The Life That Was Fantasy For Her
The warm daylight creeping from the window was the first thing Valine saw as she ripped her eyes open. Her brain was murky, but her body felt new, leaving her with the thought that she was fully healed now. Adjusting her vision, it was only then that she noticed the unfamiliar barrel-vaulted ceiling and the room she was in. Frightened, she got up unexpectedly.
Her eyes immediately scanned the room she was in. Amaris additionally did likewise, sensing his surroundings. There was no risk around since, in such a case as there was one, she was certain her wolf would caution her.
It was only then that she appreciated the bedroom. It is simple but elegant with its brown-gray gradient from white walls, bedsheets, and carpet. A club seat near the bed brings about a comfortable and warm look and a self-stand-alone wardrobe with overhead accent lights. While a swing arm lamp is placed on the nightstands and two sconces on the walls close to the bed.
She strolled to the window after and completely drew out the thick draperies. There, outside, were tall towers of the city under the blue and bright cloudless sky.
Her temples wrinkled in disarray as she focused. Recollections returned of her mate, with her running and a man helping her.
"This might be Bryan's place" she murmured to herself, noticing. Her voice was hoarse. Seeing the glass of water on the bedside table, she drank, disliking the rough, scratchy feeling in her throat.
The cold water passing through her throat relaxes her. The hints of strides coming into the room grabbed her attention. She brushed for a second her tangled hair and tried to smoothen the creases on the silk long-sleeved nightdress she wore that reached just above her knee, following the curves of her body. Before long, the door throw opens, revealing Bryan in a casual white shirt and sweatpants. Behind her was a young girl that was very much his little girl version with her heart-shaped face, round eyes like that sweet honey, and the darkest shade of blonde curls. This should be Brielle, he and Sally's daughter.
"Hey, you're finally awake," Bryan said, tucking his hands in his pants, feeling awkward for some reason that he could meet the captivating green irises of Valine and see the genuine magnificence of her without wounds. "Are you feeling pain somewhere? I can call Doctor Sullivan"
The doctor treated her and gave her some medication, yet for reasons unknown, Valine mended quicker than he and the specialist assessed. She was healing for three days. However, he didn't harp on that peculiarity for long because, mainly, she was completely recuperated now.
Valine quickly shakes her head, catching how Bryan quickly checks out her appearance and back to her face. "No, I am okay. I feel like I can run a mile now" she kidded, yet where it counts, it was an honest comment, as her body has completely recovered now.
Recognizing that she would presumably be in a much worse circumstance right now if not for the man, she remembered to say thanks to him. Her wolf could have done without that idea as Amaris accepted that there was kindness in their mate, but she was not.
"Thank you for helping me, Bryan. Without your assistance, perhaps I am in a different circumstance at this moment. Thank you, really"
"It's nothing", Bryan cleared his throat, and shrugged, focusing his attention on her face and doing his best not to look down further. He also does not dare to concede that he likes Valine even though he had recently known her for a couple of days. It was not hard to like her. Besides being so dazzling, she was additionally compassionate.
"Are you my daddy's sweetheart?" Brielle mediated, looking at Valine.
The young girl generally saw her dad visit the room of their visitor and remembered to check up on her before heading to sleep or going to work. Her nanny told her that Valine maybe was her new mommy that will presumably like her as her real mother would have rather not invested energy with her. The memory of Sally letting her play and not conversing with her was still fresh in the young girl's mind.
"Brielle," Bryan warned. He conversed with his daughter about this the previous evening.
However, Brielle just moped "Yet I need her as another mother. She was pretty, looked kind and you appeared to like her"
"Stop it, Brielle". Bryan attempted to hold his daughter's hand for them to leave. However, Brielle backed away from him.
"Mom doesn't like you and me. I need a mama that likes us, Daddy" Brielle sadly said, preventing the tears from framing in her eyes.
"Where did you get that thought, Brielle? Your mother loves you", Bryan delicately asked, hurting for his little girl. He doesn't like her to feel as such, yet it appears as though it was past the point of no return.
Bryan attempted once more to hold Brielle, but she just hurried away and covered her face as she cried. Valine, having sympathy for the little girl, strolled toward her and took her to bed, making Bryan shocked because his daughter didn't retaliate or move away. He discreetly left the room, giving the two privacy.
Valine gently pulled Brielle's little hands and wiped the tears from her chubby cheeks. Her hazel eyes were red from crying.
"I'm Valine but it is a secret. I go by the name Valerie". She held out her hand, attempting to divert the little girl from the discussion just a minute ago. She generally does this to the children in the compound of Mistress Rose. To the children, that abhorrent lady attracted to her dent in misrepresentations of saving them. She was likewise a victim for a long time back up to this point. "I will just say this to you because you're so cute"
Brielle sniffed, brushing her hand on her purple dress. "Does Dad know this secret?"
"Uhm... Yes"
"Really? Then I will also keep your secret. I am a good secret keeper like Dad". Brielle's little hands took the held-out hand of Valine. "I'm Brielle."
"That is likewise a lovely name."
"It is?" Brielle asked, astounded. Her mom told her that her name was unattractive.
"Yes, it sounded a strong and courageous name just like you" Valine squeezed Brielle's plump cheeks, procuring a snicker from the kid. She noticed the poorly braided hair of the child.
"Who did your plaits?" she inquisitively inquired.
Brielle inclined forward as though somebody would hear them, and said in a quiet tone "Dad, it's terrible, right?"
Valine giggled, finding the girl adorable, leaving her to wonder how Sally didn't want her. Humans can be confusing sometimes, like werewolves, yet, she wanted to live with them and sometimes have a charming kid, too, in the near future.
"I'm great at braids, do you want me to fix that?"
"Really?"
"Yup"
"I love to!" Brielle excitedly said. "But we need to keep it a secret to Dad. He might get sad"
Valine chuckled "Okay, deal."
The two kept on talking without realizing that Bryan was behind the door and listening in on them. A little grin was set on his handsome face. He was very pleased with the discussion behind the door without seeing that his assistant was grinning in the corner, watching him.
"So, how long will you stand there, Mr. Smith?" Paula asked, prodding. Just how much she enjoyed the new demeanor and joy on her boss' face, he had a very important meeting today.
The grin on Bryan's face quickly disappeared at the voice of his assistant. And just in the sparkling eyes of Paula, as if she had witnessed some wedding engagement, he could have read the woman's mind. He disregarded her and went to the kitchen to prepare food.
"What are you doing here? I told you that I would be there at 1, right?"
"And I also texted you that the meeting was adjusted to 11," Paula said. Even though it was 8 AM and she messaged Bryan, she was restless, leading her to visit her boss and ensure that he knew the changes.
Their client was a big and influential man in the business world. She would rather not commit a mistake and her boss was a friend to her. Meeting with Mr. Creighton was a fantasy for her chief. The fact of the matter was, yesterday, she was stunned that the right hand of the CEO of the big company — Creighton Worldwide Holdings Inc., called her workplace and wanted to meet Mr. Smith out of nowhere. Obviously, her boss didn't decline the meeting. Who might?
"You messaged? " Bryan took out his cellphone and there were the five messages from Paula about the changes. "Why the unexpected changes?"
"I don't know, they just called saying that something had come up with the afternoon schedule of Mr. Creighton"
Bryan disliked the progress but, rather, he couldn't hope to make a significant difference either way. He needed to meet Mr. Creighton. "I will be there at 9. I will simply cook Brielle and Vali — I mean Valerie something to eat."
Paula smiled teasingly "You know, Mr. Smith. She was perfect to be your girlfriend, just saying"
"We're not in that kind of relationship, Paula. I simply helped her and, if I remember correctly, you questioned her identity", Bryan continued, taking out ingredients from the refrigerator.
"But... the clothes you requested me to purchase were first, costly, two, to some degree, over three days' stay. You asked me to do a rundown of a few beauty parlors in case you quoted that she woke up and wanted to relax. If I help someone, I sure as hell will not go on that length", Paula recounted, entertained at each rundown she went on. It had been such a long time since her boss loved somebody and the latter was an exceptionally childish lady named Sally. She hoped that this one was great and would be good for her chief and Brielle.
Bryan shakes his head, lamenting, asking his associate for that, even though he realizes that she loves to wind around stories in her mind. In his sub-conscience, perhaps he gave her motive to assume that he likes Valine more than he shows.
"I will leave first. See you at the office, Mr. Smith" Paula bid farewell and found her way out.
Bryan nodded and focused on cooking. After he was done, he put the two plates on the island counter and went to the guest room where Valine was in. He softly knocked.
"Valine" he called.
Valine opened the door with Brielle at her side. "Yes?"
"I cooked something, how about we eat? '' Bryan looked down at his daughter, holding out his hand, yet his little girl disregarded his hand and enthusiastically pulled Valine to the kitchen.
"Daddy is the best cook of all time! You should try his dish, Valine, I mean Valerie."
Valine laughed, taking a quick look at the sleek and spacious kitchen with its crisp white cabinetry, domed pendant lights, gold-leaf-finished island, and a solid wood bar stool. "Sure"
A grin showed up on Bryan as he watched his little girl pull up her arms over her head and Valine lifted her to one of the stools.
"I'm complimented at the commendation, yet I am afraid I just pre-arranged a basic dish to brag'' Bryan jokes.
"It's okay, Daddy, your creamy scrambled eggs and pineapple-Cucumber Smoothie are awesome. I'm certain Valine will like it."
Bryan looked at Valine, who was looking adorably at his daughter.
"Why don't we hear her comment then?"
Valine hesitantly nodded, giggling at the jokes of the duo. She takes a sample of the fried eggs and the smoothie.
"It tastes great," she said to the two, who gave each other a thumbs up.
"If you stay here, you can taste a lot of daddy's dishes" Brielle innocently suggested, taking a spoonful of her meal.
Valine just smiled. She in no way wanted to remain with them, despite the fact that Brielle was charming. However much this life was too calming and fantasy for her, she can't overlook the truth of her life.
She pushed back the thoughts and ate while conversing with Brielle once in a while, who was full of energy.
After they finished eating, Bryan spoke. "Why don't you go to your room first and check if your room is clean if you want Valine to come into your room?" he proposed to his little girl, who eagerly nodded and left the kitchen for the second floor where her room was.
Valine stood up and was going to lift her and Brielle's plate, yet Bryan beat her to it.
"Let me," Bryan said, placing their plates in the sink and cleaning the counter.
"Thank you," Valine said genuinely. Remembering something, she spoke again "By the way, how long was I out?"
"Three Days"
"Really?"
"Yeah. You heal quite faster though."
Valine anxiously laughed, needing to redirect the conversation at once. "Thank you so much again, Bryan, for—"
"Stay with us", Bryan bluntly said in a serious tone. The sad look of Valine at the mention of her stay didn't go unnoticed by him. His daughter was happy with her and so was he. He likes the presence of the woman. Furthermore, she was in a hide, so it was better for her to remain with them. He was confident that he could protect her.