Nadia's POV



Life with Vance had gradually gone from manageable to enjoyable. When I agreed to the fresh start, putting the old stuff behind us, I also promised myself to live life to the fullest, at least, until what is bound to happen happens.

I'm just going to go ahead and act like I don't see all the stuff he does that bothers me. It's a very crooked route to having my peace of mind, but it's one I was willing to take.

'Talia, Talia." I heard him say one night after he had fallen asleep cuddling on me.


His voice was quite muffled so I had no doubt that he was deep asleep. But it still was quite bugging. Does he do these every night? Nights when I was too weak to stay awake for long, or nights when I slept off without caring if he was back home or not. It really messed with my head,

A part of me wanted to confront him about it, but then I thought about it. There was finally some peace and respite in this house, except for that bitch maid, but she didn't matter. As soon as Vance warmed up to me enough, I'd make sure to convince him to kick her out.


I didn't know much about Tracy and there really wasn't anything I had to hold against her except her employment to Vance, which I had been dangling in her front for almost a year.

It did help that she has been privy to only too many fights Vance and I have had, and that was in no way a good thing for me.

When morning came, with its cool breeze and the smell of blooming flowers, I closed my eyes and let the breeze lift my soul, pass through me and take out everything that was making me sad and bitter, and it did.

'Hey Baby." Vance said in his morning voice. After almost a year of being together, I was still getting used to him calling me anything other than my name when we were together alone. He did it all the time in public to keep up with appearance, sometimes calling different pet names every single time he wanted to refer to me, making it look unreal and forced, but no one dared raise an eyebrow.

'Heyy," I replied to him, breaking my morning ritual and opening my eyes to see him just a few inches away from me. Chances are all I've been breathing in were his exhales, but that didn't matter. Vance was a sweet man who loved smelling sweet. He made me wonder if morning breath was actually really a thing or just a hygiene issue. 'How was your night?" I asked him. It was actually a routine question, but this morning, it was more than that, to me.

'Couldn't have been better. How about you, my love?" He replied.

'It was the best. I kinda like how I've made a pillow of your chest." I made sure to make the smile super flirty, even though I know I wasn't in the mood of Vance decided to go extra.

'None of that for you this morning, naughty girl." He replied. That was a good thing, but he couldn't know.

'Why?" I whined, making noises he had fun laughing at.

'Because I've got somewhere to be," Vance explained, 'and you've definitely got something to do too." He buried his head in my stomach and made a funny bubbly noise which quite humored me.

'Alright, alright." I finally conceded.

There was not much say so he stood up and headed to the dressing room.

I closed my eyes as the sound of his shuffling feet occupied the room. I was going to be all alone, if we weren't on good terms, it definitely would have been a good thing. But right now, I'm not sure.

I kept tossing and turning to occupy my restless self. His perfume was the last thing he wore before walking out, and I could already smell it.

Vance walked back into the room like a model. In fact, he was teasing me, striking all the poses those models strike on the runway with his hands in his pockets.

I feigned being his awed audience, clapping and catcalling him. It was really funny, but he also had to head out, so he brought his hands out to hold my face and kiss me.

With the corner of my eye, I saw a paper fall out of his pocket. I chose not to pay attention so as not to draw him. My curiosity was already building up but I had to act normal.

He kissed me and sauntered out the door while I kept my eyes on his back.

I used my feet to draw it towards myself, and tucked it under the bed, so in case he comes back in, he doesn't meet me in a weird position and suspect anything foul.

Immediately I heard him giving instructions for the gate to be open, I brought it out and opened it.

‘There's something I need to tell you, Alpha.' was boldly written on it. My mind immediately went into an auto search for who could be pulling that type of stunt.

I started going through a series of names in my mind, guessing their intentions, or motives. When I really thought about it, any and everyone in Moonstone had a genuine reason to send such a note Vance's way.

But if it was someone who wasn't living in the palace, they would have difficulty passing their note to him. Besides, Vance is not really anyone's favorite anymore, so I don't get why someone would be keen to see him.

I kept on guessing and second guessing. All fingers were pointing to someone who stayed in the palace. I had no record of his handwriting and definitely couldn't tell who by the writing.

Between the series of other maids that decorated the house, those who came in to work, and Tracy who was actually the only permanent maid here, there were still quite a number of options. It would have been a very dumb thing to go around asking who did that, it was unthinkable in fact.

The illogical part of me already knew who it was but I didn't want to have any reasons to associate with her. We already had enough dirt on each other for one lifetime.

Oh well, it wasn't me looking for her this time around.