HUDSON’S POVAfter recovering from my initial shock, I glared at my phone and my voice dropped dangerously low. “Look here you conniving little cheat, I have your life in my hands. So, it will do you well to speak to me nicely! While you still can that is,” I growled out.The line became silent, good. At least she knows when to listen. Before I could take another breath, a loud crackling laughter flowed through my phone speakers. What? Is she... laughing? This is funny to her?"Oh, my, you..." she started, her words dissolving into uncontrollable laughter. The sound of her crackling giggles filled the air, taunting me with each passing moment. My face darkened into a tight scowl, the more she laughed. My brow furrowed into the most intense frown I'd worn in years as I stood stiff, my hands clenched into fists at my sides, listening to her struggle to compose herself between gaps of laughter. "My goodness!... That was... hilarious Hudson, were you trying to scare me or something?” Sh
VALERIE POVI stared at my phone; incredulity clear in my features as my screen went off, his number disappearing from my view “What just happened?” I asked out loud and took a scan of my environment to ensure no one heard my banter with that arrogant, selfish, overbearing, ignorant… “argh! What other word can I use to describe that dick head!” I groaned, annoyed by everything.“I can’t believe he called to threaten me. What’s his problem??” Yes, I did not use my full name before but that doesn’t give him the right to question my capacity. I worked my ass off, had several late-night studies, thinking of strategies and new ideas, even while I was pregnant!I never took a day off, never took a holiday. I mean how could I? My very own family members were seeking for any possible loophole to drag me down. I couldn’t give them that satisfaction. And finally, all my efforts paid off, no one dared to question my capacity after several hit business deals, I got. But come now, some arrogant
VALERIE'S POVI just stood there, speechless. After a moment of shock, my chest started heaving up and down from the amount of adrenaline coursing through my veins. My breathe was coming out in sharp gaps and my heartbeat drummed inside my ears. I had to hold onto the stairs trails for support, otherwise I might just fall off the remaining steps of the stairs. Did I just run down the stairs like a mad woman for this? How can…how... “What the hell is going on here?!” I yelled, still fighting to calm my raged breathing while my eyes blazed in anger. They all went quiet, everyone pausing in their tracks.“Uh uh, mommy’s mad at someone,” Miles little voice sang out and he immediately dropped the pancake he was about eating. I ran my gaze over each of them, the scowl on my face deepening the more I took in the situation. A pile of pancakes stacked high up like a mountain sat on the table in the living room, strawberry and chocolate syrup was spilled all over the living room table.Mile
VALERIE POV "C’mon guys, chop chop, let's go!" I called out for the third time since I came downstairs. These kids… I’m the lady in the house, with all the makeup and normal womanly delays I somehow still end up ready before those 3. “You guys! I’m going to be late for work, come downstairs, will you?” I said, flinging my arms up in disbelief. After few moments of no reply, I decided to take more action than just standing and yelling to myself, because it seems that was exactly what I was doing, talking to myself. I moved to the kitchen island and grabbed my keys, making sure to jingle the bunch in the process, “I am leaving your asses behind,” my voice rang out, higher than before now, using the keys to make a whole lot of noise like I was opening the front door. It seemed to work too because in seconds a pair of dirty blonde hair and green eyes showed up at the top of the stairs, Miles. His green orbs searched the living room frantically and when they finally met mine in the li
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“Ballocks!!” He yelled and smashed his drink in anger. “How dare those imbeciles belittle and downgrade my princess to a slave!”"Grandpa, please, you need to calm down. This isn’t good for your health either,” I begged in desperation.Ever since Liam, my cousin, brought me home, the entire household has been in an uproar. Well, not everyone, but then...“You should have seen how they looked at her when I went to pick her up; only heaven knows what Val endured in that family!” Liam added furiously.“She herself decided to go there, didn't she?" Liam's mom walked in. "I thought you found the love of her life.” She taunted, her voice dripping with scorn.“Youngsters and reckless decisions, where’s the undying love you wouldn’t shut your mouth about now, huh? Her husband added with a chuckle.I hate to admit, but their jabs did hit a spot—a very wounded spot at that. But I can’t continue with that; it was high time I moved on.Three years was more than enough. “Yeah, very fun
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 shatter all my eff