VALERIE'S POV "So we've decided to use this shade for the bedrooms with the slightly wider structural pattern. The lightnings will all have this DH mark attached to them," I paused, tapping on my touch screen laptop to zoom the image i was referring to. Once it got to the size I wanted, a smile graced my lips and I continued, sparing him a glance every few seconds to be sure he was following. "Right, so this is our logo and it has been imbedded into every furniture that we will use here. So just in case you notice them, you don't need to raise an alarm or anything of that sort, because I just explained it to you. And also, we will need you to appro- "Are you even listening to me?" I asked with a frown, snapping my fingers in his face. He had been quiet all these while, at first I thought he was paying rapt attention but I just noticed that instead of staring at the laptop screen on top of our table, to see what i was explaining, his eyes were rather fixed on me. It was like
VALERIE'S POV "I am so late! Argh!" I grumbled as I quickly drove into the huge school yard. "I can't even believe they would allow those people host such a party right in the middle of the streets! On a busy afternoon at that!"I mean, people had places to be, how could they block the roads simply because of a live band. It was because of them I was arriving so late, it was 4 PM!And I honestly thought I would be here on time today, because the restaurant was a 20 minutes drive closer to the school than from my office. But instead I came almost 2 hours late!You can imagine the difference. The kids were probably dismissed for the day by now, I hope they haven't gone home with their driver though. I was already here, if I didn't get to join the parent-teacher function, I should at least get to take my kids home. They would love that. Maybe we could finally go for that shopping today, we have been prosponing since forever.I quickly parked in an allotted park lot and took my handbag
Charlotte's POV "This development is sure to encourage our children to find topics relating to their growth interesting, which will in turn bring out those in-built abilities they have in a more relaxed setting despite their young age. It will -"$50 billion!" My voice rang out, saturating the room and pressing the necks of those pompous women i met earlier. "Erm, ma'am." The teacher that was just talking called out to me, her tone skeptical.But it was to be expected, she was addressing everyone, explaining what development our children will enjoy as a result of the new music and arts building that will be set up.This function was obviously headed for fund raising but they are trying to sugarcoat the parents into believing it was for the children. Children that were barely 6 to 7 year old, what do they know about music, dancing or arts?!Fucking hypocrites!"Ma'am I haven't finished explaining... Yet..." The teacher said, sharing the similar surprise look that I knew for sure was o
Charlotte's POV "Well, well, well, if it isn't the heirloom snatcher!" I sneered loudly, causing her to pause in her tracks. She recognized my voice then, good!I thought I already had enough reason to celebrate today, unknown to me the heavens were hell bent on showering me so much love today. Meeting a defeated enemy was just the right amount of good news to add to my day. The perfect icing on the cake!'oh, Valerie, I haven't forgotten the stunt you pulled at that event. Not one bit of it!' I sang to myself, while scanning around for any department store with drinks. Maybe I would get my revenge today too.Disappointed I didn't see any, I turned my neck back in her direction, smirking as i saw her still rooted to the spot I left her in, less than 5 steps away from me. I waited for her to turn back seeing as she clearly heard me but then the opposite happened. Without so much as a glance at me, she started walking away!Totally ignoring me!"The nerves of this bitch!" I fumed and
Charlotte's POV She was clearly insulting me. She just indirectly told me to leave heels to people like her! People like that actually wore it everyday to do something useful!She worked at a huge furnishings and decorating firm, so her choice of dressing always comprised of heels. Expensive looking heels at that!Wait, What am I even saying?She was the CEO of that firm! A fucking CEO!I already checked her out on the Internet after that night at the event. After the stunt she pulled that day, drowning me in wine and embarrassing me, the parking lot drama and above all, taking the heirloom that rightfully belonged to me! Not to mention all the other stuff she nodded higher than me just to embarrass me. I would be a fool not to try and find out stuffs about her.She really was born into money. This little bitch that literally crawled on the floors of the Rodriguez mansion, begging to be part of the family, begging for my Hudson to be with her and throw me out, was actually from one o
VALERIE'S POV You know how people say their day just went from 100 to 0 in a minute? After encountering a particular situation? That was exactly how I felt right now, staring at the evil glint swimming in the eyes of this vile creature called Charlotte. A blonde deceiving fake ass! A snake, and two faced witch that paraded herself as a saint in front of the Rodriguez family. Specifically in front of Hudson, and his immediate family members (mom,dad, junior sister), oh & let's not forget, Aunt Claire too. She truly was something else, and honestly, I've always known. I've always known! That's why I was unable to get along with her back then, not even for a day. I mean, aside from the fact she regularly overturned even the most unlikely situations to be in her favor, what woman for heavens sake would want to befriends their husband's mistress! Right in her own house! Friendship with Charlotte was simply absurd and I could never reduce myself to that. But I was patient r
VALERIE'S POV "Miles, stop running your toy car on the stairs railings!" Nanny Beth called out for at least the third time just this evening. A chuckle left my lips at the distress in her voice, I could hear her footsteps pounding on the stairs as she hurried up seemingly at a giggling Miles who ran off, his light footsteps filling the air as he dashed past my room door for safety.My door stood ajar so I could see everything from the spot where I was relaxing on my bed. "Where is he? That little...tiny... tsk, I knew those toys were trouble the minute I saw them!" Nanny Beth grumbled under her breath as she walked past my door as well, directly headed for the double door of the kids a few steps away.I made sure to keep quiet while she passed otherwise her fury would be turned in my direction. I was the one that approved and paid for those toys after all. And I'm telling you now, they were a lot. Like, a LOT.After the... Well you know,... 'My dramatic display' at the mall in front
Charlotte's POV "I am so upset!" I yelled out and threw my handbag roughly against the tiled floors of the living room the minute I walked in, causing the maids to flinch back. They had already assembled to cater to me the minute they heard the car pull in the driveway, but I didn't even pay them any mind. I mean, how could I? When I fuming and feeling hot all over because of that damned bastard! I couldn't believe he spoke to me that way. That was a lowlife with no self restraint, going about mentally abusing people. Can you believe that? He said all sorts of vile things to my face and even had the guts to call security to drag me out! Like I was some irrelevant used sheet of toilet paper that needed to be disposed! Just who does he think he was, huh?! Hudson, my husband to be owns a 50% ownership on that shopping mall! How dare they just kick me out! How dare they insult me like that?! The more I thought about it the more angry I became, even worse compared to how I
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
CHARLOTTE’S POV“I’m not leaving him”“I’m not splitting up with him!” I yelled out as I stormed to the direction of the living room that I knew my dad would be present in, with Raymond hot on my heels. “I’m not leaving Hudson, cancel that countersue right now!”“Kiddo!” Raymonds shushed, his panic clear as he tried to pull me away from the direction of the living room. “Please, let’s do this tomorrow. Your father just finished handling a troublesome job, you know how he gets on days like this”My annoyance flared at his excuses; he was obviously trying to avoid the main topic on ground! They all were! “Get off me!” I snapped at him, shrugging my arm away from him as I glared. “You all…how could you?! How could he apply for a sue against my man and even announce it on the news! Without my consent, Raymond! He is my man, Raymond! My man!”I watched as is eyes squinted, slanting to the side at my yelling’s. My voice echoed everywhere in the house and I loved it! Everyone should hear me!