Money can't buy happiness, but it can make you comfortable while you're being miserable.' Heiress Danielle Dawson has it all. A mansion, a fleet of exotic cars, a live-in chef, housekeepers, a fortune that can feed nations, and a dad who indulges her every wish. All these, and she is still empty. But Her father, wanting more power and wealth, out of the blues, arranges her marriage to the powerful Valentino empire's heir, Adrian, who happens to be the same guy she once had a one-night stand with. Danielle, a believer in love marriages, fights it at first but later gives in and decides to let destiny take its course. Adrian Valentino, Danielle's betrothed, comes from a different world; one which was nothing compared to the bed of roses that she is used to, but Adrian need not fret as his betrothed is more than ready to fight his battles and slay his demons; but how can you love someone who doesn't believe in the emotion, and how do you save someone that doesn't want to be saved?
View MoreDANIELLE'S P.O.V.
The sea waves, unlike the turmoil in my mind, were calm and peaceful. They rolled slowly and crashed with their white caps cresting over and plunging back into the water, displaying the beauty of the sea from the shoreline on which I stood. I buried my bare feet deeper into the sand which was wet from the sea water and took in a deep breath of the fresh, salt tinged air before letting out a deep sigh.
I had hoped that walking along the beach would clear my head and my mind, but it had only barely managed to somewhat soothe my nerves. The tension that had driven me all the way to the beach's shoreline still sat heavily on my shoulders while the wheels of my memory kept spinning the burning scene of abject betrayal that I had been privy to earlier in the day.
I recalled how I had stood, frozen with shock at the doorway to Tony's room earlier that day while my brain had refused to process what my eyes had been subject to. I had refused to believe the scene that unfolded right before my very eyes; the image of Tony, my now ex boyfriend, rolling in bed, stark naked, with a woman whom I was all too familiar with. A woman whom he had introduced to me as his younger sister; a woman whom I had loved and treated like a real sister.
The shock on both of their faces had mirrored mine, and maybe I would not have felt so pissed and insulted if the son of a bitch had not dared to utter the words, "Dannie, it's not what you think it is."
It wasn't what I thought it was? What an absolute joke!
As I gazed out at the wide expanse of the ocean, memories of the failed relationships from my past replayed in my mind, unfolding in my head like a movie. While they continued to run through my mind, I came upon a realization; as different as my exes were and as diverse as the situations were, when compared to one another, they all had one particular thing in common. And that was the fact that they had all gotten into the relationship with ulterior motives.
I had thought Tony was different, but he turned out be just the same; as always, those assholes only chased after me for my money. They had only dated me because they knew just how much they stood to benefit and gain from being in a relationship with the only child of the city's third most popular and successful conglomerate family.
I closed eyes, willing the tears, which threatened to spill over, to remain at bay. Even though I hated to admit it, the pain of the betrayal was a heavy weight on my chest- one that drilled a well of emptiness inside of me. As I watched the sun dip lower, casting a warm glow across the large body of water, I made a silent promise to never get myself involved in a romantic relationship with another man. I would never crush on, like, or fall in love with another person from the opposite gender. Hell, I would never get married to anybody for as long as I lived.
And alongside that promise, I swore to heal from the pain of the numerous betrayals. I swore to never let the betrayals define who I was, and instead I would leave it as a Chapter of my past that would remain forever closed.
The vibrating of my phone alerting me of a message notification drew me out of my reverie. I unlocked the mobile device to see a text message from my Dad.
"Come home, now. We need to have an important discussion." It read.
Letting out another deep sigh, I took one last longing look at the ocean body before turning on my heels and heading towards the parking lot where I had left my car. The drive home was filled with a quiet anxiety as the possible reasons behind my dad’s urgent message, and by the time I was pulling into the estate, I had come up with nothing. As I walked into the house and caught no sight of my father in the living room, I headed for his study, knowing full well that he had holed himself in there with his work.
“You’re here.” He simply said when I pushed open the door to his study.
“You wanted to see me urgently” I said, taking my seat on the chair opposite him.
“Right.” He said, removing his reading glasses and placing them on the table before him.
“What is the important thing you wanted to discuss with me?” I asked.
“You’re getting engaged to be married.” He said.
For the second time that day, I was frozen with shock and surprise. For a few minutes, all I could do was stare at my father, hoping that he would burst into laughter and claim that he had just cracked a funny joke at my expense, but the only expression that remained on his face was stoic and serious.
"You have got to be joking, right Dad? I did not hear you very well; you did not just say that I would be getting married." I said.
"I can not afford the time for jokes, Danielle. I have set your engagement." He said.
"What the hell? What do you mean you have set my engagement?" I yelled, standing up in fury.
"Watch your tone and mind your language, young lady. I can take many things from you, but not disrespect."
"You expect respect when you are upending my life? Really?" I asked.
"This topic is not for discussion. I have told you what is to be; the sooner you accept it, the better for both you and I." He said with a tone of finality and dismissal before resuming his work.
I stormed out of his office, my chest heaving with anger. In that dire moment, the idea of running away was birthed, and the hours following that were spent at the bank, withdrawing as much money as I could in order to fund my get away.
THE CLUB was packed that night and the heat of the room caused my dress to cling to my body like a second skin. The disco balls lit up the dance floor in bright, flashy colors, and the dance floor was crowded with both couples and lone dancers moving in tune the music which blared from overhead speakers.
I threw back my shot of vodka, grimacing when I felt the liquid burning as it slid down my throat. Once I had deposited the contents of the glass into my throat, signalled to the bartender to get me another. My plan was to get intoxicated enough to forget that I was on the run from my sad reality; a reality in which I had no control over my own life.
I threw back my new shot of vodka and looked around the room in search of any form of entertainment. That was when I saw him; his handsome side view made me wonder how good looking his face was. As he sipped his alcohol, I willed him to look at me so that I would be able to see his face better, and when he started to look around the club, I sat up straighter in my seat. By a stroke of luck, his eyes finally made contact with mine and his ethereal features made me catch my breath in awe.
He continued to stare at me and I felt an intense rush as I stared back at him from across the room. Feeling tipsy and wreck less, I approached him without breaking eye contact, sat beside him, and greeted him with a flirtatious smile.
"Hi" I greeted.
"Hey" he greeted back.
His voice was so husky, it caused my heart to beat faster; I loved the way it made me feel.
"What are you having?" I asked him, tracing my fingers across his glass.
"Rum and coke" he answered.
He was still staring at me and his mesmerizing blue eyes felt like they were piercing my soul.
"Big boy" I purred while boldly moving my index finger across the length of his hand.
His eyes turned a shade darker as he looked at me. I ran my tongue across my upper lip and watched as he gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing. The movement of his Adam's apple was very enticing, and I felt a pool of warmth between my legs. The influence of the alcohol encouraged me to be brazen.
"Come with me?" I asked him.
I stood up slowly and walked towards the back door not waiting for his reply. At that moment, I congratulated myself for purchasing my outfit.
I had on a black strapless dress which enunciated my wide hips and backside, and silver pumps that made my legs look longer than they were. My natural brunette waves were packed up in a simple hairdo framing my small face. From my ears, diamond earrings dangled, and clasped around my left wrist was a simple diamond bracelet. I knew that I looked sexy and I felt even more sexy as I seemed to be successful in my attempts to seduce the absolutely handsome stranger.
The back door of the club was empty and the deep thumping of the club's music was dull in that part of the room. I watched as the handsome stranger walked towards me, his gaze intensifying as I moved my hips seductively, in time with the beat of the music. He pulled me close to him and placed his hands on my hips while I wrapped my arms around his neck, our intense staring starting all over. His eyes become hooded as I ground up on him and he took in a sharp breath before leaning into my ear and biting the lobe gently.
Knowing that I was pressing the right buttons made me giddy, and maybe it was the sweltering heat in the club, or the alcohol messing with my head.
Maybe it was the way his arms felt, wrapped around my waist, or the way he looked at me like I was a treat that he could not wait to taste.
Maybe it was the intensity of his gaze, or the way he made me feel like the sexiest woman in the room.
Maybe it was for one of these reasons that I leaned towards his ear and whispered,
"Let's go somewhere...private."
DANIELLE'S P.O.VI stirred from my slumber, my eyes blinking open reluctantly. The room was bathed in the soft glow of dawn and a lingering sense of unease clung to me.As consciousness found its way back to me, I felt the sting in my eyes which were heavy from a restless night. My eyes stung as I tried to focus on the familiar surroundings. A few remnants of the nightmares that had plagued my sleep replayed in my mind, their vivid images taunting me.A groan escaped my lips as I tried to sit up, the dryness and ache in my throat were evidence of the tumultuous night I had. The taste of fear lingered in my mouth, leaving me parched and exhausted.When I finally sat up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I could still hear the faint echoes of my own screams and I took a quick glance around, half expecting to find shadows lurking in the corners of the room. The sheets clung to my skin- further evidence of my night which had been filled with restlessness.The room, usually a peaceful haven
ADRIAN'S P.O.V.It had been a month since the storm called Chase Sinclair, had hit our lives, leaving destruction and doubts in his wake. The air hung heavy, in my office, with the weight of unspoken words as Omar Zayn, my lifelong confidante and best friend, sat across from me. His eyes, filled with understanding, met mine, as if searching for the turmoil that had etched its mark onto my soul over the past month. The weight of the past month lingered heavily on my shoulders, and I couldn't shake the guilt that gripped my conscience."Omar, I messed up big time," I sighed, rubbing my temples.Omar leaned in, concern etched on his face."What happened with you two, Adrian? Last time I knew, you guys were solid. Tell me everything. Maybe there's a way to fix this." Omar said, his expression empathic.In a flash, I recalled the doubts that had plagued me and the message that had led to my questioning Danielle's fidelity" I doubted Dannie's loyalty, questioned her commitment, and worst o
ADRIAN'S P.O.VThe walls of my office seemed to close in on me as I sat there, utterly drained from the dual onslaught of my demanding position and the storm raging inside of me. The dim lights seemed to intensify the shadows that had taken a place in my life recently and the air felt heavy as the weight of my tumultuous life burdened me.The office room felt like a prison of polished wood and cold steel and the distant hum of the city just outside of the office walls did nothing to ease the feeling of being trapped. The room that was usually a place of productivity and creativity, had. now become a battlefield between my professional obligations to the company and my personal emotions.Rubbing my temples gently, I tried to erase the persistent ache that clawed at my skull, but I couldn't seem to find relief from it. Weariness weighed heavily on my shoulders, and burden on my heart as I could not seem to get away from the shattered pieces of my broken life.The weight of my responsibi
DANIELLE'S P.O.VI woke up with a splitting headache. The piercing pain that seared through my head dragged me out of the depths of unconsciousness. As my eyes fluttered open, I groaned, clutching my throbbing temple. The room spun and my vision blurred as I blinked."Where in the world am I?" I muttered while trying to make sense of my surroundings.As I tried to sit up, the sharp pain in my head intensified, sending shockwaves through my body. It felt like a sledgehammer had collided with my skull and I could hear the faint echoes of my own pained groans. With my muddled senses, I struggled to make sense of my situation. I continued to blink rapidly to clear off the dizzy spell until the dimly lit room slowly came into focus.Suddenly, I felt restraints on my wrists and ankles."What the hell...?" I muttered pulling at the ropes that bound me and restricted my movement. On seeing that they would not budge, undiluted panic started to creep into my body and coursed through my veins an
DANIELLE'S P.O.VThe weeks following my traumatic ordeal at the hands of Chase were a blur of hospital rooms and tests. I had also been offered therapy sessions, but I rejected them as the very last thing I wanted to do was revisit the torture I had gone through. However, I could not seem to run away from those days of captivity as even after I had long been discharged from the hospital, my mind was still trapped in the nightmares that had plagued me ever since that fateful day- the day Chase Sinclair had kidnapped me.It felt like I was trapped in a unending nightmare, unable to escape the memories of what had happened to me- memories of how my baby had almost been taken away from me. I was back in the safety of the mansion Adrian and I had gotten but the house which used to bring me so much peace now seemed as oppressive as it was comforting.I sat on the plush couch in the living room of our grand mansion, surrounded by my friends and family. Adrian was on a business trip and they
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.The hospital corridors stretched before me, a maze of sterile white walls, distant echoes of life, and busked whispers. Their white walls were an unsettling reminder of the captivity I had endured for far too long at the hands of Chase Sinclair. Determination surged through my veins as I made my way towards the women's restroom, a small glimmer of hope guiding me towards the next step in my escape. I walked with purpose and my steps were fueled by a desperate determination to reclaim my life from the clutches of the darkness that Chase had surrounded me with. My footsteps faltered as both anticipation and apprehension coursed through my veins and each footfall echoed in my ears as I made my way to the restroom. Every step that I took felt heavy with anticipation and my heart pounding in my chest as I neared the restroom. It was a moment that held the key to my freedom; the key to reuniting with my family and escaping the clutches of Chase once and for all.As I pushe
ADRIAN'S P.O.V.I sat at my office desk which was surrounded by a sea of important documents related to the impending project that the company was about to start. I was engrossed in the stack of documents that were spread out before me as the impending project demanded my utmost attention.A knock on the door resonated in the room, interrupting my work. The door to my office creaked open, and Karen, my secretary, poked her head inside."Mr Valentino, it's already closing hours," she announced, her voice gentle. "I'm heading home for the night. Do you need anything else before I leave?"Her words jolted me back to reality. Closing hours? I glanced at my watch, realizing that I had lost track of time. I couldn't believe how late it had gotten as time seemed to have slipped away while I busied myself with analyzing every detail of the upcoming project meticulously."Oh thank you, Karen. I had no idea it was that late. Go ahead, call it a day. I'll be fine here for a while longer. You can
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.Chase’s eyes bore into mine, and I could see the rage simmering beneath them. His gaze moved around the room, scanning for any signs of betrayal and then, suddenly, his eyes locked onto my shaking figure. A cruel smile pulled at his lips as he lunged towards me and on reaching me, he grabbed my hand with his grip tightening around my wrist. Panic engulfed me as he wrenched the phone from its hiding place under the pillow and he held it up, triumph gleaming in his eyes.“You really thought you could get away, didn’t you?” he sneered, his voice dripping with maliceI stood there, transfixed to the spot by the fear that caused my heart to pound in my chest, my hands trembling. The stolen phone rested securely in Chase’s grip; a small but strong weapon that I had used against the man who had held me captive for far too long. Chase loomed over me, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and desperation."You think you're so clever, don't you?" His voice was a venomous hiss,
DANIELLE’S P.O.V.The days, weeks, or perhaps months, following my abduction felt like an eternity; I had lost track of time as those moments that I spent while being trapped in this desolate room passed in a hazy blur of fear and despair. Each passing moment was filled with fear, uncertainty, and a desperate longing for my freedom, every second spent in Chase’s clutches was a reminder of the very fragile line that separated both my life and death, every waking moment that I spent in that godforsaken room was tainted by the knowledge that I was at the mercy of a man I once called a friend; a man whom I had thought to forgive and let go of the hurtful things that he had done to me in the past; a man that had now turned into an obsessed captor; a man that had snatched me away from my peaceful existence.The room was always dark and even with the air conditioner, who’s hum served as the only other source of sound in the dreary space, it always felt suffocating as the only other means of
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