FLASHBACK "Run! Hide.. Now!" Catherine whispered loudly as she pulled Nickolas into the storehouse. Nickolas had no idea what was going on as he remained hesitant about doing what his mother had asked of him. "Are we in trouble mother? I will stand and fight for you," he insisted as he slipped out of Catherine's grasp. "I want to go and play with Brutus, I saw him walking in with his father. I want to go to him," Catherine pulled him back. "Nick! Now isn't the time for games okay? We are in trouble and your father will protect us, not you... You still have a future ahead of you and you shouldn't mess with that," Catherine stared at Nickolas as she waited for a response but the six-year-old boy was adamant. "Okay?" She almost thundered as her hands trembled but she managed to keep her voice low. "Okay ma but you promise that you will make me cookies later in the evening?" Nickolas curled his fingers on the ladder railings.

VALERIA "So tell me what you were doing there. What did you have to do with him?" I asked. I was anxious because if Brutus ever found out that I escaped from his mansion and I was with Nickolas, I was certain that things weren't going to end nicely. "We are rivals, but that would be a story for another day, okay?" He gulped down another glass and poured himself another. "I just want to know how you got there." "Alright. But why are you suddenly acting so nice to me?" I asked. "I came here to look for you... when I saw you by the window that day, I had a feeling that you were the one there, so I had to come back." He paused. "I did a DNA test and confirmed that Emilia isn't the mother of Giselle. I can't believe she lied to me all these years." "It makes me hate myself for all I've done wrong to you. I'm sorry that it took this long." I remained still and watched Nickolas empty the first bottle, the second bottle, and the th

NICKOLAS My eyes zipped open at the sound of the footsteps. My back ached as I buried my face in the pillow and threw the covers over my head while I scrambled against the bed. My thoughts drifted off to what had happened last night. I couldn't remember exactly what happened, but I could pick pieces of it apart. I jerked my head and searched around for Valeria, but she was nowhere in sight. I pushed the blanket away from my chest and rushed to the window. I stared outside the driveway and then the bathroom. Did she leave? Why? My gaze darted to the door as it flew open, and Valeria walked in with one of the hotel receptionists behind her pushing a trolley. "Valeria..." I whispered. “You can leave." Valeria curled her fingers around the trolley, and the lady shut the door behind her. Valeria rushed up to me, her palm clasping my face. "Why didn't you tell me about it?" Her eyes were glossy. "You let yourself go through all that al

EMILIA I landed another slap on Giselle's cheeks and quickly wiped my hands on a piece of clothing. I had never been disgusted so much in my entire life. I hoped to get the truth out of her lips, but she stood by her word. I stared at her face, filled with my hand prints, her cheeks red, and her eyes puffed in tears. Giselle placed her palm on her scorching cheek and asked, "Why don't you believe me? I don't know where Daddy went." She spoke slowly, using the back of her palm to wipe off the tears cascading down her cheeks. I didn't believe her... I had never believed her. She was just a replica of her mother. She must have asked herself why I despised her so much... she must regret going through everything she went through in my hands. She must hate me so much that she thinks of plunging a knife into my chest. I don't even give a damn about what she thinks... she is in no way my blood, and I will treat her whatever way I choose to, and there's nothing she can do ab

NICKOLAS "Isn't that Valeria?" Ruby tapped Eve as she pointed at Valeria while she made an entrance. Eve staggered backwards but was held by Ruby as she stopped her from falling. "How? I thought she lost her life in the fire?" she stammered. Miss Sophie had told them about what happened but asked them to keep it to themselves. Miss Sophie gasped, "Val?" and everyone else in the room's attention darted to Valeria, bewildered by her sight as they began to murmur. "Why is she making an entrance with Alpha Nickolas?" A lady supported her jaw with her palm as she kept watching. "How... is that possible?" Tears streamed down Miss Sophie's face upon seeing Valeria alive. I wondered how hard it was for her. I wondered how badly she had cursed herself because of the incident. Soon, people's attention was directed at her, and she quickly wiped away her tears. Emilia's eyes widened at the sight of Valeria walking in with me. She pushed her chair backwa