The Dominant Game: The Billionaire's Ugly Wife

Chapter 01

3rd Person's POV

"No! Let me go! You're not my mommy!"

The doctors panicked as a young boy went berserk. A man quickly arrived and took the child away.

"Sonia, what are you doing? Didn't I tell you to stay away from Vladimir and not show yourself?" the man said as he carried the boy, trying to calm him down. Meanwhile, a woman knelt down, half of her face burnt, almost unrecognizable due to severe burns.

The husband looked at her differently. He had never looked at her that way in all the years they had been together.

"Victor, I just wanted to see my son. Just to check if he's okay and not injured," the lady said tearfully. The man's face darkened.

"Check? With your face like that? Vladimir didn't even recognize you! Can't you see he's trembling?" Victor shouted. Sonia stopped and tried to stand up.

"Why are you angry? As if it's my fault that this happened to my face? Don't you have a hand in all of this!" Sonia shouted. Sonia stopped when Victor's family arrived.

"Am I hearing this right? Are you blaming Victor?" the elder asked. Despite her beauty and sophistication, it was hard to believe she was in her 80s.

She approached with Victor's siblings, all with disgusted looks directed at her.

"My goodness, Victor. You allowed my nephew to see Sonia's face? Vladimir's therapy results haven't even come out yet, and now he'll have another trauma," Victoria said. Victor's twin. The woman covered her mouth while looking down on Sonia with disdain.

Right from the start, Victor's family didn't like her because she wasn't born into wealth. She grew up in an orphanage. They always said that besides her beauty, she had nothing else.

"You even ruined what little beauty you had," Victor's older sibling, Vincent, said. He had attempted to assault her several times when she lived in the Valencia mansion, but Victor wouldn't believe her because Vincent was a pastor.

Victor instructed the doctors to take Sonia back to her room and not let her out until the results were out. Victor didn't say anything despite his family's insults towards her.

Sonia tightly held onto her arm and tearfully followed the doctors. She heard Victor's mother say they should divorce her.

Almost two weeks after the accident, it was revealed that Sonia's wounds were untreatable. Even if she were taken to another country and underwent surgery, it wouldn't be possible. Sonia's world seemed to crumble upon hearing that.

Sonia touched her face. It couldn't be-her son would forever fear her, and she couldn't go back to her old career.

"Doc, is there really no way?" Victor asked. He was worried, not because he was concerned about Sonia, but because he feared what his friends would say and the public backlash.

The doctor just shook his head and explained why. Since Sonia had lost herself completely, she didn't hear anything except for the family's hurtful words, blaming her for everything.

Sonia pulled her hair and hid her face in her knees. What would she do now?

A few months later, they returned to the mansion. Sonia was surprised when she entered her and Victor's room, and it was locked from the outside.

"Victor! What does this mean!" Sonia shouted and banged on the door.

"You can't be seen by people, Sonia. It's embarrassing-and besides, if Vladimir sees you again, his condition might worsen. It's better for you to stay there," Victor said from the other side of the door.

Sonia felt her heart break upon hearing that. Trembling, she knelt down. What was Victor doing to her, and what did he mean by her staying there?

Almost every day, Sonia begged to be let out. Sometimes she heard Vladimir outside, and then an unknown woman would speak, warning him not to go near because there's a monster. That was her son. Sonia continued to scream, demanding to be let out.

Until she got tired, realizing that her husband had truly abandoned her.

She could only content herself with looking out the window, where she could see the gate and her son. She also saw Victor with Themarie, Sonia's best friend. Sonia had no choice but to watch as Victor and Themarie laughed while entering their mansion.

Two years passed quickly, and it seemed like yesterday when Victor was so happy with her.

Her memories with Victor slowly came back. Back when they were in high school, she was the campus queen, and Victor was the campus king.

Their love story was even aired like a fairytale, until they got married. Their love story even played out like a fairytale until they got married.

She used to believe in fairytales. She was the princess, and Victor was the prince. Just like in fairy tale books, when they got married, it had "The End" written. That's how their story with Victor ended because she wasn't a princess anymore.

After their marriage, when Vladimir was born, Victor grew cold towards her. That's when Sonia realized that happy endings only existed in books. Happy ever afters only existed in books.

Sonia held her arm tightly as she stared into space.

Victor was gone. She wasn't stupid not to realize why Themarie was always there and why they were always together.

Even though she knew, she still couldn't accept it. She kept telling herself repeatedly that Victor wasn't that kind of person. Themarie was only there to comfort Victor because he was sad without her.

"Who did I fool? Victor locked me up-right here."

Chapter 02

3rd Person's POV

"I think-it's better if we just get a divorce. I can't stand your face anymore, and besides, Vladimir is already afraid of you. I'm sorry, Sonia-but I also don't want my family to get angrier at me and possibly remove the company from me. I need the company for Vladimir," Victor Valencia uttered those words. Sonia's first husband and the person who promised in front of God that they would be together through thick and thin-that he wouldn't leave her nor hurt her.

"W-What? Divorce? Victor! You can't do this to me," Sonia said tearfully.

Sonia hadn't seen her husband's face for years after he locked her in their room and treated her like a prisoner. When they finally met again, this was what Victor said to her.

Victor held a document and ordered her to sign it. Sonia immediately said she didn't want to. She approached Victor and knelt in front of him.

"I'm begging you, Victor. Don't leave me. I need you more than ever now," Sonia said while crying and holding onto the man's pants. Victor quickly stepped back and looked at Sonia coldly.

That look of disgust. Victor asked himself how far Sonia could degrade herself.

"Don't you see yourself now, Sonia?" Victor asked. Sonia knelt there, looking up at Victor.

"You, Victor, why are you like this? Even though my appearance has changed, I'm still your wife, and you promised to love me. Why-why do you have to do this, Victor?" Sonia asked. Tears continued to stream down Sonia's face.

"You promised me, Victor. You promised not to hurt me and not to leave me. Victor, why?" Sonia asked. Victor's demeanor changed slightly, and he avoided eye contact.

"I only liked you because you were beautiful. Whenever I was with you, many men envied me," Victor said. Victor clenched his fist and looked at Sonia.

"But look at yourself now! If I want a divorce now, it's because of you!" Victor shouted. Sonia's body trembled after hearing all of that.

During their years together, how could she have loved the person standing in front of her now?

"Is it my fault? Are you saying this is my fault? I didn't want any of this to happen to me, Victor. Are you saying I should have just stayed in the car and left our son inside! Victor! You know why I ended up like this! I saved our son!" Sonia shouted. Victor clenched his fist. Victor remained silent. Sonia couldn't believe it.

"I'll sign the divorce papers, but you have to give me back our son," Sonia said, trying to stand up. Sonia knew that no matter how much she begged there, Victor's mind wouldn't change. Furthermore, she now knew that their relationship was just a big lie-she wouldn't last there anymore.

"Who told you that you can make decisions? You're not taking my grandson. Sign that, and leave," the elder said. Victor's mother followed, along with Themarie.

Themarie acted shocked when she saw her. She asked if Sonia was okay.

"You bitch. You're even trying to steal Victor. You really can't stop your promiscuity," Sonia said with a dark expression. Victor quickly intervened.

"Stop it with Themarie, Sonia. This is between us-your only task is to sign that. Once you sign that, Sonia, I'll pay you- it'll be enough for you to sustain yourself until you want," Victor said. It was as if Sonia had been slapped after hearing that.

"I'm not your employee, Victor. I'm your wife. I won't sign until I'm sure you'll give me back our son!" Sonia shouted.

The madam got angry. She dragged Sonia out of the mansion, saying Sonia wouldn't bring anything with her. She was the only one leaving, and she was not to come back. She closed the gate behind her. Sonia screamed there and called her son's name.

Eight-year-old Vladimir came out. He looked at her with a puzzled expression, then Victor led him inside with Themarie.

"You animals! Give me back Vlad! Bring me back my son!" Sonia cried while holding onto the gate. The child looked at her.

"Mommy?" Vladimir called. He faced her and was about to approach her when Victor pulled him back and said she wasn't his mommy.

"You beast, Victor! Bring back my son! Vlad!" Sonia shouted. Vladimir burst into tears. The man took him into the mansion.

---

Sonia couldn't understand why her husband and the person she trusted wholeheartedly would do such a thing. Sonia stood in front of the fountain in the middle of the park.

She looked at her face covered with bandages. Tears continued to fall from the woman's eyes.

"You beast, Victor. Bring back my son," Sonia cried and sat on the ground while holding onto the edge of the fountain.

Sonia continued to mourn while sitting on the ground. Not only did her former husband refuse to give her child back, but the Valencias also kicked her out of the mansion with nowhere to go and no place to stay.

She didn't know where she would go now or where to start. Sonia couldn't help but sob out of sheer frustration.

"Are you sick?"

Sonia stopped and turned around. She saw a child about six years old. The other children with the child backed away.

"France! Run! She's a monster!" the other kids shouted. The child ran away, so the boy turned to Sonia. Sonia stood up and stepped back.

The child looked at her and held out his white handkerchief. Sonia didn't take it, afraid the child might run away if she approached.

"Mommy, I've been waiting for you for so long. You're here after all. Let's go home. Daddy and I miss you," the child said. Sonia was shocked. She was about to leave when the child chased her and grabbed the hem of her jacket.

"France! What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to leave school without me picking you up?" Sonia turned around. She saw a handsome man approaching, seemingly not noticing her. She remembered he was a famous celebrity and often saw him on billboards.

The man stopped after hearing what the child said. "Daddy, I saw mommy."

Their eyes met. The man immediately took the child and carried him.

"She's not your mommy," the man said and turned away. The child suddenly went wild and screamed "Mommy." He kept hitting his father, who cursed. Sonia thought the child had serious anger management issues. The man let go of him. The child ran towards Sonia and hugged her.

"Mommy, don't leave me again. Promise, I will be a good boy. I will behave. Mommy, please, don't leave me."

In an instant, Sonia became a mother again, and the child recognized her as his mommy.

"Can you come with us now? I'll pay you a large amount. I just need to take my son home," the man said. They were attracting attention, and the man covered her face.

It would be chaotic if reporters came, and more people noticed her. In Sonia's mind, how could she refuse when she saw two pairs of blue eyes now fixated to her.

Chapter 03

3rd Person's POV

They got out of the car. They arrived at a very large mansion. There were maids there who greeted them immediately.

"Mommy, is this our house? Do you remember?" the child asked while holding Sonia's hand. Sonia couldn't speak.

"France, she's not your mom-"

"No! She's my mom!" the child shouted and hugged Sonia's waist. The woman bit her lip.

The man sighed. He looked at Sonia and told her to go inside first.

Some maids and a butler followed. Sonia remained with her head bowed because of the scrutinizing looks they were giving her.

When they entered the mansion, the people who had followed them just moments ago suddenly disappeared.

The man seated Sonia on the sofa. Sonia sat beside the young boy.

"France, go take a shower and change," the man said, loosening his tie.

"No! I'm not leaving. Make mommy leave again!" the child shouted. The man looked at Sonia, seemingly telling her to speak.

Sonia cleared her throat and glanced at France. She told him she would wait there for him.

"I'm not leaving," Sonia said. France blinked and raised his pinky.

"Promise?"

Sonia saw her child in the young boy. She blinked and smiled slightly, raised her hand, and made a promise.

The child immediately stood up and ran downstairs, saying he would come back down.

"Sorry about my son. He still doesn't understand that his mom won't be coming back," the man said, sitting on the sofa opposite Sonia.

"My ex-wife passed away less than two years ago. France is still having a hard time accepting it," the man added. Sonia didn't know what to say, so she remained silent.

"I'll have someone take you back to where you're staying after we talk to France," the man said. Sonia just looked at him, then looked away.

"I don't have a place to go back to. Just take me back to the park later," Sonia said. That's where she slept after the Valencias kicked her out.

"Then you can stay here. If you don't mind, you can be France's nanny," the man said. Sonia paused and looked at him. The man gently scratch his cheek.

"If it's alright with you. Handling France isn't difficult as long as he believes you're his mom," the man said. Sonia furrowed her brow.

"Besides being a nanny, do you want me to pretend to be his mom?" Sonia asked. She told him that if he did that, it wouldn't have a good effect on the child.

"Sorry, sir. I agree to be the nanny because I need the job, but pretending to be your child's mom, I can't do that. I have a child of my own," Sonia said. The man paused for a moment then looked away. He apologized.

France came down and called Sonia mommy. He held Sonia's hand. The woman's expression softened.

"I'm not your mommy. You must have mistaken me because my face was covered, but I'm not your mommy," Sonia said. The child didn't speak. Sonia raised her hand and removed the coverings from her face one by one.

"See, I'm not-"

Sonia stopped as France touched her cheek. He had a gentle expression as he looked into Sonia's eyes.

"Are you hurt? Mommy," the young boy said. Sonia's eyes welled up. She suddenly remembered her child and hugged France.

Sonia couldn't hold back her emotions anymore. She was exhausted. She said she wasn't a bad person; she just wanted to be a good mother.

Sonia continued to cry as she hugged the child, who was now hugging Sonia's head.

After Sonia's crying session, she almost knelt in front of Fabian Martinez to ask for forgiveness. Sonia said she just missed her child.

The man smiled and said it was okay. Fabian looked at his son, who was now sleeping on Sonia's lap.

"France likes you. It seems he doesn't call you mommy because he sees his ex-wife in you," the man said, looking directly into Sonia's eyes.

"You can stay here as France's nanny. You can stay in a room connected to France's room," Fabian said. Sonia was pleased with Fabian's consideration; he didn't ask about her child or the reason for her crying.

"Anyway," Fabian said before standing up. He walked towards Sonia and extended his hand to her.

"I'm Fabian Martinez, and my son-his name is France Martinez," Fabian said. Sonia just looked at Fabian. She remembered when she was a model, she was just one of those people who stood by and watched Fabian as he walked by.

Now she was in front of him, taking care of his child. Sonia took Fabian's hand.

"I'm Sonia Valenci- Salazar, Sonia Salazar," Sonia said. Fabian smiled and said he was glad to meet Sonia.

Sonia didn't know if Fabian was really this kind in person because she remembered when she was just a trainee in the same agency as him, he was also short-tempered and wary of people, almost like a snob. There was even an issue that circulated that Fabian allegedly threw water on one of his sponsors' faces. Fabian released Sonia's hand.

Fabian picked up his son. France murmured "mommy."

"Follow me, I'll take you to your room, and tomorrow, I'll introduce you to the other maids," Fabian said. Sonia stood up. Fabian turned around and walked. Sonia followed with France.

"Don't bother Fabian. You just need to play with him and watch over him all the time after school. He can take care of himself, even cleaning his room, dressing himself, and bathing," Fabian said. Sonia glanced at him.

"He can't," Sonia whispered. Fabian stopped and looked back. Sonia blinked and glanced slightly in another direction.

"I think his mom used to dress him and bathe him, but since she's not here, he has no choice but to take care of himself," Sonia said. Fabian chuckled lightly and said Sonia knew a lot about the child.

"I have a son too. He's the same when I'm not around. We also have maids, but he doesn't want anyone else to take care of him besides me," Sonia whispered. Sonia paused after realizing something. She had just said all that to a man she didn't really know.

Sonia glanced at Fabian. Fabian just smiled and said they were in front of France's room. Sonia immediately opened the door.

Fabian entered his son's room. He told Sonia to come in.

"When it's nighttime and France is asleep, I'll lock his room. If possible, always keep an eye on him-there are times when he sleepwalks, and I'm afraid he might fall down the stairs," Fabian said after putting his son to bed.

Sonia stopped.

"Sleepwalk?" Sonia repeated. At that age, he was sleepwalking.

"Yeah, he goes to his mom's room downstairs or to the pond," Fabian replied, now standing by the bed and looking at his son.