Starting Over in Seryne.
Valenticia’s POV:
I sank to my knees, as I clung to Dmitri’s leg. My trembling fingers tightened around his trousers. “Please, Dmitri... please don’t do this.” I sobbed “I love you. I’ve always loved you. I—I know our marriage started as an arrangement, but it doesn’t have to end this way. We can make this work.”
He looked down at me. “Valenticia, let go.”
I shook my head. “Just give me a chance. I can make you happy. I promise. You said you’d try. You said—”
His hand wrapped around my wrist, and yanked his leg free. I tumbled forward, my palms scraping against the floor. “I said nothing of the sort.” His voice was devoid of warmth. “I tried to be civil, but you’ve made this impossible. Leave.”
“Dmitri, please—”
He moved quickly. One moment, I was pleading; the next, I was shoved out of his room. "You need to be gone by evening.” He commanded. "I’ve given you enough time.” He said, tossing a pen at me then he slammed the door shut.
I sat there, my back against the closed door. My world was crumbling, and I was powerless to stop it.
I didn’t know how long I remained there, minutes or maybe seconds. But after a short while, the door creaked open, and Dmitri emerged.
I scrambled forward, clutching the hem of his trousers once more. “Don’t go... please. It’s our anniversary today. I wanted to make it special. I—”
His leg moved, and the force of his kick sent me sprawling. Pain shot through my ribs, as he stepped over. “I just sent you two million dollars, it should sustain you for a very long time.” He began. “And I expect you gone by the time I return.”
I just sat there, watching him descend the stairs, then he walked past Maria who was eager to serve his breakfast and stepped out of the house.
Tears burned my cheeks, but underneath the sorrow, I was determined to not be discarded.
I was already rejected but I would not allow him the satisfaction of throwing me out.
With trembling limbs, I signed the divorce papers. Then I left it there, right in front of his door.
Slowly, I made my way to my room to pack my things. I didn’t pack much—just a suitcase, a handful of clothes, and a few important documents.
I moved through the house, packing only the essentials, ignoring the expensive gowns that he had bought for me, and the Jewelries that had once made my heart flutter.
I left the anniversary breakfast on the dining table, untouched and by afternoon, I was gone.
The bus ride to Seryne was a blur. I was lost in thoughts, throughout the whole ride. And when I stepped out, I placed a phone call to the landlady I found online.She directed me to a small, run-down apartment on the edge of town. The walls were peeling, and the heater barely worked, but it was mine.
It was freedom.
I spent days glued to my laptop, applying for jobs, scouring listings, and sending out my résumé. Each rejection email chipped away at my confidence, but I refused to give up.
One morning, I stumbled upon an opening at Sledger Inc. The position was a simple clerk role—but it was something. I filled out the application, triple-checking every detail before hitting ‘send’.
When I received the interview invitation, a surge of hope filled my chest. This could be it.
On the day of the interview, I left early, clutching my worn handbag as I rushed out of the house and hailed a bus.
The cab ride was smooth until traffic brought us to a halt. I glanced at my watch—fifteen minutes until my interview.
Panic seized me. “Can you let me off here?” I called to the driver, who barely spared me a glance.
I forced my way through the crowded aisle, paid my fare, and stepped into the busy street. My heels clacked against the pavement as I ran, dodging pedestrians.
I was nearly at Sledger Inc. when I saw them—two teenagers harassing an elderly woman.
My steps faltered. I could just keep going, pretend I didn’t see it. But...
“Hey!” I shouted, my voice stronger than I felt. “What do you think you’re doing?”
One of the boys, a lanky teen with a buzz cut and a sneer that curled his lips, turned to face me. “Mind your business, lady.”
I squared my shoulders. “I am making it my business. Let her go.”
The second boy, shorter but stockier, rolled his eyes. “Look, we don’t want trouble. Just keep walking.”
The elderly woman whimpered as the shorter boy tightened his grip on her purse. My gaze narrowed. “You’re hurting her. Let her go now.”
Buzz Cut laughed. “Or what? You gonna call the cops?”
“If I have to.” My hand slipped into my bag, fingers brushing over my phone. “You think I’m bluffing?”
The shorter boy’s gaze wavered, but Buzz Cut nudged him. “She’s not gonna do anything.”
I took a step forward. “Try me.” Then I turned to the elderly woman. “Are you okay, ma’am?”
Tears welled in the woman’s eyes. “They... they took my purse.”
My anger spiked. “You heard her. Give it back.”
The shorter boy muttered, “This is dumb, man. Let’s just go.”
“No.” Buzz Cut held his ground, his chest puffed out. “I said, back off!”
He lunged forward, shoving me hard. I stumbled but regained my balance. “Is that all you’ve got?” I spat, more bravely than I felt.
“Oh, you want more?” He advanced, but his friend grabbed his arm.
“Dude, seriously. This isn’t worth it.”
Buzz Cut glared at Me. “This isn’t over.” He threw the purse to the ground, the contents spilling out onto the pavement. “Let’s go.”
But before he ran off, he reached out and pushed the old woman. She stumbled, and time slowed as I watched her crumple to the ground.
They turned and ran away, their footsteps echoing in the alley.
My instincts took over. I rushed to her side, kneeling on the rough pavement. “Are you okay?”
Her frail hands trembled as she clutched mine. “Thank you, dear. I... I think I’m fine.”
“Do you have someone you can call?” I asked, gently.
She nodded, her eyes watery. “Yes. They’re on their way.”
Relief washed over me. “Okay. Stay here. Help is coming.” I said, helping her to a bench,
Then I brushed off my skirt and ran. My lungs burned, and my feet ached, but I couldn’t afford to stop.
I turned the corner, and something hard slammed into me.
The impact stole the breath from my lungs, and
the world spun as I hit the ground.
Unwanted SightValenticia’s POV~I grunted and threw my phone on the passenger seat as I threaded my way through city traffic. Last-minute requests from a client had been approved by Stefan on the sensor prototype, and it was due to come back with his signature in the morning. Shortly before I left the office, I received a call from his secretary, Rachel. “Stefan’s sick at home today,” she said. “He’s not checking his emails, but he has to sign off. Will you leave the papers at his home?”I paused, tightening my hold on the phone. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” I asked.“No,” she said. “The client’s pushing hard. It’s urgent.”“Fine,” I said, hanging up. Just the thought of going to Stefan’s house made my stomach twist. It had been quite awkward since he gave me the news about his engagement to Natasha. Staff meetings involved long stares at one another and forced smiles, and I would make sure never to be alone with him. But he was sick, and this trade was a huge one for Clawford. Al
Intimate DoubtsStefan’s POV~I was sitting at the desk in my home office, wrapping up a work email, when my phone vibrated. It was my parents calling, and I just answered. “Hey, Mom, Dad,” I said, sitting back in my chair and letting the morning light filter in through the window.“Stefan, now long it’s been,” said Mom, sounding bright. “We’re dying to get properly introduced to Natasha. When are you going to bring your fiancée home?”I looked at the ring box on my desk, a relic of the engagement. “Soon, I promise,” I said. “We’re coming next month for a visit. You’re going to like her. She’s smart, great with clients and always keeps me reined in.”Dad chuckled. “Sounds like a keeper. Don’t wait too long. We’re excited for the wedding.”“I won’t,” I said, smiling. “We’re working on dates. I’ll call soon with plans.” We said our goodbyes, and I hung up feeling optimistic about the potential. Natasha was a good fit in my life, and my parents would understand that. But as I hung up the
Awkward SilencesValenticia’s POV~“Valenticia, can you determine the sensor lot for next week?” Stefan said, his deep voice echoing through the buzz in the meeting room at Clawford Enterprises. He pointed to a slide displayed on the projector, charting Helix’s product timeline.I glanced up from my notes and locked eyes with him for a beat before looking back down. “We're on schedule,” I responded, with a clipped tone and sharpness in my voice. “First batch ships Monday. Quality checks are done.”He looked all business as he nodded. “Good. Let’s connect on logistics by Friday.”“Fine,” I said, jotting a note so that I wouldn’t have to look at him once more. The room was packed with my team and his team, all trying to hammer out the sensor deal we had agreed to. But whenever Stefan talked, my stomach twisted. I recalled our dinner at Luigi’s, laughing as we used to laugh, and my foolish thought that perhaps we could be friends again. Now his neat tone and fast nods felt mannered, as
Heart to HeartValenticia’s POV~I sat in a Clawford Enterprises meeting room, the long table was surrounded by my team and Stefan’s Helix crew. The sensor deal was moving fast, and we needed to align on production schedules. Stefan stood at the front, pointing to a chart on the projector screen. “We’re aiming for March delivery,” he said, his voice steady. “Clawford’s sensors need to hit our assembly line by February 15. Can you make that?”I nodded, flipping through my notes. “We can,” I said. “Our factory’s ramping up now. We’ll ship the first batch by February 10 to be safe.”He looked at me, his nod polite but quick. “Good. Let’s keep quality checks tight. No delays.”“Agreed,” I said, keeping my tone all business. Our eyes met for a second, and I looked down at my papers, feeling a twist in my stomach. Ever since he told me about his engagement to Natasha, being around him felt awkward. His nods were forced, and I avoided one-on-one talks, sticking to group meetings like this.
Unexpected EncountersValenticia’s POV~The day I picked up Nana from Willow Creek Elderly Home started with a buzz of excitement. I woke early, made coffee, and packed a bag with her favorite things—chamomile tea, a soft sweater, and a photo album of us with Mom. Knowing she’d finally live with me felt like a weight lifted. Her pneumonia had scared me, and having her close meant I could keep her safe. I drove to the home with my mind full of plans. Her room was ready, with a cozy bed and a small table for her tea. At the office, I’d cleared my afternoon to focus on her move, balancing work and family as best I could.I arrived at Willow Creek by ten, the building quiet with soft sunlight streaming through the windows. Nurse Clara met me at the front desk, her clipboard in hand. “Rosanna’s ready,” she said, smiling. “She’s excited to go home with you.”“Thanks for everything,” I said, signing the discharge papers. “Any last tips for her care?”“Keep her warm, make sure she takes her m
Planning ForwardStefan’s POV~Life with Natasha shifted into full engagement mode after I proposed, and we spent most evenings at her apartment, sorting through wedding details. Her place was cozy, with a small dining table covered in papers and her laptop open to websites about venues and rings. I sat across from her one night, sipping coffee while she scrolled through options for a ring engraver. The screen glowed, showing fancy fonts and designs. “This one’s nice,” she said, pointing to a cursive style. “We could put our initials inside. What do you think?”I leaned over, glancing at it. “Looks good,” I said. “Simple but personal.”She nodded, clicking to save it. “Okay, that’s settled. Now, the guest list. We need to invite the board cause I mean, it’s good for business. Helix will look stronger with them there.”“Yeah, makes sense,” I agreed, but my voice felt flat. I took another sip of coffee, staring at the table. Natasha was all in, her excitement filling the room as she ty