"Why? Just why?!" Her lips quivered, as she clenched her chest, "Why can't you reciprocate my feelings? I loved you Riccardo, or was my sincerity a crime?!" She concluded, her gaze casted on the man standing before her, whose face bore no emotion. Vanessa Rodriguez had always loved Riccardo Gonzalez right from the day she saw him. It was love at first sight. When she got the chance to get married to him, she didn't think twice even though her parents were against it. She thought that it was a chance to finally show Riccardo how much she loved him. But sadly even after their marriage he couldn't love her back instead after three years of marriage he presented divorce papers for her to sign. With shattered heart, she signs the divorce papers and leaves the country. Five years later, she's back in the country, ready to take over her father's new company, with her twins by her side and they look exactly like her ex husband. The problem now is that Riccardo Gonzalez wants her back!
View MoreVanessa was sitting on the couch in the living room as she waited for her husband to arrive from work. He had always liked coming home late but today's own was getting out of hand. She was fidgeting with the hem of her dress. She was getting really worried it was already 11:30, almost midnight.
She had already prepared his dinner even though she knew that he might not eat the food she prepared. Vanessa had no trouble performing her wifely duties and she always did it with so much Enthusiasm.
She came back from her place of work earlier in the evening but she hasn't rested since then, she had prepared dinner and now she was waiting for her husband to return. She loved him dearly and always wished that he could feel the same way towards her, but his actions everyday tells her that he doesn't feel the same way. Still, she wasn't giving up.
She had met Riccardo during her college days, for her it was love at first sight. She once confessed her feelings to him during college but he had turned her down.
After graduating from college she decided to focus on her life and let her feelings for him die down.
But three years ago when she had saved his grand father and was offered the chance to get married to him, she agreed after realizing that the feelings she had for him was still there. The sad part was that he already had a girlfriend he loved dearly and he wasn't interested in getting married to her. Even when he had told her, her heart shattered and she decided to let him go. She loved him and she wanted him to be happy.
A month later, Riccardo requested to meet her and said that he now wants to marry her. She didn't think about it and immediately said yes. She was ready to marry him and make him love her back.
Two months into the marriage she realized that Riccardo was still seeing his girlfriend. She was hurt and had confronted him, but his words were "you're my wife only on paper and nothing more" The words had hurt her deeply. Yes, they had signed a contract marriage.
Vanessa had to live with the pain of sharing her husband with another woman. There was even a time she attended a social function with Riccardo but she later regretted it because Riccardo had embarrassed her there that day in order to support his girlfriend Tiffany.
A year into the marriage Vanessa told Riccardo how much she loved him. In reply he made it clear to her that he didn't love her. But Vanessa wasn't ready to give up on her love for him and their marriage.
After their one year of marriage, Riccardo's attitude towards her was getting worse and one day she found out that his girlfriend had ended things with him, and he had blamed her for being the reason behind their break up.
Her parents were never in support of the Marriage, but her dad just let her get married since that was what made her happy, but her mother had been furious and had not spoken to her since then. It was the first time her Mom was being so mad at her all because she chose to be with Riccardo. She was the only daughter of her parents, they were the richest in the country, but they didn't reside here, they always travelled far and wide.
Vanessa was supposed to inherit some of their companies but she chose to get married to Riccardo and her mom had said that till she comes back to her senses she won't inherit any dime. So she learned to work for her own money and not rely on her parent's.
The sound of the living room door opening and closing made Vanessa jump up from the couch. She looked up and saw Riccardo, still dressed in his fine tuxedo suit and looking as handsome as ever. His haven black hair stood out greatly.
"You're back" she muttered, her body itched to hug him but she knew better than to do that.
He didn't reply as he walked past her heading towards their bedroom and she followed him closely.
Inside the room, he began to take off his clothes and Vanessa stood by the door as she watched him.
"You came home extremely late today. What happened?" She asked.
"It's none of your business Vanessa. When did I need to start reporting my whereabouts to you?" He asked coldly not sparing her a glance. Vanessa gulped down nothing at his tone.
"I'm your wife, I deserve to know" she stated calmly, her face a mixture of hurt and sadness.
"I don't remember wedding you at the altar" he retorted.
"I'm tired and I don't want to argue with you. I've prepared dinner, after taking your bath let's eat together" Vanessa said. She always wanted to have meals with Riccardo beside her, but that was only possible a few times in a year.
"Eat whatever you prepared yourself!" with that he walked into the bathroom and shut the door loudly.
Vanessa sighed sadly. She closed the room door and headed towards the dinning. Settling down in the chair, she uncovered one of the meal and began eating alone, she was hungry but the amount of sadness she felt made her leave the food halfway. She brought out her phone from her skirt's pocket and switched it on. Her lock screen wallpaper was a picture of Riccardo. Just staring at the picture a tear drop slipped down her eyes, but she quickly wiped it off and kept her phone back.
Inside their room, she met Riccardo already dressed in a black pants and a vest, working on his laptop. She walked towards him.
"You're always busy, you don't even ask me about how my day went" She muttered as she stood before him. He looked up and his eyes met hers, those eyes that always made her feel weak. There was silence for while.
"Do I need to? I've told you times without numbers, I can't give you what you want from me" he stated coldly, his words cutting through the silence like a very sharp knife.
"That doesn't mean you won't ask about how my day went" she replied.
"You want me to start acting like we are close." He narrowed his eyes as he rose from his chair. "Those little tricks won't work on me woman!" He yelled out furiously. The tears that Vanessa had been trying to keep in came falling down her cheeks.
Why does anything she do or say make him angry? She was getting tired of their arguments each day. She quickly wiped her tears. Riccardo didn't like them, he had warned her about crying and how it made her look weak. She wiped it, she didn't want to get him more angry than he was already.
"I'm sorry Rick. I didn't mean it that way" she apologized and he scoffed in return.
Her head was already banging with a serious headache.
She held his hands. "I'm tired of this. Let's stop all the arguments. I won't do anything you don't like anymore" she said calmly, but inwardly her heart was shattering into pieces. She didn't do anything wrong but yet she was apologizing because she didn't want them to argue further.
"It's our third wedding anniversary tomorrow. I have prepared a gift for you" she let out a small smile as she let go of his hands.
"Hmmm. Go to bed, I'm tired of looking at your face" he took his laptop and walked out of the room and Vanessa stared at his retreating figure. This was another night that she'd have to sleep alone.
"Oh my god, I'm burning up" Vanessa muttered to herself as she touched her forehead.
"I'll just take a shower" she murmured.
Entering the bathroom, Vanessa decided to use the bathtub. As she relaxed inside the bathtub filled with water, her mind replayed the events that had just occurred and that only intensified the headache.
Why couldn't Riccardo just love her back?
She was just becoming more miserable each passing day, this was so unlike her.
Did she make a wrong decision marrying him? She wondered. "No, I didn't" she tried to reassure herself.
A lone tear slipped down her eyes. And slowly sleep began to engulf her, and she found herself falling asleep right inside the bathtub filled with water.
A NEW CHAPTER Three years later. Ethan and Emma were running around, playing tag with Riccardo, who pretended to struggle to keep up with their speed.“Daddy, you’re too slow!” Emma giggled, darting away as Riccardo reached out to catch her.“Oh, I’ll get you!” Riccardo teased, his playful growl making both kids squeal with delight.Vanessa leaned against the doorframe, cradling her six-month old daughter in her arms. The baby cooed softly, her tiny hands grasping at the edge of Vanessa’s blouse.“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, Sofia?” Vanessa whispered, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s soft hair.The past three years had been a journey of hope, love, and healing. Vanessa’s diagnosis had been a heavy weight, but with Riccardo’s unwavering support, they’d found the best doctors and treatments. Through hard work and a little luck, her. condition had stabilized.“Mommy, come play!” Ethan called, his dark curls bouncing as he ran toward her.Vanessa smiled, walking over with Sofia in
TWO DAYS LATER Vanessa’s heels echoed on the marble floor of her office as she paced back and forth, her phone pressed to her ear. Her movements were sharp, her mind racing. For weeks, she had been gathering evidence against Alexander Grey.He had done too much harm, kidnapping Ethan and Emma, orchestrating the failed attempt on her life, and lurking in the shadows, ready to strike again. But she wouldn’t let him win.Her phone call ended with a click, and she stared out of the large window overlooking the city. The evidence was solid. It wasn’t just a small victory, it was the beginning of the end for Alexander Grey. She took a deep breath, her hands clenching at her sides.“Ms. Rodriguez?” Diego’s voice interrupted her thoughts. He stepped into the office.She turned to him, her voice calm but firm. “It’s time, Diego. I’ve sent everything to the authorities. The files, the recordings, everything. We’re moving forward.”Diego nodded, his respect for Vanessa clear in his eyes. “They’
ONE MONTH LATERThe sun hung low in the sky, casting golden light through the windows of Vanessa’s office. She sat at her desk, focused on reviewing a stack of reports. The past month had been hectic. Riccardo had recovered, Lucas had been relentless in tightening security, and life was slowly falling back into its usual rhythm. But today felt... different.Vanessa glanced at the calendar on her desk. It was her birthday, but she had no plans to celebrate. Birthdays had never been a big deal for her, especially not now when there was so much work to do. She sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she reached for her pen.A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. “Come in,” she called, expecting Lily or Diego with an update.The door opened, and Emily poked her head in. “Ms. Rodriguez, sorry to bother you, but can I steal you for a moment? There’s a small problem with Ethan and Emma.”Vanessa frowned, setting her pen down. “What’s wrong? When did they get back?"
The warm sunlight streamed into Juliet’s room, touching her skin and making her stir. Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking at the brightness filling the space. For a moment, she stayed still, letting the peace of the morning calm her. Then it hit her, like a storm rolling in.She remembered.Her heart began to race as memories came rushing back. She could hear her stepmother’s cold voice, the cruel words that had shattered her world. Juliet had overheard her stepmother plotting to kill her, all for her father’s money and property. The betrayal still burned deep in her chest.Her breathing quickened as more came back to her. The fear. The panic. She could see herself running, her steps fast and desperate as she tried to escape. She had been so scared that she hadn’t noticed the car. She remembered the blinding headlights, the screech of the tires, and the sharp pain when she hit the ground.And then... Romeo.He had been the one to save her. She saw his face in her mind, calm and stro
The quiet hum of the machines filled the room as Vanessa sat by Riccardo’s side, her fingers gently brushing against his cool hand. Each second felt like an eternity as she waited for Lucas. The sound of hurried footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Vanessa glanced up just as the door opened, and Lucas stepped in. His tall frame filled the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room until they landed on Riccardo. His face, usually composed, twisted with worry and anger.“Vanessa,” Lucas said, his voice low but steady. He crossed the room in a few quick strides, his gaze fixed on Riccardo. “How bad is it?”Vanessa stood, smoothing her hands down her blazer as if it would steady her nerves. “The doctor said he’s stable,” she began, her voice quiet but firm. “The bullet missed his vital organs, but he lost a lot of blood. He hasn’t woken up yet.”Lucas nodded, his jaw tightening. He pulled a chair beside Riccardo’s bed, his hands curling into fists on his lap as he stared at his unconsci
Vanessa paced outside the operating room, her heels clicking softly against the sterile tile floor. She kept her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her fingers gripping the fabric of her blazer like it was the only thing keeping her together. Lily and Emily sat on the nearby bench, their faces pale and somber. Diego stood close by as he watched the hall for any sign of the doctor."I can’t believe this is happening," Vanessa muttered under her breath, her voice thick with emotion. She stopped pacing and turned toward the small group. "He took a bullet meant for me.""Ms. Rodriguez," Lily said gently, her voice trembling. "It’s not your fault."Vanessa shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. "How can it not be? If he hadn’t been there..." Her voice broke, and she quickly looked away, blinking back tears.Emily, sitting with her hands folded tightly in her lap, glanced up. "He’ll pull through," she said, though her voice lacked confidence. "He’s strong, isn’t he?"Vanessa n
The faint sound of the ambulance’s siren echoed in the distance, fading as it disappeared around the corner. Vanessa’s heart raced, a knot forming in her stomach as she turned sharply to face Diego. Her voice came out in a breathless whisper, a mixture of fear and urgency."What hospital is the ambulance heading to?"Diego hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her before he quickly checked his phone. The seconds stretched painfully. He didn’t need to ask why. Vanessa’s face was pale, her eyes wide with worry, and she was already halfway to her car."The nearest hospital," Diego finally replied, his voice calm but urgent. "Saint Anthony’s.""Let’s follow them." Vanessa’s voice was steady, though the tightness in her chest made her words feel like they were being dragged from her.Before Diego could protest, she was already inside her car, the engine roaring to life as she slammed the door shut. The sleek black vehicle peeled out of the parking lot, its tires screeching against
The workday finally came to a close, and the sun hung low in the sky, casting a soft orange glow over the city. Vanessa stood in her office, the final task of the day weighing on her mind. Emily and Lily had just walked into the room, the slight shuffle of their shoes breaking the silence.Vanessa smiled as she looked at Emily. "Emily, dear. You did well today."Emily blinked in surprise, a soft smile crossing her face. "Really? Thank you, Ms. Rodriguez. I’m happy to help with whatever I can."Vanessa’s eyes softened. "I appreciate it, truly."Lily cleared her throat, her expression eager. "Are you ready? Let’s go."Vanessa nodded, the last-minute decision still fresh in her mind. "We won’t be using the same car today," she said, her voice firm but calm.Lily raised an eyebrow, and Emily’s face faltered for just a moment, but they both said nothing."I’ve already told Diego. He’s brought another car for me," Vanessa added.As they made their way to the parking lot, the evening air wra
Vanessa paced her office, the tension in her chest growing heavier with every second. She couldn’t let this drag on. The mole had to be identified before the end of the day. Picking up her phone, she called Damien.“Vanessa,” Damien’s voice was brisk.“Get to my office now,” she said without preamble. “We have a serious problem.” She added.“I’ll be there in two minutes,” he replied and hung up immediately.Few minutes later,“What’s going on?” Damien asked, shutting the door behind him. “We have a mole,” Vanessa said bluntly. “Someone leaked the designs for our new product to Grey Enterprises. They launched it ahead of us this morning.”Damien’s jaw tightened. “Do we have any leads?”“Not yet,” Vanessa admitted. “But we don’t have time to play detective. I want this person caught before the day ends.”Damien nodded. “Alright. Let’s start with the basics."He pulled out his laptop and placed it on Vanessa’s desk. “We’ll need to narrow it down. Vanessa, do you know exactly which files
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