A childValerie's POV"Madame, your parents are inside" My driver revealed, bowing as he opened the car.I snorted in laughter, flinging my long black hair. "That's their problem, Felix. We're going through the backdoor. I have no intention of having a conversation with them."Felix refused to move out of the way, his gaze hesitant.His actions fueled my irritation. "Out with it!""Your father said you must come to the living room the moment you step foot into his house" Felix replied, his voice laced with caution. "They're both waiting for you.""Tch..." I gritted my teeth in anger; angry with reality. It was their house, so I had to comply; coupled with the past drama before they tried to get rid of me.I ignored Felix and sauntered into the house. Everyone who saw me, including the maids, kept their distance but didn't fail to show respect. Honestly, I didn't care.My main goal for coming back was to dominate those who belittled me in the past; including that man.The two old peopl
A high demandAdrian's POV"Big boss, I just saw something" Miguel voiced out as we walked into the company, his voice laced with a hint of fear.My curiosity was piqued. "What's that?"He inhaled sharply. "It's Valerie.""Who?" I probed, trying to understand why the name sounded so familiar.Miguel looked at me with a funny expression on his face. "Sir, don't tell me you've forgotten so quickly. The girl you sent to an asylum five years ago because she wore a pink dress to an all-black party?"It finally clicked. "Valerie Cruz?""Yes, Big boss. You got that right" Miguel confirmed.I sighed as memories came running back into my mind."What about her?" I asked coldly."She's been released" Miguel revealed, and I halted abruptly."What?!" I spat. "Who would dare release her without my permission?""I'm yet to figure that out, but she's out of the asylum right now as we speak" Miguel stated. "She should be with her parents."I scoffed in disgust. "Who let a crazy woman loose on the stre
Valerie's POV"You mean you let Dad sleep with another woman?" I queried, dumbfounded by just the thought of it.The two exchanged glances for the umpteenth time with somber expressions on their faces.Their actions infuriated me, most especially the gullible woman sitting next to my father."I'm talking to you, mother" I snapped, throwing her a hard glare.She pursed her lips and looked away. "It's none of your business. We did it to save our home.""Oh?" I snorted in laughter. "You call.....""Enough, Valerie" My father snarled, cutting me off. "Don't speak to your parents like that. You of all people do not have the right to question our decisions.""I see..." I nodded, my expression darkening. "I won't blame you since you never considered me as your daughter. I mean, who would want a crazy child who just spent the last five years of her life in an asylum? It's obvious you don't see me as your child anymore but as an outcast."Tears welled up in my eyes as I added. "But you did not
ApprehensionLuisa's POV"Madame, do you need something?" A male voice startled me.Immediately, the maids stopped what they were doing, and shifted their gazes to me. I tilted my head to see Charles standing before me with his questioning gaze fixed on me."Er... Well, I...." I drawled, sparing the two women a glance. "Came to get something to eat.""Is that so?" He probed, frowning.I swallowed the lump in my throat, looking around to avoid his gaze."Yes, isn't it time for dinner?" I asked, my voice softened.He sighed, checking his wristwatch. "Dinner is at 6pm, Madame. The time is just half past five; we still have thirty minutes left. The master will be coming to join us.""Huh...." I pouted in shock. Adrian was coming back today?I hadn't seen him since we last spoke at the hospital. I still needed to thank him for his help. Yes, I needed to make him know that I wasn't going to owe him anything."Madame, Madame...." Charles called repeatedly, snapping me out of my thoughts."Wh
A huge threatAdrian's POV"You're wasting our time, Mr. Alvarez" Miguel voiced out sharply, his gaze fierce. "Make your choice now - sign those documents or leave this place to see your video all over the internet."The old man sighed deeply, wiping his sweaty face with the handkerchief in his hands."This is blackmail" He scowled."Who cares?" Miguel smirked. "This is strictly business, Mr. Alvarez. Every competitor would seize the opportunity to take down their rivals. This is just one of many events."Silence reigned for a moment. I simply sat, waiting for his decision. I had spoken; he was left to agree or decline, a choice that would decide his future and that of his family.Miguel was getting impatient. I was too, but my self-restraint was quite powerful."Think about it. You get to enjoy some benefits from us after a few years" Miguel added, and the old man banged his fist on the table."That's after a few years, damnit!" He roared. "What if I get to my grave before the time c
Mixed feelingsLuisa's POVThe moment Valerie sauntered out of the house, I realized I was holding my breath. Somehow, I believed her words weren't mere threats. She was a danger in a human form.What was more shocking was the look of concern on Adrian's face. It was the same look I got at the hospital that made my heart skip a beat."Are you okay?" He asked with a softened voice, placing his right hand on my left cheek. "Did she harm you?"I shook my head slowly, taking a deep breath."You saw I was the one who hit her" I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I thought my safety was guaranteed in your territory.""It is, Luisa" Adrian assured. "I wasn't expecting her to get out of the asylum.""An asylum, huh?" I laughed wryly. "She's indeed a maniac."Adrian sighed deeply. "You'll be fine, I promise. As my wife, I must protect you.""Yeah, whatever" I rolled my eyes. "It's forced anyway. You didn't have to protect me twice. I don't have much to repay you."Adrian smirked. "Do
Her weaponAdrian's POVAn heir?Haha... So funny of me to make such demands from someone who still saw our marriage as a sham. I wanted to make things work, but I guessed I wasn't so good with romance.An heir? Sleeping together? All these were just demands I made out of the blue. Now, I have to flow with it. Funny for me, I couldn't stop myself from pulling her close. It was so strange that I found her attractive despite my strong aversion to many women.As for Valerie, she was a mistake I made when....."Let me go," Luisa said, struggling. My thoughts ended abruptly and my focus was now on her.I was so eager to test her patience."Or what?" I smirked.Her cute pout fueled something in me. I simply followed my instincts when I confirmed that we were so close to the bed. Without a second thought, I pinned her to the bed and planted a soft kiss on her lips.I waited for any form of resistance, but she seemed fine with it so I proceeded to the next phase. I deepened the kiss without p
Strange newsLuisa's POV"Of course not" I fired, swatting his hands away forcefully.I could tell my face was burning hot. I couldn't believe my outburst; it made me ask myself a weird question - was I jealous?No way!There was no way I was falling for him.Suddenly, I felt something hot brush against my skin."You seem lost in thoughts. Don't tell me you're confused" He whispered into my ears, causing me to freeze.It took me a few seconds to recover myself. I pushed him away and stumbled backward."Why does it have to be you in my head?" I snarled, my voice full of conviction. "I have other important things to talk about.""Oh?" He smirked playfully. "You know what? To prove your words, I want you to stand so close to me for five minutes."I was baffled. "What?!""Yeah, five minutes" He repeated his last two words. "If you can stand for that long without being affected by my charm, I'll be convinced that you feel nothing for me."What? Such a challenge was way beyond my imaginati
HopelessValerie's POVMy eyes shot open, and my chest heaved. Sweat beads trickled down my face as I tried to recall the details of the nightmare.Wait. Was it even a nightmare?"Oh, the princess is awake, huh?" A male voice whispered, his voice laced with mockery.At that moment, my senses woke up and my sharp gaze settled on the two men standing...No, they weren't standing. They were obviously kneeling before me. The two of them were shirtless, revealing the snake-like tattoos on their bodies. The one who spoke was blonde haired with grey eyes and a slender physique, while the second one had black hair with a touch of grey on it. His brown eyes was filled with mix of disdain and lewdness. His sturdy build was the most scary thing.What the hell was I doing with them?"Who are you guys? Where am I?" I questioned, my voice hoarse. A sharp pain shot through my head as I tried to put together the scattered pieces of images in my head. I couldn't help but wince in pain."Oh, she has a b
DisappearanceAdrian's POV"Tch... You bitch" I cursed, almost biting my tongue.I couldn't understand how we managed to bump into her without getting a warning from James.I shifted my gaze to Miguel. "What did he say?"Miguel shook his head slowly. "Nothing. He isn't responding.""If you're talking about the friend you left outside, he's probably dead by now" I heard Valerie say, and my blood boiled in anger."What do you mean?" I snapped.Valerie snickered. "Exactly what you heard. I already made plans just in case Jude and the waitress messed up. My men would have ambushed him by now. Now, back to our discussion. I have my terms and conditions."I frowned with a disturbance in my heart. "What terms?"Valerie smiled. "It's simple. You ditch that kitten, we get back together and you announce it to the world. Also, you help me get my company back."I was stupefied. "You're insane!" I snarled."I know" Valerie retorted. "Do you agree with my terms and conditions or are you going to re
TwistValerie's POVFlashback......"I hope that dirty waitress does her job perfectly well" I snorted, eyeing Levi suspiciously. I was still yet to understand why he decided to stick around after stating clearly that he wanted nothing to do with us anymore."She will" I heard Jude say. "She knows the consequences of failing.""Good," I stated, my eyes fluttering around the room we were in as I marveled at the scent of luxury. "How could she even afford this kind of suite in a club?"Jude chuckled. "She's the club owner's favorite and his bed warmer. What more can we expect?"She was already enjoying her boss, but it seemed her greed was insatiable. I mean, why else would she agree to my proposal?I laughed, shooking the thought of it off my mind. It was her business anyway. My only concern was to get what I wanted without mistakes."Good riddance" I smiled. "How many rooms do we have here?""Two" Jude replied curtly. "We've already prepared one for the mission. You can use the other
A Bomb DetonatorAdrian's POV"Don't forget we had a deal" Jude chipped in, glaring hard at the young lady. "One word from you, and you'll be dead."I smirked, studying her body response. "He's surrounded; he can't touch you. His words are just empty threats. Tell me the truth and I'll have you protected by my men till everything is over."The overwhelmed lady broke down in tears, her body trembling. "I... I.... don't know" She stuttered, falling to her knees.Javier was getting impatient. He walked up to her and cocked his gun, pointing it to her head. "You don't what?" He snapped. "Don't even try to scream or you'll be meeting your maker the second you do."The lady covered her mouth with her right hand, breathing heavily. Her body was drenched in sweat, and her skin was burning hot."Speak!" Javier barked, and the lady whimpered."I'll tell you" She stated. "But you have to promise to let me go. I'll pretend like nothing ever happened."I burst into laughter, stunned by her confid
The SearchAdrian's POV"She switched dresses with her" Javier stated the obvious, infuriating me further.I banged my fist against the wall, letting my anger control me. The next thing I did was to land a punch on the wall mirror, shattering it into pieces. I ignored the blood dripping from my knuckles and landed another blow on the next mirror."That's enough, Adrian. This is not the best way to solve this" Javier warned sternly.But I was too livid to listen. I swiftly threw a punch at him, but fortunately, he dodged. I didn't have enough time to withdraw my fist before he grabbed it and threw me a punch in the face."Get yourself together, man" He shouted in anger.I grabbed the sink and leaned on it for support."Shut the fuck up!" I cursed, spitting out blood. "I can't even find her. Who knows what they've done to her? How do I face her after this?""You're overwhelmed, Bro. I've never seen you like this" Javier revealed soberly. "You're forgetting it's a live video. They haven'
ImpersonationAdrian's POV"Where the hell is she?" I cursed silently, looking out for Luisa and the man she danced with. I couldn't believe my carefully mapped out plan to make sure she danced with someone we were familiar with failed woefully.As I searched for her, something kept tugging at my heart - the image of a lady behind a cat-like mask. The lady I danced with. We didn't exchange a word, but her smile kept me troubled.Who exactly was she?I felt a light tap on my shoulder, making me turn swiftly, on high alert."Chill, bro. It's me" Javier whispered. "I'm sorry that happened. I've checked everywhere but I can't seem to find her.""Tch..." I clenched my fist in anger. "What about the man she danced with?""Also nowhere to be found" Javier replied with a solemn voice.Instantly, my eyes caught sight of a familiar silhouette, dressed the same way I last saw her."Wow!" Javier exclaimed, staring at her. "Where did she go?"I ignored him, walking up to her. I grabbed her tiny ha
A SyringeLuisa's POV"Tch... Who made such a rule?" Adrian gritted his teeth in annoyance as he grumbled with a low voice. "This is the first time such is happening."I couldn't respond, because it was my first time attending a masquerade ball. I never really knew the rules.My eyeballs suddenly widened in realization.I turned to Adrian. "Who's the host?"He shrugged. "No one knows. There's a familiar signature on it; one that I'm used to. If not, we wouldn't be here.""Wow!" I exclaimed in amazement. It sounded daring but dangerous."Everyone get into position" The MC stated, signifying the commencement of the first dance. "Make sure to stand on the large blue flowers on the tile. It will help you guys maintain a reasonable distance."Blue flowers? Oh... There were imprints of blue and white flowers on the floor."Shouldn't we go join the others?" I asked, but Adrian squeezed my hand in reply."I won't let my wife dance with a stranger" He muttered.I read his lips, which left me
Dance PartnersLuisa's POV"You look stunning" Anna complimented with much sincerity, her eyes glittering with praises.She was indeed a top-notch make-up artist, who knew exactly what was good for her clients. I, myself, couldn't believe what I was seeing, my eyes fixed on the mirror."Of course, she looks stunning. It's my work of art" A sissy voice chipped in, full of pride.It was the fashion designer who helped with the dress fitting. Orlando, or what was he called? The guy couldn't just stop blabbering for a second. Nevertheless, I was grateful. Though the diamonds were too much, I still appreciated it.I didn't dare to think of reprimanding Adrian for spending his money on his wife. The masquerade ball was indeed not for the weak."Oh.. we have fifteen more minutes before the ball starts" Anna mentioned, her eyes on the wall clock. "The ride to the event center is five minutes."A knock on the door grabbed our attention. It was one of the maids in the mansion."Master demands f
A Dangerous JokeLuisa's POVThe tiny hope brewing in my chest turned to dust the moment the pervert pointed a gun at my belly. I was too young to die.Again and again, I kept falling into the hands of an enemy, and Adrian kept on being threatened, having to go the extra miles for my sake.Guilt washed over me as I watched them argue back and forth. I couldn't even summon the courage to make a sound, let alone speak out."Don't you dare try to hurt her" Adrian snarled."I will if you don't do as I say" Jefferson retorted."This is bullshit" A man standing next to Adrian cursed. "How dare you harass a woman? You haven't changed one bit.""And I'm guessing you're still that little kid who can't fight for himself" Jefferson fired back."You bet" The man replied."Enough!" Adrian commanded. "I'm done listening to your rambling. What do you want, Jefferson?"The pervert's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "I don't know who this woman is to you, but I know what I want.."A moment passed