Chapter 61
Valerie’s POV
Just as Damian yanked me outside, Jacob burst through the gate.
“Let her go!” Jacob’s voice thundered.
Damian spun around, his eyes flashing with anger.
“Mind your own business,” Damian snarled.
Jacob landed him a terrible punch and I gasped in response. I never planned for any of these to happen.
Jacob’s eyes locked onto mine, concern etched on his face.
“Valerie, are you okay?”
I nodded, tears streaming down my face.
Jacob’s gaze returned to Damian.
“I said, let her go.”
“You think you can take her from me?” Damian sneered.
Jacob took a step closer.
“She’s not yours to take.”
With a sudden movement, Jacob grabbed Damian’s arm, twisting it.
Damian yelped, releasing my wrist.
In a flash, the two men clashed, fists flying.
I tried to intervene, but they were beyond reason.
“Stop! Please stop!” I begged.
But they didn’t listen.
In the chaos, Damian pushed me accidentally.
I fell hard onto the pavement, crying out in pain.
My belly ached, and fear gripped me.
Jacob’s face contorted in horror as he rushed to my side.
“Valerie! Oh God, are you okay?” he asked, helping me up.
I clutched my belly, wincing in pain.
“The baby… I think I’m okay,” I stammered.
Jacob’s eyes blazed with fury.
He turned to Damian, but before he could react, a team of men in black suits flooded the compound.
“Sir?” one of them asked Jacob.
“Take care of him,” Jacob ordered.
The men swooped in, restraining Damian.
“You’ll pay for this!” Damian cursed.
As they dragged him away, Damian’s eyes locked onto mine.
“You’ll never be free from me!”
I shuddered, but Jacob’s arm wrapped around me.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered.
I leaned into him, feeling protected.
The men escorted Damian off the premises, his angry shouts fading into the distance.
Jacob’s gaze returned to mine.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.
I nodded, still shaken.
“We should get you checked out,” Jacob said.
“No, don’t worry. I’m fine.”
“Let me take you inside.”
I agreed, letting him guide me inside.
As we stepped into the house, I realized that my life would never be the same.
Damian’s anger and Jacob’s protection had changed everything.
But what lay ahead?
**********
Damian’s POV
I stormed into my parents’ mansion, fury boiling in my veins.
“Mother! Father!” I shouted, striding into the living room.
My parents looked up from their evening tea, concern etched on their faces.
“Damian, what’s wrong?” my mother asked.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
“Valerie,” I spat. “She’s with another man.”
My father’s expression darkened.
“What do you mean?” he growled.
“I went to her house, and she was dressed up, coming from a dinner date with him,” I snarled.
My mother’s eyes widened.
“Who is this man?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But he’s wealthy, influential. He’s got connections.”
My father’s face reddened.
“This is unacceptable,” he thundered.
I nodded.
“I know. I confronted her, but she just denied everything. Said she’s moved on.”
My mother’s voice turned cold.
“We can’t let this happen, Damian. She’s your wife. She may be carrying your child.”
“We don’t know for sure. There is only one way to find out and it must be done soonest.” My father cut in.
I clenched my fists.
“I tried to take her home, but that man intervened. He had the nerve to fight me.”
My father’s eyes flashed.
“Who is this man?”
“Jacob,” I spat. “I’ll find out more about him.”
My mother’s expression turned calculating.
“We’ll take care of this, Damian. We’ll make sure Valerie knows her place.”
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief.
My parents would fix this. They always did.
But as I left their mansion, a burning anger still simmered within me.
Valerie thought she could betray me? Replace me?
I’d show her what it meant to cross a Damian.
I’d make her regret ever leaving me.
And as for Jacob…
He’d pay for interfering in my business.
Oh, yes.
He’d pay dearly.
**********
Valerie’s POV
I woke up to the sound of Jacob’s gentle breathing beside me. We’d decided he would stay over, for my safety and comfort.
As I lay there, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. For the first time in months, I’d slept soundly.
Jacob stirred, his eyes opening.
“Morning,” he whispered, smiling.
I smiled back.
“Morning.”
“Hope you slept well?” Jacob asked.
“Yeah, I did. About last night…Thank you very much. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come. Sometimes, Damian can be quite rash.” I explained.
“I’m glad that I came right in time. He had not right to do what he did. It is so improper.” Jacob said but one question remained on my mind.
“Why did you come back? How did you know that he was in my house?” I asked with curiosity.
“After I dropped you off, halfway from your house, I realized that you forgot your hand towel and I came to return it but I heard a little noise from outside. That was when I knew that you were in trouble.” Jacob said, running his hands on my belly.
“Thank you so much. I’m indebted to you.” I said, looking into his brown eyes.
Jacob leaned forward and kissed me briefly, watching for my face for any form of expression.
I smiled and kissed him back. It was a brief kiss, at least he deserves that.
We lingered in bed, enjoying each other’s company.
But the tranquility was short-lived.
My phone rang, shrill and insistent.
I hesitated, then answered.
“Hello?”
“Valerie, it’s Mr. Richardson,” Damian’s father said, his voice cold.
My heart sank.
“What do you want?”
“We need to discuss the baby’s paternity,” he stated.
I sat up, Jacob’s eyes locking onto mine.
“What about it?”
“We’ll be taking a paternity test. Today. I expect you at our house at 10 am.”
I felt a surge of anxiety.
“Why?”
“To confirm if the baby belongs to Damian,” he replied.
Jacob’s expression turned concerned.
“I’ll come with you,” he mouthed.
I shook my head in disapproval.
“I’ll be there,” I told Mr. Richardson.
“Come alone. It will be a very short travel. The hospital is a long the countryside. My driver will take us there for the test. Be early,” he warned.
I hesitated.
“I’ll think about it.”
Mr. Richardson’s voice turned menacing.
“Don’t test me, Valerie. This is about Damian’s rights as a father.”
I shivered.
“But you never believed me. What makes you think Damian is responsible for it now?” I asked.
“I’m trying to save your face and you’re asking too many questions. My main purpose of doing this is to save time. If the baby does not belong to Damian, we’ll dispose you immediately. Don’t keep me waiting.”
“I’ll be there,” I repeated.
As I hung up, Jacob’s arm wrapped around me.
“What did he say?”
I filled him in.
“I’m coming with you,” Jacob said firmly.
“No, you can’t. This is a personal issue and a family matter. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” I said.
“If you insist.”
Together, we got out of bed, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
But I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.
What did Mr. Richardson have planned?
And what would happen if the paternity test confirmed Damian as the father? Would my marriage with Damian continue? When I’m already in love with Jacob.
My life was about to get even more complicated.
I stepped out of the car and onto the Richardson’s estate, my heart heavy with anxiety. The grandeur of the mansion loomed before me, a stark reminder of the world I was trying to escape.
Senator Richardson greeted me with a stern expression, his eyes cold and calculating.
“Valerie, let’s get this over with,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth.
I nodded, following him to the waiting car. The driver, James, held the door open, his expression neutral.
“Where are we going?” I asked, settling into the seat.
“A specialized hospital, about an hour away,” Senator Richardson replied, his gaze fixed on his phone.
I frowned, feeling a surge of unease.
“That far?” I repeated.
“Yes. We want accurate results and we don’t want rumors flying around. Not get in the car,” he said, his tone final.
As the car pulled away, I couldn’t shake off the tension. What if the baby was Damian’s? Would I be trapped in this loveless marriage forever?
The thought sent a chill down my spine. I glanced at Senator Richardson, his face a mask of determination.
Did he genuinely care about his son’s rights, or was this just a power play?