Family Drama (6)

Beep! Beep! Beep!

When Valentina woke up, it was to the sound of a familiar sound beeping in the background. As she took in the white walls, the machines to the side, and the IV in her arm, she wanted to sigh. She was back in the hospital. Feeling the aches and pains in her body she groaned before looking around.

Spotting Kaiser staring at her as he sat in a too-small chair, she gave him a soft smile.

"Good morning." She greeted him happily, but he only brushed his hair back while sighing. He was wearing the same clothes she had last seen him in except he looked a bit ruffled with the slight shadows under his eyes and the stubble on his face.

"Valentina," he called her name gently even as he got up to stand over her.

"Yes?"

Kaiser didn't say anything as his hand gently stroked her cheek before touching her forehead and checking her temperature.

Seeing as he still didn't say anything, she pressed the button on the bed to move vertically and support her back as she sat up.

"Kaiser? What's up? Where are we? What happened after I passed out?"

"Valentina," Kaiser called her name softly as he heard her flippant tone.

"Yes?"

"Is it always like this?" Kaiser asked in a soft tone.

"What?" she asked him in confusion.

"Are the Salazar's abusing you? Is that why you changed so much from what's reported? Why the hell did Aaliyah push you down the stairs and why do you have a slap mark on your cheek? It's too big to be her hand so did your father hit you? What is going on? How long has this been going on? Do you need my help?"

Seeing his expectant yet furious gaze as he asked a barrage of questions, she sighed before responding.

"It's nothing."

"Valentina. I told you we would talk about this later but let's do it now. What the hell is going on with you? What is happening with your family and why are you hiding it?"

Seeing as she still stayed silent, Kaiser dragged his chair closer to the bed.

"Valentina. I am incredibly angry right now. So angry I don't know what I will do to Aaliyah or your father or the Salazar family. I know I promised not to interfere with your life or your family but this is not something I can just sit back and let slide. Please, Valentina, explain. We're not leaving here until you do."

As she looked at him with an expression of difficulty, Kaiser sighed before looking away.

"If you don't want to share I'll start. Feel free to jump in at any time."

Seeing her nod, he continued, "From what I've investigated so far, you were accidentally switched at birth with Aaliyah. You grew up in the countryside to poor parents while she grew up here in the capital. Although you were sickly, it was never to the extent of coughing blood like you do now. Something happened when you were 15 and you were brought back to the Salazar house as Aaliyah's adopted sister. Finding out about your schooling was a bit difficult but it seems you ended up going to school abroad. Then you returned to join the entertainment industry and signed with Black Rock. Everyone I've had questioned says that you were gloomy, weak, a loner, and a bad worker and actress. You didn't get along with anyone despite your beauty and never fully completed a job. There were rumors you tried to use the Salazar name to climb up, but nobody believed you were a child of the Salazar family as they didn't claim you.

A certain incident happened and your personality changed 180. From the reports I've seen from the past and present you, nobody would believe you were the same person. What happened? Did you experience something traumatic? Did the Salazar family hurt you? What caused such a big change? Explain to me, Valentina."

Seeing his serious expression and the information he shared, Valentina felt a cold sweat drip down her back. She frequently underestimated Kaiser because he was laid back and constantly teasing her, but she had to remember that this was the boss of a wealthy corporation who had crazy resources at his disposal. 

He was out here uncovering information that she didn't even know about and since he had noted the change in her personality, it seemed she couldn't just brush it off this time. But, it wasn't like she could tell him the truth. Also, she was pretty upset to hear him digging into her background like that.

"Kaiser, I'm not going to lie to you. I feel kind of violated. I understand you digging into me when we first signed a contract but you doing it again sucks. I have a right to privacy." She honestly told him while glaring angrily.

"I can see that. To be fair, I didn't start digging again until you fainted the last time. I wanted to know if incidents like that had occurred before so I could understand how to treat and prevent it. It's not an excuse but I am sorry for violating your privacy like that. I just wanted to understand you." Kaiser responded as a blush flashed across his face.

"That's not an apology and that's not how you go about understanding me. I just feel a bit weird that you were sitting on all this information about me without me knowing and now you're cornering me with it. I don't appreciate that."

"I'm sorry."

"Will you do it again?"

"If I need to," Kaiser replied honestly. He wouldn't lie to her, even if it might turn her away. Hearing his response, Valentina smacked him on the shoulder with her free hand.

"This is what I don't like. You say you like me, but there is a power imbalance between us where you can just dig into me as you please and I don't have the resources to do the same. It's not fair."

"I- I am sorry Valentina. Truly. I don't mean to make you feel that way. I- I suppose I'm just used to sending people to investigate first and ask questions later. I guess I don't really know how to get people to share personal information. Please forgive me." Kaiser awkwardly brushed his hair back while looking at her sadly.

Seeing the expression so similar to Luca's face made her heart waver but she toughed up her expression.

"This is the second time you've investigated me Kaiser. There shouldn't be a third. And if you want people to share personal information with you, you can start by opening your mouth and asking. It's up to me to respond." She retorted while glaring at him.

"...you're right. I'm sorry and I will keep your words in mind. I won't investigate you without your permission." Your family on the other hand is completely fair game, Kaiser thought and smiled innocently as Valentina looked at him.

Feeling shifty about his smile, Valentina felt as if she were being duped. still, she accepted his earnest apology.

"As long as you know."

"Still, Valentina, I want to know. Why did your personality change so much? What is going on with your family? I'll be grateful if you could share as little or as much as you want to."

Seeing his focused expression of a dog not giving up his bone on Kaiser's face, Valentina felt a headache as she began thinking of a way to explain.

'I'm a different Valentina who was reading a book, died, and got dropped here?' she would be sent to a mental hospital.

'I took over this body and have to work with the system to become a top actress and have a life otherwise I'll keep coughing up blood?' Nope. Straight to the mental hospital.

As she deliberated, Kaiser grabbed her hand and gently called her name.

"Valentina? Tell me. I'll believe anything you say. Promise."

Looking at his puppy dog eyes, she decided to partially tell the truth.