VALERIO“I don’t know… I…” I started to brush my hands through my hair, hating the fact I was considering this in the first place.“You know,” my grandfather's voice cut in again, like a tempter, determined to get me in her web. It was erratic and unrepentant.“Don’t think about any other thing, Valerio. We both know how much being with Rose makes you happy,” he started to shake his head. “Don’t deceive yourself. You will never be truly happy seeing her with your brother. You will want her till you die. Every day… night… your heart will twinge in regret that you lost an opportunity like this.” He stopped talking in that non-stop manner that did justice in trying to push me to the edge.“Just say yes,” he said again after a long pause. “The others will understand,” he said again.“What are you doing?” A third-party voice cut into the conversation as we all turned to find Vicente halfway on the stairs, staring at us like he caught us doing something bad.“Vicente…” I called almost in a

ROSE“What—what are you talking about?” I stuttered, completely confused, as I tried hard to comprehend what he was saying.“I made a deal with grandfather,” he said, and my brow creased in confusion.“In return for your freedom, we will be allowed to leave here,” he continued, and it felt like he lacked emotions at that point, as I stared at him. He looked completely different from the Valerio I knew—the one with that soft look that always comforted me. I was trying to find it.“Are you making any sense right now?” I asked with an incredulous chuckle.“No…” He shook his head. “No, I’m not,” he admitted, and I watched him in utter disbelief.“I’m not being rational because I can only think about you at this moment, Rose,” he confessed as I started to shake my head.“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said, trying not to break into tears again.“Inasmuch as I can’t question when you haven’t been here to see for the past few weeks, this sudden proposition seems totally absurd,” I stated, desperate

ROSE“Are you okay?” Valerio’s voice cut into my thought as I stared out of the window, as the sleek Bentley I was led into few minutes ago after coming out of prison as it drove along the street of Italy. And it seemed like a doom day to me as the clock ticked.I knew he was waiting for an answer but I didn’t reply.“Ignoring me like this won’t help any of us. You should try to understand me, Rose.” He said again and I heard him sigh as if this was all forced on him.“Rose…”He started again but it seemed the more he talked, the more irritated I felt.But then when he placed his hand on my arm….the sizzling feeling I felt for that brief moment as the thought of how I enjoyed the kissing back in that room came to me.“Talk to me….please.” He said softly as within me became so hot that I felt I was in a boiling water.I was caught in between my anger for him and wild desire.“Would you tell the driver to stop if I ask you to?” I turned to look at him as he removed his hand from mine slo

VALERIO "What did you just say?" My grandfather growled at me.I felt Rose's gaze on me, though I wasn't looking at her. I could sense her shock."Yeah," I said firmly, meeting his eyes. "She's carrying your great-grandchild."His face turned from red to outraged. "How is that possible?" he roared angrily, but I stood my ground."Valerio," murmured Rose beside me, sounding like a child asked to stay quiet during an important conversation."There's no need to hide it, Rose," I said, giving her a knowing look, which left her confused."But I'm not--""How is she pregnant by Valentino?" I turned to my raging grandfather. I was committed to playing this role perfectly until the end. It was Plan B and our last resort, so it had to work."Oh... how did she get pregnant by Valentino?" I crossed my arms, pretending to contemplate deeply. "Here's how the process goes... they both..." I glanced briefly at Rose and the unconscious Valentino, then back to my grandfather. "Get intimate, you know,

ROSEI paced the hallway in front of the laboratory where the test was being carried out. This was driving crazy. This whole Valerio’s idea which seemed unreasonable.“You still have the chance to tell me the truth.” I stopped on my track and turned to see the chairman alone with me on the hallway, staring at me with that angry look that showed the whole situation was weighing on him.I dropped my hands whose fingers were tucked in my mouth by my side and watched him. “What truth?” I feigned confidence. Valerio said to trust him. Damn….I should try but it was fucking hard.He exhaled and let out a deep groan while throwing his face to the other side.“Fine. There is no use arguing with you.” He raised his hand and pointed at me as I swallowed, completely intimidated but trying not to let it show. “You charmed my grandsons and get them to turn against me. Something, I can’t even do.” He letbouta soft scoff. “Valerio now dances to your tune. And now, you are going to use pregnancy to