VALER’ES POV“I can’t believe you’re actually going! You’re really honoring his invite?” Nanny Beth asked for at least the billion time already ever since I informed her of my meeting with Grandpa. I had already told her I was going, explained things to her but still, she couldn’t seem to sink it in. Even until now that I was fully dressed and almost ready to leave.“I can’t believe you agreed to go to that house! I can’t believe you agreed to meet those people! After everything they did to you, this is just insane!” she bellowed in a semi shushed tone so the kids wouldn’t hear. They were literally in my walk-in closet area right in my room that Nanny Beth and I currently stood. So, you can imagine Nanny’s efforts to contain her frustration.After a moment of her glaring giant holes at the side view of my face and me continuously checking myself and behaving like I couldn’t just feel the intensity of those glares, I finally gave up and turned to face her. “Nanny…I will be fine. Comple
VALERIE’S POV“My dear… it’s so good to see you. Thank you for coming” Grandpa gushed with a smile so big that it had his blue eyes twinkling like Miles when he was excited about something. He made me feel warm all over with how welcoming and accepting he was. I had to blink a few times to keep the tears away as he scanned my outfit from head to toe.“You look absolutely beautiful, my dear!” he complimented and we shared a warm laughter at his attempt to blow kisses at me. “Oh, stop Grandpa! Everyone is staring” I playfully scolded, feeling genuinely happy to see him. He turned back to face the waiting audience at my words. And truthfully, his outburst from earlier had caught a lot of attention if not all. And if they were still a few people left, his next words definitely had them at full attention, making the entire house totally silent.“My dear, are you worried about these people? Don’t be!” he said dismissively before pulling me close, “Everyone, this is Valerie Ann Marie Hernand
VALERIE POVSo, I squinted my eyes in the direction of the voice and sure enough it was another one of Hudson’s cousins- Coco. I call her the black owl because of her insatiable need to always wear a black eyeshadow every single goddamned time.She probably thought it made her look badass but it just seemed tacky for me. Cause just how old are you exactly? That you would still be freaked with been ‘badass’ and trust me, she was probably older than Hudson! Hudson was in his thirties, so you could imagine.“Are you sure about that?” I asked and took steps in her direction. “Why would she join us? This is literally the last round! Let her wait for the next one” Amelia, Hudson’s mom and the very person I had been hoping to see insisted conclusively at Coco’s gesture to make me join them.I finally got to them and noticed it was a poker game, the game of cards. And you know what’s more interesting? Charlotte, Amelia, Coco and Hudson were in on it. They were the main players but, Charlotte
VALERIE’S POVLeaving the bustling gathering behind, I walked over to a secluded part of the mansion. From my memory, this area used to be some sort of relaxation spot for when the sun was down. It had these transparent glass walls that gave an overview of the well-trimmed flowers of the gardens around.Plus, the peace and quiet anyone could get by just been here, I say it made the area all the more enjoyable. But regardless of the place’s beauty, it wasn’t the reason I was here. The reason I was here though, was standing not too far from me. Probably about 6 steps or there about, and cladded in a perfectly tailored black suit, with his dirty blonde hair styled in his usual wave. - Hudson Rodriguez.I think its safe to say his side profile looked good. He didn’t even look angry from the game, like I had imagined he would. He was just…lost in thoughts?Hmm, I wonder why…. “Hey,” I called out, to get his attention and his head turned in my direction. I noticed how he let out a low sigh s
VALERIE'S POV But my moment of triumph didn’t last long at all cause I somehow ran into a certain blonde hair on my way back to the main hall for the party. “Here she is, the little manipulative, bitch” Charlotte sneered, narrowing her eyes at me. ‘Ugh, not now please.’ I groaned inside my head and moved to the other side to leave but Charlotte quickly blocked my path. I moved to the previous path but she got back in the position again. She was obviously trying to get a rise out of me. “What do you want, Charlotte?” I asked after we went through the same process for the third time. “I should ask you that," she retorted sharply, "Why are you here? How can you come here?! Have you no shame?" "Huh?" I scoffed, blinking my eyes at the absurdity of her questions. "Excuse me? What exactly should I be ashamed of, Charlotte?" "A friend of mine invited me for his late wife's memorial, I honored his invite by coming here, what is the shame in that? And why are you all agitated and in
CHAPTER 131HUDSON’S POV“I don’t know about us been mirrored souls or not, but you sure do look like you’re running away” those were the words that had been continuously replaying in my head ever since she walked off, and so nonchalantly at that! Like she didn’t alter those crazy ridiculous words about her feeling some type of way for me.Like what the hell was that? And why right now?!Right now, when I was still trying to pick myself up from all the crazy feelings I had been having lately? Does she even know how long I had been waiting for her to show up at the house? How long I had been discreetly glancing at the front double doors? Despite knowing I shouldn’t?! despite trying so hard not to do it?She doesn’t know anything! And then finally! when she does show up, she just went right ahead to come bullshit me about her feeling something for me. Which we all know were lies!Horrible lies!It was okay if I kept having crazy thoughts about her, it was okay. It was all inside my head
VALERIE’S POV*Sound of phone buzzing*“Ohmm, stop calling me…” I groaned sleepily and turned to the other side of the bed to keep the sound away. But it just kept buzzing, even when I had thought in relief that the person finally gave up. It only continued buzzing after few seconds again until I finally gave up and reached for the object under my pillow.“Hello?” I said with a groggy voice, half asleep. But the thunderous voice that followed had me almost jumping down from my bed, “VALERIE! Where in heavens name are you?! I have called you 15 times already!” I quickly checked the ID, cussing myself for not checking earlier.“Ugh, Nanny… stop yelling! You’re making my headache worse” I groaned out while holding a fist full of my very very disorganized hair. “Where are you? Are you hurt?” she asked instead, but this time her voice was much calmer. “Did those people hurt you again? Because I swear to the heavens, I will get all their asses locked up! I already called the Chairman, he’s
CHARLOTTE'S POVThat stupid bitch! Ughh!” I cussed loudly, slamming the door of my supposed room shut and moving to my dresser.“I’m going to kill her; I’m going to kill that bitch!!” I bellowed some more and threw all the stuff on the dresser down just in time for Lucia to walk in, “Hey! Relax, you’re going to hurt yourself.” Lucia called out, rushing to me at the sight of my bleeding palm. “It’s all that Valerie’s fault! That bloody bitch and her stupid superior attitude!” I cussed some more seeing as a bottle spray had cut my palm when I threw those down.“Here, this should stop the blood” She muttered and wrapped my palm with her handkerchief. I whizzed a little she pulled at the ends a bit tighter. “You shouldn’t let her get you so worked up like this”“I just can’t stand her!” I responded, still angry at the thought of Valerie mocking me downstairs. “She’s like a disease, a virus that has no cure! I want her gone and out of this house! Out of my life! Out of this family! Out of-
VAELRIE’S POV“How you doing over there, Mr. Rodriguiez?” I teased, an endearing smile on my face as I wiggled an eyebrow at him, “Loving the floor? Bet it feels even more comfortable than this soft, warm, and extremely inviting bed of mine! Ah!”He simply scowled at my remarks, begrudgingly turning himself over to another angle so I wouldn’t see his face any longer. A mocking laugh bubbled in chest at his behavior, my lips stretching to an even brighter smile as I struggled to remain silent in other not to look too mean.“Oh? Going to bed now?” I added still, smiling as a string of mumblings were all that came as a response from him. No doubt he was cursing at the extremely poor attempt of his to turn over so he wouldn’t face me anymore.I could imagine the pains already; with the way he was trying to not lean on his back. “Oh well! I guess it is way past bedtime anyways. So… goodnight!” I called out, sighing loudly so he could hear me before I relaxed back on the soft sheets underne
VALERIE’S POV“That’s it? If that’s the issue then you don’t have to worry at all!” His voice sounded seriously as he turned me to face him.“I got you! You and our kids! You don’t need to worry about their birthday this time, you’ve been doing it alone for 4 years. Let me handle it this time, let us handle it together this time. Me and you, us…”Us…The small smile that appeared on my lips at those words couldn’t be helped at all. It was almost on instinct, automatic even. “Now, here’s what I think about the Christmas celebration… I wrote it all down, look!”“On this part we would have the Christmas celebration and, on this part, will be the birthday itself”“Only family are invited, right?” I added, joining in on his plans as we checked out everything.“Yup! Only family is invited.” He concurred seriously, “We’ve been through a lot of surprises this year, but the kids still need to see the family all together and complete. Mine and yours, and I will handle it all, don’t worry. Now o
CHAPTER 266VALERIE’S POVLeaving Papa’s house didn’t exactly feel like all the usual times. All the usual times where I had come to just talk with him, or go strolling or even delivered good news! Or even dropping off the kids with him. All of that ended on good notes, happy notes… except today.The moment I left, sitting at the backseat as the driver drove out of the yard and back to the familiar estate that housed my place, I finally felt what was like to leave home. To leave that bubble created by a parent or guardian. Which was funny cause this was not the first time I left him.I had long been leaving home, especially that year when I married Hudson. So just imagine how long that is, plus all the time I had spent out of the country with three kids! for five years of my life.So you see, having this sudden feeling that I had finally moved out felt be confused. But at the same time tensed. Especially anytime my words to papa concerning my situation with Hudson replayed in my head.
VALERIE'S POV“You really have not thought of ending things, have you?” Papa’s voice filtered into my ears; his concern crystal clear. Even before I looked up to his face, his worried eyes earnestly hoping I wouldn’t utter the wrong words. The words even I, myself couldn’t believe I was about saying. But still, “I want to stay with him” I said finally, my voice soft as I took in Papa’s downcast look.“Pumpkin, no. No!” He disagreed weakly, his shoulders sagging as he retreated in his seat. His worried reaction broke my heart, I could tell just how concerned he was for me. “Papa,”“No. Don’t do it,” he insisted softly, blinking back a bit of tears that now swarm in his eyes. Breaking my heart further as I watched him. “You’re going to get hurt. You’re going to get hurt, Valerie. He is going to leave you again; he won’t take it from you. He won’t!”“Papa… I know, I know I sound crazy right now but… I still want to try.” I pleaded softly, “I-I don’t to end things. I don’t want to.” His ey
VALERIE’S POV“Hmm, so that’s what happened!”“Things really got out of hand like that and yet, you didn’t mention a thing to me!” He scolded, frowning as he faced me. “I didn’t even know anything and I just let you be. What if something had gone wrong? Or that wicked woman had gotten something on you and turned the tables even before you realized?”A deep sigh left my lips at his words, my shoulders sagging. “What if she had managed to turn everything on you and that man of yours believes her again like before?! You were too reckless, Pumpkin! Too reckless!”“That wouldn’t have happened, Papa! C’mon, I’m not that stupid!” I complained, sighing as i tried to remain calm as possible rather than get flustered by all his accusatory questions. But the truth was that, the disapproving look painted on his features right now was not helping. “Pa, I had everything under control and-“It was all part of your plan?” He offered, his tone mocking as he cut me off. “It was all part of the plan an
HUDSON'S POV“I can’t believe this!” Aby praised, smiling brightly too.“Better start to! Cause it’s all ours now! It’s our new home!” Mason squealed, jumping around with Miley as they screamed in delight.Wow, Mason was squealing with Miley! Now, that was new.Hahaha! He always complains of how noisy Miley was and yet today, here he was doing the exact same thing he normally complains about! And with her of all people! Hahaha!“You like it?” I called out, smiling and they eagerly nodded.“Yes! I can’t wait to tell Papa all about this!” Mason responded eagerly, mirroring his sibling’s reaction.“Really?! Then I can’t wait until you see your rooms!” I said, and immediately dramatic gasps filled the air. Excited squeals following after as I chuckled before leading the way. Taking the elevator instead of the stairs.“The 3rd floor?” Miles asked, watching as I pulled back from the button.“Yes my boy! Your rooms are on the third floor, Nanny Beth and the maids are on the second, while mom
HUDSON’S POV“Woah”“Look at all these buildings…” Miles mumbled softly; his green eyes wide with wonder as he stretched to look around despite been locked in place by the seatbelt in the backseat. “They are so tall! So tall… are they connected to the sky?”At his words, the others joined in stretching just a bit. Shuffling in their positions as they looked around, “Daddy, look! That one looks like a star!”A chuckle left my lips at the comment, a proud unwavering smile lingering on my features as I took in the sheer serenity and excellence of the environment, while my gaze flickered ever so often to the rear-view mirror so I could get a clear picture of the wonder in their eyes. Every one of them had their eyes wide as they stared out the car windows, curiosity swimming in their depths.Now I know how big of a mistake I have been making all this time that I haven’t taken them to my office or even to any one of our sites. I should’ve done so at least once! That way I would have seen j
HUDSON’S POV“Wow!”“Wowww!“WOWWWWW!” the kids gushed dramatically, their voices echoing all over the place as big smiles graced their faces. Causing everyone present to chuckle in delight and Aby to smile shyly as she concluded her final walk therapy for the day. Her every step slower than her usual steps but it was still a progress compared to not moving at all!And the kids were most supportive, simply ecstatic just watching her!“Amazing! You can walk now, Aby! You can walk now!” Miley gushed cheerfully, her happiness clear and very much contagious. Just as she had been ever since hearing Aby speak last night. A very eventul night might I add, we barely had any sleep at all! As the kids wouldn’t stop asking series of questions over and over and over again.They were surprised, that much was obvious. But above all, it was the sheer happiness they displayed that really got me. Their innocence and just pureness of heart… it was truly amazing. Just as I had thought, and even better!
HUDSON’S POV “I will- I will take care of you. I will take care of you Aby, you can stay with me! You can live with me, even if your mommy doesn’t want you!” her voice sounded softly. But yet, with just the right amount of sincerity, that had my head swiping up at her with wide eyes. Because I knew. I knew the very implications of her words.I understood them all!Even she did, but yet… here she was. Her eyes teary as she knelt to Abrille’s height, a child that wasn’t even hers or had anything to do with her in any way! She was here, holding her hands, holding the world for her as she uttered words that no woman I knew would ever say.Not after understanding everything that she had experienced ever since our paths crossed.“I want you, okay? I want you, Abrille Rodriguiez.” She continued softly, “Even your daddy wants you too! Miley wants you, so do Miles and Mason! And grandpa! We all want you, Aby. We love you, and we want you. We are right here and you can also come to my room too