again now?" He sucked on my soft spots, making me s
BELLATRIX.... I felt that luck couldn't be worse than this... Just when I was tired of being bullied by people and stood up for myself, my husband entered the scene and saw the situation that could give him a very wrong perspective about me. I feel so defeated. However, Victor quickly came beside me and watched me carefully. "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked. I blinked. My eyes once looked at Jennifer, who was also surprised at his sudden demeanor because clearly, it should be her getting sympathy and not me. My gaze turned back to my husband as I swallowed hard before nodding slowly. "Y-yes, I'm fine." His face relaxed, and his cold expression returned when he looked at the messy floor with my belongings. "What is happening here?" he asked icily. "President Dubov..." Finance Director Cavendish had come out of his office after hearing the commotion, as well as Manager Celine. She gasped upon seeing her niece on the ground and immediately rushed beside her, helpi
VICTOR.... My little bird was a little late to arrive at the office this morning; therefore, I was worried about her and texted her colleague, Logan, to inform me if anything happened. Though I did not expect it, I received a text from him as soon as I was out for Valcro Corporation: she was fired because of her late arrival. My little bird was scared of this. She would surely be very sad. However, I did not take any immediate action; no matter what happened, she wouldn’t like my involvement in this matter. But the next text from Logan sent my patience out of the room, and I ordered my chauffeur to turn the car around to see what happened. The moment I arrived, I saw her slapping that woman. She tried to attack her, but Bella dodged, which caused that woman to fall face-first. Thank God she is not hurt. What could have happened, by the way? My wife wasn't a violent person; in fact, she stays far away from violence. With asking, people had blamed her eventually, but the way she s
VICTOR.... I stared at my little bird, in a daze... Her words seemed to be like a hard puzzle, jamming up my brain. "What?" I murmured. She blinked. Perhaps she realized my non-functional mind. She smiled and caressed her belly with my hand. "Mr. Chairman, you are going to be a father." And I froze... I did not expect it. Everything started blurring before my vision, and I felt ticklish under my eyes. Bella gasped, slowly raised her hands, and touched my cheeks. "You're crying, baby." She kissed my tears away. Hold on... I was crying? I touched my face and... she was right, I was crying. But I did not intend to cry. I... I don't know how it feels. This sensation, it was too new to me. I felt so light, as if floating in the sky. There were no worries or sorrows, just me, my little bird, and perhaps... our child. Wait... "Our child." I murmur the words, tasting them on my tongue. It feels so simple, yet so heavy to bear. I look down at her belly. "Our..." I mutter again, "I am go
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