A Heart Stolen Twice

Valerie's Pov

I stared at the bouquet of red roses by my window, running my fingers over it, having the feeling of emptiness while everyone acted like everything was fine.

Tomorrow I will no longer be addressed as Valerie Barnes, but Valerie Desideri. The name sounded a little too foreign. I'll be getting married to a man I barely knew, or should I say, “The man I know nothing about.”

The door clicked open and I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Rebecca Barnes, always happy for my predicament.

“What do you want?” I asked, still looking out the window, feeling the need to explode out of sadness.

“Ouch, that's not a good way to talk to your stepmom, and this is definitely not a good mood for our little bride,” she said, sounding a little too excited.

She has always wanted me out of her way, and now she is exclusively excited about my predicament, I'll finally be out of her life.

“What do you need, Rebecca?” I asked, having a voice edged with exhaustion. She was getting on my nerves and I needed her out of the way.

She laughed slightly before giving me an answer to my question. “Need? Oh sweetie, I'm only here to remind you of how lucky you are, you don't know how proud your father and I are,” she said in a mocking tone.

“Lucky? Did you just say lucky? I was meant to be married to Greg and here you are saying I am lucky” I said, almost tearing up.

“And whose fault is that? I don't have time for this, get yourself prepared today and stop acting like a child” she said harshly, walking out of the room without waiting for my response.

Yeah, it was indeed my fault, I made one mistake on one night and it changed my whole life. I wish I could turn back the hands of time. For a moment, everything went quiet, and I thought that maybe I could just close my eyes and pretend that everything was okay.

But then someone knocked at the door. “Can this day get any worse?" I thought to myself before letting the person knocking repeatedly on my door in. As I opened the door, my two best friends rushed towards me and hugged me tightly.

They were my home. Anna is the light of the group and the rascal one, while Jane is the more composed and logical one. I don't even know what I contribute to the friendship but I'm glad I have them.

“You look so beautiful, but are you okay?” Jane asked, looking concerned, while Anna was holding me closely.

“No I'm not, how can I be? I'm getting married to the man I met one night, I don't think anyone in their right state of mind will be feeling ok” I said to Jane, a tear finally dropping. Anna’s stare softened, and she reached for my hand.

"Then come with us tonight. Just the three of us. One last night of freedom. Forget Elvio, Rebecca, Greg and your father. Let this night be for you and you alone, Val."

The thought was wild and reckless—exactly what I needed for the second time. This same reckless act is getting me into a marriage with a total stranger.

I shouldn't do this again, I shouldn't. But I need to, I need to put myself first. F**k it. I squeezed her hand, my heart pounding as I said to Anna, "Yes. Just for tonight, let’s go."

We departed as if we were breaking free from prison, slipping out and into clubs throughout the city. The music, laughter, excitement, and dizzying lights all contributed to the feeling of being transported away from reality.

The three of us squeezed into a corner of one of the city's most upscale clubs, drinking and dancing until the room spun around us. Everything felt normal for the first time in two months. For a few brief hours, I was just Valerie, laughing with my best friends and forgetting that tomorrow loomed over my head like a dark cloud. I'm not sure how long we were at the club. I didn't want the night to end, but it had to happen eventually.

After the exhaustion of dancing around for almost four hours I settled down at the corner of the club to grasp my breath, my friends left to make a quick stop at the restroom, and suddenly, I felt a shift in the energy around us. A cold presence.

I glanced up and caught sight of a man at the bar, his dark eyes watching me with an intense gaze that sent a shiver down my spine. Tall, ideal dressed, with a face that looked as if it had been carved from marble. Elvio Desideri. My soon to be husband.

He approached with steady, controlled, deliberate steps, each action exuding confidence and a frigid atmosphere.

The commotion of the club seemed to recede as he moved closer, until he was standing right in front of me, his eyes frigid and impenetrable as always.“Is he always like this around everyone?” I thought to myself not letting myself feel belittled by his stare.

“Valerie,” he said, his voice low and calm, edged with something I couldn’t quite place.

“Elvio,” I replied, surprised by how steady my voice sounded despite the tightening knot in my stomach He looked at me for a moment, as if studying me, trying to see something hidden beneath the surface.

"Enjoying your last night of freedom for the second time?" he asked, a trace of amusement in his tone. What was so funny about this? I know I shouldn't be here but nothing was funny either. I thought to myself quietly. My heart hammered, and I managed a nod slowly, refusing to let him see how much his presence affected me. It really did affect me.

"Yes. I thought I might as well enjoy my last night of being unmarried for the second time" I replied, a hint of nervousness slipping into my voice.

"Since tomorrow…well, it’s not like I’ll get much choice after that, or will I?" His gaze darkened immediately I made the statement about tomorrow, and for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his expression—a flash of emotion that disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared.

He took a step closer and closer until we were a feet apart, and the scent of his cologne, dark and complex, filled my nostrils.

“We’ll be one tomorrow, Valerie,” he said, his voice a quiet promise, but it felt more like a threat. “Husband and wife.”

It sounded more like a whisper “Husband and wife” My breath quickened, and I met his gaze, searching his face for some sign of warmth, of kindness, of anything that could ease the knot of dread forming in my chest.

But his expression remained cold and impassive, making me feel like he isn't human. He stepped back, his eyes still on me for a moment longer.

"Rest well, Valerie." he said, his tone discreet and defined, then he turned and disappeared back into the crowd without looking back, leaving me standing alone rethinking why I even considered marrying him, the weight of his words sticking to my brains.

What can I do to stop this?

Valerie's POV

The day I dreaded the most finally came. It was my wedding day. Wedding days are meant to be one of the best days, but mine isn't.

I stared at myself in the mirror, I won't lie, I looked more beautiful than ever in my wedding dress which hugged my figure delicately, displaying my curves with a fitted lace bodice and plunging neckline.

The sheer lace sleeves wrap delicately over my arms, adding a touch of elegance, and the A-line skirt falls gracefully from my waist, falling into a soft, sweeping train. The long veil streams down my back, completing my otherworldly magical appearance. I'm beautiful.

“Oh my gosh babe, you look breathtaking, I'll be mad not to fall head over hills with you” Anna said, clutching her chest in a dramatic manner. “Stop being dramatic Ann,” Jane said to Anna, and both of their laughter filled the room.

They were trying to cheer me up and I guess it's working. I found myself smili