VALERIE POV “How do you know this plan of yours will make it? How do you know this isn’t just a trick you are playing with yourself and risking your life for nothing!” Papa boomed after at least the fifth time since I explained things for him. “I told you I don’t want you to have anything to do with that man! If you must then it has to be because of the kids! We agreed! C’mon Val, what is all this mess?!” “Pa, calm down and stop scolding me like I’m a child!” I snapped at him, raising my voice as well. “I already started it and there’s nothing you can do about it now. So quit shouting, watch your BP and come sit down!” I ordered like I was his parent. He stood there, stubborn as ever but after a moment he released a breath and reluctantly sat beside me on the couch in the living room. “Good. So, are you going to support me or not?” I asked firmly, staring him dead ass in the face. “Do I have a choice here?! You already went ahead to jump into the pile of shit without informing firs
VALERIE’S POVWith no assistance he walked towards them, his steps faltering but I let him be, not letting his close aid move to him either. A few steps away from them he stopped, just taking in the form of my very much oblivious kids with his eyes. I could only imagine the thoughts going through his mind right now. He most probably wouldn’t believe they were real; that they were right in front of his eyes. I remembered how he would always give me supplements that were good for child bearing back then, he couldn’t wait for me to get pregnant. Always wanting to know if I felt weird at any time, always so hyper when I say I wasn’t feeling good. He had wanted Great grandkids for a long time and his only hope had been on whoever Hudson would marry since he was his only grandchild.The thought of it all brought tears to my eyes. I had to repeatedly blink when I noticed Miley saying something. She had finally felt another presence other than her brothers, “Hey, do oldies’ also come to the
CHARLOTTE’S POV“Seriously? The company might be run by someone else soon?” Lucia asked in surprise as she placed her glass of juice down to focus on me. This was what I loved most about her, her absolute attention to me. So, I easily let out my concerns to her. “If I don’t give birth to a boy soon” I added with an eye roll.“Those greedy family members have been pitching it in for a while now. But this time, they have taken it to a whole new level, by mentioning it in front of Grandpa! It’s obviously to remind him of the family rules and cut off my arms and legs as well!” I complained, feeling my annoyance coming back to me just at the memory of it all.“Hmm, is there really no way around it? Maybe Grandpa can change the rules, can he not?” Lucia suggested, repeating the same question I asked Hudson yesterday as well. But unfortunately, that too was a dead end.“He won’t do that. If I can’t have a son, then company and all the family fortune will go to the next family. That is, the s
HUDSON’S POV“So, all of that has been dealt with?” I asked for clarification as I scanned through the documents in front of me. “Yes Sir, all of it except these copies over here” a suited-up man responded calmly before gesturing to a brown file.My eyebrows furrowed as I stared at the seemingly light looking file, compared to the ones I was handed earlier, that one looked almost empty. “What are those?” I asked, my eyes flickering back to the man that responded earlier. “They are…they are from De Hernandez Dreamz. It was sent over earlier today, in anticipation for this meeting” he said“And? Are we supposed to explain that to ourselves?” I questioned sternly, maybe a bit too stern actually. But it just came out. Hearing the name De Hernandez Dreamz alone had me on edge and I knew exactly why. But I was also trying to ignore that as well. “No-no sir!” another replied and I turned my attention to him, my expression stoic as I took him in.“A representative was supposed to arrive here
HUDSON'S POVGood thing Paul wasn’t present, else he would have sighted me.Taking a quick sweep of the surprisingly spacious room, I turned to the direction of where I remembered the glasses were kept and found Val just in time reaching for a glass on the top shelf. ‘Why reach for the one furthest from you?’ I grumbled in my head before walking towards her.Taking a stand behind her, I reached for the glass she wanted and just then, time seemed to slow as her fragrance wafted into my nose. My palm covered her slender ones in the process and instead of reaching for the glass like initially, she intertwined our fingers together. Her slender ones sending bolts of warmth through to mine.And slowly, she angled her body to mine. Turning to face me while still interlocking our fingers. I couldn’t say a word, they wouldn’t even form at this point as I realized just how close we stood to each other. She stared into my eyes without saying a word, her green eyes communicating with me, remindin
CHARLOTTE’S POV“Wow, Char, are you sure you haven’t learned ballet before? Your movements are so beautiful!” Lucia gushed behind me, causing a breathy smile to make its way to my lips, boosting my confidence. And I arched my back even more, my shoulders high as I stared back at my reflection that was cladded in a black bodycon jumpsuit, through the wide floor length mirror in the training room.We were currently at a dance training center to prepare for the new parent committee event that would be hosting in a month’s time. True to Lucia’s words, she had the tango dance performance included as the first thing on the list for an upcoming school event, and all parents in the classroom club were mandated to attend (Mrs. Thompson & her minions).Isn’t it just amazing? I was so excited and currently giving it my all as I practiced with my dance partner. “Oh please, Mrs. Lucia, don’t try to be funny. Anyone with eyes can see what a ‘great job’ Miss Charlotte seems to be doing over there!”
VALERIE’S POV“So, how was your meeting, ma’am?” Rob asked after a few moments of silence. We had just left the Green Land Holdings (Hudson’s company) building at about 30 minutes ago and Rob couldn’t just wait to pop the question that I knew he would bombard me with as soon as he got the chance. “My meeting was quite good, thank you” I replied, tapping my phone’s screen on.“Hmm, it was so good that you had to attend?” he probed, his words holding an underlying meaning. I angled my neck to him, raising an eyebrow to let him see I didn’t appreciate the questioning. “What, I mean you took a taxi here,” he defended,“Because I had a meeting to attend” I said, placing emphasis on ‘meeting’“The same meeting that the project supervisor could have attended” he insisted, “Or should I say, supposed to have attended. But he could not, simply because you had decided to go yourself at last minute. Even going as far as taking a taxi there! Not waiting for me to take you”“And what is so wrong wi
VALERIE'S POV "Err, good evening Ma'am""Good evening," I responded with a smile, hoping to calm her uneasiness at seeing a strange face at the door. "I came to drop off Aby, it's getting late and I thought I brought her home to avoid her mom, Charlotte, from getting worried." I started, still smiling and hoping I didn't sound too strange.I used Charlotte's name so she would at least know I wasn't just talking. "Oh, you're a friend of Madame's?" The maid asked curiously."Well, err...sort of. Our kids attend the same school and are in the same class, I live a few blocks down the street, Plus, Aby here, visits often. So yea, I guess we are friends" I explained, letting out breathy smile at the end.That seemed to do the trick because she smiled warmly immediately. "Please come in Madame, and thank you for bringing ma'am Aby home.""Would you like to see my room, auntie?" Aby asked with wide pleading eyes. Such a darling, just making my visit a whole lot more easier!I admit, I hadn't
VALERIE’S POV“Mommy, are you ready yet?”“No, sweetie. But I’m almost done!” I responded, trying another set of earrings.“Ohhm” he groaned softly at my response, making me smile because I knew he was doing the whiny dance again, where he stomps his foot around in circles as he complained. It was supposed to be some sort of protest, but I just couldn’t help the chuckles that leaves my lips anytime he did it.Frankly speaking, I was surprised he still came to ask, cause he has at least done this 5 times already under the span of 30 minutes. And all the times, I gave the same response to his overly excited self.“Why are you taking so much time, Mommy? Grandpa’s waiting for us,” Miles asked, moving to check out my face from the vanity mirror I currently sat in front of. “Are you done now, Mommy?”Argh…“Yes Miles! Yes, mommy is ready now” I responded to him, ruffling his hair for a bit. Excited cheers filled the air as he ran out of the room. To tell the others, I’m sure.As you know,
CHARLOTTE’S POV“I think you made a mistake, Madame”“No”“I didn’t. I couldn’t have” I muttered quietly, just enough for Maria that stood beside me to hear.“But Madame… he-they- they all look very happy!” she insisted, choosing to voice out my inner worries rathe than have faith like I wanted. And that alone, annoyed the shit out of me!With a death glare I turned to her, “Go and try to contact those greedy bastards, again! They still have my videos and I want it!”How dare those criminals?!First, they contact me and tell me they have the videos ready, even requesting for a ridiculous sum as payment! An amount I couldn’t even afford at the moment, all because Hudson had my cards connected to his accounts frozen!Then, when I finally came up with a tangible sum to at least get one video, those bloody twats decided to go mute on me! To ghost me! Like what the actual fuck?!“You make sure you keep calling, text them! I need that video now!” I whisper yelled at her, my eyes housing my
HUDSON'S POV“It feels like I haven’t seen you since forever! Hudson wouldn’t even let me meet the kids, claiming you all needed some family time! He’s so stingy…” Grandpa complained, narrowing his eyes at me as Val chuckled before guiding him to a seat.“We are back now though, so you can come visit the kids whenever you want! I’m sure they will love that” Val comforted, taking a seat beside him. And almost automatically, my smiles fell. “You’re sitting there?” I questioned, gesturing to her.“Why?! You’re so far from me! Come over here”Almost immediately, Grandpa grabbed her hands stubbornly. “Huh? Why does she have to do that?! You’re not a child and you most definitely don’t need her to care for you right now!”“Well, I do!” I retorted seriously, not liking how he was arguing about my woman with me. She was my woman and not his!“I do need her to take care of me! I’m hurt! Only her can help”“Huh? You? Hurt? From what?! Falling off your ego, now?!” Grandpa taunted, his voice loud
HUDSON’S POV“To the mansion, James!”“Yes, Boss!” he responded solemnly, his attitude reflecting my mood as we drove off from the darned restaurant.I knew this was a bad idea. I just knew it!Now, here I was getting all worked up from seeing her again. Fucking crazy woman!She still didn’t give a shit about her child! Everything else was important to her, everything else held value in her eyes except her daughter! Her very own flesh and blood! If I hadn’t watched over her all through her pregnancy and even the delivery, I would honestly be doubting f Abrille truly was hers!Because how do you explain this? How?!Even postpartum depression wouldn’t make someone this selfish! How could my own… how could such a little girl be tied to this self-absorbed person?!It broke my heart the more I thought about it. Just how much my little girl had to suffer because her mom was like this.But I won’t let this continue. I won’t allow her life to be destroyed simply because of this! I will make s
CHAPTER 231VALERIE’S POV“What happened?!” I whisper yelled as soon I flung the door open. My eyes frantic as I scanned the room for the one person I was looking for. And the moment I spotted his tangled-up self in the sheets, my feet moved on their own accord, next thing I knew I was all over him. My heart beat suspended in panic as I rushed to help him out.“Oh, my goodness, what happened here?!” he winced from pain as I pulled on a side of the sheets. “Oh my, sorry! Sorry…does it hurt? Does it?” he nodded gently to my question. His expression pitiful as slowly, I untangled with from the sheets that had wrapped him up like a sausage roll!“Hold on, let me see” I cooed softly, helping him relax as I gently checked his bandages. Everything looked good. There were no blood stains or any signs of an added injury, so we were all good. But only after I had calmed down did, I realize just how quickly our sleeping arrangements had changed.Nanny Beth’s orders were strict; no sharing of bed
CHAPTER 230VALERIE’S POV“I don’t-I don’t know…”“You don’t know? You don’t know what exactly?” he questioned; his tone perplexed. “Charlotte, you accused me of emotional abuse! On national Tv! I have even received a copy from court concerning the details of YOUR sue! And you sit there to cry that you didn’t do it? It was someone else and you don’t know who that is?! Can you hear yourself?”“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry baby” were the words she kept whispering. Her cries filling the air as I listened, as we all listened. Myself, Hudson and Charlotte herself!“I’m sorry Huddie, I will fix this I promise! I will close the case right now and-” she whispered; her voice thick with emotion as she addressed him.“No need!” He interjected, his voice firm. “Just send the documents after you’ve signed them, if you want that is. Otherwise, see you in court, Charlotte. I’m not letting you ruin my daughter!”“No. No way! No Huddie, no!” Charlotte cried out, her voice panicky and I knew he was leaving.
CHARLOTTE’S POV“Char?”“Ohh Charlotte…” the voice sang out, its mocking laughter following soon after as it echoed everywhere in the hotel room that I currently stood in. Looking all confused and properly scared to the bones as I couldn’t find the source of the sound.Someone was definitely talking; laughing and taunting at me, right here in this hotel room I had booked after no luck at getting into Hudson’s other buildings that he owned! Everything he owned had cut me off! All the entitlements I enjoyed and had been enjoying all these years, framing my lavish lifestyle… everything has been cut off!It was just me now.Me and this hotel room, plus the voice I as currently hearing inside it!“Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me now, Char” the voice continued, sounding clearer and clearer as a silent sob left my mouth. My lips trembling as I refused to believe it. I refused to believe the obvious truth that was right before me.“No,” I whispered, my hands flying to my ears to block ou
HUDSON’S POV“I’ve just talked with Charlotte, she decided to move out of the house. You don’t need to worry about the kids anymore, I got you!”A smile crept to my lisp as I read that last line; ‘I got you’. It felt extremely comforting to hear, just as it was having her sleep beside me on the hospital bed for the rest of the day before she finally went home to the kids.That was also before we publicly announced the end of our partnership as well. An extremely closed off event to be honest, not the way I would’ve wanted it but the situation demanded it. Plus, Val absolutely refused for me to be on my feet for more than an hour. A bit laughable if you ask me, but I loved every minuet of it! To watch her fuzz over me brought me so much assurance and comfort that finally silenced the constant doubtful voice in my head. It has always been there, making me feel like what we had wasn’t real and Val just tolerated me for sex and the kids. But now, I was sure. I was so sure it wasn’t like
CHARLOTTE'S POV“Get out!” she said simply, moving towards me again. Her gaze purposeful and dead serious, I could tell she wasn’t playing but before I could give a response. “Get out of here!” she yelled, pushing me backwards again, this time with more force compared to earlier.That was when I knew this bitch wasn’t playing at all. What the hell did she mean by doing this? Right here! In front of everyone! To disgrace me?! To proof she had the man and I didn’t?!“Hey!” I snapped, aiming to push her back as well as my anger broke free. But she immediately snapped my hands away, clenching it tight before pushing me backwards again. This time, into a clique of nurses close by. “Get security!” she called out, “She is not allowed here”And like a movie, a nurse ran out. Obviously to do as she had spoken. That means, I would be… thrown out? Thrown out of a hospital that my Huddie laid in all hurt?! I didn’t even know if he was okay! First, I hurt him. Maybe not literally but still, it was