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
PastHis beautiful face opened to her gaze: Valarie lay beside Dominic after the erotic experience, keeping an atmosphere of cozy warmth. The caress of fingers of Valarie against the cheek of Dominic brought him up to wakefulness slowly to where his gaze would meet hers.Dominic's eyes scanned Valarie's face and softly inquired, "Are you okay?" Valarie nodded, attempting to suppress her emotion. But one teardrop fell, rolling down her cheek. After a deep breath, she managed to say, her voice trembling because of emotion, "I'm so sorry, Dominic. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a child.".Dominic looked so soft and took Valarie in his strong arms to hold her close. "Don't worry. Soon, you will give me an heir, my love," he reassured her softly. "I trust you and us. We'll have a child together, and our family will be complete."Dominic wiped the tears of Valarie with his thumb while soothing her; it was warm and comforting. He holds her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her, and Vala
PresentThe present brought forth an image of a scene where snow lay thick over fields and glimmered like a thousand diamonds in the winter sun. The air then was crisp and cold, filled with the scent of pine and wood smoke.In their little house, Elara and Valarie were busy preparing for the Christmas feast, sizzling up meat and baking cookies that could whet anyone's mouth in anticipation.Meanwhile, Lily and Jasper were decorating the living room. Their laughter danced the space with its merry notes. They hung up the ornaments and garlands from the Christmas tree, making the place a winter wonderland.He could not help feeling grateful for such a little family. His invitation to dinner was a mere handful of close friends, yet he felt warmth in the house, in the company of good people.She feels—more than ever before—that Valarie has finally found her place in the universe. For the first time in her lifetime, there is a feeling that she is happier and very much loved. Among those who
PastArthur was inert, with his eyes shut and his head tilted back in surrender, as Viviana sank her teeth into his neck. He did not make a sound, and his body was tense as she marked him with the hickey.Yet very slowly something in Arthur began to stir as she ran her lips over his skin. From nothing more than a shadow of memory came the faintest image of his childhood. But gradually, stronger and stronger grew impressions of Valarie.He saw himself as a little boy playing with Valarie at the park. He saw the way she smiled at him; he saw the way her eyes twinkled with laughter. And he saw the promise he had given her, the promise of marrying her one day.Memories flooded his mind, giving rise to surging and moving feelings in Arthur's heart; the love he had for Valarie was coming up, like a fire that had smoldered under the surface.At that moment, his body stiffened very suddenly, and he threw Viviana away from him. She let out a startled cry as anger flashed in her eyes, scramblin
PresentSpreading light for illumination, the crowd would soon be captivated by the ultimate atmosphere of Christmas cheer in a room. The tantalizing aroma of turkey roasting and cookies baking from the kitchen could turn anyone's stomach into a growl.Valarie, along with some others, made unending efforts to create a winter wonderland inside the house. Ornaments hung jollily on the Christmas tree while stockings and garlands graced the mantelpiece. It was beautifully spread across the dining table with fine china, crystal glasses, and lay expectant for guests' arrival.But when the clock hastens towards dinner time, the guests never arrived. Outside, the snow fell heavier and heavier, and the roads became more dangerous as each moment passed.Right when they were getting worried, Jasper suddenly remembered something. "Oh no, I've forgotten to buy wine!" he exclaimed with a slap on his forehead. "I need to go before the snowfall gets any worse."He quickly grabbed his coat and car key
PastArthur stepped into the room with wide eyes. Dominic was sitting next to Valarie, spoon-feeding her soup. Valarie's eyes danced with delight on her face, which radiated a warm glow. Arthur lowered his gaze at her belly and realized she was four months into pregnancy.There was so much love in the air. Whenever Dominic gazed at Valarie, his eyes glistened with adoration. His every action spoke that he was ensuring Valarie's comfort and that she was free of stress.And suddenly Arthur was noticed, with Dominic's gaze turning sharp. "Why do you persist here, Arthur?" he demanded in a blunt tone, yet controlled.Arthur's face took on a serious tone. "I know who's been sending our information to Victor," he said in a low, even voice.Dominic's face contorted to a scowl, and his eyes darkened. But when he glanced sideways at Valarie, he saw that she was tensing up, her eyes round and whites flaring. Immediate reflex to right a smile across his facial lines—to make it look reassuring.H
PresentHe stared at the little quaint house that stood before him with rustic wooden walls sun bleached to soft gray. At last, he found Jasper's place, and his heart pumped with exhilaration.As he neared the house, the gears in Arthur's mind whirred through what he'd learned about Jasper—a retired army doctor who moved to this small town after his military career.Arthur knocked on the door, and it creaked open to reveal an older woman with graying hair and a kind face. Elara, Jasper's wife, looked at Arthur with a mixture of curiosity and caution."Can I help you?" she asked, her voice warm and gentle.As her eyes met his, he looked past her at the interior of the house, his gaze finding every possible sign of her within it. Elara's eyes narrowed, and she looked at Arthur with growing suspicion."Who are you?" she demanded, her voice now a little firmer.Arthur didn't answer but kept on scanning the house. Elara seemed to turn cold and step forward to take Arthur away from her view
PastVictor listened to Viviana on the phone, her voice dripping malice as she said everything about Dominic's hideout. It was a perfect plan that was exactly laid down, and Victor was satisfied.He felt very proud of himself because there was a brilliant way in which he managed to impose Viviana into Dominic's team. It had in fact been a risk that had brought its reward now that he, Victor, was in the position to strike right where he wanted.At the termination of the call to Viviana, the gaze of Victor fell on the door to his father's study. "Adriano Morano, the patriarch of the Morano family, was a man with whom one did business," he thought. Victor's father was a ruthless and cunning businessman, and Victor learned everything he knew from him.Victor headed to the study, purposefully in every step, his footsteps echoing through the hallway. He pushed open the door, stepping inside, eyes adjusting to the dim lighting.Adriano Morano looked up from behind his desk, his eyes narrowin
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