"Thanks, Marco," I waved at him in the driver's seat as he gave me an appreciative nod."Remember what we discussed, Miss Arturo. It's better he doesn't know. Everyone would remain happy that way," he said, and started the engine, driving out of the mansion."I hope so, Marco," I murmured to myself and turned to look at the mansion. Even in the night, it still stood gigantic and beautiful."I wish it were as warm inside as it is outside," I sighed and walked into the house, only to see Vicente descending the stairs."Hey," I flashed him a smile as he watched me in confusion while approaching."You've been out? I knocked on your door earlier, but there wasn't any response; I thought you were asleep," he said, coming closer and then his face broke into a smile. "Went on a date, huh?" he asked with a teasing look as he scrutinized me."Don't I look too stressed for someone who went on a date?" I replied, and he nodded slowly."Makes sense," he replied."Marco took me out for dinner," I o
"Valentino, why..." I said, sitting up."You don't look good, Rose," he said in a calm, soothing manner that didn't do justice to soothing me. It's crazy how I go from looking like a touchy bitch to a desperate one if these brothers so much as smile at me.He made to stand up when I held his hand, stopping him as he turned to look at me. "Don't go, please." Every fiber in my body warned me not to do the opposite, to let go of his hand and be rational."Rose, I—""Please," I cut in desperately."Fine." He removed my hand from his and sat back on the bed. "No sex," he said, as I watched him say it with difficulty. It felt like he was saying something and his body was saying another."I didn't say we should have sex or something," I said shyly as he chuckled lightly. "Aren't you a little naughty brat?" He placed a finger on my forehead as I frowned."I don't see the reason why we should, though," I said, and I wasn't sure why that came out like that. I could swear I sounded like a slut.
Marianna led me to a moderately large room. I looked through the window, where children each had a painting board, all engrossed in their scribbling."That's Valerio, our benefactor who was once a kid here. He's an artist dedicated to teaching the kids to draw. Isn't that wonderful?" She said with glee as she pointed to a man standing by a child, guiding her through the process of painting.Dressed casually in brown slacks and a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, he sported a gold wristwatch. A strand of hair fell on his face as he looked engrossed; I could see the glint in his eyes as he painted."Rose?" Marianna called, and I realized I had been caught in a kind of reverie as I watched Valerio."A fine young man, isn't he?" Marianna smiled with pride. "I don't know if it's okay to go in. Valerio doesn't like it when we walk in on the kids during their painting lessons," she said, completely oblivious to the effect the man a few inches away from me was having."Oh…how professional,"
ROSE"What are you doing out here, Rose?" Marianna walked up to me as I stood by the window, watching Valerio move from one kid to another, appearing affectionate. My thoughts drifted to the events of last night."Nothing," I shrugged, feeling a lump in my throat that resembled a burning anger in my chest as I watched him. I wasn't sure if he knew I was observing him. What mattered was that I was being completely ignored.After what he had said yesterday, he had turned his back on me. I had stood there like a statue for a while before I made my way back to my room. My night was terrible as I struggled to fall asleep, his voice haunting me repeatedly.Then, the next day at dawn, I saw him head to the garage as I was leaving the kitchen. He walked by without sparing me a glance. I had suspected he would come here and had called Marianna, who confirmed my suspicions. That's why I ended up here, as my restlessness continued to grow in the house, my mind consumed by thoughts of Valerio.Ev
ROSEI was fully aware that everyone had left the class except for me, who seemed engrossed in something I wasn't sure of. Even though I didn't excel in academics, I used to draw a lot as a kid, just like my dad, who later turned into a jerk. Since then, I had suppressed that part of me, not wanting to bring back bad memories of the past."You seem extremely busy," he started heading towards me when I stretched my hand. "Stay back. I'm not done," I said with seriousness as he raised a brow, folded his arms, and obediently stood away."So much for a person who didn't care about the art but the instructor," he said."Trust me. I'm very much interested in both," I said absentmindedly as he stifled a laugh. I turned to look at him with a confused expression, which later turned into a tiny bit of joy in my heart. This was the first time Valerio was smiling at me after days of ignoring and fighting."Done," I finally said as I took the A4 paper and turned it around for him to see. He approa
ROSE"Who is leaving?" Valentino asked as he descended the stairs, staring at them with a serious look."Who asked him to butt in?" Valerio muttered under his breath when he saw his brother."No one," I said, and turned to look at Valerio, as if waiting for him to back up my claim. "I guess," I added.Valentino glanced at Valerio for a moment, then back to me. "Come on, Rose. We need to talk. Privately," Valentino said as I raised a brow and pointed to my chest."Ugh?" I asked."We are in the middle of a conversation, brother," Valerio chimed in."I don't care," Valentino said with a stiff smile and held my hand, starting to head to the stairs when I realized my other hand had been gripped too. Oh no, this is not happening again. Do these brothers only think about themselves?!Valentino turned back to find Valerio's hands around mine as his frown deepened. "I said we were still in the middle of a conversation, Valentino," Valerio said with a more arrogant stare as Valentino watched hi
VALERIOMy heart felt like it would be ripped with excitement as I felt her tug at my shirt to free the buttons. My hands came to rest on hers, stopping her as she stared at me, surprised."What?" She asked, and my lips curved into a smile. "Slowly, Amora." I loved the way the pet name sounded on my lips as I rubbed her cheeks lovingly, not believing the fact that she was here, alone with me and all mine."We have all the time in the world," I smirked, watching her eyes fill with desire. For me... just for me."You brought me here to make love, not talk," she said, surprising me with her bluntness."Don't you want to? We could leave if—""Shut up," she said and jammed our lips together as the kiss deepened by the seconds. Now she was able to tug away my shirt, and I let out a groan of pleasure as her palm skated along my bare back. "You are wicked, Amora," I muttered with my lips now in her ear while she explored my bare body.She let out a chuckle, behaving like a mischievous three-ye
ROSE"Magic," I muttered as I felt him inside me. This was indeed magical. Confessing my love to him and having sex with him afterward. Yes, confession. You heard me. I loved Valerio. I had always loved him since the first day I laid my eyes on him. And like a crunchy snack that was out of my reach, I had wanted him.I stared at him as he thrust back and forth, like we had the whole damn time in the world. Of course, he told me we did have it.Then I closed my eyes, savoring every part of him, wallowing in the pleasure without restrictions.I heard him groan as he pulled out, and his seed spilled over the bed. That was when I realized we had unprotected sex. But for some crazy reason, I loved it.As we lay side by side after the mind-blowing sex, he took my hand, lacing our fingers together, and stared at our hands, which were slightly raised up. I gazed at him, his tousled hair on the pillow, and he looked vulnerable. This part of him made my heartbeat quicken as if my love for him re