Chapter 2 The morretti Mansion.

Victoria stepped down from the car as she stared at the mansion in front of her. And the calm face of the man beside her, who she'd sworn to forget after tonight.

"This is your home now." Dante's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "My lady, welcome home." The maid gathered outside as they bowed to her.

She wasn't used to this kind of life; she had struggled for everything and even agreed to marry Kelvin just so her father could partner with Kelvin.

"You can call me Victoria," the words slipped past her lips.

The weight of the wedding dress had not left her shoulders; neither had the veil.

"From now on her orders are the same as mine," Dante ordered as all the workers bowed in unison.

She had just walked two steps when her feet slipped, almost crashing into the ground, when a strong hand pulled her up.

Her eyes fluttered, staring at his face, the once young man she'd known now strong and muscular.

"Drop me; I can walk," she hissed at him.

He gave no reply as he carried the bride upstairs while she buried her flushed face in anger.

The workers all gossiped, "I've never seen the boss like this," one whispered.

"This is supposed to be a good thing, right?" another young lady asked, jealousy filling her eyes.

"Why does it look like he'd just stolen her from her wedding?" Before they could utter another word, the head maid, an elderly woman, barked at them.

"Keep gossiping and you will answer to the boss," the elderly woman hissed.

Her name was Madam Agnes. She had seen this little boy grow from being a tiny kid to a ruthless young man and felt all his pain.

...

The door clicked open. "This is your room," he muttered. Dropping her on top of the bed.

The room looked like everything she'd wanted for herself, the closet and the color of the vanity like it was made for a princess. Dante, why after all these years?" she managed to whisper. "I can't. I don't belong here."

"I'm sorry, Vicky," he said, kneeling as he pulled the string of her shoe, but she didn't let his finger graze her skin.

"I don't want to be here," she hissed. "Kelvin, my mom and dad, they'll be waiting for me."

He reached out his hand to touch her, but she flinched, nothing like the girl who'd always run after him.

"Victoria," he snapped. "If you don't want to be here, then don't blame me."

"You think you can just walk back after all these years, and I'd open my arms to welcome you?" she asked, tears at the brink of falling.

His tone softened. "Please, I didn't mean to abandon you."

"It's all excuses, go!! She hauled the pillow at him." His hand tightened into a fist. No more words. As his throat burned hot, he took one last look at her.

"Wait for me, Vicky." The door clicked shut.

Panic rose, hot and absurd. "Open the door! Open the door, Dante, I'm not staying here," she cried, pounding the door. Her heart hammered as if to break free.

"I'm not your prisoner. Let me go." She fell to her knees; hot tears burned her cheek."Don't let her out; give her anything she wants," he said to Madam Agnes.

Moments later, the sound of the engine roared downstairs; he had left, no longer able to stand the rejection from her.

***

At the Hales Family.

Kelvin slammed his hand on the table. "Mr. Hales, you promised she was going to be mine. I can't stand him dragging my bride and humiliating the Valens like that."

Mr. James Hales, Victoria's father, stood rooted, his face flushed in anger. He'd thought that Victoria wedding could finally secure him a contract in the Valens family.

"That kid had always been obedient," he said.

"I would bring her back for you; don't withdraw your support."

Now when things were finally smiling for him, his first daughter had caught the eyes of a rich man who would even invest in his small company.

Amelie stood behind the closed door, hitting her lips in hatred for her stepsister, who seemed to always get all the good things.

"Dad sister has always loved to play with those kinds of men," she said, stepping out from her hiding.

Mr. Hales gave her a warning glare as if telling her to mind her words.

"Father she's been promiscuous and only knows how to act obedient with you around" Amelie continued.

"Kelvin, don't listen to Amelia; she's already your bride," Mr. Hales panicked.

"You think I care for your excuses?" Kelvin's tone dropped low and dangerous. "If I don't get her back, I'll pull my entire investment out of your company. You'll be ruined before dawn."

Mrs. Hales, Victoria's stepmother, scoffed from the couch, her jewels glinting under the chandelier.

"Amelia is as beautiful as Victoria; why don't you just marry her?" she said. "Besides, she is better trained than that little brat who was raised without a mother."

Amelia's lips curved into a wide smile.

Ever since the night she and Kelvin had sex on the night he was drunk, she had always dreamed of being Mrs Valens, but it felt like she never existed to Kelvin.

He even paid her off and asked her to promise never to reveal this to anyone.

Kelvin stormed out of their house. He knew he had to speak with his former best friend.

He drove straight to the club owned by Dante.he had always talked about owning this club when they were growing up.

"Come outside, Dante!" Kelvin screamed as he barged into the club.

The club bustled with men and women dancing and drinking.

In one corner a man as cold as ice smoked away his problem. All the girls drooled at him, but none was bold enough to step close. The last time a girl threw herself at him, she'd ended up crippled and blacklisted in the city.

"You stole my woman." Kelvin lunged at him, all the drinks on the table came crashing down.

The guard got up immediately, gun pointed at Kelvin.

"You're still a loser," Dante muttered, his lips curved into a mocking smile.

"I can't steal what's mine," he said, a frosty smile plastered on his lips.

"She's not yours; she already agreed to walk down the aisle with me," Kelvin answered.

The two men called the attention of the whole club, and girls whispered who was the lady that could make the hot Dante Moretti get into a fight.

"Get out of my club," Dante hissed.

"Did she tell you we've had sex?" Kelvin blurted out.

The next second turned into chaos as Dante fist connected with his face.

A Scream tore through the club as both men fought each other.

Dante Moretti spat a mouthful of blood as he stomped on his former best friend.

Kelvin words kept replaying in his head as his guards dragged him out of the club. He had injuries, and a bottle pierced his hands

.

"This is not over. I will get my woman back," Kelvin hurled insults at the moving car.

Just then his guards came dragging him out.

What both men didn't know was their fight had been videotaped and now was trending online.

Everyone wanted to see the bride that was stolen.

Some girls cursed at her, calling her a whore as she couldn't stick to one man.

***

Victoria had been curled up inside the room for hours; her throat was dry. She decided to take a shower; she needed strength.

Just then her room door turned open.

"My lady, what would you like to eat?" Madam Agnes asked, stepping inside the room.

"I'm not hungry; I just want to leave this place," Victoria answered, not even raising her head.

"He would be angry if you didn't eat anything," the elderly woman said.

"Dante is not a bad person; he always talked about you," she muttered.

"When you're hungry, you can go to the kitchen; you're not a prisoner." She walked away, leaving the door open.

"If he's not a bad person, then what is he?" Victoria asked herself as she dried her hair in front of the mirror.

Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn't had anything since.

She had just taken a step down when she saw Dante being dragged into the villa, his clothes torn and face bruised.

Her pulse quickened.

She ran over, "What happened to him?"

"The guards all looked frozen, contemplating if it was a good idea to tell the lady.

"Quick, let's take him to the hospital," she gasps, staring at the cut on his fist.

"The boss doesn't like the hospital," one answered.

"Then bring first aid," she said.

Dante opened his eyes, staring at the beautiful woman she had grown to become.

"Do you still care about me?" His lips curved into a smile.

"You can still joke about" she scolded him as she unbuttoned his shirt, wiping away stains with a towel.

"This doesn't hurt as much as seeing you walking down the aisle with him," he said, no longer smiling.

"Don't say anything," she hushed him.

She collected the first aid, and it was.

Just the two of them, as the maids do not sleep in the villa.

She wiped gently applied ointment.

"Did you sleep with him?"

The word managed to escape his mouth.

Victoria's eyes widened, her lips moved, but no words...