Charlotte's POV "Put those roses right there, make it a heart shape." I ordered a maid closest to me."Yes Ma'am Charlotte," the maid answered quickly and got into action. Her delicate fingers forming the pattern nicely, I nodded in approval and used the opportunity to check the romantic candle lights I had ordered another maid to set up from the door of the bedroom to the bathroom, rose petals leading the way."I want everything to be perfect! No mistakes are allowed at all, otherwise you will get it from me!" I warned sternly and a few of them at the bedside trembled from fear as they cross checked the bed designs.Humph! They knew just what I was capable of, no need to explain more. The few disrespectful ones that had dared to break the rules would surely teach the rest not to cross me.Pfft! They always end up making me look like I was the bad guy but then again did they obey the rules and i still punished them? No!I was no monster after all, just a simple don't speak when I'm t
HUDSON'S POV There was only one reason as to why Grandpa was calling by this time and I knew exactly what it was. As much as I dreaded this conversation, right now I could only choose the lesser evil. Between putting up with Charlotte's plans and having the long overdue conversation with Grandpa, I was most definitely choosing Grandpa. We owed him an apology after all. But I must say that I am quite surprised he hadn't called before now or even that very day we left his mansion, looks like his housekeeper was actually a very capable woman despite her age. "Boy! Get that tramp that's hiding in your house on the phone, right now!" His voice boomed through the speakers immediately I took the call. His voice was so loud that I knew Charlotte heard it as well. Her grip on my arm had noticeably loosened if anything and now hung low by her side, her doe eyes wide with fear. I could tell she was scared of him, so I took deliberate steps away from her, sighing deeply as my ache resume
HUDSON'S POV "So boss, we are to resume our trips to the Red Bites today, I presume?"James asked cheerily as soon as I settled at the back seat of the car. His words obviously held an underlying meaning but was I going to acknowledge it? No! So I kept quiet, not sparing him a glance. 'Big headed talkative, just won't stop teasing' I grumbled in my mind and took a moment to scroll through the messages on my phone. But then, after some seconds I noticed we were not moving, the car wasn't moving, rather we just sat silently in the car. I was on my phone, and he... well, he was doing God knows what at the front seat and so I proceeded to stare at him through the rear view mirror. As if on cue, his eyes met mine on the mirror and like the idiot he was he went ahead to ask, "Is there a problem, Boss?" and quite cluelessly at that. Was he pretending to not know what he was doing right now? My lips pursed in a tight line, a distasteful scowl evident on my face as I stared at him. "
Note from Author; Hey guys, before I start let me apologize for dropping this. I am so sorry, but I'm trying to avoid any miscommunications that's why I am dropping this message. There has been a bit of an edit at the end of the last chapter (chapter 50), nothing too major just a scene that best explains the beginning of this very chapter. The edit is most likely to reflect on Monday due to the fact that it's currently a weekend. Again I apologize, I know how this sounds and you might probably cuss me out but don't give up on the story pretty please. Your continuous reading means a lot to me. Thank you for your understanding in advance. ******** CHAPTER 51 HUDSON'S POV Everyone immediately froze in place, the sheer intensity of her tone overlapping every other action, even James was forced to pause. "Stop." she repeated breathlessly and in my fuzzy gaze I saw her hurry towards me. Or was I imagining it? "Let him go," she said as she got closer, her words obviously di
VALERIE'S POV These past weeks has been spent with me going through files upon files, documents upon documents that revealed the most unbelievable informations.I couldn't even believe these people were my family members. For heavens sake the company was founded and grown through the sweat and blood of their own Father! Why ruin his sweat because of greed? They had eaten so deep into the damned subsidiaries they headed! Manipulations here and there, all at the main branch of each subsidiary.How was this even possible? They make so much profits yet have incurred so much debts! Loans everywhere with different suppliers, "What the hell is this?!" I snapped, unable to take much more as I flipped through more pages of the report. After the account managers of both De Hernandez Buildings & Repair and Commercial Kitchen Design & Installations had that distasteful display at my house I was forced to have an even more thorough checks and my God!You will not believe how deep these family
VALERIE'S POV My heart had to be next worst organ living in my body, right after my hairless skin pores. Like I literally had almost zero to no hairs on my skin! You would have to look closely to be able to detect any, that's if they were even there in the first place. And as for the life pump in my chest, all it does is to betray me every single time when it's cooperation is just needed. Like seriously, Hudson was the enemy. That fact is well known in body, soul, spirit, mind... you name it! So tell me, why is this damned heart of mine skipping beats just cause of a glance at our supposed enemy, instead of standing solid on our agreed resolve. Why? If this isn't betrayal, what else is it? I sighed deeply, getting ready to launch more complaints in my mind when a voice snapped me right out of it, "Hey! I was just trying to help!" I blinked, my brain registering my environment in a jiffy as I looked up at Rob's amused face and back to an... angry looking James? Before final
Valerie pov My confusion deepened as Hudson swiftly pulled out a chair from a nearby table to ours, invading my personal space. I quickly swallowed the water in my throat to stop him in his tracks and that was where it all went wrong. The water immediately clogged my throat, forcing a good measure of it into the wrong hole down my throat. My eyes bugged as a fit of coughs and gasping followed immediately, "Careful! You're going to get yourself hurt!" Hudson boomed and sprung up from his chair like a mother hen to get me a napkin. If my throat didn't feel like it were literally set on fire, I would have knocked down a couple of glass cups from the sheer force of his shouts. In seconds he was by my side, panicking and easing down gentle pats on my back while dapping every water droplet on my face. To say I was surprised by this whole display would be an understatement. Girl, I was stunned! He was just busy fuzzing over me, coupling my cheeks, feeling my temperature...like...l
VALERIE'S POV *Knock at the door* for some seconds, and a black haired young girl poked in, "ma'am?" I raised my head from my laptop to the angle the voice came from, smiling as I noticed it was the same girl from the IT department that I met earlier. "We're all set for you ma'am, at the conference room." She said, smiling gently. My ears perked up at her words, "Oh! Right!" I immediately moved to stand up but then I remembered the thing I kept on my desk, so I sat back down. "One minute please." I called out to the girl before going ahead to mumble absentmindedly as I shuffled through several paperworks on my desk. "I, ugh... I just need to... Erm..." I paused for a second, realizing what I was doing and quickly stole a glance at the door and sure enough she was still standing there, watching me. The moment our eyes met she smiled nervously, making me smile too before I resumed searching for it. This time more seriously and further off the desk. "Where is it... Where is... Wh
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
HUDSON’S POV“Val? “Valerie!” I called out, my heart throbbing in my chest as my mind went on an overdrive. It was the same thing. The exact same thing that happened that day! That day when the accident occurred and I was too late to stop it!It was happening again; Val’s call, talked about Aby and then-“Oh God!” I breathed, my legs moving on their own accord and before I knew it, I was storming out of my office and down the hallway! Heading for the elevator!If only this thing could move faster!“Argh! Move dammit!” I cussed harshly, pressing on the down button more than necessary. Just so I could get down faster. To which I eventually did, just after wasting nearly 2 minutes of precious time!The drive, like that day was swift. Like really swift and probably dangerous as well for anyone that was on the road but, I had to do it. It was the only way to get home faster and I so wanted to do just that. I didn’t want a repeat of the last incident when I was several hour