PastA night several months ago, when Dominic's team had narrowly escaped Victor's trap. They were all gathered at their hideout, still reeling from the shock of the attack.As they sat around the table, discussing the events of the night, one topic dominated the conversation: the mysterious woman who had saved their lives."Who was she?" Max asked, his eyes wide with wonder. "I've never seen anyone move like that before.""I know, right?" Carter chimed in. "She was like a ghost, appearing out of nowhere and taking down those guys like they were nothing."But Arthur remained silent, his eyes lost in thought. He was still trying to process why the woman had helped them. What was her motive? And why had she disappeared into the night without a word?As the conversation continued, Max suddenly stood up, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You know what we need? A night out. It's been months since we've been to the club. We could use a break."The others nodded in agreement, but Dominic shoo
PresentValerie's eyes jerked open, her heart racing as she heard the faint voices, footsteps, and her name being called. And then, she heard it—a familiar voice, one that sent shivers down her spine.Dominic.Valerie's eyes widened in terror as she realized that the one person she was running from was now closing in on her. She tried to stand, but her legs were weak and trembling beneath her. The pain was unbearable, threatening to consume her whole.She bit back a scream, her teeth clenched in determination. She knew she had to keep moving, no matter what. She couldn't let Dominic catch her, not after everything she had been through.With a Herculean effort, Valerie forced herself to stand, her legs shaking beneath her. She took a step forward, and then another, her eyes fixed on some point in the distance.She didn't dare look back, fearing what she might see. Instead, she kept her eyes fixed on the path ahead, her heart pounding in her chest.Valerie knew she couldn't outrun Domin
PastArthur sat at the bar, nursing his drink as he scanned the crowded club. He had been coming here for weeks, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious woman who had saved his life. But so far, he had seen nothing.The bartender, a friendly woman with a warm smile, seemed to be ignoring him tonight. Arthur didn't mind, though. He was lost in his own thoughts, his mind consumed by memories of the past.As he reached into his pocket to grab his phone, his fingers closed around something small and familiar. He pulled it out, and his eyes fell upon the tiny doll that Valerie had given him.Arthur's heart skipped a beat as he stared at the doll, his mind flooding with memories of Valerie. He remembered the way she used to smile at him, the way her eyes used to sparkle with laughter. He remembered the way she used to make him feel, like he was the only person in the world.But most of all, he remembered the pain he had caused her. He remembered the way he had hurt her, the way he had p
PresentDominic sat in his study room, his eyes fixed on the papers scattered across his desk, but his mind was a thousand miles away. He was deep in thought, consumed by the memories of Valarie, the love of his life. It had been three weeks since that fateful night when she had fallen from the waterfall, and yet, Dominic's heart refused to accept that she was gone.He couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that had been weighing him down since that night. If only he had been more careful, if only he had been able to save her... The what-ifs swirled in his mind like a vortex, sucking him down into a sea of despair.Dominic's study room was a testament to his restless mind. Papers were scattered everywhere, books were piled high on the shelves, and the computer screen glowed with a soft blue light. But despite the chaos, Dominic's eyes kept drifting back to the same spot—a small, framed photograph of Valarie that sat on the edge of his desk.He had put his entire team to work, searchi
PastValarie perched on the toilet seat, eyes glued to the pregnancy strip in her hand. It felt like ages to get the answer, and now, she had it but could not bring herself to peer into it.But she had to. She had to.With a sense of dread, Valarie peered at the strip. One red line stared back at her as if mocking her. She felt hopeless as tears started to prick the corners of her eyes.No baby. Again.Three months back, Dominic had guaranteed that she would give him an heir. Three months of trying, hoping, praying. And now, it seemed, it was all for nothing.Valarie felt a sob rising up in her throat when she resonated with her confrontation with Dominic. She was aware that he wanted a child very much; he relied so much on the chance that she would be his child's mother. Now, she would have to face telling him that she had failed again.Finally, that sweet, sleek tear has fallen on Valarie's cheeks. She was drowning in a sea of disappointment and despair. The heart fell, heavy and we
PresentValarie sat on the kitchen table, her dark eyes staring down blankly at the plate of food in front of her. She seemed lost in thought, with her mind still reeling from the event. Just as she figured she'd drown in her emotions, Elara's voice suddenly broke through the fog. That pulled Valarie back to reality."Valarie, why are you not eating?" Elara asked, furrowing her brows with concern.Valarie looked confused and blinked rapidly; then she lowered her eyes to her plate, haphazardly staring at it for who-knows-how-long and not noticing it."I... I just wasn't hungry, I guess." She stammered while trying to hide the fact that she was lost in thought.Elara unimpressively raised her eyebrows and clearly endorsed it. "You need to eat, Valarie," she said, every syllable containing steel. "You can't just skip meals and expect to feel okay."Valarie sighed. Elara was right about it. Picking up her fork now, she began eating with her thoughts pushed aside, trying to be now-in-the-m
PastArthur stepped out of the elevator and entered into the luxurious upper floor of the penthouse. The corridor was dimly lit, and beautiful, soft music was filling the air. He took a few steps forward, scanning the area with his eyes, but was immediately halted by the presence of a guard."Sir, how may I assist you?" came the firm and polite voice of the guard.With a smile, Arthur produced a small card from his pocket. "I'm here for Viviana," he said and handed over the card to the guard.The expression of the guard changed. He nodded and stepped aside to let Arthur pass. "Right this way, sir," he said.Arthur walked slowly down the corridor, eyes roving over the many opulent decorations. He arrived at a door and called off it, "Viviana?""Come in, Arthur," the sultry voice replied. "I'm in the bathroom."The door swung open at that, and as Arthur stepped over the threshold, the narrowing of his eyes was towards a sight: a fantastic bathroom, complete with a massive square bathtub
PresentA wave of happiness and contentment came washing over Valarie as she sat on the porch of Williams' home, cradled by the warm and loving presence of Jasper, Elara, and their granddaughter Lily. It had been three months since she stumbled into their lives, and in that, she had found a period of her life in which she felt freedom and peace never known before.As she watched her little granddaughter, busy playing with her dolls on the porch floor, Valarie felt that she could not help but grin at this little lifestyle. A bright seven-year-old, whose wit and intelligence belied her age, said things that sometimes made Valarie take a step back.But for all that, Lily was still a child at heart, and Valarie loved to see how she played and laughed. It was a sound that was music to her ears and filled her with a sense of joy and contentment.Valarie did feel grateful: she was in the midst of those people who were starting to mean something to her. And instead of being happy about it, th
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