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Five Years Later

Author: Jane Alex
last update publish date: 2026-04-10 22:16:14

Chapter 5.

No… please… Victor”

I jerked awake, my chest rising and falling rapidly as the nightmare clung to me like a shadow I could never outrun.

My fingers gripped the bedsheet tightly. After five years… it still felt so real.The pain.The betrayal.The way he chose her… without thinking twice.

I shut my eyes. Took a few deep breaths.

It was over.It had been over for years.

His name still had power over me.

I got out of bed. Headed to the kitchen needing something to ground me. I poured myself a cup of coffee and the bitter smell slowly brought me back to reality.

Five years.Five years since I left New York.Five years since I left him.Five years since I left everything behind.Dubai gave me a life. A quieter one.I built myself from scratch.I became a coach then got promoted and now I'm the head of my department.

A life I fought hard for.A life that had nothing to do with Victor Vale. At least… that's what I kept telling myself.

“Mummy?”

My daughter's small voice broke through my thoughts.I turned around. My heart melted when I saw her standing in the hallway.

Aria. My daughter. My world. She rubbed her eyes still wrapped in her blanket.I walked over to her. Knelt down.

“Hey baby, " I said softly. "Did you have a dream?”She shook her head then looked up at me.

“You did.” I froze for a second… then forced a smile. “I’m okay.” She didn't look convinced. She nodded and leaned into me.

I held her close. Because she was the good thing that came out of that nightmare of a life. Victor… would never take that away from me. Never.

The office was already busy when I arrived. I welcomed the distraction.Work had always been my escape.Something I could control.Something that didn’t hurt.

A knock. Before I could respond Ethan walked in like he owned the place.

“ Morning, " I said, raising a brow. "You’re early.”“Not a morning " he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

That was new.I leaned back slightly. "What happened?”He hesitated.Then said the one thing I never wanted to hear

“I’m flying to New York.” My fingers froze around my mug.

New York. That one word was enough to drag up memories I buried deep.I looked away casually pretending it didn’t affect me.

“Work?" I asked.“Yeah. Big merger deal.”

I nodded. Something about his tone felt… off. “What company?" I asked, out of habit rather than interest.

Ethan hesitated again.Then.. “Vale Group.”

The mug slipped slightly in my hand. For a second I thought I misheard him. I didn’t.

Victor. He was still there. Still powerful.

Still… untouchable.

I let out a breath steadying myself.

“Sounds important " I said calmly even though my pulse had picked up.Ethan studied me for a moment like he was trying to read my reaction but I gave him nothing.

I had learned that the hard way. Never show weakness. After he left, I sat in silence for a time.

Vale Group..Victor Vale..After all these years… he was still finding a way to appear in my life.I let out a breath and turned to my laptop forcing myself to focus.

Emails.Work.Anything but him.That’s when I saw it. A new message. From a New York law firm. My heart dropped. For a second fear crept in.

Did they know? Did someone find out about Aria? My hands moved quickly as I opened it. I read the message once. Then again. Then a third time. My eyes widened.

My grandmother… She had left everything to me. Her estate. Her company.

Everything. There was one condition.

I had to return to New York to claim it.

My stomach twisted. No. No… this couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not when I had finally moved on. Going back meant facing him. Facing the past I ran from. Facing the man who broke me.

My grip tightened on the desk. I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t do it. Then.. My eyes drifted back to the email.

There was one line I hadn’t fully processed. A legal representative had already been assigned. My breath caught as I read the name.

Victor Vale. My blood ran cold.

Before I could even process it my phone suddenly rang loudly on the desk making me jump. Unknown number. I stared at it for a second. Then it rang again..Again..

Something in my chest tightened. Slowly… I picked it up. My fingers trembled slightly as I answered.

“…Hello?” There was silence.Then..

A familiar voice I hadn’t heard in five years. “Rita.” My heart stopped. 

“I’ve been looking for you.”

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