Valentina pov
Two years ago.
“Madam, madam,”
My eyes slowly fluttered open and I groaned, lifting my head to find Agatha standing in front of me with a sad look and a slight frown etched into her expression.
“Agatha…” I murmured, reaching up to rub my tired eyes before glancing around. I was in the dining area, and in front of me sat the food I had cooked with Agatha’s help.
Today was Damien’s and my anniversary. It was supposed to be a special day. I had made all of his favorite dishes, hoping to make him happy and maybe spend a little time with him, especially since he’d been so busy these past few months with work that I barely have the time to spend time with him.
“Has he arrived?” I asked, a hopeful smile tugging at my lips.
When Agatha shook her head, the smile slowly faded from my face. My gaze shifted to the clock, it was already 10 p. m. Two whole hours had passed since we finished cooking, and Damien still hadn’t shown up.
My eyes drifted to the food on the table, and I couldn’t help the small frown that tugged at my lips.
“The food must have gotten cold by now,” I murmured under my breath.
Agatha sighed softly, drawing my attention back to her.
“Madam, I don’t think the master will be coming home early tonight. You should go to bed. You’ve been busy with the groceries and cooking since afternoon, you haven’t rested at all.” She said, her voice dripping with worry.
I inhaled deeply at Agatha’s words, and I knew she was right. My body ached with exhaustion, and it was becoming harder to keep my eyes open. But I couldn’t bring myself to go to bed just yet. This morning, before Damien left, he had promised me he would come home early for our anniversary. I knew he would keep his word. After all, this was a special day for both of us, and I was sure he’d make time for it despite his busy schedule.
Even though our relationship hadn’t started out with the fairytale romance considering it was an arranged marriage, I had always loved Damien. He was the one person who had treated me like I was worth something. He didn’t yell at me, didn’t hit me, and while I knew he didn’t love me yet, he had always been a caring husband.
And also…
I glanced down at my flat stomach, gently stroking it.
I had to tell him the good news tonight. The news that would make him happy, that what he had been hoping for, what he had always wanted, was finally coming true.
“He’ll come soon,” I said with a soft smile, lifting my head to meet Agatha’s gaze. “Damien will be home soon. You should go to bed now, Agatha. Don’t worry, when he arrives, we’ll just heat up the food and go to sleep.”
Agatha’s frown deepened at my words, and she opened her mouth as if to say something, but then, after a moment’s hesitation, she shook her head and gave me a small smile.
“Alright, madam. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call for me,” she said with a slight bow, and I nodded in return.
“Thank you, Agatha.”
Once Agatha left, I sat up straighter in my seat, taking a deep breath to calm my racing thoughts. Reaching for my phone, I unlocked it and tapped on Damien’s contact, my eyes scanning the screen. My heart sank a little when I saw that he hadn’t responded yet and the message had been marked as seen.
Me: Hey Damien. It’s almost 9 PM. I’m just texting to ask if you’re almost home. I cooked your favorite dishes today, and I don’t want them to get cold before you arrive. Could you please let me know what time you’ll be back?
“Is he too busy to read my messages… or maybe he just doesn’t want to respond? Maybe he really isn’t coming home early?” I murmured to myself, doubt creeping in. But I quickly shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away.
I was overthinking. He had promised he would come-
So he would.
For now, I should heat up the food before he arrived.
Without thinking twice, I got up from my seat, but the moment I reached for the food, the room began to spin around me. A wave of dizziness hit me hard, and I instinctively closed my eyes and grabbed onto the edge of the table to steady myself.
My fingers curled tightly around the wood as I tried to catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest.
After a brief moment of struggling to breathe through my nose, everything slowly began to clear. I relaxed a little and opened my eyes as my vision settled.
Letting out a soft sigh, I ran a hand through my hair, smiling faintly as I shook my head in amusement.
I guess I was more tired than I thought.
I reached for the food and carried it in my hands, ready to head to the kitchen. However, I froze as the sound of the door opening, followed by the unmistakable sound of laughter, caught my attention.
I blinked, recognizing the laughter immediately. It was Damien. He was home.
A smile slowly spread across my lips, and without a second thought, I rushed toward the sitting room, the food still clutched in my hands as I hurried to meet him.
But in the next second, I froze in my tracks as my eyes landed on the scene before me.
Damien was with a woman. He walked in beside her, his laughter echoing through the air, a sound I had never heard from him before. His eyes were fixed on her with such intensity, as if she were the most mesmerizing person he’d ever seen. The way he looked at her… it was as if she was the only one in the world.
I recognized the woman.
I had seen her before in a picture Damien kept in his wallet. I still remembered the day I found it, clutching the photo in confusion, only for Damien to walk into the room and lash out at me for touching his things without permission. He had snatched the picture from my hand and carefully placed it back into his wallet like it was the most precious thing in the world.
And when I had dared to ask who she was, he had told me without hesitation, that she was Cealina, his first love. The same woman his mother and sister used to mock me with.
“Your husband’s body might belong to you, but his heart is with another woman!”
“Even after all these years, he hasn’t forgotten her and that’s because you’ll never be able to replace her.”
My heart ached.
No- my whole body ached.
“Haha, Damien, do you remember that place we used to go to whenever I didn’t want to attend lectures?”
“Of course. I used to buy your favorite ice cream then, strawberry with vanilla. You always threw a fuss when I didn’t.”
“Y-you still remember my favorite?”
“How could I forget-”
Clank!
The plate slipped from my hands, crashing to the floor with a sharp echo that sliced through their laughter.
Both their heads turned toward me, surprise flashing in their eyes especially Damien’s. He hadn’t even noticed I was there all along.
“You’re invisible to your husband. All you’re good for is giving the Laurent family an heir. That’s your only purpose.”
Damien raised a brow, his gaze flicking from me to the shattered plate on the ground, a slight frown forming on his lips.
“Valentina, what is the meaning of this-”
I didn’t hear the rest. Everything around me began to blur as a soft gasp escaped my lips and the world faded into darkness.
I guess I really was too tired afterall.
PRESENT DAY.
“Why… why did you have to cheat on me with the woman who caused my miscarriage? It could have been anyone but her. Why her?” I mumbled under my breath, the tears falling freely down my cheeks.
“I know you didn’t love me. I-I know, but I’m not lying. She really pushed me down the stairs. It wasn’t a mistake! So why would you blame me? Why would you sleep with her on the day we lost our child? Why would you betray me, Damien?”
“Why…?” I whispered again, feeling my heart shatter with each word.
Suddenly, a hand enveloped mine, and I slowly opened my eyes, freezing when I saw Damien sitting on the bed.
His gaze was filled with something I couldn’t quite place, and I felt a strange chill run down my spine.
“Damien…” I whispered, barely audible, and I saw him stiffen, his frown deepening as he watched me in silence.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“You… how do you feel-”
But before he could finish his sentence, my body reacted before my mind could process it. I grabbed his arm, pulling him closer to me, catching him off guard. Without thinking, I leaned in and closed the distance between us, our lips meeting in a kiss.
It wasn’t Damien.
It was Alexander.