Ryan's POV Having a taste of her sweet lips makes me lose my mind and I find myself leaning in closer for more and expecting her to open up for me to explore the insides of her mouth. Instead, she places her two hands on my chest and pushes me away roughly, her face in a deep frown with her eyes in a depth of annoyance for what I just did. Rather than feeling sorry, I plaster a wide grin on my face and she pushes me off the bed. "What the hell was that for? Are you crazy?" She thunders in anger and I find myself laughing on the floor. What exactly is amusing to me? I do not know. "A practice. We might have to kiss in front of Mother tomorrow…" "What?" She furrows her brow, the anger increasing. I rise slowly and sit back on the bed. "We are going to meet with Mother tomorrow." She remains silent and I try to read through her expression, feeling bad for kissing her without permission. But I don't regret it because her lips were inviting and sweet. She tastes like mint. Slowl
Valerie's POVRyan is holding grudges against me because of what I did to him last night.That is how it seems to me because all through the ride to his parent's mansion, he was quiet and back to that rude guy I know him to be.Well, I thought he was beginning to change but now I am damn sure he has several personality disorders.Why the hell will he act like he is cool with me this minute and then the next minute, he is aloof?He kissed me last night. I controlled myself from slapping him. I have always hated the idea of kissing another man who isn't Fred but Ryan kissed me last night unexpectedly.I don't know why I didn't stop him or slap him after I managed to push him away but I think it is because we are legally married and he can kiss me.I just don't like the idea personally. Besides, it was just an act as he said. A practice I mean.This way, if he tries to do something similar in front of his parents, I won't be caught unawares and I won't do something rash either forgetting
Ryan's POVThe moment we get to the shade and I help her sit down before sitting across from her, she picks up a paper and throws it at me.I was expecting a long moment of silence from her before I eventually asks her to forgive me but from the look of things, I have already been forgiven. She is just ignoring me on purpose.I take the paper to see if it is actually a newspaper. When I drop it over my lap, I see the headlines.Ryan Lorenzo, the CEO of Multi-Million Company seen with his newly wedded wife having a private dinner at ...."I look up to see Mother's expression. Still unreadable.Did my plan work?"Is it true?" She demands weakly, her hands trembling a little. I notice she isn't as lively as she was the last time we came here for dinner. She seems to be getting weaker every day.I nod without a word.There is a picture of Valerie and I attached to the news. I don't understand why she is asking me if it is true.Maybe she wants to know if it is indeed Valerie or maybe she
Valerie's POVI stare at my mom in horror as she adjusts in her seat with a look of guilt. My Father is also sitting, just like always opposite me, watching her too with an angry expression.I shouldn't have come here. My mother will never change from the woman she has always been. She had kept all of these in check simply because Father could provide for all her unnecessary demands. But now that he can barely buy her designer bags, shoes and clothes, she is hell-bent on frustrating his life.This man is barely holding up and this is how she wants to help him.She stretches her hand to touch me but I stand up abruptly, making her hand drop.My anger has increased ten folds. Probably because she made me yell at Ryan for no reason.I thought he was being selfish again, just like every other time when he cares about only himself and not me. This time, I was wrong."Valerie, you should go home. It's getting late", My dad says after clearing his throat. "Ryan and I have no business togeth
Ryan's POVI am restless.I couldn't follow her because I was dumbfounded till she was out of sight. I never thought she would do a rash thing like that and I wonder where she has gone to.The more it gets darker, the more worried I become. Is she safe? Where exactly is she?The first emotion that struck my heart while she raced away was fear. Fear that she is going. Gone forever and I might never see her again.We haven't achieved our aim yet. Mother is just getting along well with me and there are more expectations from her. If Valerie goes away just like that, where do I start from? Valerie is the only one making the fear of losing my mother lessen bit by bit. Unconsciously, she has taught me what it means to accept whatever is to come; both good and bad.If we prepare for it and it comes, it won't hurt too much while the unexpected one would hurt painfully.I won't say I am looking forward to my mother's death. I am just ready to accept the reality when it comes to hit me hard.
Valerie's POVHe got away with it after his pocket knife pierced my shoulder and someone came to rescue me.He fled.He is a robber. He wanted to rob me of my belongings; my jewelry, phone, and purse but I didn't give in easily. He got mad and hurt me.Struggling with him helped too. If I hadn't done that, he would have been off with my things even before someone could appear to save me."Are you ok, ma'am?" The stranger demands from me with a smile as he helps me to a seat.He hovers above me with arms akimbo waiting for a reply. I can't find my voice. I am still shaken from what happened a few minutes ago and I can feel the blood oozing from my back.There is no need for this stranger to know. Ryan will soon be here. I didn't mean to call him but I did anyway and he should be here any minute from now.I am just worried that I am going to bleed too much before he arrives.The guy squats to my height with concern filling his expression. "Are you ok?" He asks me again and I nod.He see
Ryan's POVI was mad at Valerie but the moment she lost consciousness, my anger disappeared and I found myself shouting at John to drive faster till we got to the hospital.The doctor attended to her and it wasn't really a big deal. She was only bleeding too much.I didn't want her to spend the night there so I carried her back into the car and we left for home. Deep in thought, I feel a movement beside me and she flutters her eyes open to see me staring.She was sleeping when we left the hospital but the doctor said she is fine."What happened?" She groans, closing her eyes and opening them again.I was so scared something bad was going to happen to her. But now I am relieved. She might be a handful but I care about her because she is my wife and her safety is my responsibility."We are going home", I reply and look away. I don't know if she remembers how it all happened and the fact that we are just coming back from the hospital by this time or maybe she doesn't want to talk about
Valerie's POVA noise wakes me up. I flutter my eyes open instantly, to see the lights still on. Ryan didn't switch them off before going to sleep on the couch and I didn't do the same before sleeping off.Wondering what noise woke me up, I try to sit upright but my shoulders hurt badly. Then, I remember.I was attacked last night and I just had a dream. My desire to know who really attacked me led me to have this horrible dream.I was seeing faces but three faces were familiar. One was Fred's. The second was Brenda and the third was nameless.I have no idea where I know her from but I am sure she is someone that I know. I was seeing more of these three faces and I was so sure one of them was responsible for last night's attack.Now that I am awake, I am so sure that none of these people are responsible because the culprit seemed to be going his way before he saw a good opportunity to rob me since I was all alone on the empty street.Sighing heavily, I step down slowly from the bed,