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Chapter 8
Last Updated:
2025-03-28 00:35:06
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Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 9
ALEXANDER'S POV I stared at Rubby as she made to talk, ready to chip in something if the need arose. But before she could form a single word, Nolan quickly cut her short."Mom, Dad," he began, sounding hurt. "Don't be upset with Rubby; I think she's only been confused lately; the whole wedding plans are so overwhelming; it's my fault for putting so much pressure on her."I widened my eyes in shock, and so did Rubby."Nolan, you are pathetic....""I mean," he interrupted her again, his voice suddenly breaking as though he was about to cry."I understand how she is feeling. I haven't been around much lately because of work, and now someone else is gradually taking my place," he made the last sentence and pointed at me, much to my frustration.I stiffened in my chair as I fought hard to suppress the feeling of rage that kept rising in my chest. What a manipulative Narcissist!"I don't understand you, son," Mom asked, walking over to where he sat.Nolan shook his head as though reluctan
Last Updated : 2025-03-28Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 10
ALEXANDER'S POV She hurt my ego. The number of times her words replayed in my mind was unhealthy. "There are millions of men out there ready to fund my lifestyle."I should have been angry, but instead, I felt calm and hollow. She had struck me where it hurt the most and no matter how much I forced myself to believe she was wrong, a part of me wondered if she was right. She came back to the living room minutes later and made to walk past me, but I held her back.For a second I clenched my teeth and debated within me whether to let her go or not. The latter won, and I wrapped my arms around her small waist, raising her chin to get her face closer to mine."I'm sorry, Mirabelle, I overreacted; it's been a stressful day," I said quietly.Her lips curved into a small self-satisfied smile as though she had won a gold medal. "It's okay," she said brushing a kiss on my lips.Her expression suddenly changed when she picked up her phone, tapping against the screen as a notification lit it
Last Updated : 2025-03-28Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 11
ALEXANDER'S POV Immediately Kevin's call ended, my phone rang again. For a split second, I thought it was Kevin about to spit more venom, but when Rubby's name lit up the screen, I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips."Hey Rubby," I answered, leaning back into the couch."How are you doing? I just thought of calling you now.""I'm so sorry Alex," she started, her voice soft and tentative. "I had no idea that Nolan was going to show up, I didn't...""It's okay, dear," I interrupted gently; the frustration in her tone was quite evident. "Honestly, I'm not mad; I understand stuff like this happens; my parents could be worse at times, so it's fine, okay.""For real? You are not mad?" She asked sounding a little surprised."No, not at all," I replied with a chuckle.For a second there was a pause on the line, and I heard her exhale gently as though she were relieved."I still feel bad about it, though; they even offered him the meal you prepared.""Rubby common, I alread
Last Updated : 2025-03-28Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 12
RUBBY'S POV Alex drove me home hours later promising to pick me back up for dinner. I waved at him till I could no longer see his car; for some reason, I couldn't help feeling like a giddy little child. As I got to my room, I caught a glimpse of myself in my mirror and couldn't help but giggle, I was grinning from ear to ear. To make it worse, I felt as though I was floating on air as I remembered how hard we laughed and how gently he rubbed my arms.Suddenly I found myself smiling again, my face aching from the effort.Get a grip on yourself, Rubby, I muttered to myself before sinking in on my ever-ready bed.Evening came sooner than I had expected, and I heard the honk of his car; he no longer pulled into the driveway to avoid being embarrassed by my mom. I rushed downstairs, ignoring my mom's voice, who was asking where I was headed dressed like that."You look stunning," he complimented when I stepped out of my apartment. I had carefully chosen a dark green dress that hugged my
Last Updated : 2025-03-28Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 13
RUBBY'S POV When Alex finally pulled back, I caught my breath forcing myself to meet his gaze. His eyes were reassuring and warm, it made me feel safe and protected. But then, out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed Kevin. He seemed to be playing a different kind of game. He had his phone raised subtly, the screen angled towards us; my chest tightened when I understood what he was doing: he was taking a picture.I hesitated for a second as I looked at him with the corner of my eyes. His smirk widened as he lowered the phone slipping it back into his pocket as if nothing had happened. I got pissed but I decided against calling him out, at least not there and then."Rubby," Alex's mother called, pulling my attention away from Kevin; she was even softer now and called my name as though she had been familiar with me. "It's been such a pleasure having you here tonight; you are most welcome to come by anytime; our home is always open to you.""Thank you," I replied smiling politely."You'
Last Updated : 2025-03-28Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 14
ALEXANDER'S POV I had fallen a thousand times, but when I finally gained balance it was fun.The soft glide of ice under my skateboard was soothing; the rink wasn't too crowded, just a few scattered couples and groups of friends enjoying the cool evening air. For once, I wasn't thinking about work or the endless problems piling up in my life. Instead, I was wholly focused on her.Rubby skated ahead of me like a pro; she was showing off, and she knew it. Her laughter rang out as she turned to face me, skating backwards like it was her second nature. "Common on lazy ass, keep up," she teased her cheeks flushed from the cold."I'm trying!" I called back struggling to maintain my balance. I had no flair for ice skating and she was clearly enjoying every second of my clumsy attempt to stay upright."Wait up, I might end up on my face again," I finally confessed. I had been proud for some time now, boasting that I could meet up with her, but it was obvious she had lived all her life on t
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 15
ALEXANDER'S POV Whatever it was she had seen had shaken her to the core; I had a sinking feeling that our perfect evening was about to come crashing down.The sound of the phone clattering on the ground echoed louder in my head than it should have. Her face was pale, and she stared at nothing, something was terribly wrong, and whatever it was had already formed a pit of dread in my stomach.I bent down gently to pick up the phone, my hands trembled slightly as I turned the screen towards me.I saw nothing at first, but at a closer look, I saw a frozen video with a familiar face plastered across it like a splash of buttered cake, confirming my earlier fear.It was Mirabelle.I swallowed hard as I pressed play.Mirabelle's voice came out loud, cruel and filled with venom."You all think I have it easy because I'm a public figure? Because of my extravagant lifestyle? No, I don't; in fact, for the past few days, I've been fighting depression; I've been trying hard to stay happy. Do you k
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 16
ALEXANDER'S POV "Rubby please," I called out, running this time to catch up with her.For one second, she didn't stop; she didn't turn. She kept walking fast as though she had any location in mind, I knew she was devastated, so it was likely that she was just moving without knowing where she was headed."Rubby, please let me explain now, you are not in the right state of mind to walk like this; please listen to me; I should have told you everything; I shouldn't have omitted some things, but I...."A taxi screeched to a halt in front of her, without hesitation, she flung the door open and slid inside."Rubby, please don't do this, please," my words came out in a rush, and I found myself gripping the car door."Let go please," she ordered gently."I'm sorry, Ruby."She stared at me in the eyes for almost fifteen seconds. "Thank God we didn't go deep; there is absolutely nothing to say again; the arrangement is cancelled; I will go deal with Nolan myself. Don't forget to throw the ring,
Last Updated : 2025-03-30
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Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 27
RUBBY'S POV "Sure," Alex nodded and together we walked to the doctor's office.Sitting in the doctorâs office beside Alex felt surreal. Everything that had happened in the past few hours, signing as guardians, waiting anxiously for the surgery to end, and embracing Alex in relief, had left my emotions tangled and twisted. I focused on the doctorâs words, forcing myself to ignore how attracted I was to the man seated next to me.âThe next few days are crucial,â the doctor said, scanning the papers on his desk. âAs his guardians, youâll need to make sure he follows strict dietary rules. No heavy foods, nothing too oily, and he must stay hydrated. And don't forget, hydrated means just water, no juice at least not yet.âI nodded, gripping the edge of my chair to steady myself, Suddenly feeling like a grandma.Alex, sitting next to me, asked in a deep voice, âIs there anything else we need to be aware of? Any signs of complications we should watch out for?âThe doctor gave him an approvin
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 26
RUBBY'S POV "Thank God you are here," the Matron exclaimed."What's happening?" I askedShe shrugged her shoulders and led me to the doctor's office.The hospital walls seemed colder than usual, their sterile white tones made my skin prickle. The air smelled like antiseptic and anxiety, thick and suffocating. I sat beside the little boyâs bed, watching his tiny chest rise and fall with difficulty. His breathing was shallow, his body too frail for someone so young. The sight of him, helpless and in pain, brought tears to my eyes. It broke my heart.The doctorâs voice earlier still echoed in my head.âHe needs immediate surgery, but we canât proceed unless his parents sign.âThe matron and I had pleaded with them. We explained, over and over again, that he was an orphan and that there were no parents to sign for him. But the hospital stood firm. A couple must sign."We can't take such risk here, a couple must sign an undertaking," the doctor explained."He is from the orphanage downto
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 25
ALEXANDER'S POV I folded my arms and stared at Mirabelle, my face devoid of emotion, but inside, a storm brewed.She stood in the middle of my penthouse, arms crossed too, her expression carefully composed, but I could see the nervousness creeping in. She wasnât expecting this.I leaned against the bar, my gaze never leaving hers. âWhere were you last night? Please answer my question I'm sure you heard me.âShe blinked, feigning confusion. âWhat do you mean?ââDonât play dumb, Mirabelle.â My voice was cold and precise. âWhere were you?âShe let out a light laugh, tossing her hair over her shoulder. âI was at home. Why are you suddenly questioning me?âI didnât react, didnât give her the satisfaction of a response. Instead, I let the silence stretch between us.Her hands trembled slightly. âAlex, what is this about?â"It's about what I asked you, where were you? And before you think of lying, don't forget that I was still at home before you left. I sat in my car and watched your car p
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 24
ALEXANDER'S POV It was embarrassing to say that I had stalked her all day.From the moment she came to the office till that night at the club, thankfully my presence had saved her from danger.I couldn't take away my eyes from her face as I carried her to my car, even as I lay her down on her bed, I just stared at how peaceful she looked. The next morning, as I remembered all that had happened, I kept telling myself that I just cared about her wellbeing and nothing more; I would have helped any other girl in that condition.I exhaled deeply and went downstairs to the sitting room.The city lights stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse, but they did nothing to distract me. My eyes flickered to my phone for what felt like the hundredth time, hoping, no, praying for a call or a text from Rubby.Nothing.I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my jaw. She was still angry. I couldnât blame her. After everything Mirabelle called her, after lying to her. What reason di
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 23
RUBBY'S POV I woke up with a dull, persistent throb pulsing behind my temples; my body was heavy with exhaustion as I forced my opens to open.Finally, my eyelids fluttered open, adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. For a minute or so, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling the remnants of sleep clinging to me like a fog.Then, suddenly, it hit me.The club, The drink, The dizziness, And then⊠Alex.I sucked in a sharp breath as the memories rushed back in fragmented flashes. Cynthiaâs laughter, the way my body had betrayed me, how the world had spun uncontrollably. The panic. The helplessness. And then those strong, familiar arms caught me before I collapsed.Alex.My fingers curled into the sheets as I forced myself up, wincing at the sharp ache in my head. Oouch my head.How did I get home? My last clear memory was of Alex holding me, his eyes locked onto mine in an unspoken conversation filled with things I wasnât ready to acknowledge.H
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 22
RUBBY'S POV The night air was thick with the scent of different perfume, alcohol, and something else I couldnât quite place. Maybe it was fear or even regret, Maybe it was the feeling of being somewhere I didnât belong.The club was the last place you would see me, but today was different, Cynthia finally had her way.I tugged at the hem of my dress as Cynthia led me deeper into the club, her laughter ringing through the reverberating music. I hadnât wanted to come. I had made that clear. But Cynthia had a way of twisting words, of making things sound like a good idea when they werenât."Come on, Rubby," she had coaxed over the phone. "Youâve been so down lately. Just one night out, I swear. No strings attached."I should have said no, owing to the fact that I would leave with my parents that day, But after the call from the orphanage, after realizing I had to stay behind a few more days to support a little boy through surgery, I felt restless. The young boy kept insisting I come, s
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 21
RUBBY'S POV I sat gently on the couch, tracing invisible patterns on the couch, while replaying the events of the past few weeks. I had been fooled, but that wasn't the problem. The main problem was that I had been fooled twice; now, the thought of Alex seemed to be plastered all over my head. No matter how much I painted it, I felt he didn't do nothing wrong; I was just so unlucky with love.I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear my mom's footsteps until she sat close to me."Hey, Mom, when did you get here?" "Sweetheart, your dad and I have been thinking, we think it's time we went back home."I looked up at her, momentarily caught off guard."You guys are leaving already? We should spend New Year's Eve together, please," I pleaded, fighting the tears that seemed to choke me."Look, Rubby, we've been here long enough, and we can't keep inconveniencing you, you know, initially...." Mom said, biting her fingers, I knew the next words that would come out, but I allowed her to s
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 20
KEVIN'S POVBastard! I muttered, clenching my fist so tight that my nails dug into my palm. He had the guts to punch me, but I swear, he was going to regret it. He was the golden boy, the one who never did what was wrong in our parent's eyes, but now I would pull every string I could and make sure he disappointed them.My Jaw still throbbed from the force of his blow, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the rage burning inside me.I had waited for years for the perfect opportunity to watch him fall, and now he was handing me that opportunity on a platter of gold.It was obvious that he liked the Rubby of a girl, but it was stupid of him to also get Mirabelle pregnant. Well, that's even if the child was his, so it's even more stupid of him to accept responsibility for Mirabelle's pregnancy. Idiot! He spat when he walked to the door, I couldn't do anything, at least not when I was trying to gain my father's favour.I watched from the shadows as my parents sat in the living r
Valentine's Vows; Love, Lies And A Fake Engagement    Chapter 19
ALEXANDER'S POV There comes a time in every man's life when he makes decisions that break him. I was at that time, and I was broken. Mirabelle's pregnancy meant I would marry her, not that I don't love her, but not enough to spend the rest of my life being committed to her. I was scared of my future with her, scared of how extravagant she was, but with this child, I had to make that bitter decision of settling for her, hoping I wouldn't fall into ruins.I adjusted my cufflinks as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My parents had called for dinner, and I had agreed, thinking it was the perfect opportunity to tell them about Mirabelle's pregnancy and my plans to marry her.As I inserted my car keys, I caught of glimpse of something through the window. It was Mirabelle's car pulling out of the driveway.Where the hell was she going? I thought to myself. And why didn't she tell me she was going somewhere?I thought of calling her but decided against it. I had bigger issues to cont
