ROY STAFFORD.... I walked out of the Imperial Palace and sat in my car. I drove out of the parking area and drove for a long time, only to stop in an empty place. Sigh... She thinks I had an important call, but I did not. It was just a random official call that somehow gave me a chance to leave. It was hard. It hurts... Seeing her so happy with someone else rips my heart. Years ago, when I was a teenage girl, I first arrived with Mama. I ignored her. I am quite a bit older than she is and was a loner, especially after being backstabbed by Victor. It wasn't intentional, though; in fact, Victor didn't even know... I grew up with Victor, and since childhood, he had overshadowed me in every subject, from studies to behavior and matters of the heart. Yes, matters of the heart... The girl I liked was always chasing after him. She only got close to me because I was sharing the same residence with him. Over time, my disliking toward him grew, and so I moved to America with Mama. She us
ROY STAFFORD.... I parked my car in the huge parking area of the restaurant—one of the expensive restaurants in the city where Florence Valdez had asked me to meet. Frankly, getting her call was way too unexpected for me. At first, I wanted to hang up on her, but then I decided to see her. Florence approaching me was not just a random move; the woman who perhaps had never heard of me knows my closeness with Bellatrix and called me. Something bigger is about to drop, and I do not want to let it go. I want to learn why she turned to me. If I am not wrong, it's rented to Bellatrix. Getting out of the car, I entered the restaurant and looked around. A woman waved at me, and with one glance, I realized it was Florence. I had seen her once in a photo, but I mostly recognized her because, to me, she resembles Mrs. Valdez a lot, which was quite surprising considering she wasn't related to their bloodline. Or it could be my delusion too, as I have seen Mrs. Valdez only in her photos... I
VICTOR.... Perhaps I did not realize it initially, but now I know why Grandpa had kept my parents' death a secret. He wasn't only hiding the killers of my parents but also protecting both Bella and me. Some secrets must remain a secret. Whoever said it did not lie. The people involved in this are too selfish to even consider their own children. They would do anything to gain what they wanted, even if it costs the lives of their families. I never expected Brandon Valdez to be involved in my parents' murder. His desperate greed to be one of the elites has led him down a path that never brings happiness. Or maybe the joy of that family was ruined from the very beginning, even before the birth of my little bird. It's been a month since I learned about my parents' culprits. Since then, I have had my men checking the entire background of both the Valdez and Ryder families, collecting evidence to acquire my position as the Chairman of RD Corporation LTD. Though Ryders turns out not to b
BELLATRIX.... The night was quite pleasing. My husband did not fail to keep his promise to make me all sore; still, I am somewhat sensitive to having him locked within me... Well, it's just my imagination. In reality, he had to leave for work earlier this morning. I don't complain, though. My desire needs to be tamed, which has been flowing out of control recently. Maybe it's the effect of pregnancy; I have heard this happens... I rolled off the bed and saw the clock. It's past eleven, almost midday. Sigh... Since I have been sitting at home, my habits have been ruining. The fact that I am overly spoiled by my husband is true. But what can I do? He is so good at loving me that he makes me melt each time, and I have become a night owl now. Stretching my body, I entered the shower. After having a warm shower, my body relaxed as I stood in front of the mirror, checking myself out... After my pregnancy, this has become my favorite part of the routine. Although I know my belly won't
BELLATRIX.... I sat in the waiting area in silence. The abrupt encounter with Florence in the hospital... Her DNA test... Everything started taking a toll on my heart. The truth that her parents had died and that she was later adopted by my parents, along with the sudden DNA test, raised so many questions within me. Most importantly, with whom is she matching her DNA? As I was lost in my thoughts, the nurse called me next. My gynecologist is out of the delivery room. Setting aside my thoughts for a moment, I stood up and went to my gynecologist's chamber. "Hello, Mrs. Dubov. How are you today?" she asked with a polite smile. "Thank you, Doctor. I am doing well," I replied with the same smile and sat in the chair opposite her desk. She asked me a few questions regarding my health and how I was handling it. I informed her about my severe morning sickness, to which she said it happens, especially during the first pregnancy. She prescribed me some specific nutrients and some exercis
VICTOR.... "Chairman, there is news from Dr. Izaak and Gynaec Ellen," Luis informed me. My fingers paused on the keyboard of my laptop as I looked up and frowned. "What is it?" "Mrs. Dubov has been admitted to the hospital, and her regular checkup is complete. Both she and the baby are fine," he said, which relieved me. That was the most important news to me. I was supposed to accompany her for the checkup, but urgent evidence about Ambrose related to my parents' death had forced me to go out of the city, so I could not go with my little bird and had lied to her. She had sensed my tension already; no matter how hard I tried, I could not hide that from her and had to lie with the excuse of workload. Considering my position and power, she did not doubt it, thankfully. "Hmm," I nodded. "What's the news from Dr. Izaak?" I asked. Anyone barely knows that Dr. Izaak, one of the best surgeons in the country and the vice chairman of the hospital, works for me. Valcro has invested in man
VICTOR.... I stared at the haggard man in front of me; he looked lost and devastated, not expecting to be caught after twenty-five years. He had a minor heart attack due to shock. Heh, did he think he would live without facing the consequences? I will never let that happen. "Can he fly to New York? I need him there," I asked the doctor, who was in charge of his health. "Yes, he can fly, but some safety measures should be maintained for emergency cases," he informed me. "Hmm, I need you to come with us, doctor. It would be a great help if you could spare some time," I requested. At this point, I am taking every precaution, and until he is present as the witness, I will continue doing that. After that... I do not fucking care. The doctor glanced at the man and nodded, "Alright, I will do that. Please give me some time to prepare emergency resources." "Alright, doc, thanks." The doctor went out of the room as I coldly watched the silent man. After a while, I turned to leave when
VICTOR.... "What happened?" Bella slowly massaged the back of my head; somehow, that started releasing my tension. I hung up at that moment and brought our foreheads together. "Maybe a work call." Her face fell, her brows furrowed, and a tinge of anger flashed across her beautiful hazel eyes. "Don't they have a home to go to? Why are they working even at this hour? I don't like it!" I tossed the phone on the bed, not giving her a second chance to be upset, and held her tightly. "I won't, I promise. This ends for the night. Now, I am only yours." I kissed her pouty lips and added, "Perhaps they do not have a beautiful wife to return home to like I do." Those words brought a shy smile to her face. "Well, that's true," she said, pressing her head on my shoulder. She yawned; her eyelids were droopy. Slowly, I placed her on the bed, adjusting the pillow underneath her head and covering her with the quilt. "You rest; I'll join you after freshening up." "Okay," she murmured before clo
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