VALERIE’S POVA moment of silence passed after Mason’s question. Everyone keeping quiet and looking expectantly at, well… Hudson. He was the daddy here, right? His son just asked him a question then. “Daddy?” Miley pressed, blinking her green eyes at the screen.“Err-I-” Hudson stuttered, seemingly speechless at the moment as he shared a surprised look with me. But eventually, “No. I’m not married, Mason” he responded, his voice firm.“I told you!” Miley announced immediately, her eyes fixed on Mason. “But he took so many pictures with the shiny hair lady and none with mommy!” Miles argued and just then I realized what was going on. “Daddy, why didn’t you take pictures with mommy?”I felt Hudson suck a breath as he tried to come up with answers for these curious trio of mine. They had most definitely surfed the internet again despite my warnings. But then again, these things were bound to come out one day. No matter how much we wanted to avoid it, it would find a way to show its ugly h
CHARLOTTE’S POVCold.That sensation right there, was what I felt through out my body. Its unrepentant poison coursing through every nerve on my skin as I laid there in the slightly reddish water of my bathtub. Caused by the deep cut on my arm. An injury I had inflicted on myself after knocking down the hand dryer in the bathroom as a result of my anger and frustrations.Who wouldn’t be in my situation? Who? I would love to see that person!Just then, I heard footsteps approach the bathroom and my head rose from its bent position, my eyes hopeful as I waited for the man that I wanted to walk in. The only man that could make all these heartaches go away… But all hope came crashing down as a lean physique man rather, walked in. His movements skeptical and his eyes scanning the bathroom before settling on me.Alarm shot up in his eyes as he took in my condition, “Madame!” Ethan cried out, rushing to me.“Are you okay? You’re bleeding… can you hear me?” he probed, fussing around in the ba
CHARLOTTE’S POV The sun had hung up high in the sky by the time I had arrived at the mansion. Today was to be the old man’s classic ranch day! Another one of his practices where he made everyone gather in the fields for his amusement. I call it; the mud day! A day you should get prepared to be attacked with the unpleasant smell of horse pop and other animals that he reared for fun. You get stained and do stupid chores while he relaxed at a spot on his wheelchair, watching you make a fool out of yourself. An eerie way to have fun if you ask me, but what do I know? I after all wanted to become his granddaughter in law, so I guess I had to endure. Which was why I was seated here, under a very stylish canopy with individuals I would rather not even glance at on a normal day. “Ah! Such a great weather today, isn’t it?” Coco, Hudson’s elder cousin commented, letting out a sigh as she took off her sunshades to bask in the morning sun. I just discreetly rolled my eyes at her, yeah the we
VALERIE’S POV“Grandpa!”“Daddy!” my babies squealed out, each of them racing to the different men in delight. Their excited laughter filling the air as I slowly joined from behind, a flawless smile on my face as well the moment I took in the floored expressions on literally everyone’s face at the table!Every single person had stood up from shock, their eyes bulging, their stylish yet comfortable outfits making the table look colorful as they watched those oblivious trio of mine, that simply couldn’t be bothered as they switched hugs between their daddy and Grandpa. It truly was a funny sight to be honest. “Valerie,” Grandpa called out, my name rolling of his lips breathlessly as he spread his arms wide open for me.“My dear, welcome!” I smiled back, unable to resist his contagious smiles as I took off my sunshades to hug him.“Good morning, Grandpa. Sorry, we are late!” I apologized, pulling back from his warm hug just in time to watch him wave it off like it was nothing. “What? Wha
VALERIE POV“Goodness! I have no idea which rapid dog bit my son that day when he married you.” I clenched my fingers unconsciously around the damn papers while my “dear” mother-in-law rained insults on me.“Not only did you stop him from marrying someone decent like Charlotte, you also went ahead to hurt her and my grandkids!”“I never pushed her! Sh-”“You’re a monster!” she yelled venomously. I took shaky steps backwards in disbelief. Me? A monster!?“Aren’t you going to say anything?!” I spat angrily at Hudson, the very man who was supposed to be my husband.“You mean defend your lies?” He questioned; his expression was cold and mocking.“How about you tell everyone how you secretly stopped donating blood for Charlotte, huh?” I froze at his words. How did he find out? That was just two months ago.I had been feeling weak a lot and missed going one time, and the second time I went for it, I found out I was pregnant. I was finally pregnant after trying so hard for three years.Surel
VALERIE POV It’s been over an hour since I signed the divorce papers and left the entire Rodriguez family gawking in surprise downstairs, and yet here I was still crying.I may have been quite bold downstairs but honestly? It hurt, so fucking much! My heart felt like a thousand horse had stepped on it and I couldn’t breathe. My 4 years obsession had finally come to an end and with it my shattered heart. For 4 years of my life, I had loved and cherished one man, did everything in my power to make him see me but somehow it only seemed to make him hate me more.I stared down at the little garden below my window, a rose bunch that Grandpa had specially planted for me. Poor man, he didn’t know what had gone down today. The flowers danced happily with the gentle breeze, as though mocking me. "Go ahead, laugh at me," I croaked, my voice cracking with emotion. "I'm pretty stupid, aren't I?""You most definitely are." I spun around immediately, my anger flaring as I faced the evilness herself.
HUDSON’S POV“Who would have thought that we would be free of that ungrateful brat?” Mom beamed, casting me a meaningful look.“I know, right? Good riddance to bad rubbish." Aunt Claire added with a chuckle. “What’s important now is for Charlotte to nurse her health; my grandson can’t suffer any more stress, okay?”“Yes, aunt, I will be careful now,” Charlotte said with a big smile.“Nonsense, call me mom,” my mom gushed out. And it only made Charlotte smile brighter.It was comforting to see her smiling now, rather than shed those tears that broke my heart.Suddenly, Valerie’s crying face flashed through my mind. Her pouty pink lips, trembling from holding back tears that dripped down those soft cheeks. A strange feeling overtook my body at the memory and left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I immediately pushed it down.She tried to hurt Charlotte and my unborn children as well. That’s unforgiveable!“Baby, baby, are you okay?” Charlotte gently tapped me. I blinked in surprise. “Yea
VALERIE’S POV “Ma’am?” Rob, my assistant, called out for the third time since we arrived at the building for the signing. We are currently in the underground parking lot kept specially for VVIPs. It's been almost 30 minutes and I still couldn’t find it in me to get down from the car. Trust me, this was not the first time I had to come for a partnership signing, but this was the first time I would be seeing Hudson after our divorce. If I said I wasn’t tense about it, I would be lying. It’s been 5 years already, but it still seemed like yesterday. The memories of him and his family are still fresh on my mind. And especially today, it felt more like an open wound. Liam had repeatedly offered to come on my behalf, to save me the heartache, but I refused. This was my fight. After my experience with them, I fought constantly to be who I am today, building up my walls and confidence that they had trampled upon so ruthlessly. And I most definitely cannot let one meeting shatte
VALERIE’S POV“Grandpa!”“Daddy!” my babies squealed out, each of them racing to the different men in delight. Their excited laughter filling the air as I slowly joined from behind, a flawless smile on my face as well the moment I took in the floored expressions on literally everyone’s face at the table!Every single person had stood up from shock, their eyes bulging, their stylish yet comfortable outfits making the table look colorful as they watched those oblivious trio of mine, that simply couldn’t be bothered as they switched hugs between their daddy and Grandpa. It truly was a funny sight to be honest. “Valerie,” Grandpa called out, my name rolling of his lips breathlessly as he spread his arms wide open for me.“My dear, welcome!” I smiled back, unable to resist his contagious smiles as I took off my sunshades to hug him.“Good morning, Grandpa. Sorry, we are late!” I apologized, pulling back from his warm hug just in time to watch him wave it off like it was nothing. “What? Wha
CHARLOTTE’S POV The sun had hung up high in the sky by the time I had arrived at the mansion. Today was to be the old man’s classic ranch day! Another one of his practices where he made everyone gather in the fields for his amusement. I call it; the mud day! A day you should get prepared to be attacked with the unpleasant smell of horse pop and other animals that he reared for fun. You get stained and do stupid chores while he relaxed at a spot on his wheelchair, watching you make a fool out of yourself. An eerie way to have fun if you ask me, but what do I know? I after all wanted to become his granddaughter in law, so I guess I had to endure. Which was why I was seated here, under a very stylish canopy with individuals I would rather not even glance at on a normal day. “Ah! Such a great weather today, isn’t it?” Coco, Hudson’s elder cousin commented, letting out a sigh as she took off her sunshades to bask in the morning sun. I just discreetly rolled my eyes at her, yeah the we
CHARLOTTE’S POVCold.That sensation right there, was what I felt through out my body. Its unrepentant poison coursing through every nerve on my skin as I laid there in the slightly reddish water of my bathtub. Caused by the deep cut on my arm. An injury I had inflicted on myself after knocking down the hand dryer in the bathroom as a result of my anger and frustrations.Who wouldn’t be in my situation? Who? I would love to see that person!Just then, I heard footsteps approach the bathroom and my head rose from its bent position, my eyes hopeful as I waited for the man that I wanted to walk in. The only man that could make all these heartaches go away… But all hope came crashing down as a lean physique man rather, walked in. His movements skeptical and his eyes scanning the bathroom before settling on me.Alarm shot up in his eyes as he took in my condition, “Madame!” Ethan cried out, rushing to me.“Are you okay? You’re bleeding… can you hear me?” he probed, fussing around in the ba
VALERIE’S POVA moment of silence passed after Mason’s question. Everyone keeping quiet and looking expectantly at, well… Hudson. He was the daddy here, right? His son just asked him a question then. “Daddy?” Miley pressed, blinking her green eyes at the screen.“Err-I-” Hudson stuttered, seemingly speechless at the moment as he shared a surprised look with me. But eventually, “No. I’m not married, Mason” he responded, his voice firm.“I told you!” Miley announced immediately, her eyes fixed on Mason. “But he took so many pictures with the shiny hair lady and none with mommy!” Miles argued and just then I realized what was going on. “Daddy, why didn’t you take pictures with mommy?”I felt Hudson suck a breath as he tried to come up with answers for these curious trio of mine. They had most definitely surfed the internet again despite my warnings. But then again, these things were bound to come out one day. No matter how much we wanted to avoid it, it would find a way to show its ugly h
VALERIE’S POV“What happened?!”“Sir! She just started bleeding and-“Through her nostrils?!” he bellowed, panic coursing through each word as he rushed to her small form on the living room couch, the maid following behind. “Aby, baby, can you hear me?” he called out eagerly, cupping her cheek for a bit as he tried wiping off the blood that had stained her clothes all over.“What the fuck happened here?! Why is there so much blood?” he roared, frightening the already trembling maid. “This-it has happened before Sir. She started having nose bleeds a few weeks back, but she has never passed out because of it! I just found her bleeding at the stairs when I called you and now she- she…” the maid cried out, her voice breaking as she broke into tears.But Hudson was having none of it, “Abrille.”“Abrille!!”“Shit! She’s so cold. Get James and the car, NOW!” he thundered, his eyes blazing with anger as he hurriedly cuddled the little girl to his chest before rushing to the front door. His l
HUDSON'S POV“It is! It is Hudson, it is!” she snapped, her voice cold. “You’re embarrassed and angry because people now know about me. About our dealings with each other! You wanted to keep me hidden and only meet me when you wanted to, isn’t it? That’s why you brought up that whole talk of getting us a home!”What?My blood boiled hot at those words. Was that what she was thinking? Was that why she had been giving me cold shoulder all these why?! Without trying to understand me?! “There’s a reason why I wanted to keep you hidden!” I argued, my voice loud. “There was a reason I wanted us to build a home where I can easily go to everyday after work without having to remember Charlotte was just few blocks down the street! I wanted us all to be safe, I wanted you and our kids, our family to be safe from any drama that may arise for the meantime! I never planned to keep you hidden forever, Valerie! How could say things like this?!”“Now, they know all about us what next? What next?! What
HUDSON’S POV“Hudson!”“Huddie, it was her!” a groan of frustration almost left my lips as I heard her yell from outside my office door. There really is no stopping her, is there?She wouldn’t stop screaming about like a crazy person! This was the third time she was going at it just today and honestly; I was so sick of it! But before I could move to lock my door, it flung open and in she came. Fully fledged with her brown eyes holding promises of another round of screaming. I pressed my eyes shut as I groaned inwardly, totally disliking the way my evening was going.First, I hadn’t heard from Val these past days ever since she left me standing at her company’s parking lot. That alone was enough to trouble my mind, and attending that stupid handover party with Charlotte didn’t help matters. Mom refused to listen to a word I said, all she cared about was how I was letting myself get seduced by Val.So, granting Charlotte a space in the business was her own way of reminding me what was i
CHARLOTTE’S POV“Looks like your dad and I, are going to have a longgg chat” she whispered, a chilling smirk playing on her lips as she slowly leaned away from my face. She was fond of doing this. Always looking down on me with contempt, like she was better than I was! But in as much as I wanted to blast at her for doing so, I had more pressing issues to worry about.What did she mean I should go complain to my father? What did she mean by saying they were going to have a long chat?!Could she…could she have found out something? About my father?No. No, that’s not possible!We took precautions and everything had been smooth so far. How could she know about him? Or linked our relationship together?It was impossible! Absolutely impossible!She was probably just bluffing and wanting to get a rise out of me. “Manipulative crazy bitch!” I cussed underneath my breath and turned to get her before she fully left the environment.“Hey!” I called out, my irritation reaching the roof as I watche
VALERIE’S POV“Have you had dinner, yet?“It’s past 10pm, go to bed and leave your study alone, Valerie!” I scoffed loudly at that last message. Is he scolding me now? What, no more sweet messages? No more, ‘my love’ or did my goddess take a picture today for me?Absolutely nothing!He just went all out and didn’t contact me the whole day until this very moment! What do I make of this, huh? He was protesting? A show of displeasure after my words yesterday about him waiting till I had made my decision? “Pfft! Fucking dickhead” I cussed under my breath as I partially slammed my phone on a stack of files close by. Not sending any response to those messages either. Not like I used to respond though but… whatever.Just then my phone buzzed again and I quickly grabbed it to see what other scolding text he had sent. But only after I found myself happily unlocking my phone that I realized just exactly what I was doing.“Woah, okay Valerie, okay.” I softly scolded myself, putting down the phon