Chapter 3

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. “Yeah, yeah, I am good,” I coughed out. “But you’ve barely touched your food,” she said worriedly.

“Are you sure you’re okay, son? Getting a divorce is never easy; maybe you should reconsider and fix things with Valerie, don’t you think?” Father said calmly. This was the first time I heard his voice since Valerie left this afternoon.

I opened my mouth to reply, but mom beat me to it: “My son said he is fine, so he is fine! Why wouldn’t he be fine?”

“But-

“The woman he loves is right here, carrying his child. If not for that seductress who confused Grandpa into marrying her to Hudson, Charlotte would have been married to this family from the start.”

Mom was right about that, though. Despite how Valerie tricked her way into my life, I never tried to deceive her.

From the start, I told her about my feelings for Charlotte. I let her live in this prestigious house under the title of my wife. I even let her continue with her studies, but all she did was fail repeatedly, wasting my money and resources. She even almost burned down one of my villas out of jealousy for Charlotte.

And now, despite what she did to Charlotte, I offered to let her live with us. I was willing to drop the issue of divorce, only that she apologized for what she did. But no! She went right ahead and stubbornly signed the damn papers!

Trampling all over my good intentions. Humph! She doesn’t know what’s coming for her. I already had my men searching for her, and when I do find her, I will sue her for damages!

“Right son?” I looked up, realizing I had been clenching my spoon a bit too hard. I was about to reply when my phone rang. I checked the ID, and it was James, my right-hand man.

It’s about time. “Excuse me, I have to take this.” I grunted out and went directly to the large window in the living room, far away from the dining room.

“Boss,” James greeted.

“You found it, right?” I went straight to business. "No, boss, it came back invalid.”

“Invalid?” I asked, a deep frown in my face. “How can you say the plate number is invalid? She got into that goddamned car!” I growled as a new sense of dread washed over me.

Valerie made a call just before she left, and I watched her from this very spot as she got into a car. I had thought she had called a taxi, but come to think of it, that car was way too flashy to be a taxi.

My heart hammered in my chest as thoughts of her being kidnapped flooded my mind. I shouldn’t feel this way for a woman who killed one of my unborn children and for whom I 'clearly' had no feelings.

But I couldn’t help it; she had to be okay for me to sue her, right?

“Find her, James; do everything; get whoever on board; just find her!” I spat angrily and cut the line immediately.

“It’s for the lawsuit. For the lawsuit,” I reminded myself.

******************

5 YEARS LATER

“Perfect! It’s great doing business with you, Mr. Brickz.”

“You too, Mr. Rodriguez,” he said sternly as we shook hands. “A date will be passed across to you for the signing; our CEO will be present as well.”

“I finally get to meet him; look forward to it,” I concluded in relief, and he left. “Life is so good,” I mumbled while pouring myself a glass of champagne.

With a sip, I stared at the buildings before me through the vast glass windows of my office, mentally counting the buildings I owned in the city. And a big smile forced its way through my face. “Aaah, nothing will hold back the project now.” I said with a sigh.

The best men for the job were now on board, from the construction to the furnishing of “Sky Castle.”

My legacy, which I would pass on to my children.

The project was budgeted to make an estimated figure of $400 billion annually. It was a good investment and held no risks that I could not handle.

Only that big-headed CEO of De Hernandez Dreamz was proving to be difficult. He almost caused me huge problems. Who does he think he is?

Just because his company had such massive growth that went even beyond borders, he felt he could put up airs, and kept me hanging for so long.

As much as I hate to admit it, they were good at what they do. Their designs and quality were second to none. Being the number one in the design and furnishing business was no joke.

Good thing he was now on my side; I just needed to sign the paperwork, and everything would be official.

*****

“You’re leaving? Isn’t it a bit too early?”

I paused just at the center of the huge living room and took a scan of the neat and cold kitchen area, then back to the blonde-haired woman that was once an excitement to me. “No breakfast?”

“Oh, no. Your mom gave the maids an off day today,” Charlotte replied, and she continued to munch on peanuts. Something Valerie would never have done.

She used to prepare a yummy breakfast and even pack me lunch before I was ready for work every day. Deep inside of me, I do miss that.

With a sigh, I walked off. Today was the big day.

Greenland Holdings and De Hernandez Dreamz will officially become partners today.

And I finally get to meet that damned CEO.

“Good luck today! It’s such a pity I can’t join you; Aby has a school function today,” Charlotte called out behind me.

“Kiss her goodbye for me,” I replied calmly. The name of our daughter instantly uplifted my spirits.

“Let’s go, James.”

*****

"Congratulations, Mr. Rodriguez.”

‘Congratulations again, sir,” was all that filled the air, directed at me, and I basked in the glory of it.

But then, an hour later, it didn’t seem so good anymore. The luxuriously furnished hall was full to the brim with different respectable men of different calibers and paparazzi flashing their cameras at every corner of the hall.

But still, there was no sign of the people from De Hernandez Dreamz. “What the fuck is going on?!” I growled angrily at my assistant.

These people better not back out now; otherwise, I’m going to sue every last one of them!

“Sir, I-

“The CEO from De Hernandez Dreamz is here!” Someone suddenly screamed, and immediately all eyes went to the entrance of the hall.

Cameras were flashing furiously at the coming entourage of suited men at the entrance. “Fucking pompous jerk,” I growled under my breath and straightened up to welcome my ‘dear’ business partner.

The entourage fully entered the hall and slowly parted to present a ... woman??

I almost choked on my breath at the sight before me.

She was clad in an exceptionally sown white, pristine suit that did justice to the well-endowed curves of her body. Her every stride in those white pointy heels exuded poise and remarkable confidence that had the hairs on my skin rising.

Her shiny honey brown hair was held up in a high ponytail, leaving her absolutely gorgeous face to be captured by the cameras.

I felt myself swallow deeply the more I stared; I couldn’t help it.

She was stunning!

But as she got closer, I felt my heartbeat beat faster, and the frown on my face got deeper. “Boss, is that?” I heard James call out beside me, but he seemed so far away as my heartbeat grew louder and louder in my ears until one word registered in my brain.

“Boss, that is-

"Valerie,” I said breathlessly.