LOGINShare
CHAPTER NINE.
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56DANIELLE'S P.O.V
"Welcome New York's latest couple, the newly wedded Mr and Mrs Adrian Valentino." the master of ceremony's voice reverberated. The applause and hooting that followed was deafening. The groomsmen, which consisted of Umar, Adrian's best friend; Michael Smith, Mason Walls, and George Burrell, his friends from college; and the bridesmaids which consisted of Layla, Janelle, Sofia, and Alisia; danced into the room while I looked around the reception hall as Adrian led me to the head table which we were designated to seat at, trying to see if I recognized some of the faces present. I saw some familiar faces from the times when I would visit Dad at work while I was a college student. They waved and smiled at me as I passed and I smiled back.Adrian held on to my hand as I sat and dropped it immediately my behind was firmly planted on the chair. He sat beside me awkwardly and looked around the hall. I had a feeling that he was avoiding me. He had been behaving awkwardly since the kiss at the chapel. The tell tales of his awkwardness being his fidgeting when our hands brushed each other's while taking wedding pictures, and sitting at the extreme end of the vehicle that transported us to the reception venue. His odd behavior made me wonder if he felt the same spark I did when our lips meshed into one. I shook off the dirty thoughts that began to sift through my mind and focused my attention on the event taking place."As we settle down, the bride and groom shall have their first dance as a couple" the MC declared. I looked at Adrian, doubting his patience with continuing this charade. He adjusted his bow tie, stood up and faced me with his right hand outstretched."Dance with me, my beautiful bride" he said.I looked at him, surprised at the compliment. He was not the type to compliment just anyone, and from my encounters with him, I knew he was too much of a egotistical man to compliment any woman without getting something in return.I hesitantly placed my hand in his palm and let him lead me to the dance floor.A slow song that I did not know played from the speaker and I wished I had my phone with me so I could Shazam the song."Don't get too comfortable" Adrian said coldly as I placed my head on his chest."I wouldn't dare!" I replied, venomously. I knew his niceness was all part of the charade."I cannot wait for the frivolities of this night to be over and done with" he scoffed."I wish this were just a bad dream too. This Belle and the Beast story is no fairytale" I retorted.I felt him squeeze my hand harder than necessarily needed, in anger."Careful, we don't want to break any of my bones, do we?" I teased."I couldn't care less" he said without feeling.His coldness made me wonder if I had read right his intentions after the kiss in the chapel. The song came to a halt and the guests gave us a round of applause as Adrian led me back to the head table."We will now listen to the opening speech by the bride's father, Jack Dawson" the MC announced.Loud applause ushered Dad to the center of the hall, where the master of ceremony stood.The applause died down as Dad collects the microphone from the MC."I welcome everyone of you seated here today, to the wedding ceremony of my beautiful daughter, Danielle Dawson, and the intelligent Adrian Valentino, son of Alfredo and Alvida Valentino."The guests clapped and cheered in response."I sincerely appreciate your presence here today. Thank you for honoring our invitation to celebrate the marriage of our children. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the wedding banquet." he concluded.Dad returned the microphone to the M.C and sat on his spot at the table specially reserved for Adrian's parents and mine."We shall now proceed to the banquet. While the DJ plays us some nice music, we should remain seated for dinner as the meals are served" the MC said.After a few minutes of eating dinner while listening to some classical music, the MC returned to the center of the room."It is time for the maid of honor and best man's speeches."Loud applause echoed in the hall as Layla, my maid of honor, and Umar, Adrian's best man, stood up from where they were seated at the wedding party's table, and came forward."Good evening everyone. My name is Layla London, and I am the maid of honor. I would love to use this medium to appreciate the bride, my best friend, Danielle Dawson, for giving me this opportunity. She honestly had a hard time choosing between myself and our other two best friends..."Sofia and Janelle waved; Layla waved back."...but we all ended up doing it the political way. A ballot was cast."The guests laughed at this."Now I am here as the representative of our circle. Danielle is a wonderful person with a heart of gold, and this makes her a beautiful friend. I am sure she is going to be an even better wife. Congratulations on your wedding, my darling Danielle."The guests applauded as Layla returned to her seat after handing the microphone to Umar."A wonderful evening to you all. I am Zayn Umar, the best man, and I stand before you to tell you great things about my best friend."The guests cooed and clapped."Adrian, my man, is a wonderful pal, a wonderful friend. He had always had my back and I have done my best to reciprocate. I wish you all the best as you venture into this new journey of life." Umar said and returned to his seat."Let the groom's sister lead us in a toast"Alisia stood up with a flute of champagne in her hand."A toast to the newly wed. May they live long together in peace, joy, and harmony. May all the days of their lives be free of pain and suffering. May their union be blessed with little versions of themselves, and may their bond never thin out but continue to grow stronger. Cheers" she said."Cheers" everyone replied, raising their flutes of champagne and drinking from it."It is now time; the moment has arrived for the Father and Daughter dance. Please join me in welcoming the bride and her father to the dance floor."The guests cheered as Dad walked up to me."Let us dance, my sweet." he said as he stretched his hand to me.I dropped my champagne flute, took his hand and walked with him to the dance floor as Camilla Cabello's 'First Man' plays from the speakers. I placed my head on Dad's chest as he maneuvered us across the dance floor while the guests watched."You look like an angel. My angel." Dad said."Thank you, daddy.""You remember what I told you in the morning?" he asked.I nodded in consent."Be strong, my butterfly. Keep your chin up and let your wings help you soar. Do not let anything and anyone break those beautiful wings""I won't let them bring me down. I'll be strong, daddy.""That's my good girl. You're safe with the Valentinos. Alfredo has promised to care for you like he would his own daughter, and he is a man of his word"I buried my head further into the folds of his suit jacket."Be the best wife and daughter in law you can be, my sweet. For as long as I live, and even in death, I will always love you, protect you, and care for you""Thank you, daddy.""I have a wedding gift for you.""Really? What is it?" I asked curiously."It's a surprise. I'll have Robert send it to your new home."The words 'new home' irked me and stroke a chord of sadness in me, but I waved it off, determined to stick my chin up and get through the rest of the reception party without breaking down.The song came to an end and dad kissed my forehead. I watched him dab at the corners of his eyes and he gave me a smile before leaving me on the dance floor. The guests continued to clap while some wiped away the emotional tears that had run down their cheeks while watching us dance."The mother and son dance"Adrian stood up and headed towards his mother's table. He led her to the dance floor and I, along with the guests, watched as he gently held and guided her into a slow waltz. This was the first time I had ever seen him smile so brightly, and I must say he looked even more handsome with the sweet smile plastered on his face.Their dance came to an end and I joined the guests in cheering for them."That was so emotional, but it doesn't beat the father and daughter dance" the MC commented."It is time to determine the next lady in this room to be married."Every lady in the room started to chatter excitedly."The bride shall now throw her bouquet.I picked up my bouquet which consisted of white and peach colored roses and went to the middle of the hall while the female guests lined themselves up behind me."Let us all count with the bride. One. Two. Three."I threw the bouquet as far as I could on the third count and heard the squeals of the ladies as they struggled for it. A delicate hand held up the bouquet at the back and every other person gave way for her to pass. Alisia held unto the bouquet with perfectly manicured fingers, a grin on her face."We have a winner! It would seem the groom's sister is next to be married" the MC announced.I laughed as Alisia wiggled in excitement."Now that that's done, the DJ will lead us all into dancing. Let the fun begin!"The DJ started to play upbeat hip-hop and guests started to move towards the stage. I returned to my seat at the head table; Adrian was not sited and I wondered where he could be.I requested, from a waiter, a refill of my flute and after a few minutes of solitude, I heard someone clearing their throat. I looked up at the person, the familiar face made my throat go dry."May I have this dance?"Chase stretched his hand and his smile stirred in me an uncomfortable and eerie feeling.Related chapters
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER TEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V The music sounded distant, my head felt heavy, my heart started to beat faster than normal, my throat felt dry, and I felt like air had been knocked out of my lungs. I gulped down the rest of my champagne and dropped the empty flute on the table, thinking that the way I was feeling was probably what a panic attack usually feels like. Several thoughts started to swim in my head, provoked by his unexpected presence at the reception.How did he get information about the reception venue?Where did he get those details?Why is he here, smiling at me like we never had that heated conversation the night before? "May I have this dance?" Chase repeated. I fidgeted in my seat while desperately wishing a waiter would pass by so I could request for another refill of my champagne flute. "Come on, Dannie. Dance with me" he said. I stared at him, finding it hard to believe he was not up to something. I started to wonder what was going through his mind."I won't bite,
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ELEVEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. My first morning as Mrs Danielle Valentino was a sad and boring one. I might be the first in the history of newly wedded ladies to wake up on a couch, still in her wedding dress, with no idea where in the world her husband was. I rubbed my neck which had become stiff from sleeping on the uncomfortable couch and looked around the sitting room. The sitting area was a big space with white colored walls on which smart tv and speakers hung from. A few black cushioned couches were placed around a long glass center table. The A.C in one corner of the room hummed gently. I stretched and twisted my arms back and forth to relieve the tension in them. I stood up from the couch and trudged around the penthouse, trying to locate a room with my belongings. Once I found a room that contained my familiar pink suitcases, I sighed in relief. I managed to take off my wedding dress after much difficulty and I threw it on the queen sized bed. I opened up a suitcase in search
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER TWELVE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. I woke up with a start. The disturbing sound of footsteps made my sixth sense kick in. I slowly climbed out of my bed, opting not to put on my bathroom slippers to make tiptoeing easier and noiseless. I wondered who in the world could be in the house by this time of the night. I had been sleeping alone in the penthouse for the past two weeks because my new groom, Adrian, had been a no show since the night of our wedding. I had no idea where he was, what he was doing, and how he was doing; and I honestly couldn't care less. Alisia usually made my days in the house more cheerful and fun filled; she was especially helpful and assisted me with solutions to my hunger problems by bringing various dishes cooked by the Valentino family chef, on the orders of Alvida, my mother in law. Sadly, my evenings became dreary once she had to leave me on my own. Sometimes, to alleviate the boredom e, I would take my car out for a spin, an activity that gave me immense j
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. "What are you going to do today?" Layla asked. "The usual. Laze about the house until evening, fight with my husband when he gets back from work, and then go to bed " I replied. "That sounds hectically boring" Janelle said. I shrugged. I changed my position on the bed by laying on my stomach then I propped my phone on a pillow to allow my friends a better view of my face. "How has life as a married woman been like?" Layla asked. "It has been wonderful. Just splendid. My husband and I love one another so very much." I said sarcastically. "I can hear the sarcasm dripping from your words. What's up?" Janelle asked. "It's been hellish, guys. Being married to this snotty human being has been hell on earth." "How come? He seemed into you at the engagement party. Even at the wedding, he looked like he was the happiest man in the world." Sofia inputed. "Maybe it's all in your head. I surely don't feel like the happiest bride in the world." "Seriously,
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V"What are you doing here?" I asked.Don't get me wrong, I did not mean to sound rude and inhospitable; my father would bulk in disappointment if he ever heard me speak the way I did; but I could not help the edginess of my tone.I was not familiar with this lady and our first encounter was not one I would call pleasant, so seeing her standing smugly there, at my doorstep, was irking."Is that any way to greet a guest?" she asked. I was very baffled by her audacity. Who did she think she was, speaking to me the way she did; like we were friends who had become estranged because of a fight. I had no idea who she was, my first time meeting her being on the day of the wedding. Seeing her standing there, entitlement oozing from her pores, head to toe, irritated me."Then again..." she continued, a sly smirk on her face, "...you don't seem like one who is well mannered." she insulted.I did not feel hurt from the shallow insult. Throwing jabs at my supposed lack of home tra
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V Bright rays of sunlight escaped the shield of the curtains hung on the window and fell on my face, causing me to stir from my slumber. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and stretched my arms with a loud yawn. The digital clock sited on my nightstand read 8:30 am. I wiggled my feet into my bathroom slippers and headed for the bathroom to brush my teeth. Once I was done clearing off the nauseating taste of the previous night's food from my tongue, I exited my room and headed for the kitchen in search of something to eat. As I entered the hallway leading to the living room, I heard Adrian's deep voice resonating from his room. He sounded angry. I made to tiptoe past his room to avoid him taking notice of me but I stopped still in my tracks as he yelled. "Fuck!" he cussed as he launched his phone across the room. I held my breath as I watched the device fall on the bed and bounce and I let out a loud sigh of relief as it settled in between the folds of the b
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V The sky was covered with dark clouds that gave a foreshadowing feel of a downpour. The house was cast in a cloak of stilling darkness, and cool breeze wafted through the open window. I breathed in the fresh air and sighed in satisfaction at the feeling of peace that came alongside my action. At first it drizzled, but after a few minutes, it began to rain heavily with thunder and lightning, signifying the torrential downpour of precipitation. I made a dash for the open window and thankfully, I closed it in time to avoid any of the rain water getting into my room. It was the first rain in the month of June. I gleefully scampered out of my bedroom and into the living room, excited to start my day, but my joy was brought to an ultimate end when I sighted Adrian. I checked the digital clock in the living room to confirm that my eyes were not playing a prank on me. The time read 10:21 am. He should have been out of the house long before then, so what in the wor
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V I applied a final coat of beige lipstick on my puckered lips, and rubbed one lip against the other to ensure an equal blending of the lipstick. I admired my reflection in the ceiling-to-floor mirror that I had discovered in my walk-in closet on my first day in the Penthouse, twirling and turning to confirm if my body hugging knee-length black dress was the perfect fit.Today, I was to make my first visit to the Valentino Company to familiarize myself with the company. Alfredo had made it very clear that my responsibility as the only daughter-in-law of the family was to learn the ropes of the company and assist my husband in the running of the company in the nearest future.Seeing as I was to be the the heir to my dad's fortune too, I had decided that taking up such a responsibility, instead of the punishment it seemed to be at first, would be actually very beneficial to me.I went through my collection of purses which sat on various bag compartments and finally dec
Latest chapter
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V I 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 pe
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT.
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
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V I 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 bod
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX..
DANIELLE'S P.O.V The 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 busi
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE.
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
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR.
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 malice I 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 voic
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE.
ADRIAN'S P.O.V The 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 r
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO.
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 me
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. I did not know how long I slept for, or how many days had passed by while I was in a state of unconsciousness; all I could remember when I slowly opened my eyes, the heaviness of sleep still lingering in my limbs, was that I had been taken against my will and the culprit of my kidnapping was none other than my former childhood friend and recently reconciled nemesis. As my vision started to clear, I found myself in a dimly lit room; it was not as small as the one I had previously woken up in, but it felt the same to me as I felt the sterile walls closing in on me. Panic coursed through my veins as the memories of the events leading up to my kidnapping flooded my mind. My heart raced and thumped loudly in my chest as the realization of my situation settled in once more. I would give anything to exact as much pain on the culprit of my predicament and source of my pain at that moment. Chase Sinclair! A name that I had once associated with friendship; a name that
