|| VALENTINA's POV ||
She hung up on me right before I could ask more. Each one of her words kept ringing into my ears like venom. The hopes, happiness everything disappeared in a minute. I could no longer feel my heart anymore. If I took her words as fake like her, what was he doing there on our wedding day?
I sat in front of the mirror wordlessly. The wedding gown felt heavy on me as if the whole world was depending on it. I couldn't even look at my own reflection that looked terrible. In a moment, I threw all the staff off the table. Tears sprung from my eyes as I began to cry harder. I shouldn't have believed Lorenzo so easily. I shouldn't have fallen for his sweet words. He lied to me again and again.
The maids understood what happened. They left me alone silently, probably pitying me as a weak woman. Once I was all alone, I broke into tears again. Why was I so unlucky to get everything that I wanted? Do I have any reason to stay here any longer?
Kylie was right about herself. No matter what happens, Lorenzo would choose her first always. She was the love of his life. Maybe I was being used as a substitute to erase his pain. Smiling my bad luck, I rose up, holding the wedding gown carefully. After getting rid of it, I sat on the bed alone absentmindedly. I was nothing in this world without a family. No matter where I go, people are going to call me a stripper. Even the value of mine in Lorenzo's eyes will probably never change. It was better that I left this home and searched for my own life.
But Elijah....
My heart broke at the thought of leaving my baby alone here. He was still very little but I had no idea how my life would be out there. I wish that I could have taken him with me but Lorenzo would be following me everywhere if I took him. Besides, the baby was the only thing that I owed to Lorenzo King. He deserved to be with his father here. A mother who was nothing but a whore in everyone's eyes didn't deserve him.
Tears fell from my eyes once I remembered how I wouldn't be able to see Elijah again probably. But I couldn't stay here anymore. Taking my final decision, I grabbed a backpack and went to Elijah's room.
My baby was fast asleep. His pink lips parted slightly when he was asleep. Whenever I used to look at him, I felt like I was in heaven. He brought so much happiness in my life that nothing mattered to me anymore. Bending down, I kissed his chubby cheeks one last time and burst into tears while saying,
" Mommy loves you!! Mommy will always love you. I am sorry baby! I can't be with you but I know that you will be better off here with your father. Just know that I will never forget you. You may hate me when you grow up but I believe that you will understand me one day why I had to leave."
I ran out of the room in tears. If I stayed any longer, I would have been selfish enough to take him away possibly. I didn't want to own Lorenzo any longer. When I went down, the servants were all gone to clean the wedding venue in the backyard. God was really on my side today. I didn't want any drama before going.
After I paddled across the downhall carefully, I took my phone to dial a number. When it was connected, a sob left my mouth. All I could tell her was,
" Mo.. mother...."
_______
|| LORENZO's POV ||
The morning sun sprayed on my face. I opened my eyes groggily to see the surroundings. It was 7 a.m in the morning already. Everything became clear in my memory all of a sudden. Looking around, I suddenly remembered how I ended up here. Last night, Kylie's drama continued for a long time. Then I forced her to have her medicine and I drank juice as well. However, I felt sleepy as soon as I drank the juice.
Gasping hard in shock, I looked around to look for my phone. I found it on the desk and noticed that there was no call from Valentina.
What happened? Didn't she look for me? Did anyone tell her about Kylie's condition here?
I couldn't understand why she didn't contact me once. Without thinking deep, I rushed outside. Thankfully, Kylie was asleep. So, she didn't notice when I left the house. Getting in my car, I called Valentina first but the call went straight to switch off. My heart sank in unknown fear. I didn't know why but I was scared to face her today. It was our wedding day and I fucked it miserably.
What was I going to explain to her?
I slammed my fast on the driving wheel angrily. I shouldn't have just come to show sympathy to Kylie. She ruined our wedding perfectly. Even Nana supported her as well. Once I started the engine, I drove back straight to the mansion.
To my utmost surprise, the mansion was very quiet today. I noticed that the wedding venue was removed as well. When I rushed into the mansion, Elijah was crying in his nanny's arms. Valentina wasn't anywhere seen. The butler came over to me in a hurry, his face carrying a fear,
" Master, you are back. Madam..Madam has been missing since last night. She had taken her stuff as well. We checked the CCTV footage. She left last night with a bag. We don't know where to find her."
My heart dropped into the ocean. Running upstairs, I looked for her in every corner of the house but she was nowhere. When I went back to her room again, I found a letter laying on my desk. Getting closer, I saw her handwriting. She said nothing except very few words,
" We have nothing to owe to each other after today."
I dropped my knees in front of the letter. Tears welled up my eyes to know the meaning behind those words. She was gone! She was gone from my life!!
What will I do without her? How will I ever forgive myself? Valentina.. Please..come back...come back to me....
On that very similar day, breaking news flashed in the neighborhood country. The missing princess of the Underwood family had returned home.....
_____________
FIVE YEARS LATER..............
|| VALENTINA UNDERWOOD's POV ||
How many springs and summer had passed? I had no idea at all. It was always the same for me. My life never saw spring. It was always a dull summer without any hopes of light. This new place, this new family had changed my identity but the emptiness in my heart never changed. It was always full of yearning pain, an aching feeling that never stopped haunting me.
" Mam, will you take any more cases today?", my secretary, Lina asked me with a smile. She was very young around 20. Last year, her mother died and she was looking for a job to survive in this cruel world. I happened to meet her by accident. She reminded me of my past. That's why, I had given her this opportunity although she wasn't qualified back then.
My life in the Underwood family has always been sweet. It took years for me to finally adapt with the Royal Family. However, my loving brothers and a very sweet mother didn't let me feel lonely. They took care of me emotionally which helped me a lot to understand this life better. I didn't take the official procedures of being a princess. My brothers supported my decision and told them that it was okay for them if I led an ordinary life. After coming here, this country's corruption snatched my attention. I ended up being a lawyer here just like my elder brother, Kanan Underwood. His law firm was left with nothing after he took his duties as a noble prince. I took his position and was successfully leading it. I never knew that I was so passionate about laws and regulations.
My cellphone started to vibrate again. A smile was put on my lips when I saw the number,
" Mom! I will be home soon. Why do you still call?"
My overly dramatic mother replied with a grin,
" Can't I call you? Huh! Children are so unpredictable when they grow up. Anyways, come back home now. We have important guests to meet here."
I rolled my eyes secretly to hear the word important guest. After joining this Royalty, I figured out that they had a never ending guest list. Dismissing my secretary, I began to walk out of the building, still talking with her on the phone,
" I am on my way. Now will you stop nagging me?"
She cut the call happily. I noticed that she liked it more whenever I was around her. As I reached over to my black SUV, the guards all came out to open the door for me. One of them bowed at me, opening the door for me,
" Princess! Please get in!"
I hated it when they called me a princess or whatever. I didn't take this name officially yet all the staff used to call me Princess. I forbid them several times but they were just too stubborn to not listen to me. I scolded my personal guard before getting into the car,
" Quit calling me that, Adam! I hate it!"
Adam just chuckled at my face and closed the car door until it started driving to our home I mean palace. It looked like a castle from the ancient times. I told my mother to switch the place several times but she said that it was our protocol to live in this old fashioned mansion.
The car parked in front of our big Palace. It was white and mixed with purple. When I saw other rows of cars, a deep frown appeared between my temples. As soon as I appeared on the doorway, my little nephew ran over to me,
" Aunty..Aunty..."
I caged him in my arms, kissing his chubby cheeks as he played with my hair,
" Hi love! Did you miss Aunty?"
I had my own apartment now. Since I joined the law firm, I preferred to live there alone. But on weekends, I had to come home because of my mother's pressure. Kathan was only five years old, the first child of my elder brother, Kanana. Upon my arrival, my younger brother, Josh ran over to me with a playful smile. He whispered coming next to my ears,
" Mother got a man for you, finally."
My eyes widened in surprise and shock. No wonder, she sounded extra sweet today. Kanan, my big brother shook his head with a smile. He came forward to get his son, scolding him,
" Your aunty has just returned from work. Why are you nagging her always, huh?"
I hugged Kathan tighter, scolded my brother back,
" Don't scare my baby! I never feel bothered by him, okay?"
Yes because I always found someone else in Kathan. After having him in this home, I finally put my sorrow away and concentrated on raising him like my very own.
My mother waved her hands quickly at me,
" Come here, Valentina. Your uncle is waiting for you. Come here quickly!"
I gave Kanan a pleading look who just chuckled and gestured at me to go there or else my mother would be angry with me. Exhaling, I went forward to greet the guests. It was possibly another blind date, a boy around thirty years old smiled up at me. He greeted with a warm smile, extending his hand,
Hello, I am Nathaniel.