Victoria POV.
What would be your greatest wish for your 18th birthday?
For me turning 18 was one of the most anticipated dates, which would become the beginning of my new life, the beginning of being an independent adult.
Before it became a nightmare.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves, because to understand the suffering that afflicts my heart, you must know a little of my past and what led me to... Know him.
My name is Victoria Miller and I am 18 years old. You could say I have a normal life, with two younger brothers who make me very angry, my mother who is a kindergarten teacher, and my father who works at the city's power plant as a technician.
And although we are a fairly normal family these days, not standing out too much from the other neighbors and people around us; my family's background is a bit peculiar.
My grandfather, Evian Miller, is known to be one of the most promising inventors of the last century. In his youth, together with one of his childhood friends, he created an entire company dedicated to the research and development of medical technology, being recognized for having under his name the patent for the creation of the machine to keep people alive if their heart stopped beating, being this his most distinctive invention; but he has also created several home-made elements to control the blood pressure and other medical supplies, of which my family also has the patent.
It's funny, but I suppose my grandfather's name must appear in some history books and other people must admire him for his contributions to science. But to me, he was that kind old man who used to give me chocolate bars behind my mother's back, and who used to hoist me on his shoulders as we rode through children's playgrounds.
But how did my grandfather go from being a rich man with the world at his feet to a common man? The answer is somewhat simple. At a certain point in his life, my grandfather decided to throw all his efforts away, and sold the part of the company he had worked so hard to his co-worker, to have a normal life outside of the luxuries and money that being the CEO of such a company can bring you. I was always curious as to why my grandfather did this, but no one in my family knows the reason, it's a complete mystery...
And although I could have asked him directly, unfortunately, it is now impossible. My grandfather has been dead for over 15 years, passing away when I was barely a couple of years old. And now he only lives on in my fuzzy memory from when I was just an infant, as my other siblings never got to meet him.
After my grandfather decided to give it all up to live a "normal" life, my father tried to follow in his footsteps and studied to be an engineer, trying to form his own company and make my grandfather proud in this way; but I guess you can't decide to be a genius inventor, it's something that comes by itself if you have talent. So after several years of trying, after many failures and rejections, my father finally gave up and looked for a regular job, meeting my mother sometime later and forming a typical family by her side; of which I am now a part.
So with the shadow of past glory, with all the stories of my grandfather's wealth and recognition on my back, I have not given up on becoming rich again and having a great company to run, with the big dream of returning to the glory my family once had.
And that is the destiny I have mapped out for myself since I was able to know what I wanted to do with my life, the goal I set out for myself and was determined to achieve.
After analyzing my grandfather's story, I believe that the flaws he had as an inventor were not having the other part of the perspective when he was creating medical inventions, focusing only on the mechanical and engineering; but not thinking about medicine as such or the patients his inventions were aimed at. So deciding to fill in my grandfather's gaps, that which he could never achieve, I was determined to study medicine at one of the best universities in the country, so that I could then honor my grandfather's legacy and become an inventor as well.
That's why turning 18 meant a lot to me, it meant the beginning of this path I had set for myself, to be able to become independent from home so I could try to fulfill my dreams.
Or so I thought it meant.
Not knowing anything yet about how tragic my 18th birthday would be.
Dominik POV
What is duty?
Throughout my life those words have rolled around in my head a thousand times, trying to give it a meaning that will help me keep breathing; because that's all I have, all there is to me.
Fulfilling the duties expected of a person like me.
My name is Dominik Mayer, I come from the famous and wealthy Mayer family as the only heir, I am 25 years old, and this is my first year as a director of the family business after my grandfather retired from the CEO position after more than forty years of work.
I know what my family expects of me, the duties everyone wants me to fulfill, and although I am striving to fulfill or trying to fulfill everything, all the things I have to do, with each passing day things get more complicated for me.
"Are you kidding?" I asked my mother when she came to my office a couple of days ago with an old contract.
"I wish I was joking," She told me, putting the document on my desk, "The document is legitimate, and by law, we are bound by what is stipulated here for the honor and safety of our family."
What is the duty for a man? That question repeated itself in my head a thousand times, as I took that document from my desk and read what was stipulated on it. It was a document more than twenty years old, one that my grandfather and another man had signed, and amid many useless words, it stipulated something terrible for me.
Looking at me sternly, my mother said, "You know what you have to do."
That had been over a month ago, and I have that old document on my desk table ever since, as an ever-present reminder of what I was to do and the next duty I was to fulfill.
I don't know why it bothers me so much, I have lived all my life fulfilling the wishes and duties that are always put in front of me, fulfilling the wishes and promises of others, I have always done the same, it is usual for me. But fulfilling this "promise"... It was especially annoying and painful for me, according to my own perception, because it was not just anything, like concluding with a business proposal or doing something specific with my company like the other duties I have had so far.
This particular document was going to change my whole life.
And maybe that's what makes me doubt, after whole sleepless nights thinking about it since I knew about the existence of that piece of paper and what it contained written on it, I don't know if I'm ready to fulfill that old promise my grandfather made so many years ago.
Marry? Isn't that too serious? I don't want to do it...
Snapping out of my distraction as I stared at that document on my desk, I watch as my personal secretary enters my office with a firm step, clacking her heels on the wood of my office floor, walking in my direction briskly.
"Mr. Mayer, Mrs. Adelaide, and Mr. Jhonas are waiting for you outside your office, they asked me to direct you to hurry," My secretary tells me politely, approaching me with a kind smile on her face.
"Is it time already?" I ask seriously.
"It's time already, Mr. Mayer."
With a sigh, understanding that I have no choice, just as with most things that have happened throughout my life, I decided to fulfill my duty and the promises my grandfather made so long ago already.
And standing up from my desk, I carefully arranged the jacket of my suit, smoothing the fabric with my fingers, preparing myself for what was to happen in a few minutes.
On the night of that December 7th.
Victoria POVMy birthday takes place on the first days of December, December 7 to be more exact. I usually don't like my birthdays because they always happen when there are exams in school, since more or less from the middle of December we have the end of the year vacations until January, so on my birthday, we have the end of semester exams.But that year because of something unusual, maybe because we were Seniors in our last year of high school or just by luck, the end-of-semester exams ended in November, leaving my birthday free so I could enjoy it without any impediment. Then I thought that maybe that was some kind of sign, that it was destiny, that it was marking my birthday as a big day for me, the beginning of my adult life, and the first step to fulfill my life's dreams.Since a couple of days ago I had started sending admission letters to different universities, trying to propose me for medical school in all of them. So excited, I was hoping that maybe o
Dominik POV.The trip in the car was silent, my parents were next to me in the same car, but none of them said a single word. As usual, even in silence, it's my mother who manages to keep the whole atmosphere in tension, it's amazing how even without having to say a word, she manages to keep my father and me in that bad state; I guess it's her greatest skill after all.Moving forward through the hectic late afternoon traffic, when there are many traffic jams, due to all the employees of the company buildings around the business area of this city leaving their jobs to go home. We finally manage to get out of the mess of the downtown streets and head along the main highway towards the northern area of the city, where the houses of the average families are located, in the suburbs, where the middle-class families live.As we slowly make our way into this area, out of the corner of my eye I can see my mother wrinkle her nose slightly in disdain. She doesn't usually c
Victoria POV."Mom? Dad? What's going on?"My question hangs in the air, as I continue to watch those strange people in the living room of my house, keeping their countenances full of seriousness. This has turned into something very strange and even scary, I don't see my younger siblings anywhere, and there are so many strange people in my house now... Why is this happening on my birthday?"Tory, there is something important we need to tell you" My father says to me.From the tone of his voice, I can tell that the situation is serious indeed, I have rarely heard my father talk like that. So looking curiously at all that crowd of strange people in my house, I walk through the living room to the couch where my parents are, approaching them."What's going on?" I ask curiously, focusing my attention on my father.Entering the conversation, my mother is the one who answers me, telling me: "Tory, there is a situation we were unaware of about your
Victoria POV.This all seemed like a bad nightmare. Lying on my bed, while hugging one of my pillows, I couldn't stop crying. How could this all have ended this way? I was supposed to have a nice dinner at home today, surrounded by the people I love, with my parents, my grandmother, and my siblings. But instead, I just have... A horrible obligation.So even denying myself to this truth, to what is happening to me, in my head I keep praying that this is just a bad dream, that from one moment to the next I will wake up in my bed, starting my birthday all over again, where I would just have to laugh at my silly dreams and have the 18th birthday I always wished for.But as I keep crying and the minutes go by, I don't wake up from this "nightmare".I don't know how much time passes, but after a very good while, soft knocks are heard at the door of my room. After leaving the meeting with those unknown people in my living room, I ran to my room, where I locked m
Victoria POV. Sighing, I look at my closet not knowing quite what to do. I was feeling extremely exhausted, because I had stayed up all night, crying and thinking about what was going on in my life, with the whole thing with my birthday ruined and my marriage arranged. It's not the first time I've stayed up all night, I've done it before for school when there are exams or I have an important project, but last night was different, as I didn't stay up working or studying, I stayed up crying and lamenting about my horrible life all night. I couldn't say that I had already decided what I was going to do, in a way I felt in the middle of a big predicament. My family is not doing well financially, but that doesn't mean that I practically have to prostitute myself to get a little more money for them, we are not that destitute. However... Not just for getting my grandfather's company back, but also for my brothers, I was beginning to consider it. I mean, you just hav
Dominik POV.Very attentive, I was going through some of the documents that were left for me this morning. They were not very important documents as work has been pretty quiet these past few weeks, however, I prefer to give them a look now that I have more time, because I don't want the work to pile up for me when it is already the deadline to send in the revisions.As usual, I review the documents that talk about the sales of the new drugs that we bring to the public with the pharmaceutical area of the company, something that was beginning to be worrying, because it generated losses, at least in these first two months since its launch. In my company it is not very common to see losses, we have very competent professionals, so everything we bring to the market has a good use for us, making us one of the most prosperous companies in recent years. But I personally believe that the pharmaceutical division of the company is our weakest part, as it does not generate good sa
Victoria POVI felt like I might faint soon because I was so nervous. When I was finally allowed to go see Dominik, the CEO of this huge company, by getting on that big, luxurious elevator that took me up so many floors, I really thought I was going to faint. The emotions were too strong for me, and I was still unprepared for the unknown, fearing what I might find when I got to Dominik's office.When the elevator finally finished going up, in the middle of long seconds, I realized with surprise that I had reached the top floor of the tower, did Dominik have his office here? As I arrived, just outside the elevator, I was met by a stunning but friendly woman. I think she is Dominik's receptionist, but she really looks like a model, with a slender and well-proportioned body, wearing a beautiful light pink dress that clings to her body.Next to this beautiful woman, dressed in my most "elegant" clothes, which were just rags compared to her dress, I couldn't help but
Victoria POV.After leaving Dominik's office, I feel incredibly relieved, as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Closing the door by myself, I walk back to the elevator by which I had gotten here, remembering the way well. Lisa, Dominik's kind and beautiful receptionist offers to take me to the elevator, but I refuse, as I'm not so dumb as to not remember how to get there. So I just say goodbye and thank her for her kindness and help, continuing on my way to the elevator.My meeting with Dominik had been very quick, stupidly quick if I have to be honest. Since I had hoped that when we both met, we could talk at length about the matter of our engagement and what it entailed for us, but Dominik didn't seem interested, and ended the matter rather quickly as if he didn't care; which is irritating but reassuring at the same time.Reaching the elevator, I press the button to call it up to the floor I'm on, while still thinking about everything that happ
Victoria POVTaking a deep breath, I listen as in the distance behind these curtains, the wedding march plays, by that nice band we had hired for our wedding.I didn't have fond memories of my first wedding. I was in a funk, with the news of my arranged marriage and after getting such an impression of Dominik and his family, it was practically impossible for me to enjoy that ceremony. Besides that as such, that was not my wedding, it was Dominik's mother's wedding, that insufferable woman was the one who was in charge of organizing most of the details of my wedding, from the hors d'oeuvres to my dress. So that whole party and ceremony didn't feel like my own thing, it felt like my duty to marry Dominik.But my second wedding... It's something different.For a long time when I regained my memory, I felt extremely regretful and stupid for having signed my divorce with Dominik, for having been so unconscious to sign those documents. For because of my mistake
Dominik POVI open my eyes in the middle of the darkness. After having sex with Victoria in an uncontrolled manner several times, I end up surrendered in bed. Sometimes I think I should improve my physical condition just for my wife, who has become insatiable.Abandoning my thoughts as I turn in bed, I soon wonder where she is right now, as next to me there is no one, there is only the empty bed. With a yawn, having regained some of my energy from that short nap, I stand up and grab my underwear, putting them on and deciding to leave the room to look for her.It didn't take long to find her, seeing her in the main room of the suite, wearing my shirt, and sitting on the floor looking outside through one of the large windows.Smiling at the sight of her, I slowly approach her, sitting behind her and hugging her back, "What are you doing, didn't you rest?" I ask kissing her on the neck.Victoria smiles playfully, and entangles her fingers with mine in
Victoria POVIn the middle of this beautiful room, which made the most beautiful memories flow in me, I couldn't help but melt with Dominik in a passionate and long kiss, while my body stuck to his, and his naughty hands started to slide down my waist, reaching my buttocks and pressing my buttocks."Dominik..." I say in a whisper breaking our kiss when he presses my buttocks on the thin fabric of my dress.Smiling in a somewhat shy way, Dominik says to me, "I'm sorry Tory, I don't think I can control myself right now."Smiling reassuringly at him, I take his face in my hands, saying, "I don't want you to control yourself."Those words coming from my lips are enough to drive my husband crazy, who takes me in his arms, and with quick steps heads to the suite's bedroom, making me laugh. Yes, he is quite impatient...My body bounces on the soft feather bed of the hotel, the same one on which I once lost my virginity to this man I love with all m
Dominik POVShortly after Derick's nanny arrives, Victoria and I leave our house for the city. Unlike our short married life without children, Victoria and I no longer had as many freedoms now, as we could stay out all night at a party and return at dawn, Derick was still a small baby, and he needed Victoria by his side. Still, we could definitely do something in the little free time we had.I love my son with all my heart, but secretly, if only I had wished my time alone with Victoria as a slightly freer couple had lasted longer.But there is no time for regrets now, and enjoying my young son and my now stable family, I can only long for my times with fewer responsibilities in the past."Wow... We haven't been here in a while" Victoria says, as we approach the most luxurious hotel on the island."I know, when we arrived I had planned to come here often, but I think we only came here for the first few days of our arrival," I say unable to hold in s
Dominik POVFeeling loving kisses on my face, I barely open my eyes and see Victoria's smiling face next to me, something that immediately makes me smile too, as I love to see her so happy and next to me."Hi," I say looking at her."Hi..." She answers me, lowering her gaze immediately to our son, "Were you guys taking a nap?""The baby was taking it, and I... I foolishly fell asleep too.""It's okay, don't worry, you've worked hard these days, you deserve to rest too."Holding her things better, Victoria stands up, walking to one of the furniture nearby to put her phone on charge.After all, getting back to my life with Victoria wasn't difficult at all.I was able to enjoy her last few months of pregnancy when she was in such a delicate state after all the horrible things that happened to her because of me. I still didn't mind taking care of her at all, and I kept her like a princess at home during that time.My mother
Victoria POVWith a sigh, I take off my sunglasses, listening as my phone alarm beeps steadily, signaling to me that my relaxing time on the beach is finally over.Honestly, I wanted to enjoy however I could these last days I have in this paradisiacal place with my family, since after almost 6 months I was going back home for my wedding, and I wanted to enjoy a natural tan for that. So looking at the sunset sun over my head, already practically disappearing on the horizon to give way to the night. I understand that it's the right time to head back home. I still have a couple of days to come to the beach to soak up some sun before returning home.Almost a year has passed since my accident and my reunion with Dominik, and during all this time... My life has been perfect, better than a dream.Just as I had anticipated, in the month of March, my little boy was born without a hitch. My beautiful Deric Evian Meyer was my greatest love next to his father, and al
Victoria POVI felt like I was in heaven, having just woken up from a long dream, a nightmare. But now I had all my memories, my memories preserved, I finally knew who I was and I could return to the arms of my beloved husband.I know our relationship is not perfect, I'll be damned if I ever suggest that it is. However, amid its imperfection, I was happy with Dominik, as I believe we both compliment each other and have the ability to make it all work thanks to being able to do that, thanks to being able to be ourselves and find understanding and affection in each other. I don't see myself next to anyone other than Dominik Meyer.So when I feel his arms around my waist, touching my bulging belly, I can't help but get a little emotional and just want to cry. Since I signed the divorce petition foolishly, and for a moment, just a moment, I feared I was going to lose Dominik. Even more so tonight, when for just a couple of seconds, he almost left me again.Tu
Dominik POVAfter thinking about it... I decided that I was definitely not going to give up. I know what Victoria had told me, I know the desperate way she begged me to get out of her life... And even though I was really considering doing it so as not to upset her and not to make the situation even worse... I understood that I couldn't do it.I couldn't disappear from her life and from my son's life like that, I couldn't be a coward and abandon the only family I truly love in this world. For my son and for Victoria, I had to keep fighting for them until the end.So, apologizing to all my employees, whom I had made come to work in vain on such an important date as Christmas Eve, I suspended my trip and asked them to keep the plane. I was not planning to go anywhere.I was determined, I was going to get my family back at any cost, and I planned to start doing that right now if necessary. So grabbing my little luggage and my phone, I was already calling a ca
Victoria POVI felt like I was in some kind of loop, some kind of replay of time and events, as in the middle of a snowy night and so much hustle and bustle, I was running through the streets heading for the airport, to find the man I love and the father of my children.Praying it's not too late.After leaving Dominik's building, the one in which we once had our apartment, one thing became clear to me: Dominik was planning to leave, and that was something I could not allow. So taking all my courage, adjusting the scarf around my neck, and getting very serious, I decided to get to that airport to stop him, even if I had to walk in the snow with my pregnancy, I was determined not to lose Dominik for a second time.But fortunately, when I was arriving at the center of the city, in the middle of the strong gales hitting my face and the snowflakes that had started to fall from the sky, I met the least expected person."Miss Victoria?" I hear as a very f