VALENTINA'S POV

“Once this plan succeeds, Valentina will be done for.” My sister-in-law, Ariana said.

“Are the man and the room ready?” Damien, my brother-in-law, asked.

“Yes, once she's unconscious, we'll carry her to the room and record her video. Then we will use it as evidence to present when Matteo files for the divorce”.

Damien smirked. “Finally, she would be gone from our lives for good.”

My eyes widen in shock. I know my brother-in-law and sister-in-law hate me but I didn't know it was this deep, for them to be willing to ruin my image.

“Why are you quiet brother?” Damien asked a figure in the dark. “Don't tell me you are backing out of the plan, brother.”

What? Matteo? He's here? Curiosity got the best of me. I peeped more into the office and saw him standing, his hands in his pocket, his expression cold and calculating.

“The sooner she's gone the better it will be for me. Besides, the plan was to get the deal on the supply of ammunitions from her family.”

Ariana sighed in relief. “I thought you had fallen in love with her.”

“Why would I love a pawn? Alana is the one I love.” He said darkly.

No, Matteo can't be involved in this. He can't betray me like this. “Just make sure that whatever you do, doesn't trace back to us. You guys know how dangerous her family can be.”

Heartbroken, I rushed to the nearest restroom with tears flowing down from my eyes.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I can't believe my marriage of three years was all a lie. Matteo never loved, it was all a pretense to get the ammunition deal signed with my family. It was Alana he loved from the very beginning. And I was just a pawn in his games.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Well, since he wants a divorce, then I'll give it to him before he tarnishes my image.” I declared to myself.

I pulled my phone out of my purse and dialled my lawyer's number. Thankfully, she picked on the second ring.

“Draft me a divorce agreement.”

“Woah! Woah!.... Valentina, are you sure this is not an impromptu decision? You might want to rethink it.”

“No, there's no need to rethink.” I said firmly, cutting the call before she could reply.

I looked in the mirror, my makeup was ruined from all the crying. I did a quick retouch and exited the restroom as if I wasn't crying a few minutes ago.

I saw Matteo with a group of guests laughing as I entered the huge garden in our backyard. He had just signed an alliance with the Russian Mafia and the party was thrown to celebrate the alliance.

“Baby,” he excused himself from the group when he saw me. “Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you.”

He reached for my hand and raised it to his lips, kissing my knuckles.

“Just went to the restroom.” I said flatly, and walked away mingling with the other guests.

I felt his gaze on me but I ignored him and kept mingling with the guests. Then, out of the blue, Damien came with two drinks in his hand.

“Hey Valentina,” he called, handing me one of the glasses. “Cheers to my big brother's successful alliance.” He said clicking his glass with mine.

He did well hiding his evil intentions but I won't be fooled. I raised eyebrow and stared at the drink. Matteo came and stood beside me, a drink in hand.

“Cheers baby,” I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes. I hoped he'd stop me from drinking it. But he simply smiled.

“Cheers, more wins to us.” He drank his drink in a gulp.

“Us.” I muttered. The word tasted bitter in my mouth. It hurts. To see the person you love betray you to your face. I pretend to take the drink when someone bumped into me and the glass slipped from my hand.

“Goodness, Valentina! Why are you so clumsy?” Damien exclaimed. His voice drawing the attention of everyone.

Matteo rushed forward to me, examining me for any injuries. Did I stop him? No. I let him carry on with his act. Everyone who saw this would think he was a loving and caring husband even though he is a made man.

When he made sure I wasn't hurt, he called the staff to clean the glass.

“Go on, don't keep your guests waiting.” I urged him.

“You're so understanding. How did I get so lucky?” He kissed my forehead and left.

Lucky? Yeah right, lucky indeed.

Immediately Matteo left, Ariana came out of nowhere and pushed me. I didn't see her and I wasn't expecting it at all.

I fell to the ground, my palm directly on the glass.

“Valentina!!” she yelled.

I wasn't lucky as shards of glass stuck to my palm.

Everyone rushed to check up on me. Matteo got to me first, and for a split second, I saw worry and concern on his face.

He yelled for one of his men to get the car ready. “Let's get you to the hospital.”

He was about to scoop me into his arms when Damien came rushing in.

“Matteo, we have a problem. Alana fainted at the airport!”

“What?!” He roared.

He let go of me without much thought, pushing the crowd and rushing to his awaiting car.

VALENTINA'S POV

“What's going to happen now that Alana is back?” Someone asked from the crowd.

“I don't know. But Matteo had always loved Alana. I know one thing though, their marriage won't be the same again.” Another replied.

“Tsk, tsk, it's so sad that a lady this graceful and sophisticated, cannot keep man like Matteo all to herself.”

“What's the story behind it?”

“Well, Valentina married into the Da Vinci family when they're were down after the attack on the business three years ago. So it was an arranged marriage kind of thing.”

“Now, that Alana is back, I'm sure she'll be tossed aside by Matteo.”

“Shhh, she might hear you, keep it down.”

So three good years, was just a cruel joke? I was kept on the dark all this while?..

I picked myself up, the glass shards in my palm made pain shoot through my hand.

By the time I got to the ER, it was past midnight. The shards were removed and bandaged. I stopped dead in my tracks, when I saw Alana leaning against Matteo as they came out of a room.

“What are you doing here Valentina?” Matteo froze, shielding Alana. I forced a smile, and raised my hand. “If you've forgotten, your sister pushed me.”

Alana spoke. “why are you blaming Ariana? Isn't she your sister-in-law?”

“That's none of your business.” I replied coldly.

“Valentina, I won't have you talking to Alana in that manner, apologise to her this instant.” His tone deadly.

I turned to leave when he held my hand. “Apologise to her. Now!” His grip tightened. I stared into his cold eyes. Nothing. I felt nothing. A cold smile etched on my lips.

So this was it. “You should concentrate on her.” I said coldly and walked out.

I stared at the villa in front of me. The place I called home for the past three years, my safe haven was all in my head.

The following morning a text came in from an unknown number. “It's just a matter of a few hours before you're gone from our lives forever.”

Alana. Not surprised.

I was making breakfast when Matteo walked into the kitchen. “You're up early.” He said.

He came and placed a kiss on my forehead. But what I saw was like a slap on my face. Through his opened button, a hickey sat there, clear as day.

I may have ignored Alana's message but the hickey? That send a clear message if what this whole charade was.

“Baby, I'm so sorry for running out and leaving you yesterday. I was just worried about Alana, I didn't mean to upset you.” He apologised, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

He kissed my temple and smiled. “I have organised for us all to have dinner at a five star hotel tonight to celebrate the new alliance properly. Just us family and friends.”

His words felt sincere, I would have been filled with blushes by now but, I felt nothing.

Last night, after I left. A nurse came running, that the doctor forgot to give me some injections to prevent infections when I heard them talking again.

“What do we do? The plan failed.” Ariana said, her voice anxious.

“What are you worried about? Matteo should just talk her, he has organised a dinner to celebrate the success of his alliance, and we'll have right where we want her to be. And the plan will be carried out smoothly.” Alana said, casually.

I got the injections and left. And now, here was, the man I was so in love with, planning to ruin me, pretending as if everything was okay.

“You guys enjoy the dinner, I'm not going.” I voiced out flatly going back to my cooking.

“Come on, baby, don't be like that.” He coarsed.

“No.” I replied again, this time coldly.

Matteo's jaw tightened and his expression darkened for a moment before it was quickly replaced by the warmest smile he could muster.

“Everybody is already invited. It won't be nice not to have you there.”

“Fine. I'll be there. Send me the address.” Focusing back on my cooking.

“I'll pick you up. Wear something nice and fancy.”

I watched as his figure retreated upstairs. I felt nothing. It doesn't feel numb. I just felt cold and empty.

I was reviewing some files about a pending overseas project left by father from his legal side of the family business in my home office when I heard Matteo's car outside.

I placed the files in my bag and entered the car without a word. The car ride was silent.

“Where are we headed?” I asked, my attention on my phone.

“The B&B lounge and bar.”

I quickly typed in the name of the place and sent a message, dropping my phone back in my bag.

Matteo directed us to a private room. The loud music made me frown as we entered the room.

“Valentina.” I heard Alana yell my name. “ You are here, come, come sit here!”

She did not wait for me to respond before she grabbed my hand, dragging me to seat on one of the chairs.

“I hope you don't mind me being here?” I scanned the room quietly. Everyone here was either Alana's or Matteo's friends.

What a dinner!

Just then, Ariana came with two glasses. “Valentina, I'm so sorry about yesterday. I wasn't looking where I was going. Please forgive me, I didn't mean to push you.” she said, giving me one of the glasses.

Matteo sat at the corner, drinking silently. He made no attempt to talk and just stared. But I wasn't naive.

I smirked. “Ariana, if you really want my apology, why don't you drink it first? I need to know, if you're sincerely sorry right now.” I said smiling.

“Why are you being so difficult now Valentina. Ariana is sorry, she just apologised. What more do you want?” Alana accused.

“Then will you drink it?” I raised an eyebrow.

“You wench…”

“That enough,” Matteo's voice boomed.

“Valentina, stop being so difficult. Drink it, don't spoil the mood for everyone.”

I wasn't in the mood to keep playing along with their games. I checked the time on my watch. With another word, I turned to leave when a hand stopped me.

Matteo held my jaw tightly, forcing the drink down my throat. No one stopped him. In fact, they laughed at my misery.

Matteo left my jaw when he was sure I had swallowed the drink. My vision was blurry, pain and humiliation burned in my chest. I grabbed my bag and ran out looking for the restroom.

VALENTINA'S POV

I finally stopped, my hands dropped to my sides. I threw up everything bit of the drink until I was certain, nothing was left. Exhausted, I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

My eyes were red, my hair was disheveled and my makeup was smeared. A bitter smiled edged my lips.

I took a deep breath and stared back at my self in the mirror. Why exactly am I upset? The three years wasted or the illusion I was under thinking Matteo wasn't as heartless as people viewed him to be?

I looked back in the mirror. The tears I was holding back finally spilled. The pain, the humiliation of these past few days came weighing on my shoulder.

I fixed my makeup, straightened my hair and my dress, pulling myself together and walking out of the restroom. I approached a waiter and he directed me to the private room for my meeting. I pushed the door open, only to bump into a wall or rather someone.

“Miss Felucci, you're here finally! I was beginning to wonder if you canceled on me.”

“My apologies, Mr. Romano. I was held up my something on the way.” I said, smiling politely.

If it any better, I'll take care of our bills tonight.” I offered.

The man, Alexander, placed a gentle hand over mine. “Don't worry about that. Besides, we men should learn to wait for ladies.” He said with a charming smile.

“Let's talk about the project. Meet my assistant, Daniel.”

His assistant handed him a file. My father had a pending project with the Romanos. Years ago, they moved abroad, where he was handling the overseas company, and now he's finally back and as the CEO of the cooperation. I was just notified yesterday that he was back in the city. And he agreed to meet for a meeting.

“Thank you for meeting here on a short notice.”

“I should thank you, it will be my greatest honour to continue this project with you. And also for making this meeting a success.”

“If you don't mind, I'll drop you home.” He offered.

“Sure! Thank you.”

Just as we were about to leave the lounge, the door busted open. “Valentina! There you are.” Alana said, grabbing my hand.

“Where did you go? We've looking all over for you! We were getting worried!”

I pulled my hand out of her hold. “You guys enjoy yourselves, I've a lot to do, I'll take my leave now.”

“Aw, don't be such a spoil sport. We were just having fun earlier, no need to take it personal.”

“Miss,” Alexander stopped her. Pulling my hand from her hold. “Why are you insistent? It's clear she doesn't want to go with you.”

“Well, well, well, who do we have here? The almighty Alexander Romano himself.” She said her voice suddenly seductive and more polite.

“It's Mr. Romano to you miss.”

“Well, Mr. Romano, we were just having fun and Valentina here just couldn't handle it. You know, joke among friends. You know, she's very sensitive.”

Sensitive my foot. I thought.

Out of nowhere, Matteo appeared, dragging me back inside with him. Alexander tried to follow but Alana blocked him. When he left, Alana was behind us. We went to the lounge and Alana opened the door and Matteo shoved me inside, locking it.

“Matteo, let me out.” I banged on the door. The door opened and five thugs waltzed in.

“Open the door, Matteo!”

One of them whistled. “Damn, we got some motherfucking luck, aye?”

I trembled, my hands clutch my bag tightly. I didn't plan for this but clearly, nothing goes as planned. “Don't come any closer.” I said, backing away.

The men kept coming forward. I removed my heel and held it as a weapon. “Relax darling, we just want to have some fun.” One said, as they circled me.

“Wh..what do you want? Money? Name your price, I'll pay you double the amount they gave you.” I said, barely able to keep my voice grounded.

One lunged at me. I hit him in the jaw with the heel. “Damn, she hits hard.” he growled.

“Well, if they're feisty, they tasted best.” Another said. Two came up from behind me and held me tightly. One was already unbuckling his belt and the other two, trying to unbutton my shirt.

“Let me go. If my brother finds out, you all are dead.” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

“Please, don…don't do this to me. I beg you “

My blouse was removed, my bra was torn. “ Ple…please…I beg you.” But my plea fell on deaf ears.

Nobody came to my aid. Who would? It was all a plan.

My dignity was about to be ripped off me. I laid there naked, in despair.

Just as I was about to succumb to darkness. A loud crash burst through the door and it opened with a bang.