⋆⁺₊ ☼ | Valentino’s POV | ☼ ⋆⁺⋆
I turned to the bodyguard that was left since the other one was busy disposing of the unfortunate trespasser. “Go to the kitchen and let the chef know I’m around. Oh, and when you’ve done that, search the outskirts of this island for a boat or any transport that woman could have used to get to this island.”
☼☼☼
The garden buzzed with quiet activity as I placed dish after dish on the table. A lavish spread carefully tailored to Verity’s tastes.
Aella’s face lit up with delight, her hands clasping together in joy. “Valentino, you did all this… for me?”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. None of this was for her. I’d instructed the chef to prepare it for the date I had planned for Verity and I.
Instead, I offered Aella a faint smile while my real focus remained elsewhere — Verity’s window which I could see from where I was. “You’ve worked hard today, Aella. My beautiful queen deserves a reward.” My voice carried just loud enough to ensure the right ears caught every word. Words carefully chosen to incite jealousy.
Aella’s blush deepened as I picked up a piece of food and fed it to her directly. She hesitated, overwhelmed by the rare show of intimacy, before chewing slowly, her gaze never leaving mine.
Her friends sat nearby, watching with envy thinly veiled behind their plastered smiles.
“Do you see that?” One whispered. “I told you Valentino adores her. He’s completely devoted.”
“That’s right,” Another chimed in with a sneer. “The nerve of that plastic-surgery knockoff thinking she could steal him from Aella. Ridiculous.”
I tuned out their chatter, my focus still locked on that window. Was she watching? Did the sight of this little performance bother her? The goal was to provoke her, but there was no movement, no flicker of her shadow.
Seeing my efforts were in vain, I rose up from my chair suddenly, despaired and wanting to leave immediately.
“Let’s go,” I said, extending a hand to Aella. “I’ve decided to gift you that new manor I recently bought. If you like it, it’s yours today. As long as you leave this island.”
She gasped and latched onto my arm, eyes sparkling with anticipation. “Really? I’ve been eyeing it for a while now, I couldn’t dream of anything better.” She left a sloppy kiss on my cheek and screeched, “Let’s go!”
Aella tugged me forward eagerly and I faked a fond chuckle. In reality though, my mind wasn’t even here anymore. I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder one last time. Still nothing. Did she really not care for me at all to even show her face at the sound of my voice?
She was supposed to meet me here in the first place. Verity knew I didn’t like when she ignored me. But she had the guts to stand me up.
I’d been trying to keep my anger under control but this was my last straw — something inside me snapped. Shaking Aella’s hand off, I turned abruptly and strode toward the main villa without a word.
“Valentino?” she called after me, her confusion plain. But I didn’t stop.
Inside was deathly quiet as I climbed the stairs, heading straight for Verity’s room. I pushed the door open with a force that made it slam against the wall.
“I know you hate me but you could at least show some…” Huh? My words faltered as my eyes swept across the empty room. She wasn’t here.
Anger rose like a tidal wave as I stormed through the villa, searching every corner. Every step only fueled my frustration further. Each empty room only confirmed the lingering fear that had begun to burn in my mind. But I couldn’t let myself assume. It couldn’t be…
By the time I returned to the garden, fury burned hot in my chest.
“Where is she?” I demanded, my voice low but sharp, struggling to contain an outburst.
Aella blinked at me, clearly startled. “Who?”
“The woman who was inside,” I said, stepping closer and struggling not to blow up in Aella's face. “Where the f*ck is she?”
Her confusion seemed genuine, but her hesitation betrayed her. And her next words shattered me completely.
“The only person I saw was that plastic-surgery freak. I reported to y- you and you even p- praised me!” She stammered. “You told Enzo to go bury her. Have you forgotten?”
