Ralph Valentines Novels & Stories

"Alpha." "Valentine," Vaela says, gesturing toward me. "Fiorenca." "Frankie," I correct automatically. Vaela clicks her tongue. "That is not your name." "It really is." Valentine beams, she's been handed a new puppy, she lunges forward. Her arms pull me in an enthusiastic hug. I'm struck by how genuine she is, there isn't a single sharp edge hiding underneath her warmth. I've spent enough time with shitty ass people to know kindness is often transactional. Valentine's isn't. The empathy pouring off her feels limitless. It almost hurts.

Valentine grinned, leaning against the doorframe. "Difficult? No, boss. The word you’re looking for is independent. Little Miss Independent doesn't want anyone’s charity, especially not from the Alpha King." "Go," Conrad said, turning his chair back to the window. "On it," Valentine said with a smile, spinning on his heel. As Valentine left, Conrad looked down at the black card on his desk. He picked it up and held it for a moment, the scent of her still clinging to the plastic.

Valencia smiled and thanked her sister. Valeria didn't leave immediately; she was ogling at her sister's husband. She couldn't wait for her sister to die so that she would become Xavier Taylor's wife. She didn't even care about her unborn niece. Valencia felt uncomfortable in her heart and said to her sister, "Please move aside, my father-in-law is standing behind you." Valeria was so embarrassed that she moved aside. Valencia's father-in-law looked at Valeria strangely, then he approached the couple and said, "Thank you for blessing the Taylor family with their granddaughter, Valencia. My best friend, Mr Martins, gave me this envelope as a gift for baby Taylor."

A massive bouquet rested carefully on my bed beside a velvet box wrapped in gold ribbon. My lips curved before I could stop them. Alaric. It had to be him. Maybe this was his way of apologizing after everything that happened between us. Valerie smiled knowingly behind me as I hurried toward the bed. I grabbed the folded letter first. The second I opened it, my smile vanished. “You are still the brightness in my life and the reason I live. I will forever love you no matter what. Please be mine again.” My stomach twisted violently. Rowland…..Of course.

Alex Ye before heading to her own room. Later that night, Michelle sought out Alex again. Familiarity breeds comfort. Moreover, this time she came prepared. She intended to give him a gift and hoped it wouldn't come off as too forward. Her Valentine's gift for Alex was an expensive men's wristwatch, which nearly depleted her savings. She had deliberated for a long time before making the purchase. Given her money-loving nature, she would've hesitated to spend so much had she not anticipated a royalty payment later in the year.

Though she had only seen Alexander from a distance before, his aristocratic air was unforgettable. "I asked Dad to arrange for my discharge. I wanted to rest at home," Valentina explained before adding, "Are you coming to the Morales family dinner tonight? Did you forget it’s my birthday?" Serena’s relationship with Valentina had always been ambiguous. Araminta’s dislike was blatant, but Valentina remained polite, if a bit distant. "I didn’t forget. I’ll come by tonight, but I have something to take care of first," Serena said, pulling out a neatly wrapped box. "Here’s your gift."

“Harry, why are you hitting a little girl? If people find out, it won’t make us look good. Why don’t we make a bet for five hundred thousand?” Harry seemed interested. “Sounds fun. What’s the bet?” The man smiled meaningfully and replied, “It’s Valentine’s Day. Let’s see if she can sell 200 roses at the night market.” Everyone laughed in response. “Someone who can’t even talk selling flowers? Are you serious?” “Come on, man. You’re not planning on letting her go, are you?” I thought that I would be rescued, but I ended up in a worse situation instead. When Harry saw how hopeless I looked, he quickly agreed to the bet.

Watching her figure disappear through the doorway, I hurriedly reached for my phone to call the police. Suddenly, her menacing face appeared in the crack of the door. She snatched the phone out of my hand, glaring at me. “Who were you trying to call? Were you planning to complain to Mr. Rivers and ask him to come back for you? Tonight, Mr. Rivers is hosting a special Valentine’s party for Miss Wynne Watson. You’d better know your place and stop causing trouble!” She sneered and tossed my phone off the balcony. I instinctively felt that Mary’s reaction was off, but in my panic, all I could do was grab her wrist.

It was February 14th and The Grand Ballroom of The Valentino Grand Hotel was decorated with red and white ribbons and balloons floating in the air. The room looked like a sea of crimson and gold, a cathedral of wealth built to honor the day. Of course! It’s Valentine’s Day… the very day Julian Valentino loathed with every fiber of his being. But to the elites of Manhattan and the hotel's stake holders,it was a night of pure romance, while to Julian, it was a reminder of a betrayal that had turned his heart into ice.

She informed filling my glass with orange juice. “With Victor.” I scoffed hearing his name and she nodded with a questioning look. “Sometimes I feel like, this Victor is his first wife.” She laughed at my statement and Valerie sipped her coffee. “Victor is Valentine’s right hand. He never goes out without him. Don’t be jealous of that lad, I can tell you that Valentine is straight. He isn’t interested in guys like Harman.” Valerie assures me like it was some serious issue earning a slap on head from Lola. I spit the juice ruining my dress and laughed hard.