* Chapter 34* The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky. Golden fingers of sunlight lit up the scene. Valeria stood outside the gate wearing a pink roll-up sleeve shirt matched with skinny jeans. She styled her hair in a side tail and wore minimum make-up. In a few minutes, a sandy color Uber drove in and it halted in front of her. " Just in time" she squealed as she hopped in. It would be disastrous if she was the late third time in the role, these people would assume she was gaining favors, and this would only shed light on the rumors she was evading. " Good morning misses beautiful," let out the driver flashing a smile in the rear-view mirror. In response, Val smiled. " Good Morning Pete " It lifted the weightiness in her heart. Today was going to be the reveal of the DNA test, it kept her awake throughout the night. Whether it was positive or negative, it all would have an adverse significance on the decisions that she would take
* Chapter 35 * In Mrs. Esme Villa As soon as she was done transporting her suitcases to the main gate, the Uber driver who drove her earlier assisted in loading them into his car. In less than five minutes they were finished. She did not have many things or clothes, what completely occupied those bags were her painting equipment and completed ones. " I am going to miss you. Are you sure you want to do this?" Valeria halted when the voice from behind polled. She swerved to find Liza standing on the elevated area of the veranda. She pouted her lips and stubbornly draped her arms firmly on her chest. With a sorry sigh, Val rationalized " I have to. I can't let him take my baby away" " You are too dramatic! Have you tried convincing him " Liza retorted squeezing her red eyes. As if it did not cross her mind several times. After everything that went down in these past days for the pregnancy reveal, his proclamation, orphanage, and now DNA test. They torm
* Chapter 36* The queue to the ship was a long one. Although it was not a fancy one like the titanic,it was moderate enough to comfortably accommodate thousands. The sun stood proudly in the sky. The wind blew from the sea to the shore. Val lost count of the number of people ahead of her. Why was she feeling so reticent? She did not want to leave anymore. It no longer made sense. If she left then how will her family feed themselves? She has such a good salary under Xander. They were both adults so why was she acting so childish? Perhaps it was her hormones. Feeling a little dizzy and having a faint headache. Val stood, and she turned to leave the line. She had a paying job and a roof over her head she could not be ungrateful. After all, she had to get back to the
* Chapter 37 * " Please let me go and I promised not to say anything to the cops" the shrill cry Val echoed. A warm smile curled on his lips. His heart ached to see this lady in such a state. If only he could let her know his true identity then she would not be this scared. He had planned to set her free from the beginning. " If I let you go, you will have to promise me one thing " he slowly confided. Wiping her tears, Val sat uprightly as a ray of hope beamed on her face. Desperately she agreed nodding vigorously " Y-yes Anything " Attending to her appeal, Lennon crossed the room, cautiously peeped from the keyhole satisfied, before returning " Okay. Listen, you will have to return to Alexandre Gates. He is the only one capable of protecting you" To this, Val's eyebrows furrowed. The happenings of the day were just too much for her to handle. Why was he sending her to Xander? How did he know Xander? Most importantly, why on earth would someone
*Chapter 38* Valeria's eyelashes flickered implying she was about to wake up. Opening her eyes gradually, she saw a vague figure waving his hand at her. Where was she? Why did the brick walls seem too familiar? Discerning a conclusion, she jerked upright. Her eyes darted crazily. How could she be here? " Why am I here? " her slightly groggy voice cackled. The officer who seem to be 1.8m kneeled, took off his hat and eyed the woman who lay on the bare cell floor. Her eyes held a lot of questions. Will he be able to answer them? Sigh!! Getting infuriated, Val queried " Why aren't you saying anything? I asked why am I here?" Rather than replying, the officer pursed his lips for a while. Then words mumbled out one after another. " What was the last thing you remember?" ." Ahh" she held her head as a strong sensation bolted it. " Why does my head hurt so much?" Feeling it, she found out that her head had been bandaged all around. Did she
* Chapter 39 * " Hello miss Gomez! I am here now. Why are you quiet?" Commissioner Roger opened, taking a swig of his green tea. His mustache twitched. It had been almost five minutes of a mutual staring contest. They both settled opposite each other in a cafeteria still in the police station. It was an area for families of convicts to bring them food. " Why am I here?" she asked diving directly to the point. A weird smile played on commissioner Roger's lips. He raised the cup to his lips and then sniffed his tea. " Why was the broom late for school?" " Huh?! Stop these childish games. You can't run away from my questions you know!! " Yes! She was feeling pretty brave. He was impressed. Roger h
* Chapter 40 Are you mad Xander?* Commissioner Roger watched them leave with a probing look in his almond eyes. They were bitter and a nook of his lips hoisted into a sly smirk. At this time, a hand was placed on his shoulder. It was his subordinate Noël Carlos. When their eyes were confronted they seemed to share a message. " It is good you let them go. Now it would be easier to prove them wrong" asserted the subordinate pulling a seat for himself. He poured a cup of tea into his cup and added a cube of sugar. Taking to his feet, Commissioner Roger kept a hand on his subordinate shoulder, his eyes still clung at the exit as a dangerous glint gleamed in them. " That's the plan! I have been waiting for over two years for my revenge. Alexandre Gates has to pay for all his sins and if I can't get him, I will get his loved ones " What got him excited was the thought of finally having his revenge on Xander. Throwing a glance at his chief and then at the slice of
*Chapter 41 prepare for blood transfer* In the back of the car, Val lost consciousness. She was sweating heavily and her lips were cracked. Her hands clutched Xander's shirt while she muttered rubbish under her breath. As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Andrew stepped out and spilled everything in his guts. He had been nauseous the whole ride here. The driver shook his head when he saw this " Miss Gomez is pregnant and it is Mr. Garfield who is vomiting " He could not help but laugh. Because they were alerted aforehand, the hospital staff rushed out with a stretcher and oxygen mask. Valéria was laid on the stretcher and she was pushed into the hospital with Xander by her side. His hand held hers nervously. The whole hospital, and the staff work in a frenzy. They sent the best of all gynecologists to check on Valeria. Regardless of their efforts, Xander requested the best in the country because she was out of town, and doctors and nurses took turn
* Chapter 13; Getting her out of my system* "It is the third warehouse they attacked today." Giovanni, dressed in a white shirt matched with grey torn jeans, informs me as soon as we arrive at the destination. We can't take a look at my drug warehouse, as it is littered with fucking cops. This is getting out of hand. With the outnumbered list of enemies due to my father's lust, I don't know who is behind this. If I had, we would have played dentist, and I would blow up every tooth in his fucking mouth. I watched him bleed away. Fucker. I flex my hands on my thighs, something I do when I am stressed. I don't like to act out of the moment. A sober action is the longest-standing and most satisfying one.
**Chapter 12; His baby?** Halting at his tracks, he smiles again and informs me in the most soothing tone, "Yes, Sunshine, you are very lucky to die by my hands." Before I could make sense of anything, everything goes dark, and a force pulls me from behind. He grabs me by my hair, thrusting me into a dark room. "Who are you? What are you going to do to me?" "Nothing," he tells me, faking an innocent expression. I look around the empty room, breathing heavily. I can't find anything but boxes in this room. They are all covered in dust. "He got rid of his last wife, and I will get rid of you." "What?!" My face goes pale as he pulls out a knife from the pocket of his black suit. His steps are quick and heavy towards me. It doesn't take any effort for him to pull me to
**Chapter 12; His baby?** Halting at his tracks, he smiles again and informs me in the most soothing tone, "Yes, Sunshine, you are very lucky to die by my hands." Before I could make sense of anything, everything goes dark, and a force pulls me from behind. He grabs me by my hair, thrusting me into a dark room. "Who are you? What are you going to do to me?" "Nothing," he tells me, faking an innocent expression. I look around the empty room, breathing heavily. I can't find anything but boxes in this room. They are all covered in dust. "He got rid of his last wife, and I will get rid of you." "What?!" My face goes pale as he pulls out a knife from the pock
**Chapter 11: "To Die by My Hands"** "I still can't believe you are married now," Aiah says for the umpteenth time. Since I returned to this room with my best friends, it has been really quiet. "The truth is I can't believe it myself. Guys, I am scared," I whisper softly, afraid that the walls may have ears. I am now a mafia's wife. "You better, Rosé," Bali reminds me using my middle name, simultaneously giving Aiah the side eye. It has always been this way with them. Bali has no filter, whereas Aiah lives to sugarcoat situations. "As advice, you should get him on your side. Make him fall for you." "Bali!" Both Aiah and I gasp, widening our eyes in response. How can she suggest that?!
Chapter 10: My wife Renzo POV "What do you think you are doing, Storm? You are acting out of character," Giovanni informs me,sitting across me in the waiting room. He called me by my nickname, meaning he was serious. I just announced that I am going to marry Sunshine today itself. I am acting out of character. I am a planner; everything I do is structured ahead of time. But with this girl, I am being spontaneous. "I am acting spontaneously," I say, deadpanning, flicking through the document in my hand. He laughs, shaking his head. "There is something more to do with this. Why are you in haste to marry this girl? Don't tell me you like her. Or is it because she called you an asshole?"
Sunshine POV Chapter 9: Getting married "This is very important to note, okay? Some of the family members on the husband's side are vegetarian, so we need to know what to serve. Also, make sure--" I stand in the kitchen with my mother, watching her give detailed instructions to the staff about the likes and dislikes of my future family. I zone out during her second lecture because my mind keeps going back to what I said to that man. I'm rambling uncontrollably, and now I can't help but wonder what he will think of me. "The real question is, why do you care what he thinks of you?" a nosy voice in my head asks, and I have no answer. I find myself feeling something for a man I don't even know, while preparing to marry another man for whom I feel nothing.
Chapter 8; The groom is an asshole. Renzo's POV: I watch as she stumbles, her long legs elegantly poised in high heels and yet somehow completely out of balance. She has her eyes fixed on a lady making a call from the balcony. I can see the admiration in her eyes. Her outfit is far from traditional, and yet it suits her perfectly. The white mermaid dress trails behind her, sweeping across the floor like a graceful swan gliding across the lake. The dress is long, and yet there is a daring slit that ran up the side, revealing just enough leg to tantalize. Her blonde hair is styled to perfection, soft curls framing her face, like a halo of light. She looks every inch the goddess she is, even if she seems uncomfortable in the attire. I move to aid her, and she
Chapter 7: We all want bad boys The bride's room is like a fairy tale, with high ceilings and gilded mirrors. I can smell the delicate scent of roses wafting from the vase on her dresser. The heavy brocade drapes are pulled closed, casting the room in deep shadows. It's seven in the evening, and I find myself pacing around in my room, biting on my lower lip. I am nervous. Why wouldn't I be when I am getting engaged to the biggest mafia clan in the whole of New York? Ever since my parents confession a week ago, it has been a shopping spree for the marriage. And I still don't know what my groom looks like. I refused to see a photograph of him until today. Is he ugly or handsome? I wonder. What will his hands feel like? Will my heart beat fast like it did at t
Chapter 6: You're my everything I wake up to the sound of my alarm and noises from downstairs. It can't be. Last night... That man... What happened? My head hurts as I kick the Mickey Mouse quilt to my feet. My stomach churns, and it does not feel good. How can I be back in New York? Who brought me back, and why? Turning to my left, I walk to my stand, hoping to find my phone. I find my charger coiled but no phone. Weird. The noises downstairs grow louder, and I hear a sharp, devasting scream. " Mom!" The scream leaves my mouth before I can comprehe