|| VALENTINA's POV ||
Happiness was never permanent in my life. I had known it from the very beginning. When I looked at my own pictures that were probably taken several years ago, I felt my throat going dry in tears. I wasn't ashamed to be a stripper but the place wasn't suitable. It was probably the biggest disaster that I had brought in Lorenzo's life.
The hall is filled with whispers. The guests all looked back to forth between me and the pictures as if they were trying to see whether it was real or fake ones. I went numb from my waist down, barely rooting at that place because of my son.
Lorenzo shot up in rage hastily. His dark orbs were on fire as he shouted at his baffled guards,
" Who the fuck started to play this pictures? Turn it off right away."
Mr.King came over to us in big stride, his eyes bearing obvious suspension,
" Lorenzo! What the fuck is going on here? What kind of dresses that Valentina was wearing? Why did it seem like she was in a bar pool dancing?"
Suddenly, the hall erupted into a maniac laughter. We all turned our heads at the direction of the entrance. It was Lorenzo's step-mother, Matilda, laughing out loud. Her looks were messy. Even the clothes on her looked dirty. I heard from Lorenzo that she had been acting strange ever since Leonardo went behind the bars. Leonardo was charged with multiple crimes including in provoking Lily to commit suicide.
" Who will accept your child without a father? You will be called a whore only."
" Your child will be pathetic without a father, a whore like you."
All this words came into my mind on the day when Leonardo was sentenced forty years in prison. This conversation had happened between Lily and Leonardo right on the day she had committed suicide. A junior from Lily's hostel overheard their conversation accidentally who later on agreed to be the witness on the court. My statements were the key points in Lily's case as I was the only one who lived close to her in those years. No wonder, Lorenzo looked all over the places for me. At first, it was only ten years in prison but in addition to Lily's taking her own life increased his punishment. That day, I cried hard on the court. Finally, I had fulfilled my duty of a soul-sister.
Matilda shouted her words out loud, deep hatred coming from her tone,
" Let me introduce her to you everyone. The lady of the King Enterprise is actually a stripper. The heir of the king family has actually born from a stripper.. Hahaha...Mr.King..How do you feel about that? You must be so proud to hand over your legacy to a stripper's son.. Hahaha..."
Everyone gasped in shock at her words. Mr.King went from pale to raged and glared hard at Lorenzo. Matilda was mad at us for a long time. She used this perfect opportunity to ruin our happiness. After a while, a deadly silence fell in the hall. Mr.King tilted his head back to ask Lorenzo,
" Is she telling the truth? ANSWER ME, LORENZO!!"
Tears poured from my eyes. The happiness that I dreamt so far were all destroyed now. Whenever I glanced around, I could see only disgust in their eyes. It seemed like this society would never believe the fact that being a stripper didn't mean to be a fuck buddy always.
I had already given up on my fate. It would be only justified if Lorenzo decided to leave me now. As I prepared myself mentally to hear the worst, Lorenzo ended up blurting,
" Yes, she was. I know it from the beginning but that would never change anything, father. I love her and she will be my only wife in this life."
Mr.King almost slapped his hand but took it back midway. Growling at Lorenzo in rage, he shouted furiously,
" Are you fucking insane, Lorenzo?? You brought a stripper in our house??? No wonder, you are so obsessed with her. She must have some sick tricks to seduce you on bed. I don't want to hear anything. If you don't leave this stripper, I will abandon you including your son without any single cent of my property. I would rather donate those property rather than giving it to a stripper."
His words cut me deep into my heart. I bit my lips together to hold back the sobs forcefully. Even the guests began to give me dirty comments calling me cheap, whore etc etc..I really felt bad for my son who didn't understand a single word. I felt like I wasn't worthy to be his mother. With the tears in my eyes, I attempted to walk down from the stage but Lorenzo held me back. He asked me to stay with his eyes. I stopped numbly to hear him speak clearly to his father,
" I don't care..I will never choose money over my family like you. If you want to drop my son from your heir list, go ahead. I have more than enough for him to live peacefully. But I will never leave Valentina for some bullshit reputation, power. Also EVERYONE!! I will be marrying Valentina the day after tomorrow. If you all don't want to come, it's okay with me."
Then, he ordered his guards to kick Matilda out of the party. Mr.King was so angered that he left right after Lorenzo's announcement. Soon after, all the guests left as well as they didn't want to be a part of a stripper's life. I could only cry and smile at the same time. Lorenzo had lost so many things for me but I...I couldn't do anything for him.
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|| LORENZO KING's POV ||
THE WEDDING DAY......
" Congratulations, Man! I can't believe that you are so brave to go against your father!!", Luka wished me happily, his eyes looked tired. I sighed, looking behind at the laying girl. Emily was under his care fully. I told him many times to appoint more doctors for her but he insisted on looking after her alone.
Luka couldn't attend the wedding because of an emergency. He had to fly back in abroad with Emily today. All he asked me to show my groom look to him. So I had to meet him personally to satisfy his eyes.
I smiled back at him emotionally. Yes, I was never so brave before but love made me brave. Whenever I looked back at my little family, I wanted nothing but them beside me. No wealth, property mattered to me anymore. Looking back at Emily on the bed, I asked Luka again, trying to see through his mind,
" Are you sure that you want to accompany her all your life?"
Luka smiled back sadly. A heavy sigh came through his mouth before he murmured to me,
" That's all, I can do for her, Lorenzo. I owed her this."
I didn't insist on this matter anymore. Everyone had different ways to chase their love. Maybe their story was different than mine. I was brave enough to confess my love fast but Luka was little late. Wishing farewell to them, I went back to my car to drive back to my mansion to get married to my precious woman. God! I couldn't wait to see her in her wedding dress.
Right after I started driving, a call came in my phone. I put the phone on speaker to hear my Nana's panicking voice,
" Lorenzo!!! Lorenzo!!!! Come to Kylie's home faster. She is trying to commit suicide for the past one hour. No one can stop her. She is only muttering your name. Save her, Lorenzo!! please.."
I stopped the car abruptly midway, debating whether to go or not. I couldn't understand what gotten her all of sudden. But Nana sounded really scared.
What if she really committed suicide? Will I able to forgive myself ever?
Valentina was a mature girl. She would be understanding me obviously. Without wasting a second, I turned around the car to drive for Kylie's home.
________
It took half an hour to arrive at Kylie's home. When I went into the room, I saw her, threatening with a knife to cut her wrist,
" Don't.. don't come near me..I will kill myself..I am hateful.. Lorenzo hates me...I should kill myself.."
I was scared for real because she was pressing the knife too hard against her wrist. I tried to coax her, acting all patient to save her from hurting,
" Kylie!!! Drop the knife!! Drop it!! I don't hate you anymore.. Didn't you say that we are friends? Then listen to me. Drop it!! I am here with you. Drop it!"
Kylie's room seemed like a war place. All her clothes were thrown out, pieces of broke glass were scattered all over the floor. Her eyes held a certain madness which was unfamiliar to me. Nana talked from back, crying,
" Poor Kylie! She can't accept the fact that you are marrying someone else, Lorenzo. Coax her little so that she won't take her life."
Upon listening to me, Kylie dropped the knife obediently. She seemed like a mental in my eyes. Walking past the broken pieces carefully, I pulled her on the bed to sit down and asked patiently,
" Kylie! You said that we have become friends again? Why are you doing this then?"
Kylie was silent for a while. In a second, she burst into tears and hugged me tight unexpectedly. She kept mumbling her words out,
" I am sorry, Lorenzo..I am sorry for hurting you..I can't seem to give up on you..I can't be your just friend.. Please Lorenzo.. Let's get back together..I will listen to you this time.. Don't marry someone else.. Please... Listen to me..."
I was shocked and perplexed to hear her words. I thought that her stubborn attitude had changed but it looks like I was in delusional thought always. Shoving her away from my arms, I blurted out angrily,
" Are you insane, Kylie? I am already in groom suit. My bride is waiting for me to get married. I can't believe that I have come here to coax your fake love for me."
I stood up to leave already, not caring about her pleading or cries. When I went near the doorway, Kylie jumped up from her bed to get the knife again. She started shouting hysterically, holding the knife down on her wrist,
" You can't forgive me, Lorenzo? Fine!! I will just take my life then."
She cut off the skin on her wrist with a single pierce, blood flowed down from her skin rapidly. I let out a shout before rushing onto her,
" Kylie!! What did you just do...Damn it... Someone!! CALL THE DOCTOR!!!"
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|| VALENTINA'S POV ||
I couldn't believe that I was finally getting married. I wanted the wedding simple and only between us. Lorenzo set up the venue in the backyard. He followed each of my words and planned everything according to my taste. My wedding gown was also kept simple but the big veil on it was my favorite. It was taking almost half of the floor. Not to mention, our son got the matching outfits as well. His Daddy made him the groomsmen. When I saw him in his little suit, I almost died in laughter.
Mr.King kept his words as well. He literally cut down his ties with Lorenzo which made me heart aching. I just prayed that my son would be able to mend this bond again. One day, he would understand the value of love and relationship.
Taking a look at the clock, I noticed that it was already 11 at night. We planned to get married at 12.A.M to avoid the drama of media. It would be more peaceful to hold the wedding without them.
Worrying about Lorenzo who didn't return yet, I called him while doing my makeup. The call went through but he didn't pick it. Furrowing harder, I called him again but he didn't pick it up.
My heart started to feel worried for him. He was driving alone today. In case, he encountered any danger, I called his assistant just to confirm where want he at this moment.
" Madam??", his young assistant greeted me politely. I asked him, looking at the clock again,
" Do you know where did Lorenzo go? He should be at home already."
His assistant seemed to give it a deep thought. After a quiet some time passed, he told me,
" Oh right! The secretary told me that Sir rushed to Miss Kylie's house from the middle road. It looks like something has happened to her but don't worry madam. He will be there on time."
My stomach dropped at the negative thoughts that began to crawl into my heart. I ended the call numbly and laid flat on the ground.
Why did it feel like it was an absolute set-up? Why did Lorenzo rush there in our wedding day? He knew that I would be waiting for him.
Despite everything, I couldn't erase the pain from my heart. I waited for him for hours in my wedding dress. The clock slowly passed from 11 to 1 A.M but there was no sign of Lorenzo. Even the maids began to gossip now who were all waiting for the grand wedding.
Tears rolled down from my eyes relentlessly. Nothing was more painful to see your dream being shattered after coming this close. I didn't think of anything else at that point. Lorenzo should have acted more responsible despite the circumstances. It was a big day for both of us. We vowed to start this new life for us. But it looked like no big deal to Lorenzo who declared me his wife in front of the public.
All my hopes, patience began to slip away slowly. Elijah was fast asleep as well. He was also tired, waiting for his father like me. Dragging my heavy feet close to the table, I picked up the phone once again to call Lorenzo. Again, the call went through and it rang a few times before it was connected. A soft female voice came from the other end,
" Hello!!"
It was Kylie's voice that I could detect easily. Holding the tears in my eyes, I asked for Lorenzo in a shaky voice,
" Where.. where is Lorenzo? Give him.. the phone..I need to talk to him right now.."
Kylie let out a short laugh. Twitching her lips together, she replied in a sarcastic voice,
" Oh Valentina! I told you already! I would be the first to be picked by Lorenzo always. Look at him! He left his wedding just to take care of me. Tsk..Now, do you believe that I will be his love always? You are just fooling yourself with your lies."