PresentDominic strode into his office, his commanding presence immediately capturing the attention of his team, who stood before him, awaiting his address with a mix of anticipation and trepidation."Arthur!" Dominic's voice boomed, echoing off the walls.Arthur stepped forward, his eyes cast downward in shame."Boss, I'm sorry," Arthur replied, his words laced with regret."It was my fault; I failed to protect Valerie and didn't follow orders to the letter," he admitted.Dominic's piercing gaze bore into Arthur."Punish yourself," he ordered.Arthur retrieved a knife from his pocket.And sliced from above his right eye to his cheek.Blood gushed, streaming down his face.The room gasped, shocked gasps filling the air.Everyone watched in horror.Carter rushed toward Arthur.But Kael restrained her."Let him be, Carter," Kael whispered.Arthur's face remained impassive.Unfazed.Dominic's eyes narrowed."This mark will remind you of your duty," he declared."And you all, stay away fr
PastValerie stood in the garden, surrounded by vibrant blooms, yet her thoughts were shrouded in melancholy. She sensed Arthur's presence behind her, his footsteps quiet on the gravel path."Arthur," she said, turning to face him. "How's your arm?""I'm fine now," Arthur replied, his expression stoic. "The bullet didn't go deeper."Valerie's gaze lingered on the healed wound."I thought I lost you again," she whispered, her voice barely audible.Arthur remained silent, his eyes cast downward.Valerie turned to him, her eyes searching."Maybe we weren't destined, Alastair," she said, using his true name."That's why I waited for you so long, in hope that one day you'd take me away from the hell I was in."Her voice cracked."But you never came."Arthur's jaw clenched."I won't blame you for this," Valerie continued."Maybe someone else was destined to protect me, save me."She pointed to her wedding ring.Arthur's gaze followed."Maybe you're right," he said finally."Dominic is the p
PresentValerie's eyes suddenly snapped open, and she found Dominic lying on top of her, fast asleep. Their naked bodies were entwined, but the warmth of his skin brought no comfort. Instead, she felt a searing pain in her hand and saw that her shoulder was bleeding. The agony was unbearable, like nothing she had ever experienced before.With great effort, Valerie summoned the strength to gently push Dominic onto his side without waking him. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to free herself from his grasp.As she stumbled out of bed, her legs trembled beneath her, and every step felt like a fresh blow. The pain was crippling, threatening to consume her.The memories of the previous night's horrors flooded her mind—the man she loved, the man she trusted, had inflicted this unbearable agony upon her.Valerie staggered into the bathroom, using the wall for support, and made her way to the sink. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and recoiled in shock.Her body was
PastDominic stood on the balcony, the midnight air enveloping him as he puffed on his cigar. The city lights twinkled below, casting a mesmerizing glow.Inside, Valerie stirred, her eyes fluttering open to an empty bed. She sat up, searching for Dominic. Her gaze landed on his figure standing on the balcony, shrouded in shadows.Valerie threw off the covers, wrapping the sheet around herself. She padded softly toward Dominic, her steps hesitant.As she reached the balcony door, she slipped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his back. Dominic's hands covered hers, holding her close.He turned, his eyes locking onto hers. Gently, he touched her cheek, his thumb tracing the curve of her jaw.Dominic's lips brushed against Valerie's, a soft, tender kiss."Why are you here?" he whispered. "It's cold outside. Go back to bed."Valerie's smile faltered, her voice barely above a whisper. "My warmth is you. How can I sleep without you?"Dominic's eyes crinkled at the corners
PresentValerie lay motionless on the plush bed, surrounded by opulent furnishings and heavy velvet curtains. The once-vibrant woman now seemed fragile, her beauty muted.IV lines snaked from her arm, feeding vital nutrients into her vein. A private nurse monitored her vital signs, her expression stoic.Dominic stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes cold, distant. His jaw clenched, anger and grief etched on his face.Valerie's eyes fluttered open, focusing on Dominic's imposing figure at the foot of the bed. His jaw clenched, eyes blazing with accusation."You're awake," Dominic growled, his tone biting. "Finally."Valerie's gaze faltered under his glare. Memories of his venomous words, the blame, and the pain flooded back."Look at me!" Dominic demanded, his voice harsh.Valerie's eyes welled up with tears as she turned her face away."Coward..." Dominic spat. "You can't even face me."The nurse intervened, her voice firm. "Mr. Dominic, please. She needs rest."Dominic's glare linger
PastDominic stood before the bathroom mirror, shaving cream lathered on his face. The razor glided smoothly, his movements precise.Valerie entered, her footsteps quiet on the marble floor. She approached him, her hands slipping around his waist.Dominic's eyes met hers in the mirror, a hint of a smile."Why do you always hug me from behind?" he asked, his voice low.Valerie's cheeks flushed. "Because I'm too shy to hug you from the front."Dominic chuckled, setting the razor down. He grasped her hands, lifting her onto the counter.The shaving cream transformed his chiseled features into a comical sight.Valerie giggled, her eyes sparkling. "Right now, you look like Santa Claus."Dominic's grin widened, his eyes crinkling. "And you're my little elf."Valerie's laughter filled the bathroom, a joyful melody.Dominic's gaze softened, his heart swelling with affection. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.Dominic's arms enveloped Valerie, holding her close as she sat on th
Present Dr. Thompson examined Valerie, her expression sympathetic. "The miscarriage was traumatic, Valerie. Your body needs time to heal." Dominic burst in, his presence commanding attention. "When will she be ready to get pregnant?" he demanded, ignoring Valerie. Dr. Thompson hesitated. "Sir, her medical history is critical. After this miscarriage, her body isn't ready for another pregnancy. The chances are slim." Dominic's face darkened. He grabbed Dr. Thompson's collar, gun drawn. "How dare you!" he snarled. "She killed my child. Now she has to give me back my child. I don't care what she goes through." Valerie rose from the bed, her eyes flashing. "Child, child, child. That's all you care about," she spat. "Fake promises, lies. Your only intention was to marry me for an heir." Dominic's grip on Dr. Thompson tightened. "Ready her," he growled. "Valerie's patience is over." Valerie stepped forward, her hand on Dominic's. "Dominic Lombardi," she said, her voic
PastDominic and Valerie lay entwined on the bed, their arms wrapped around each other in a gentle embrace. The soft moonlight filtering through the windows cast a serene glow on their peaceful faces. Dominic's phone buzzed on the nightstand, shattering the tranquility. He hesitated, then reached for it, his eyes scanning the caller ID. John. If John was calling at this late hour, something was amiss. Dominic's expression turned serious as he answered. "John, what's wrong?" Valerie stirred, sensing the tension in Dominic's voice. She opened her eyes, watching as he listened intently. John's words were indistinguishable, but Dominic's grip on the phone tightened. He threw off the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Valerie's hand instinctively reached out, her fingers wrapping around his. "Something urgent has come up," Dominic said, his voice low and reassuring. "You sleep, I'll be back in a while." Valerie's eyes searched his face, concern etched
It had been a month since Valarie left Dominic, and the man had been a shadow of his former self. He spent most of his days locked away in his office, staring blankly at the walls as the weight of his mistakes crushed him.He couldn't shake the feeling that he had lost everything that truly mattered to him. Rose, the woman he had loved and lost, and now Valarie, the woman who had loved him despite his flaws. He had hurt them both, and now he was paying the price.Dominic's thoughts were a jumble of regret and self-loathing as he sat behind his desk, his eyes fixed on some point in front of him. He knew that he had made wrong decision after wrong decision, and that those mistakes had led him down a path of destruction.Just as he was starting to think that things couldn't get any worse, the door to his office opened and a man walked in. He was tall and imposing, with a stern expression on his face."I am Julian St. Clair," the man said, his voice firm and authoritative. "I am Valarie's
Valerie burst into the room, her voice ringing out as she shouted, "STOP IT!!!" Dominic's head snapped towards her, his eyes narrowing in anger."What the fuck are you doing here?" he growled, taking a step towards her.But Valerie didn't listen. She ran towards Arthur, her eyes fixed on his battered face. She reached out and gently touched his cheek, her gaze flicking up to Max, who looked down, shamefaced.Valerie turned back to Dominic, her voice trembling with rage. "What is your problem, Dominic? How can you be so cruel? I thought you had changed, but I was wrong."Dominic's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "I said worrying about other men is not your concern," he snarled. "I will kill him."Valerie's eyes blazed with defiance. "Kill, kill everyone, kill me too. What else can you do? What do you know other than killing people? I hate myself for loving you, Dominic."Dominic's face went white with rage. "What did you say?" he spat. "I promised you that I would not hurt
Just as Dominic was about to continue his brutal beating of Arthur, Carter finally spoke up, his voice trembling with fear. "Dominic, please... you need to know the truth."Dominic's eyes narrowed, his grip on Arthur's hair tightening. "What truth?" he spat.Carter took a deep breath before continuing. "Arthur and Valerie... they've known each other since childhood. They love each other, Dominic. Arthur has always loved her, but he never said anything because... because you married her."Dominic's face turned beet red with rage as he processed Carter's words. His eyes blazed with fury as he stood over Arthur, who was lying on the ground, beaten and bruised by Dominic's guards."You knew her before, and you never told me," Dominic spat, his voice venomous. "She loved you, and I made you her bodyguard. Tell me the truth: Did you two ever do anything behind my back?"Arthur winced in pain as he struggled to speak. "You are misunderstanding me; I am loyal to you," he protested. "It is not
Dominic's voice was calm, but it sent a shiver down Arthur's spine. "Arthur!" he called out, his eyes never leaving the pair.Valarie's grip on Arthur's arm tightened, but Dominic's next words had her releasing him. "Separate them," he instructed, his voice still calm.Valarie's eyes widened in fear as Dominic's guards moved to take Arthur away. She looked up at Dominic, her eyes searching for any sign of mercy. But Dominic's expression was calm, and a calm Dominic was more dangerous than an angry one."D...Dominic," Valarie stuttered, trying to appeal to whatever humanity was left in him.Dominic took a step closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. "Calm down. I promised you I wouldn't hurt you, and I'm a man of my word, so don't be afraid," he said, his voice low and soothing.But Valarie knew better than to trust him. She watched in horror as Dominic signaled to his guards, and they dragged Arthur away."What are you going to do with him?" Valarie asked, her voice shaking with fe
Arthur stood outside Valarie's room, his heart racing with anticipation. It had taken him weeks to come to this decision, to gather the courage to take this step. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and then slowly raised his hand to knock on the door."Come in," Valarie's voice called out from inside.Arthur's hand trembled slightly as he turned the handle and pushed open the door. He stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Valarie. She looked up at him, a hint of surprise flickering across her face.Arthur's gaze dropped, his eyes fixed on the floor as he struggled to find the words he wanted to say. Valarie's voice cut through the silence, her tone firm but with a hint of sadness."What do you want, Arthur?" she asked.Arthur's eyes slowly rose, meeting Valarie's gaze. He took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want to say something to you," he said.Valarie's expression softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "There's nothing t
Dominic led Lily to the backyard, where a beautiful treehouse sat perched on a sturdy branch. Lily's eyes widened with excitement as she gazed up at the treehouse."Wow, Dominic! You built this for me?" She asked, her voice trembling with delight.Dominic smiled, his eyes shining with pride. "I did, sweetheart. I wanted to make sure you had a special place all your own."Lily squealed with excitement, racing towards the treehouse with Dominic following close behind. As they climbed up into the treehouse, Lily's eyes grew wide with wonder. The treehouse was filled with all sorts of toys and games, and Lily couldn't wait to explore.But as she made her way deeper into the treehouse, Lily's expression turned serious. She looked around the cozy space, her eyes shining with a mix of sadness and determination."Can I put a picture of my mom here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "This house will be hers, too."Dominic's heart went out to the little girl. He sat down on the floor
They kissed, and Dominic's hands roamed over Valarie's body, his fingers tracing the curves of her waist and hips. Valarie's hands slid up his chest, her fingers tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck.The kiss deepened, their lips moving in perfect sync. Dominic's tongue swept into Valarie's mouth, sending shivers down her spine. She felt herself melting into his arms, her body surrendering to the passion that threatened to consume her.Dominic's arms wrapped around Valarie, pulling her close as he lifted her off the ground. She felt weightless, suspended in midair as Dominic's lips devoured hers.As they broke apart for air, Dominic's eyes locked onto Valarie's. He saw the love and adoration shining in her eyes, and his heart swelled with emotion.Without a word, Dominic swept Valarie into his arms, carrying her towards the bed. Valarie's arms wrapped around his neck, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered his name.Dominic's heart pounded in his chest as he laid Va
Valerie's eyes welled up with tears as she listened to Dominic's past. She couldn't imagine the pain and betrayal he had endured. John, who had been standing quietly by, finally spoke up."People aren't born heartless; they become that way for a reason," he said, his voice low and contemplative. He glanced away, his eyes clouding over. "Dominic is really sorry for what he did. He regrets it every day."Valerie's gaze snapped back to John, her eyes searching for answers. John continued, his voice filled with a deep understanding."When you first miscarried, Dominic didn't show his emotions, but he broke down in private. He's a master at hiding his pain, but it's there, simmering just below the surface. And the second time you both lost a child...his pain was triggered, and he couldn't tolerate it."John's eyes locked onto Valerie's, his expression somber. "I know he made mistakes. He should have understood you and been there for you. But he's regretting it now. Don't you think he's suff
Rose's voice trembled as she spoke, "Dominic, please..."But Dominic's eyes were ablaze with anger, his face twisted in a scowl. "Are you scared?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.Rose took a step back, her eyes wide with fear. "Dominic, I'm sorry," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.But Dominic was beyond consolation. "You betrayed me," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Twice. You think a simple apology will suffice?"Rose shook her head, her eyes pleading for forgiveness. "I know I made a mistake, but please, give me a chance to explain..."Dominic's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Explain? You think you can explain away the fact that you aborted my child?"Rose's eyes widened in horror as Dominic's face darkened with rage. "You thought I'd never know, didn't you?" He shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.Rose flinched, her eyes welling up with tears. "Dominic, please..."But Dominic was beyond reason. "Shut up!" he bellowed, his hand raised as if to st