|| VALENTINA's POV ||
" Calm down first! Lorenzo!!", I tried to soothe his anger. Thankfully, he wasn't driving anymore. I wasn't willing to take any risk when it comes to our baby. It wasn't the fact that the baby was my responsibility. I loved the baby, growing into my stomach everyday wholeheartedly.
Lorenzo took a few breaths before muttering,
" It's over, Valen...Tina...I might fail myself as a son."
I remained puzzled, giving his time to adjust his emotions. He looked empty like a vase, ready to break down at any time. After adjusting his breath, he finally told me the truth,
" My dad said whoever gives him an heir first will take up his company. I thought...I could fulfill my mother's last wish but I have failed, Valentina. I hired you to give birth because of this will. But now.. everything is going backwards. It looks like Leonard is well prepared to take the company. My mother will never find peace."
My heart ached because of his words. I believed that he would be a great CEO but why did his father set these weird rules? How blessed his mother was to have such a loyal son?
I clasped his hands, trying to make him positive,
" Lorenzo! I am already 2 months pregnant. Who knows who will give birth first. Besides, it depends on whether it's a son or girl. I have a gut feeling that we are going to have a boy. Believe me, you won't lose anything."
His eyes looked up to stare deep into my eyes with sadness. However, his gaze softened as soon as he heard that it was going to be a son. I felt his soft palms over my stomach, murmuring in a promising voice,
" I will never be this hard on you, son. It's a promise!"
Tears pricked from the corner of my eyes. I didn't know why but I felt as though I could feel all his emotions inside me. I put my hand on him tightly to show my support, although I knew that it was temporary. A woman like me never deserved him.
I had no idea when we had reached home. After the sad atmosphere, I was fast asleep. I guessed that it was my pregnancy hormones which always made me sleepy. In my dreams, I had a feeling of being lifted in bon-air then tucked under some warm blanket. I enjoyed moments like this. It reminded me of one thing that I yearned for in my entire life 'Home'. But I never got the chance to feel the warmth of home.
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|| LORENZO's POV ||
I still had reflections of what I had done last night. It was a repulsive act, a mistake but I did enjoy her feather-like lips. She didn't even yell back at me for kissing her like that. I guess, we were just messed up.
" Fuck!", I let out a curse, rubbing my aching forehead.
Luka asked worryingly as he drove my new Lamborghini to the King's empire,
" Lo, you look so sadistic. What's going on?"
I received a call early in the morning. It was Arnaldo King, my so-called father who wanted to join me in a meeting in his office. He wanted both of his sons to be present there. Although I didn't wish to appear, I knew that it was just another test for me. He wanted to see how I passed the project.
I mumbled, pulling my attention back to Luka's question,
" I..I fucking kissed her last night..."
" WHAT??", Luka almost screamed out loud but there was a huge grin after he gave his reaction. He twisted his lips teasing,
" Oh no! I didn't know that I am such a good match maker."
I glared at him, scowling,
" Shut up! I was just angry!"
Luka let out a laugh before saying,
" I am impressed with your guts, Lorenzo. The last man who tried to force a kiss on her, do you have any idea what she did to him?"
I gave him a puzzled look, asking back in curiously,
" What.. what did she do?"
Luka chuckled maliciously before saying,
" She paralyzed his third leg. You are lucky that she didn't do anything to you. What's going on between you two, Lo? Don't tell me you are charmed by her or you really see her as your baby's mother?"
I felt silent after his words. I was also shocked too since she didn't react to anything yet. Whatever, I had an important issue to focus on now, my project to prove my worth to my father.
__________
" Please take your respective positions! The meeting will start in a minute!", my father announced, taking his position as they asked us to sit. Leonardo was sitting opposite me, so relaxing as if he was sure about the win.
My father spoke again, glancing around to see his subordinates,
" I am very proud to say that today both of my sons have arrived to represent their ideas in this project. I believe that you all will be satisfied and will choose the best one for our company. I am getting old and I want to share my burdens with them from now on. Leo, you go first."
I just rolled my eyes at him secretly. Honestly, he called him by his nickname just to show his love for him. I didn't remember when it was the last time that he called me 'son' affectionately. Whatever, I grew up, seeing the discrimination. I didn't mind any longer.
Leonardo went to the center, carrying a bossy aura as if he had become the boss already. Our eyes met and a small smirk grew from the corner of his lips. My gaze darkened at his expression which didn't give me a good vibe.
Did he do something again?
I checked my laptop and pen drive twice but it was all okay, working perfectly. The least thing that he could do to me was ruining my project.
Leonardo spoke to the crowd first then turned on the projector to show his slides. I was still absentminded until the slides began to turn familiar and familiar. I held my breath to see clearly what was going on. But as soon as the chart appeared, I was fucking sure that it was my goddamn project.
I hauled up from my chair furiously. Without caring about the higher ups around, I shouted at the shameless man ahead,
" You asshole! How dare you steal my project? Father, it's my project. He stole it from me."
The subordinates were all astonished as they glanced between us cluelessly. Leonardo defended himself shamelessly, putting on an innocent expression,
" What are you saying brother? We live in separate places. How will I steal your project?"
I barged towards him furiously,
" You are a fucking liar! It was my project. You wanted to humiliate me, don't you?"
" Lorenzo! STOP!", it was my father again, who roared at us, stepping forward.
But my rage went beyond control. Shooting a glare at Leonardo, I spat with a sneer, reaching out to grab him by his collar,
" NO!! I will..have.. him.. confessed that..he stole those documents from me...He is a cheater..he.."
I couldn't get the chance to hit Leonardo because my father pushed me backwards. Without listening to my explanation, he slapped me hard in front of everyone.
The room fell silent after the slap landed on my cheeks. The rest of his words echoed with the roar again,
" How dare you hit Leonardo in front of my eyes?"
My face grimaced in pain not by the physical slap but the stab that he just gave into my heart. Was he never going to believe me in this life?