Martha Vanguard had done a really good job in preparing her family for the Unveiling ceremony. Her husband picked his newest car, and that was used to convey them to the event.Jason and Larry looked dazzling, both of them wearing suits, Jason in a black suit and Larry in a white suit, with their haircut freshly trimmed. Larry had shades on and his hands were stylishly placed inside his pockets.Some minutes after they arrived, the Sterling's arrived too. Clifford Sterling was driven in his own private vehicle while his wife and Renee arrived in a different vehicle.Renee had a black dress on, matching Jason's black suit. She immediately located him after she got in. Jason also looked happy to see her."Why didn't you let me come pick you up myself?" He asked as he took her hands in his to give her a kiss."It's an unveiling ceremony and not a date." Renee reminded him with a smile."Oh." Jason gasped and rolled his eyes playfully. "How could I have forgotten that?" Renee laughed."W
The whole place was noisy. Clifford still sat hoping he would be told to move to the VIP area.The president's family soon arrived. An usher walked them to the VIP area, Clifford frowned on seeing the gesture. Soon, the president was also taken to the VIP area. Clifford braced himself up, since the president had been moved to the VIP area, he felt that as he was mayor, he would be the next to move.His hopes were soon shattered as the ushers returned to their initial positions. He turned to look at Desmond who had an indifferent look on his face.The noise soon died down as Lieutenant Jax made his way to the entrance fully clothed in his official kit. He had a strict look on his face with no traces of a smile.Lieutenant Keith also arrived, looking no different from Jax. The last to come in was Lieutenant Lucy, She was also dressed in her full kit, but she had a smile on her face.The ceremony began immediately after the Lieutenants had been made comfortable in the VIP area.Desmond a
The ceremony proceeded with a dance performance by a dance crew wearing feather -like clothes. It was fun and everyone enjoyed it. Soon, it was time to unveil the legion commander.Desmond braced himself up on his seat to see who the legion commander was. He had waited for so long to meet him, and the moment was finally here. He silently hoped the legion commander was going to be an easy going person, and someone he could easily win over. He looked at his wristwatch to check the time."Please make welcome to the stage the legion in the person of..." The host said and paused there without calling any name. Everyone stared anxiously at him."Y'all should relax." He said, and burst into laughter.Both Desmond and Clifford sighed impatiently. Desmond dabbed nervous sweats away from his forehead with a tissue. He looked at his wristwatch again for the umpteenth time."Before the legion commander is finally unveiled, I would like to thank some notable persons here for honoring our invitati
Valerie was still shocked. She remembered how Ethan had told her lots of times that he was the legion commander and how she had refused to believe him. It felt like a slap to her face.Ethan was still busy attending to some other things. The Vanguards and the Sterlings had left the venue with their tails in between their legs in shame.Elizabeth and Skyler on the other hand were busy admiring some of the cars still parked there. Valerie had sat down quietly, refusing to speak. They couldn't possibly force her against her will.After everything was seemingly settled, Ethan came to join them where they were all sitting."Mother, are you good?" He asked."I am just surprised, this is unbelievable." Elizabeth replied. Ethan turned to Skyler."How about you?" He asked."I am fine. The person you should be asking these questions is Valerie. She has been in a daze." Skyler responded.Ethan turned to Valerie who sat at the end of the table, looking a little pale."Valerie?" He called as he wa
Valerie lay curled up on the bed, she had barely slept the previous night due to her overwhelming feelings. It was now 8am and she was finally dozing off. Skyler had just finished making breakfast. She was setting up the dining table for breakfast when she heard the doorbell ring. "Mother, are you expecting someone?" She asked. Elizabeth was still in the bedroom so she could not answer Skyler's question. Skyler sighed and walked to the front door. She opened it and saw the least person or people she was expecting to see. Clifford and Renee Sterling."Hi." Renee said with a wide smile, stretching her hand towards Skyler. Skyler frowned, leaving Renee's hand hanging."What is going on here? Don't you think you are in the wrong place?" She asked."Of course not. We definitely are in the right place." Renee added, dropping her hands.Skyler averted her gaze to Clifford who had not said anything."Mayor, is there a problem?" She asked."Not at all, I am just here to see my daughter. I b
Ethan got a call from Natasha. He had told her to fix a meeting with one of the best architects in the country. He had a project to discuss with him."Hi sir, I was finally able to contact the architect. He agreed to see you today." Natasha said."Alright, that is some great news. What time is it?" He asked."The architect insisted you pick a time and location. He doesn't want to interfere with your own schedule as he is completely free today." Natasha stated."Oh, I see. 4pm is fine. I will text you a location later." Ethan said."Alright, I will communicate Everything else with him and keep you updated." "Thank you, Natasha." Ethan said and hung up the call.Ethan arrived at the restaurant he had chosen for the meeting. He didn't want to sit in an open place to prevent attention, so he booked the private area of the restaurant for the entire duration of the meeting.The architect sat quietly, flipping through the pages of the menu on the table. He had been reading it since he got i
Clifford had now made it a habit to visit Valerie in her house. He was trying to win back her love again. He always bought her different expensive gifts and presents which she gladly took. He had just returned from one of his visits when he bumped into Renee at the front door. She looked exhausted."Father, it's a good thing you're here. Have you gotten the drinks yet?" She asked in a breathless voice."What drinks?" Clifford asked, putting his car keys into his pocket.Renee frowned."Are you really asking me that? I told you to help me get the drinks." She said and Clifford's lips made an O shape as he remembered."I'm sorry, it slipped out of my memory. It wasn't intentional." He apologized."If you didn't go get it, where did you go?" Renee asked eyeing him suspiciously."Guess what? Valerie hugged me today. It shows she is finally warming up to me and she made lunch too." Clifford announced with a smile. He expected Renee to also be excited about the news, but instead, the scow
In the living room, sat Elizabeth waiting for Ethan to return from his visit to Valerie's. He soon returned two hours later."Welcome back Ethan, how's it going with Valerie? Is she good?" She asked, her voice laced with concern"Yeah, she is. We have finally settled our differences once and for all." Ethan said."Oh wow! That is great news. And speaking of news, I have one for you." Elizabeth said and Ethan raised a brow at her."Your uncle wants to have dinner with you or all of us rather." She announced.Ethan looked a little confused."My uncle? The last time I checked, I had no uncle, so who is this uncle we speak of?" He asked."Can you hear it mother? I told you we had no uncle." Skyler cut in from behind them.Elizabeth sighed."Desmond Vanguard. He is your uncle no matter how much you both try to fight that. It is the truth. He is still family." She said."We do not have to be related by blood before we can become family. And being related by blood doesn't make us family." Et
The laughter of children running around in the backyard hung in the air. Valarie was behind the grill, roasting the chicken. Stacey walked into the yard, holding a toddler in her hands as well as her husband beside them. Immediately the two women saw each other, they started to smile. “Oh my gosh Stacey, I didn’t think you could make it,” Valerie said after pulling away from their hug. “Is this your son?” She nodded in response, “He’s about the same age as Emilio and Emilia. Speaking of which, where are they anyway?” She asked. “Oh just over there,” Valerie replied, pointing in the direction. It had been two years now since she had brought these wonderful fraternal twins to the world, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She would never have believed life could be so refreshing after all the hardship that she and Ethan had endured in the past. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the ground. “Oh my goodness, Ethan,” she called out playfully. “When w
Several months laterValerie was standing by the balcony, overlooking the city. The past few months have been nothing but perfect and she couldn’t help but wonder if she was dreaming. Even if she was, she would rather not wake up from it because this was a blissful dream. The sound of footsteps coming from behind her met her ears, she turned around to face Ethan. “I knew I’d find you here,” he said affectionately, wrapping his hands around her waist as he rested his chin against her shoulders.She melted into his frame, a warm smile spreading on her face. “Yes, the view from here is quite lovely.”Ever since Ethan had reclaimed the Vanguard manor, he moved in with Valerie. She loved the change of environment so much. The Sterling manor was sold because after Clifford lost the presidential elections, he was neck deep in debt and had to pay. His sponsors had ruthlessly abandoned him like he was vermin. Leaving him stranded and bankrupt.. Valerie was not even at the slightest intereste
The wedding bells chimed as Valerie got down from her car, the important people in Armoria were here to witness the union of the legion commander and his wife. Her dress was a body holding white silver tube gown which embodied the contours of her waist. It was embellished with pearls and attached to the bottom were gatherers which she was helped with while moving. People began to turn but her eyes ignored all of them, locking on to Ethan's who was at the end of the road, hands folded in front of him as he was in his charcoal gray suit. By now she was already a few more weeks in, but the baby bump wasn't too visible yet. All heads turned to face her and people began to whisper, she was just one of the most expensive designer brands in the country. Something many brides could only dream of wearing. Her mother Therese, who was also on the verge of shedding tears, walked her down the aisle, handing her over to Ethan. They locked hands, turning to face the priest that would join them
The Vanguard's were all gathered around the living room with panic strikes expression on their faces. Martha looked like she had just seen a ghost. Larry descended from the staircase with a stoic expression on his face, briefcase in hand. “Just where do you think you're going?” Desmond's voice boomed.“I'm leaving this place before Ethan comes back here to throw you guys out on the streets and disgrace you in the neighborhood, I don't want to be a part of it.”A gasp escaped from his parents lips. “Larry, how could you say such a thing!” Martha scolded him. “Ethan can't do that! He can't! I've called the lawyers already, everything is under control.” Larry scoffed, shaking his head slowly. “You guys don't realize it, don't you? You stole from him, you took what rightfully belongs to him and his father, this house, this manor, it belonged to my uncle! Not you, nothing you do will change that!” He tightened his grip on the bag and walked away, sparing no second glance. Tears prick
At the funeral, Therese was standing in front of Renée’s coffin, trying her heart out when Valerie rolled her wheelchair towards her mother. “Mom,” she called. Therese froze. Could her ears be deceiving her? It couldn't be. She immediately turned around and saw that it was her daughter. “Valerie, you're back,” he replied, joyful tears filling her eyes as she crouched down to hug her daughter. Renée was being buried in the family manor. Guests from all over had begun to arrive and Clifford was too busy trying to network and interact to actually even notice that his second daughter had returned. “I wish she and I hadn't fought. Then she wouldn't have come back to Armoria, none of this would have happened.”Therese grabbed her daughter's face and rubbed it. “Don't say that. It is not your fault, Clifford is the one to blame. He's the one that pushed her into this predicament.”Valerie scoffed. “Why am I not surprised?”“Honey, I think there's something you need to know. Your father a
“My baby, how is my baby?” Valerie asked desperately. “We ran all the scans and your baby miraculously survived. The angle at which you were shot didn't have any contact with your uterus or developing baby whatsoever. And thankfully you were shot from a distance so the bullet didn't do much damage, a little bit of rest and healing and you'll be alright. The only issue is the amount of blood you lost, so will be placing you on some supplements and as well as giving you some dietary suggestions.”Hearing this news from the doctor felt like the light at the end of the tunnel. At least she could finally smile about something. “I just wish Ethan was here and then my family would be complete,” he whispered. Lucy backed away from her. “It's going to be okay.”The lieutenants had no idea that Ethan was still alive, because Natasha hadn't communicated it to them yet. “When can I be discharged and go home?” Valerie asked. “Right now I can see that you're safe for travel so you can go today
“Natasha has made all the necessary arrangements, you can return back to Armoria with ease,” Ethan said, walking towards the door. “What about you?” Darren asked. “I know where Cyrus and his men are, I need to go there and finish them off before they leave Chelmen.”“Wasn't it solo missions like this that even led you to this predicament? Now you have survived, you might not be so lucky next time Ethan.” He paused, placing an arm on Darren's shoulders. “This time, I will be.”Darren watched as Ethan exited the house. He stood by the street at the designated spot and then a black car pulled over and an elderly looking man came out of the car. “You must be Ethan Vanguard,” the man greeted in a thick accent. “Everything you need is in the trunk, and here are the car keys. Please return the car, the last people to use they didn't,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. Ethan smirked. “Best believe I will, but it may have some blood stains.” The man's eyes widened upon hearing what E
Skyler jumped out of the car, “hey what are you doing to my mum!” She cried, running towards him. Irene was right behind her while Raul also got down and followed suit. Elizabeth raised her teary eyes to face her daughter who quickly pulled her up from the floor and hugged her. Skyler could see Desmond's driver holding a bag, presumably her mother's bag. Then he stepped out of the gate and then tossed the bag on the floor. This gesture angered Skyler so she lunged forward, managing to give the driver a good slap before Irene held her back.“How dare you bring your filthy selves to our house and try to harass my mother!?”Desmond smirked. “I can see that you haven't changed one bit, you still talk too much. This house belongs to me since your brother is dead now.”His words felt like a physical blow to Skyler. “Don't you dare ever say something like that again, Ethan isn't dead!”“Oh but he is, haven't you seen the news?”Irene walked forward. “Even if Ethan is dead, what makes you
Valerie was on a stretcher and right beside her was Antonio. They were both bleeding out and were rushed to the emergency unit. Just outside the hospital was Melissa, along with Jax, Kieth and Lucy. After Antoni had been shot, his men surrendered, and the police came and cleared the crime scene, making multiple arrests as well as ransacking Antonio’s mansion, an opportunity the local FBI had been dying to get. The three lieutenants were spared from the arrest because the chief of police, who despite recognising what they did as illegal, was happy that they had helped bust Antonio. Now with the overwhelming amount of evidence they had against him, there was no way he could escape jail time. In the emergency room, the nurses huddled around each of the victims. Antonio's wound was to his upper back but the bullet went through and came out of his chest. While Valerie was in the stomach. “We’re losing him, we’re losing him!” The doctor screamed as the life support machine beeped loudly.