Valerie's POV

I spent the past few days in my room, thinking about the Mateo gesture, and the forbidden room. Mom called almost every day, and we talked for hours on the phone because she couldn't help but worry about me.

She kept sharing tips on how to make kids love you, along with some careful warnings.

I was editing my unfinished business when I heard a small knock. I muttered a ‘come in’ thinking it was a maid and was surprised to see Landon and Layla holding a plate of cookies and a glass of milk.

“Hey there” I beamed brightly at them,

“Are these for me?” I questioned as I walked towards them, but I noticed they weren't smiling. it was obvious they had something to say.

“Is there a problem?” I pulled them into my room and sat them down on the blue sofa in the corner of my room.

“You can always talk to me,” I said again when I noticed how uneasy they were. Like they're not comfortable with what they're here for.

“I told everyone in school that I have a mom now, but they didn't believe me, and you didn't pick us up from school today,” Landon said sadly while looking at his feet.

“They were making fun of us today, they called Landon a liar because you didn't come to school” Layla sniffed back her tears “We're the only ones in school that don't have a mother”. She finished with tears streaming down her eyes.

I pulled them into a deep hug. They were too small to feel rejected and lonely.

“I'll be the one to drop you off at school and pick you up at the end of the day,” I said, patting their backs softly, giving them the little comfort I could offer.

“Really? You promise?” Layla questioned cheerfully, jumping up happily. I felt my chest tighten strangely while looking at the bright smile and happiness on their faces.

I was strangely getting attached faster than I thought, and I knew right there I would do anything to have this feeling again.

I hold them tightly to myself, seeing them like this makes me curious about how long they've stayed without their mom.

“I promise you” I gave them a hearty smile as I disengaged from the hug. Running my hand through Layla's hair with different thoughts running through my head when Landon pulled me by my hand, urging me to stand up.

I've noticed Landon is a guy with few words, he's either shy or something has happened that makes him say little to no words.

He took me to his room and I realized I had never really checked the kids' room out, I'd been all by myself forgetting the primary reasons why I was there in the mansion. He showed me his video games and toys. You could easily tell he doesn't have any friends, and he's all by himself.

“How do you play these games?” I said to him playfully as he was eager to show me his moves but was shocked to see I was a pro. I spent time playing video games with my dad while growing up as an only child. We went on for hours playing games and this was the happiest I have been since I moved in.

Then we went downstairs for dinner, and I was glad Leonard was not back yet. He's the type to change the mood in a room by just stepping in.

I put the kids to sleep after eating. I read bedtime stories to them. Landon was a fast sleeper, he was out before I finished the first paragraph.

“You promised to take me to school tomorrow, right?” Layla asked for the umpteenth time since I promised to come to their school, proving people must have let her down in the past.

“Of course baby, mommy is coming with you tomorrow” I reassured her again, running my hand through her hair as she was dozing off already. I tucked her in properly with a kiss on her forehead and did the same to Landon.

“Holy crap!” I screamed, shocked to see Leonard on the way, when I turned to leave.

“I didn't mean to scare you,” he said with a smirk. He was standing with his hands in the pockets of his black suit and was wearing a complete suit, he looked dashing and more handsome even though stress was written on his face, but he was not as handsome as my Mateo.

My Mateo?! No

“It's fine” I responded with my head bowed, he has intimidating eyes which I, avoid at all cost. I scurried out immediately and made my way downstairs to the maid's quarters, but she wasn't there. I needed to talk to Mrs Smith.

I saw her coming in through the back door and I rushed towards her. She is the nicest person in the house, and it's probably because she is the only mother figure in the house.

“Mrs Smith, I checked for you everywhere,” I told her, standing right in front of her.

“Oh dear, I was in the garden. Is anything the matter? I'm sure you've seen your husband”, she said with a sweet smile.

“Everything is fine, I need to ask you about something, and I'll need your help with some information too if that's okay,” I told her nervously. “ I don't know if it's okay to ask, but you're the only person apart from Leonard. I can ask” I am completely already thinking of backing out.

“It's okay dear, you can ask me anything, that's why I'm here for you”. I took my hand in hers and pulled me deep into the kitchen.

“I didn't mean to prey, I just want to know more about the kids' mother, when the kids last saw their mother and how dirty their divorce was.

Those two have been alone without a mom for so long, I want to know the situation, so I won't do anything to trigger them, you know………..”

“And who do you think you are to want that information? You are here to be their mother, not poke nosing, trying to root out things that don't concern you. I hate people that are people that don't mind their business”. Leonard cut in from the stairs, walking closer to me. “Curiosity killed the cat, let this be the last time you'll ever go around asking my staff silly questions”, he snarled harshly, his face hard with anger and his eyes cold as hell. I knew immediately I was in trouble.

: Friends

Valerie's POV

Leonard grabbed me by my hand, dragging me towards the stairs to his study room.

I tried freeing myself from his tight grip. “You're hurting me” I said, trying to match his pace as my eyes watered with tears. He pushed me inside and slammed the door angrily.

“Who the fu*k do you think you are going around sniffing my house for secrets?” I flinched at the sound of his voice “If you have any questions then fucking ask me, don't go asking around like a freaking detective. You're here to act as my wife and be the mother to my children, not the other way around”.

“It's not my fault you won't tell me anything, you won't even talk to me. I need to know about their mother and how deeply they're hurting to help them heal”. I fired back at him with a glare.

“They're not hurt, my children are perfectly fine. Okay? They need a mother figure and that's why you're here” he pointed out, and that only increased my anger.

“You call yourself their father, and you can't even see through them, are you even worth being a father?” I yelled at him loudly, standing on my toes to match him.

I instantly regretted my action, I saw his veins pop out in anger. I was held against the wall with his hand wrapped around my neck, knocking the air out of me. His eyes were so red, big, and about to pop out of their sockets.

“Pls, I didn't …..mean…. to ehmm” I pleaded as I struggled to breathe. I was holding his hand, hoping for release.

“What did you say? You don't know sh*t, you know nothing about us” He screamed in my face like a maniac. I could only pray to survive this as his hold on my neck tightened more with every word he spoke.

“I'm……. I'm ....sorry” I begged him, tears flooding down my face as my life flashed in front of me. Nobody is aware of my marriage to this demon right here. I thought about Monica and I regretted not talking to her for days now, she'd surely hate and curse my dead body.

Just when I thought of giving up, he shoved me to the side. I yelped when my back hit the floor. My hands replaced where his hands just left. I kept coughing and taking deep breaths.

“Stay in your lane, mind your business, or else.” He stormed out of the room, leaving me to drown in my misery.

I heard footsteps approaching, but I didn't have the strength to stand up as I kept staring into blank space, “Hey, are you okay? What happened?”

I looked up to find my knight in shining armor. I started sobbing out loud at the sight of him.

“It's okay, it's okay, you're okay” He knelt close to me and patted my back as I kept crying. I almost lost my life today in the hands of my so-called husband.

He handed me his handkerchief to blow my runny nose, then helped me up. He took me to the veranda and sat me down on the wooden chair there. I watched him disappear and came back with a bottle of water and a scarf. He handed me the bottle and then wrapped the scarf around my neck.

How I wish he was my husband and not his friend.

He sat down on the chair opposite me, then held my two hands, looking me directly in the eye and I almost forgot my worries as I lost myself in his eyes. “Are you better now?” He asked with concern.

“Yes,” I nodded at him. “ You know, angels aren't supposed to cry, right? To me, you are one, and even though you still look pretty when you cry, I still don't want you to waste your tears”, he said, smiling widely. While I try miserably to hide the effects of his smooth voice on me.

“Are you allowed to say that?” I asked in a low voice.

“Of course, I'm allowed”. He responded, “I've known Leonard for years and I can assure you he's a good man, and he's not always like that. If you are a little more patient with him and get to know each other each day, you'll both enjoy your marriage.” He added, putting good words out for his friend.

I can't help but wonder how the two of them met and how he's been coping with Leonard for years.

“He's not a good man, he almost murdered me in that room. Mr Mateo,” I told him. I shuddered at the memory as I touched my neck again.

“Mr Mateo? Pls, call me Mateo. We're friends now, aren't we? He asked, raising a brow jokingly.

“Yes we are,” I said shyly.

“Good, you can call me anything, and I'll be here. That's what friends are for, right?” he said, smiling.

I don't want to be your friend, I want to be more than a friend to him. But I nodded in reply.

“I have to take my leave now, we don't want to get Leonard angry,” he said, as he turned to leave.

“Okay, thanks for today, Mr Ma… Mateo” I remembered he asked me to call him by his name.

“I didn't do anything”, he gave me his biggest smile that showed his dimples as he ruffled my hair, and he left, leaving me to blush at myself.

I kept giggling like a schoolgirl as I walked back to my room. I need to find out when he's coming back, because I don't mind getting in trouble if he comes for me.

I was about to shower when I saw marks on my neck. I trailed the mark on my neck. I should be more careful when dealing with Leonard. He has made it obvious he doesn't like me, and I'll stay in my lane henceforth, it'll just be me and my children.

Valerie's POV

I woke up very early the next day and did my business in the bathroom. I picked out a white knee-length pencil skirt with a Royal Blue tank top. Today is officially my first day as Mrs Skavinski and I need to look presentable. I looked in the mirror to see faint marks of Leonard's grip on my neck. I covered it up with makeup on and checked the mirror after I was done dressing, and I was proud of myself for the results.

The ride to school was a chaotic one as Layla and Landon wanted me to meet their friends and teachers. They introduced me to their teachers as their mother and a few of their friends. I gave them the goodies I bought for them.

I took a quick stop at a shopping mall to get a few things. I walked into the mall and was going to the toys section when I heard the voice I despised the most. My mood changed instantly, I could feel my anger rising when I saw Tate walking towards me.

“Well, who do we have here? I thought you moved out of the country. I checked everywhere for you and Monica refused to tell me where you were.” Tate said, coming closer to me, but a huge man dressed in an all-black outfit stepped in between us.

“Excuse me! Who are you?” I said to the stranger who was looking at me like I'd grown two heads.

“Ma'am, I've been following you since you left the house this morning,” he said without any expression. “You didn't answer me, who are you?” I asked again, looking around to see he wasn't the only one following me, they were two others standing behind me with their Stoic expression.

“We are your bodyguards. The boss asks us to always protect you” he answered, with a little bow.

What! He didn't discuss this with me before asking them to follow me around. These only fuel my anger the more.

I looked the guard in the eyes and he stepped aside. I turned to Tate, to see him looking like he had just seen a Ghost.

“Nice seeing you again, I hope we don't run into each other again in the near future”. I walked out of the mall angrily.

I rushed inside the minute the car was parked, I saw Mrs Smith in the sitting room.

“Hi dear, welcome back, should I serve your food?” she greeted me with a smile, but I was too pissed to smile back.

“Is Leonard home?” I impatiently asked her. “Yes, he's in his home office” She replied reluctantly, I guess she knew something was wrong. “Is everything okay?” I ignored her question and marched up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

“Wait, now is not a good time to go inside his office”, Mrs Smith warned, but I didn't stop. I barged into his office without knocking, “what was that?” I screamed as soon as he turned from his chair.

“Why do I have bodyguards littering around me? You didn't even inform me, you just imposed them on me. I don't want or need anyone to protect me. I'm sure you don't trust me, but I don't care. I don't want the unnecessary stress and attention they come with, so please I don't need them, tell them to stop following me around!” I screamed at him in annoyance when I saw the smirk on his face.

He rested his back on the chair, swinging it left and right, “Well, I can't do that.”

“What do you mean by you can't do that? Don't they answer you, you just have to tell them to stop” I said, trying not to scream because his actions were driving me crazy.

“Yes, they do answer me, but you can't go anywhere without bodyguards.” His expression changed from normal to scary. Why did he look like that?

“Because you are my wife now, and I have so many enemies that want to get revenge, I'm not a good man. I'm sure you've heard about me. The rumors are true, so don't you dare go out without bodyguards or else you'll be in trouble. You either get kidnapped and killed or you get dealt with by me. I can't say which one is better”. He threatened, raising his voice a little more than normal.

“But nobody knows we are married, we can keep it like that. That way, I won't need to be guarded, and you won't have to worry about your enemies getting through to you using me”, I reasoned with him in a low voice.

“Are you sure they don't know? There are spies everywhere. You took Layla and Landon to school today and were introduced to the school as Mrs. Skavinski. You know what spreads faster than fire, right? So tell me”. He stood from his chair and stalked toward me. The closer he got, the more steps I took backwards.

“You don't know anything about our world, Val. And I'll have to show you sooner rather than later, all this pretense of acting innocent won't work for me. I know very well the type of person you are” he said with a sinister smile when my back hit the wall. He caged me to the wall with his huge body.

“And what type of person do you think I am” I asked, my heart racing fast as I waited for his reply. The sweet smell of his Cologne filled my nostrils as he placed his nose in the crook of my neck, sending signals to my brain. His hand trailed my face down to my jaw then ran them back up into my hair. He gripped my hair tightly and pulled it back harshly as he placed wet kisses on my fully exposed neck. I closed my eyes at the sensation running through me. I feel what I was not to feel.

I let out a tiny moan when he bites my neck a little.

“This is what you are, a wh*re, always want to get laid by a man, huh? You're not angry because I didn't tell you about having bodyguards, you're angry because the plan to f*ck that little ex-boyfriend of yours was ruined by them”. He said, and I winced when he pushed harshly into the wall before releasing my hair.

And without thinking twice, I slapped him “F**k you”. I shouted in his face before running out.