Valerie's POV

"Follow me" He says, then got up from his chair. Ignoring his unfinished food, he heads out.

I quickly got up and rushed after him, curious on what was happening. It was already really pretty late when we stepped out of the mansion.

"Where are we going?" I ask, following him as he enters one of his numerous cars.

"Just shut up and follow me, do you want to find out or not" He asks coldly.

Not wanting to annoy him any further, I keep quiet and just wait patiently till we get to the destination.

We past through familiar streets, I've come to memorize by heart. We were heading to my grandparents house I figured.

But why?

It hasn't been a day since I left this house. I wasn't feeling really excited to return because of how betrayed I felt towards my grandparents. Although staying with Stephano wasn't an exciting option...

Soon after we arrive and he the parks in our driveway.

"What are we doing here?" I ask in confusion.

"Again, stop with the questions." he deadpanned.

He rings the doorbell located at the doorway and wait for the reply. It doesn't take a minute before the door opens, revealing my grandma and her face morps into shock immediately she sees us.

"Wh-what" she stutters, trying to process what was happening.

"Hello ma'am, would you mind explaining the situation to Val?" He asks. He was surprisingly polite, that was the least I expected of him.

I also didn't fall to notice his nickname for me…

"ohh… sure" my grandma smiles for the first time today.

"I'll leave you guys to it then" Stephano says then walks back inside the car, waiting for me.

"Come in darling" my grandma says softly to me.

I followed her inside without a word, still very mad at her.

I sit down directly opposite her, waiting for her explanation.

"Where do I even begin…" she muttered.

"From the start. I want to know everything" I replied.

" Well you see… Your father's business went bankrupt three months ago" she starts.

"What does that have to do with me? that man already cut off all connections with me ten years ago" I say coldly.

"It gets more complicated than that. Your father wanted to save his already sinking business, so he took a loan from Stephano. Using you as his collateral" she drops the information calmly, trying to reason with me.

"He did what?!" I screamed, immediately getting up from my sitting position. How dare he cause more trouble in my life after happily abandoning me years ago. When I was just ten for god sake! seeing me as too much of a burden.

"Calm down, I know it's hard to process. I can understand how you feel, but keep in mind that the deed has already been done" she says, maintaining her calm composure.

"What happened next?" I ask, trying to calm down my rage.

"Unfortunately, your father wasn't able to save his sinking business. He had to hand you over to Stephano since you were the collateral. Of course we refused when your father told us, but then he threatened to kill both I and your grandpa if we didn't back off. I'm so sorry Valerie, we really had no choice. I'm so sorry we couldn't protect you" She says.

By now she had lost her calm composure, her face already streaming with tears. Unlike her, all I could do was stare blankly in shock.

How could he be so heartless? threatening their lives like it didn't matter. Where was his conscience?

I had no tears left to shed. I had cried so much already for today.

"Please forgive us Valerie, we really had no choice. I'm sorry I screamed at you earlier, I didn't mean to" I hear my grandpa say, making me look up.

"Don't apologize, I get it now. You guys really had no choice..." I whisper softly.

"Thanks for understanding," my grandma says, pulling me to her warm embrace. My grandpa will join soon.

ding ding

The sound from the doorbell makes us separate from our emotional embrace. I had already forgotten Stephano was waiting outside for me.

"Bye darling, try to visit sometime if you can" my grandma says teary eyed.

We exchanged goodbyes and left the house.

Stephano didn't utter a word throughout the ride home, allowing me to process the new information.

Damn! What a chaotic day…

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The next morning when I woke up, I felt even more annoyed with my new situation. Stuck in this oddly quiet mansion, being the wife of a dangerous Mafia leader.

It was all too much...

I couldn't bring myself to accept this was my new life. I sit in bed trying to come up with a plan, a solution hopefully.

I just wanted a way out.

What if I went back to my mom? I know she left me too to focus on my career. But she's doing a lot better I believe. I haven't had any contact with her for ten years now, but I'm aware she sends funds to her parents so they could take care of me.

Just maybe she will be kind enough to accept me back when I explain the situation to me. I know where she lives too, I just never bothered to visit her because of the hatred I had towards her.

It was in a far away city too. Just perfect! Stephano would probably not find me there too.

With that thought in mind, I bolted out the bed and rushed to the bathroom so I could freshen up.

I sing happily in excitement of leaving this place, as I take off my nightgown.

I entered the bathroom, stepped into the shower and washed my body thoroughly with a vanilla scented body wash.

I made use of all the fancy bathroom supplies I could find. I mean since this was my last day here, I have to make the most of it… right?

I hum a song as I dry my hair, straighten it too. I applied some make up, just for the fun of it. I was feeling really dizzy since I was getting my ass out of this place.

Throwing on some comfortable clothes, a sweatshirt and leggings. I wanted to feel at ease since I was going to be stuck in a public seat on the train for hours.

I take my phone and credit cards, deciding to carry no other extra loads so I wouldn't make my plan obvious.

With that I make my way to the front door.

"Are you going somewhere, miss?" one of the house maids asks.

"Yes. is there any problem?" I ask in annoyance.

"Umm… The Don has instructed that you shouldn't leave the house unless it's something really important and urgent" she replies timidly.

"I have to go get some tampons, mother nature showed up today and I already ran out of tampons" I lied without missing a bit.

" Ohh… I can give you my spare sanitary pads if you want. Or I could help you get the tampons" she offers, smiling brightly.

"Thanks for the offer, but I prefer tampons and don't worry I can get them myself" I say to her, trying to maintain the fake smile on my face.

"Okay sure" she replies, finally backing off.

I exhale in relief and rush out of the mansion, trying to avoid any more questions. Luckily the guards just ignored me when they saw me. Escaping Stephano's mansion was so easy.

Too easy… it almost got me worried, but I quickly trash the negative thoughts.

I called for a taxi when I was a bit far from the mansion surrounding. Five minutes later the taxi arrived. I gave the driver the location and relaxed in the back seat as we headed to the Metro.

Soon after we arrive, and excitedly skip over to the next moving train after paying the taxi.

I feel a sudden urge to pee, so I walk down the lonely hallway leading to the restroom. I still had ten minutes before the train was ready to move anyways, so I didn't have to worry.

After doing my business in the restroom, I leave the rest room and start walking out of the lonely hallway.

Just before I walk out, my vision is suddenly covered by a black cloth placed over my head. Strong hands circling around my waist, pulling me back with so much force.

"Hello darling" I hear an unfamiliar voice say.

Hostage.

My vision is suddenly covered by a black cloth placed over my head. Strong hands circling around my waist, pulling me back with so much force.

"Hello darling" I hear an unfamiliar voice say.

I try to scream for help but his other hand immediately covers my mouth, muffling my voice. I start thrashing around, trying to free myself from his tight grip. I managed to remove the blind fold from my eyes.

"Stay still, don't make this any harder. Well… if you don't want to get hurt" He says, voice coated in anger.

Ignoring his demands, I continued to try and free myself.

I wanted to scream but the person behind me still had his hand over my mouth, then hurled me inside the car, it was a black van I had always seen in movies associated with kidnapping. I looked around and saw two masked men in the back seat and one masked person in the front. The car speeds down the unfamiliar streets.

After what seemed like hours of driving the car finally came to a halt. Someone picked me up and took me outside then dropped me on the ground. “Ow, that hurt,” I said to myself. I slowly rise to my feet.

In an attempt to free myself, I punched one of the men hard on his face. My knuckles turned red at the painful impact.

"Stupid girl" he snarls, then I feel something placed over my nose. Having an idea of what it could be, I tried to stop my breathing for as long as I could . Of course I couldn't do that for long, I immediately started to lose consciousness as I inhaled the substances in the cloth placed over my nose.

"Good" I faintly hear him say in a mocking manner.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~~•~~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Eyes covered…

Small whispers everywhere.

I felt slightly dizzy and disoriented, as if I had awoken from a slumber, but I couldn’t have fallen asleep. The last thing I remember was walking back from the restroom, then boom, suddenly I’m here.

I tried to move my body from its sitting position but I couldn't get up. My hands had been tied behind my back, waist tied to the chair. I was stuck.

In summary, I've been kidnapped.

"oh look, she's finally awake" I heard a male voice say.

"Finally! take off her blindfolds" Another man said, I could tell he was annoyed.

The cloth is removed from my head and I blink repeatedly to adjust my eyes to this new setting.

I took a quick look around, trying to recognize my surroundings. It was too strange, it looked like I was in an abandoned warehouse. There were no windows in the warehouse, so that iron door at the corner of the room was my only chance at escape. There were two men in black standing in front of me, they looked strict and dangerous.

"What do you want from me?" I managed to ask, my voice cracking a bit.

"Something important, or rather someone" One of the men says, while chuckling a bit.

"Don't worry, we won't harm you if you just do your part and stay still. All we want is that husband of yours crawling on his knees" The other man stated.

"And you think you can achieve that by bringing me here?" I ask mockingly.

If there was one thing I'm sure of it would be that Stephano would never get on his knees for anyone, especially me.

"Stephano doesn't give two fucks about me" I continued.

"Then we might just have to kill you then, since you are unimportant" He said, while dragging my hair with so much force. I screamed in pain.

"No no, please don't kill me" I begged, feeling as though he might be able to hear my heart pounding inside my chest. Wondering if he might be able to hear my heart pounding furiously inside my chest.

"Don't kill her now, she might still be useful. Let's just lock her up here while she starves here until Stephano comes. And if her words are true, she might as well starve till death comes." The other man who I assumed to be the boss said with so much malice in his voice.

These men were brutal! I could feel goosebumps all over my body.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~~•~•~•~•~~•

Stephano's POV

"Boss, Lugard's men have captured your wife" One of my men said to me.

Of course Lugard would try to do something stupid. After he heard I already got married to someone else who wasn't his daughter he was very furious. My father had made a deal to join the two Mafia families together through our marriage so the whole rival nonsense would come to an end. The idea wasn't appealing to me so of course I rejected it.

"How did they manage to get past the mansion security?" I questioned darkly.

"They didn't. Your wife planned to escape just like you predicted. I believe she was captured while still at the metro" He responded.

"Hmmm… serves her right. Prepare the men for tomorrow when we would rescue her. Let her spend the night in Lugard's warehouse, that should teach her a lesson" I said, smirking.

"You mean we shouldn't rescue her today?" he asks in confusion.

"Did I stutter? get the fuck out of here" I glared at him, still maintaining my calm composure.

He quickly rushed out of my office not wanting to piss me off, very much aware of how brutal the consequences could be.

I smirk in satisfaction knowing how predictable everything went. Valerie being naive failed to realize she's now a major target after becoming my wife. I was aware his men wouldn't dare kill her, they were too much of a pussy to do that.

I already knew where they took Valerie to.

Predictable fuckers...

Questioning.

Valerie POV

I know I said Stephano wasn't going to bother showing up to rescue me. But that was just me talking shit so his men would release me... although that didn't work out.

Not once did I really think I was going to spend a whole day here! wasn't Stephano the most powerful man in the country. How then couldn't he get me out of here?

It was already the next morning and I was extremely weak. I hadn't eaten a thing! I regret leaving the house very early yesterday without even eating breakfast.

No, scratch that. I regret leaving the house entirely. At least I don't starve there, and I'm definitely not tied up. I feel so much cramps everywhere from being tied to the chair all day.

I shiver at the possibility of spending another day here. I was going to be welcoming death soon at this rate. I feel my eyes water, but really what help would crying offer?

"Get the girl!" I heard a voice shouting in panic from outside the door.

What exactly was going on?

seconds later the door burst open and the man from earlier came in a rush to where I was sitting.

"Now stay still and don't try anything stupid" He said then started to untie me.

Even though I wanted to put up a fight, I was unable to. I was really weak beyond words and it felt like I was close to passing out anytime soon.

He picks me up and throws me over his shoulder, carrying me like a sack of potatoes. His steps are hurried as they rush out of the warehouse, entering a creepy alley.

"Make sure Stephano's men don't catch up with you, get the girl to the second warehouse. Take my car" One of the strange men said, while throwing a set of keys to the man carrying me.

A burst of hope immediately fills me after hearing Stephano's men were here to rescue me. I start silently praying that one of Stephano's men finds me.

The man drops me on the floor beside a black Van, he starts to shuffle among the keys given to him looking for the right one.

I knew I had to make good use of this opportunity. I looked around my surroundings and noticed a 'small but big enough to cause harm' wood beside me. I picked it up swiftly and turned to look at the man who had his back turned to me as he started to unlock the van.

Without wasting any more time, I raised the wood slightly, and with so much force I hit him right on his dick. He groans really loudly as he drops to his knees in so much pain.

I used this as my chance to escape, so I got up and started to make a run for it. But I don't get any far because he immediately gripped my left leg making me land flat on the floor. Face directly on the muddy alley.

*BANG*

a loud sound erupts and I feel the grip on my leg loosen. I look up to see Stephano keeping back his gun. He just shot that man.

"Get up," Stephano ordered coldly.

I tried to get up but failed repeatedly. He groans in annoyance, then bends down to pick me up like I weighed nothing. I unconsciously snuggle more into his chest, inhaling his cologne.

"So you missed me that much, huh?" he asks mockingly.

I ignore his cocky statement, too tired to make any arguments. I feel myself slowly falling asleep in his hands.

`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•

"Oh poor you, you look terrible. I think you lost some weight too" Pat says sadly after she noticed I'm awake.

"Here, drink some water. Stephano's doctor would come check on you soon" Pat continued.

I quickly take large gulps of the water, signing in relief afterwards.

"thanks" I muttered.

I really needed that. Some food would be nice too…

My stomach immediately rumbles loudly at the thought of food.

"Oh! I almost forgot, I'll go get some food while the doctor does your check up" she said then rushed out of the room.

The doctor came in almost immediately. He did a quick check up, asked me a few questions. He instructed me to eat a lot and get some good rest. After which he takes his leave.

I started eating the food Pat brought for me.

"Slow down" she chuckles, at how fast I was eating.

"If only Stephano didn't let you go through all that..." she whispers softly.

"What did you just say?!" I asked in confusion.

"what? nothing, I didn't say anything" she said trying to avoid eye contact.

"Tell me! what do you mean by that?? Did Stephano plan the whole thing?" I asked angrily.

"no, that's not what I meant," she said nervously.

"Then tell me exactly what happened?" I ordered.

"Well… Stephano found out immediately you were kidnapped, but he wanted to teach you a lesson for trying to escape so he let you spend the night in his rival's warehouse" she explained.

"What the hell??! How could he do that to me! I'm going to have a word with him" I stated angrily, about to leave the room.

"Stephano isn't here, he will be back tomorrow I guess. Please just eat your food and get some rest for your own good" she tells me calmly.

Following her instructions,I continued to eat my food till I finished everything on my plate. Pat was still sitting beside my bed without saying a word as I ate.

"Do you want to eat some more? or are you already satisfied?" Pat asks after she noticed my plate was empty.

"No, no. I'm good, thanks" I muttered.

"Okay" she replied and picked up my plate then walked out of the room.

I was currently in Stephano's room, well our room now since I had to move into his room after we were officially married. This room is far bigger than the room I was last in and it had a neutral theme to it.

Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted with everything that had happened, I fell asleep once again.

`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•`•

The sound of the door opening makes me wake up. I looked over to see who it was and surprisingly it was Stephano.

Well it shouldn't be surprising since it's his room too, but I just expected it to be Pat again.

Stephano seemed like he was just arriving home, and it was already the next day. He glanced at me then looked away.

Acting like I wasn't there, he starts to unbutton his t-shirt. I can't help but check him out. Damn this guy works out, I could easily tell because of his abs and perfectly sculpted body. He wasn't too muscular, just perfect.

"You know if you want me, all you have to do is say the word" He says, a seductive smirk on his face.

My face flushed in embarrassment at being caught checking him out. I immediately cover myself entirely with the blanket. I hear him chuckle a bit.

I heard the door open and close, making me look up to see he wasn't here anymore. I think he entered the bathroom.

What was wrong with me? Why was I reacting like this? I was supposed to be mad at him!

Then I remembered that I still haven't confronted him about what he did. Oh I'm ready to pick up a fight!

Few minutes later the bathroom door opens again, Stephano steps out with just a towel around his waist. I quickly looked the other way so I wouldn't get distracted once again. I waited till he was already dressed then let out my questions.

"Why did you do that?" I asked angrily.

"Do what?" he asks in confusion.

"Deliberately made me spend the entire day in that hell hole when you could have easily rescued me?" I replied, a scowl on my face.

"Wasn't I doing you a favor? I thought you didn't want to be here. Didn't you have fun being out of the mansion?" he said mockingly.

Oh how I wanted to wipe that smirk off his face.

"Fuck you!" I screamed.

"Watch your mouth kitten. How did you know by the way?" he asked, his face turning serious.

"That doesn't matter," I replied.

"How - did - you - find - out?" He asked again.

"Pat told me," I whispered.

He immediately stormed out of the room. I stayed nervously wondering what he was going to do.

I felt my blood run cold as soon as I heard the crack of a gun firing downstairs. What just happened?

Did he just kill Pat?

sweet reminder