(Laura’s POV).The art exhibition held in Amberose City was held at the large building with futuristic concept. The outer side of the building was shielded with metal pieces reflecting the light to shine inside the building allowing natural lights to enter. It was also run by solar panel that generated clean energy.How happy I was to know Rise Corporation led by the real Julia Raine was behind the project that had built the magnificent looking building.I smiled as I walked to enter the building and saw unique art sculptures decorating the sides of the hallway. I paused to observe each one of them and even asked my bodyguard Ray to take some photos of me where I was allowed to do so. Some sections were restricted and no photos were allowed.I recalled the last time I came to the place was went I was just a little girl, probably at ten years old at most. The place had changed much and it had more exquisite art collections on display.“Miss Knight, I believed the show is starting. The
(Laura’s POV).URGHH! Why must I see that pig here bidding for that one piece of work that I had always wanted from Roselle?I stared at Vincent and kept on bidding with him outbid me every time. My eyes were focused on him and I felt more disgusted when he smiled at me as if it was all a game to him.I had wished I was close enough to slap his face.I wanted the painting not only for me but it was because the painting was something my late father wanted to own but never got a chance to purchase it. He had once approached Roselle directly but his offer was refused by her.“Fifty million dollars to Mister Verdi. Anyone else would like to outbid his offer?” the woman on the stage asked and her question was obviously directed to me.“Fifty million dollars is a lot of money, Miss Knight” Ray whispered to me and I knew he was right. It was a lot for a painting and definitely above my budget for tonight.I sighed and sat back on my chair trying hard not to shout at Vincent from where I was
(Laura’s POV).I could not stop thinking about the deal I had made with Vincent in return to get hold of my favourite and precious Roselle painting. Was it worth it? I don’t know but I surely could not wait to see that painting hung up on the wall of my office.That thought made me smile. A smile with excitement.The flight back home from Amberose City was a long one. I tried to sleep but I could not do so. My mind was thinking about many things, including Carla still locked in my basement, watching over my uncles who I knew were trying to kill me, finding the mole in my company and of course, working with both Vincent and Calvin.The latter was the worst to think about.Vincent was showing his sweet side of things that made me wished he meant it. I was not sure. It could be all a lie. He hurt me once and I’m sure he could do it again.And as for Calvin, he had been trying to apologise to me. My mansion would soon turn into a florist filled with the bouquet of flowers he sent to me o
(Laura’s POV).I had arrived home but sat in the car before exiting it. A call came in from Calvin. Despite I had rejected two of his calls, he kept calling me.I did not have to guess why he had called me. It must be the same reason on why my brother Henry, had called me earlier.He was not going to stop calling so I decided to answer it and get it over with.“Laura, where are you? Why are you not answering my calls?” he asked like a worried boyfriend but we were not together at all. Just business partners.“I’m busy. What is it that you wanted to say or ask? Please make it quick” I wanted the day to end. My body was tired and my mind needed to calm down with perhaps a bottle of champagne.“Is it true you accepted Vincent to be our consultant for the resort project? Why sudden change of heart?” He sounded worried and I could hear him taking few deep breaths. Perhaps, he was angry too.I don’t know. Both Vincent and Calvin confused me at times with their expressions.“Why does it bot
(Laura’s POV).I decided to take a walk to my garden for some fresh air. “Ruma, why did you betray me?” I felt a little sad from what I discovered from my cousin Carla. Ruma had served my late father as his secretary for a long time. They were close and there were rumours of an affair between them when they were younger.Of course, it was just rumours!My father may had slept with many women in the past but he had changed when he met my mother. Perhaps, I was wrong. Maybe that was why my mother left him as she had enough with his betrayal.But, he came back to win her heart and they were happy.Thoughts were running wild in my head. I just could not understand why things happened the way it had been in my life. I wished to live a normal life being loved and cared for.I was tired fighting this war that my father had created. But, I was also hungry for answers.My handphone rang again. It was Calvin.I sighed while looking at the screen flashing his name. He was not going to stop call
(Laura’s POV).After drinking almost half of the content from my champagne bottle, my mind went fuzzy all of a sudden. It was not a big bottle but I did not expect to get so drunk by just a couple of glasses.I laid down on my bed with my half closed eyes staring at my ceiling. I never realised the ceiling was beautiful. At that moment, the sight of my white ceiling had become quite colourful with moving objects.I smiled to myself and at times I giggled.“Calvin likes me” I whispered and blushed like a girl who met her pop star icon. Yes, Calvin was that famous and I could never had thought a guy like him would fall for me.But then, why can’t Vincent like me too?That thought made me pout and turned to my side with my fist punching the pillows. I hated him for rejecting me when we were married. I had tried so hard to be a perfect wife for him.I would even spread my legs for him if he wanted me back then. But, he hardly even looked at me when we were married. Was I that ugly?Well,
(Laura’s POV).Two days later, I was all dressed up to go for a site visit on the location of my new resort. My head of housekeepers, Raya had prepared suitable clothes for me to wear for the occasion. A business pants suit matched with a pair of flat designer shoes. She had even helped me do my hair that day.A neat bun with my favourite diamond hair pin. Since, Vincent already knew who I was, there was no need for me to stop wearing the pin that his stepmother had gifted to me.“You look lovely, Miss Knight” Raya smiled at me and for a moment it felt like my mother was with me as she too liked to help me with my long hair. Some loose strands were left out that me look a little sexy.Raya never gave up to ensure I look good so that one day I might find my Mr. Right. I thought I did find my Mr. Right but he turned out to be a jerk! Vincent was a mistake in my life. A big black dot that I would crossed it out in my planned life trajectory.“I am not getting any younger, Miss Knight. Y
(Vincent’s POV).“No” she snapped at my words and moved to the side to walk ahead leaving me behind, “Ray, you are coming with us”I sighed and turned to look at Ray who was looking at me like he was imagining himself punching my handsome face. I chuckled to myself and followed Laura from behind. I was not going to give up. This was going to be my chance to get close to her when Calvin was not in sight.My bodyguard did not follow us. I wanted him to look around to ensure no harm was coming to Laura. I knew she had enemies and I was not letting anyone to hurt her.She may look tough and confident from the outside, but beneath all that appearance she was projecting, I knew my Julia was still there inside her. Afraid. I could sense it.Ray may looked intimidating with his muscular body. But, I was not affected by it.My mind was solely focusing to get her attention that day and I was not going to fail!“Laura, about the project, I had gone through the plan and thought-“ I paused as she
(Laura’s POV).Several years had gone by. I was happily married with Vincent keeping his wedding vow to love me and stay loyal to me as long as his heart was still beating.His wedding vow for me was what the press stated as something they never expected coming from a well known feared man would ever say to a woman. He poured his heart out to me in his vow. I recalled myself in tears, and of course with abundance of joy.The wedding was held at Tuscany with a garden theme filled with fresh flowers and nature. He kept to his words making it my dream wedding. I had to thank both my mother in laws who had helped me to prepare it. I loved them both and I was happy to have both of them to fill the void in my heart that was empty since my own mother passed away.Life was perfect and having three children with him made it more exciting.Three boys, who would have thought I could go through that at such a young age! This was not what I had planned in my life after the death of my parents.I
(Vincent’s POV).I was looking around. Mostly to find a way to exit the crowded little ice cream parlour filled with mostly people from Laura’s side. The look of her angry eyes at me after knowing I had read her diary was piercing my soul. Her beautiful blue eyes were on fire.I raised both of my hands in a surrender mode and said, “I can explain. You need to calm down. Not good for our babies that you are carrying. Your stress level needs to be managed”What the hell was I rambling about? It was not going to help me save myself from her wrath that was coming to me.“You did read my diary! How could you do such thing” She said before her face was turning red. She was blushing and for a moment I thought I was wrong. She was not angry, she was embarrassed.Then, I recalled on what I read in her diary. I was pretty embarrassing. She wroter things about me and how she adored me all those years. There was even a picture of my younger self kept in her pink shimmering diary.“I hate you!” L
(Laura’s POV).A month has passed. Time had moved so swiftly and my pregnant belly was starting to show.Vincent was true to his words, being by my side taking care of me and my constant need of attention. I blamed it on my pregnancy hormones. I was never like this, wanting him by my side most of the time.It had been a challenging process with me having nausea and sensitivity of things around me. I had even lost some weight as my body was rejecting some food, even those that I used to like to eat.“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” Vincent said and lifted my chin to give me a brief kiss on my lips. We were walking towards the place where we first met. A little ice cream shop in Tuscany where I had first saved him from being hit by a motorcycle.The place where I fell in a nearby ditch, stuck for almost an hour until my brother, Henry came to the rescue. I smiled to that thought as he moved to caress my cheeks, smiling at me. “What’s so funny?”I laughed softly and pointed to the exa
(Author’s POV).At the same time, seated in a rented car, Marie was looking out of the window not wanting to start any conversation with the man who was seated next to her. He was driving with his focus on the road.At times she knew, he was taking few glances at her, hoping that she would start the conversation.After a few minutes, the silence was getting weird.“Are you happy with him?” Henry wished he could take that questions back. His words slipped his tongue as they waited in the car being stuck in traffic.“It is none of your concern. Please focus on your driving” Marie said while pretending to look outside the window. There was nothing else to see except for the cars on the road stuck with them in the traffic.“Do you love him? Why.. him?” Henry exhaled his breath and gripped the sterring wheel hard while controlling his anger, “I don’t get it, Marie. At one point, you did not believe in marriage. Now, you are engaged with a man I know you are definitely not in love with”Hi
(Laura’s POV).I came out from the cold waters while pulling Vincent’s unconscious body with me. He was heavy and I struggled to pull him further.I needed to check on his breathing so I placed my ear next to Vincent’s mouth and nose. I smiled after feeling some air from his mouth warming my cheeks. “Vincent? Wake up” I said while caressing his cheeks.He did not respond to me calling him several times. I then placed my finger to check on his pulse. It was getting weaker. That made me panic for a moment.I felt his body getting cold and that frightened me further, “Vincent, please. Wake up”There was no response.I then whispered to his ears while placing my hand on his cheeks, “I know you can hear me. Please don’t leave me alone in this cold place. Please don’t leave us alone. I want our baby to grow up with a father. The father that I love very much”I then cried and rested my head on his shoulders as I let out my sadness and tiredness on his body. I was tired. I did not sleep well
(Author’s POV).Out from the busy current of Rivera river, Cherry managed to hold on to a large tree trunk and held on it with her trembling hands. She was panting out of air and was choking out water stuck in her throat.After a few minutes, she took one deep breath before climbing on the tree to get out from the cold waters. She knew if Vincent had arrived, it would mean he would have by then blocked her way out from Rivera. There would be no way out using the normal route.It was time for her to execute her contingency plan.But first, Cherry needed to locate an acquaintance who she knew could get her new identification card and passport to escape from the country. She knew Vincent was not going to make it easy for her. She knew she needed him to think that she was dead.Smiling to that thought, she was ready to fight him.As Cherry reached the shore, she walked slowly towards what looked like houses built near the river. They were local folks living in Rivera. A signage was seen
(Vincent’s POV).I was running fast leaving the rest behind. The woods were thick with many trees blocking my way.I heard her. And I knew that voice was her pleading for help. She was in trouble.Jumping over branches of trees and pushing aside any obstacle that was blocking my way, I felt no pain. All I had in mind was to save my Laura. I hope I was not going to be too late for that.I wanted to call her name and assured her everything was going to be fine. I was closeby and I knew all this drama would end soon. But, calling her name would alert the attacker. I needed to be careful.I knew who it was. The crazy woman who was obsessed with me, Cherry, was to be blamed for all that had happened to Laura. I was going to end it. Tonight, it would be over.Cherry would be placed behind bars.Standing behind a tree, I then saw her. My Laura.She was looking weak and shaken.Laura was standing too close to the edge of the cliff while Cherry was pointing a gun at her. They were arguing and
(Laura’s POV).I took steps slowly back as I saw Cherry coming closer to me. There was blood on her clothes which I thought most likely may not be hers. She looked fine, or was she pretending to look fine?I did not know her well. A deceiving woman who seemed to fight for what she believed in. And I knew all that she believed in was her being the daughter of Lucas Knight and my half-sister.“Do you realised we kind of look alike?” she said with a smile showing her perfectly shaped teeth. It was kind of scary with her eyes looking at me as if I was an object of her admiration.“We have the same eyes. Different colour though. And your hair, look” she touched her hair with one hand, “It is the same colour as mine. Do you think people would believe we are actually related?”Was she kidding me? I knew Cherry made herself look like me. She was obsessed to be me.I opened my mouth to say something but she cut me off with her words, “Laura. You want to know the truth?” Cherry smiled and sang
(Vincent’s POV).I got up from a short nap that I took without even realising it. Pieces of papers were scattered on the chair I was seated on. A large map of Rivera was spread on the table where I had marked on the potential places that Laura could be at.Something was not right. I felt a pain inside my chest. Was it Laura? Was she in trouble?I got up from my chair and walked to the drinking cabinet in my room to get a drink. A strong one I hoped to find.I hoped I could find Laura soon. Calvin and Cherry had already arrived in Rivera and I knew it would not be long until they move Laura again. I needed to be fast.My men were following Cherry and two hours ago I was informed that they had lost track of Cherry who went into the dark woods of Rivera. One thing for sure, both Cherry and Calvin were still in town. I would make sure they will never leave Rivera until I found my Laura.I rubbed my temple and walked to the bathroom to do my business. Taking a glance at the mirror in the