Valerie’s p.o v
I despised my birthdays. Each year, it always felt as though something was missing. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it.
“Happy birthday sweety!!” My mum came, smiling at me with a huge smile on her face.
“Thanks mum” I said in a shaky voice.
“honeyyyyy” she said, walking to the side of my bed. “Why are you crying? You do this every year. twenty years down and you are a baby on your big day” she said, wiping the tears away from my eyes. “gosh, you’re such a mess.” She smiled. Hugging me between each wipe of my eyes.
She said smiling at me. It had always been my mum and i against the world since she had me at the young age of 15.
It was more like an older sister if anything as her parents took me in as their child. “I want to see dad” I said wiping my face
I called my granddad dad since he was to me. Just that.
My very own father figure.
“If that’s what you want love” she said, hugging me tightly.
“So, you have plans this evening?” she said, peeling the skin at her thumb. Something she always did when she was nervous.
“Yeah, I have a dinner date with Kellan this evening.”
“you’re still with him?” she said giving me a smile. I loved Kelllan. But I was not in love with him. I felt guilty but he was a good person, so I never really bothered about how deep my feelings were for him
‘as long as he treated me right, that was all that mattered.’ It was shitty but I guess it just worked for me.
“yes I am. I have to go now, I love you mum.”
**
*I am sorry i did not get the courage to tell you earlier but I want you to meet my boyfriend we would be getting engaged soon*
The text had been simple and direct but it made my heart slammed against my rib cage.
I dropped my phone, continuing my shift like nothing happened. “I sure it’s a nice man” I muttered to myself getting back to work as I went to serve a table.
..
I couldn’t ignore it any longer. So here I was, driving to the address she texted me with a mixture of curiosity and dread swirling in my stomach. The closer I got, the more unsettled I felt.
‘what if he was like the last two?
What if he broke her heart?’ I tightened my hand on the wheels as I increased my speed.
‘He better fucking kiss the ground she walks on our there was going to be a problem’ I thought, sighing to relive some of the stress I felt.
I came down from the car. Looking around. It seemed like some private estate. “rich” I muttered feeling a bit at ease. At least she was going to get spoilt, just like she deserved. It’s not like we were poor by any means but from what I was. Seeing, I was still a bit shocked.
“Valerie,” my mother’s voice greeted me warmly. She looked radiant, happier than I’d seen her in years. Her eyes sparkled as she hugged me tightly. “I was nervous you would not be able to come”
“Mom,” I replied, trying to match her enthusiasm. “You look great.”
“And you look stressed. Its still your birthday you know, you are not allowed to look this stressed. ” she said, taking my hand and leading me inside.
The interior was just as grand as the exterior—high ceilings, polished marble floors, and tasteful art on the walls. It was the kind of place you’d expect a celebrity to live in, not my mother’s new fiancé.
“He’s in the study,” she said, as if that explained everything.
I followed her through a maze of hallways until we reached a pair of wooden double doors. She paused, glancing at me with a nervous smile. “He’s really something, Val. I think you’ll be surprised. He did not want to scare you away so he brought you to the smaller house”
I blinked, looking around. ‘smaller????’ I schooled my features as she continued to leas the way.
With that, she pushed the doors open, revealing a spacious study lined with bookshelves that reached the ceiling. A fire crackled in the fireplace, casting a warm glow over the room. And there, standing with his back to us, was a man dressed in a tailored suit, his dark hair looked neatly combed from behind
“Honey, Valerie’s here,” my mother said, her voice laced with affection. I have never heard her that happy and that was saying something because my mum was a happy soul.
He turned slowly, and my heart stopped.
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My legs felt like they might give out from under me.
“fuck you’re hot!” I blurted out and for a moment, I was ready to throw myself from the roof.
“Valerie,” he said smoothly, ignoring what i had just said. He stepped forward. His voice was just as deep, just as commanding as he looked. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Your mother speaks very highly of you.”
I didn’t move. I couldn’t. He held my gaze, taking my hand in his gloved ones for a handshake. I could not look away. No matter how much I tried.
“It’s, uh... nice to meet you too,” I managed to choke out, I felt hot tears stream down my face as I held his gaze and shook his hands.
“Are you alright, dear?” my mother asked, concern lacing her voice. “You look a little pale.” She asked. Snapping me out of my gaze.
“I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just... a bit tired from work.”
He said nothing as he continued to study me like an alien and quite frankly, I was doing the same thing.
“I.. if you don’t mind me asking, what is your name?” I said, trying to break the awkward staring contest we were having.
“Hades.....
Hades Moirai”.