Chapter 21.
Chapter 21
Valerie’s heart skipped a beat. Before she knew it, Alden had thrown her onto the sola
Aiden loosened his tie and looked down at her, his presence commanding and unyielding. His cold, piercing gaze locked onto her, sharp as ever just like it had been in her previous life, during countless days and nights.
Instinctively, Valerie felt a wave of fear. She quickly said, “Of course, I’m with you!”
“Is that so?” His voice was low, with an icy edge that seemed to wrap around every word.
He leaned in, planting his hands on the sofa, effortlessly trapping her in the corner.
Her back pressed hard against the cushions, her heart feeling as though it was being lifted. She didn’t even realize that her body was trembling, just slightly.
She looked up at Aiden looming above her, her hands pressed against his chest, staring into his eyes with determination. “I married you. You’re the only man I’ve ever had,” she said, her tone serious and sincere.
Aiden’s gaze never wavered. He spoke slowly, his voice heavy, “What are you so afraid of?”
Her lips tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. “I’m not afraid.”
His rough hand gripped her slender shoulder. “Then why are you shaking?”
Unable to hold it in anymore, she shrank back a little, and her hands on his chest tightened. Her voice trembled as she said, “I just… I’m afraid you won’t believe me.”
He gently stroked her shoulder, as if savoring the meaning behind her words. “Is that all?”
Fearful that he might doubt her, she nodded vigorously.
Then, he lowered his head, his voice soft and unexpectedly gentle. “Shaking like this… I thought maybe you had done something to betray me.”
Panic flooded her. “I didn’t… I-”
Before she could finish, he placed a light kiss on her lips. It was so soft, so unexpectedly tender, it left her stunned.
She froze, looking up at him in shock, her heart racing wildly.
His eyes locked onto hers, dark and intense like the depths of night. “This time, I believe you.”
Most of the tension in her chest melted away. But before she could process it, his kiss deepened–hot and urgent.
As she felt the unfamiliar heat of it, a strange unease rose within her. This was something she had never experienced in her previous life.
She had never been able to fight his dominance.
She didn’t love him. Obeying him was simply a strategy for survival.
As long as she didn’t defy him like she did in her previous life–didn’t try to run away–he wouldn’t be too cruel. As long as she fed his obsessive need for control, everything would eventually improve…
Suddenly, a sharp pain on her lips brought her back to reality.
Startled, she looked up to meet his dark, displeased gaze. His jaw tightened, and he bit down again, this time harder. “Even while under me, you dare to
space out?”
Chapter 21
His entire presence shined, turning cold and threatening. Alarmed, she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him clo
Afraid that he might really be angry, she locked her leg around his, holding him in place. “I wasn’t!”
Her wide, tear filled eyes looked up at him like a frightened animal, desperate for reassurance, as if she couldn’t bear the thought of him walking sway
Something in Aiden’s chest seemed to tighten.
She clung to him even more tightly, her voice wavering but forcing herself to stay calm. “I was just thinking… what will happen to us in the future?”
The idea of a “future” with him caught Aiden off guard. He wondered, ‘Is she actually thinking about a future with me?”
A strange, unsettling feeling began to spread through his chest.
Just yesterday, she had looked at him with nothing but disgust, practically wlad
she
could run
off with her lover and never see him again.
Valerie, afraid he might not believe her, pulled him even closer, their bodies pressed tightly together. “I just got here. Everything about you and the Walker family is still so new to me. But I promise, I’ll be a good wife to you, Aiden. We’ll be fine, won’t we?”
Her voice was soft, almost coaxing, clearly trying to win him over. Her eyes, wet with emotion, shone with clarity, her reflection mirrored in them.
Aiden couldn’t deny it–he was momentarily lost in her sincerity.
Looking into her earnest eyes, he finally relented. He flipped her over and pinned her down, his voice gruff as he muttered, “You’re getting smarter.”
Valerie froze, caught off guard for a moment.
Then, Aiden kissed her again, deeper this time, his voice low and full of warning. “As long as you behave and don’t try to betray me, things will be fine… but if you do…”
Before he could finish, Valerie quickly lifted her head and kissed him back, her voice firm as she said, “I won’t. I’ll never betray you.”
Aiden was taken aback by her sudden kiss, feeling an electric shock jolt through his mind.
He thought, ‘This woman… she is being so forward for the first time.‘
His throat tightened, and he lowered his head, his hand firmly gripping the back of her neck as he kissed her deeply. The kiss was unexpectedly intense,
full of passion.
Camille had long since vanished, and the only sound left in the living
room
was th
steady rhythm of their breath.
“Ahem!” A cough broke the moment, a little awkward.
Aiden pulled back just in time, his breathing shallow.
Valerie’s eyes were hazy, her lips slightly parted as she gasped for air.
The tension in the room was palpable, and anyone who might have been watching would have felt their pulse quicken.
Lennox Kerr, unwilling to stare any longer, quickly turned his head, maintaining his usual serious demeanor. “Aiden, it’s time to go.”
It was Aiden’s assistant, Lennox.
“Got it,” Aiden replied, his voice rough.
He straightened up, quickly adjusted his appearance, then leaned down to help her up. In a voice so low only she could hear, he murmured, “Since it’s been taken, we’ll just buy a new one. I’ll use it when I get back.”
As soon as she realized what he meant, Valerie’s mind went blank, and her already flushed face grew even hotter.
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Chapter 21
But before she could fully process his words, Aiden spoke again, and this time, his words drained the color from her face, “But don’t pull a stunt like that again.”
Valerie froze on the sofa, staring at him as he turned and walked away. His posture was straight, his presence cold and commanding.
She wondered, ‘So, he has known all along what I have done… He just hasn’t confronted me about it. But when did he figure it out?”
A cold shiver ran down Valerie’s spine, and she couldn’t help but feel a chill creep over her.
Camille, watching Aiden and Lennox leave, quickly approached Valerie. “Mrs. Walker, there’s a phone call for you.”
Valerie looked over and noticed her phone on the table, flashing with an incoming call. It was from Juliette.
As soon as she answered, the call ended abruptly.
There had been several other calls before this, all from Juliette.
Valerie raised an eyebrow and quickly dialed the number back.
The moment the call connected, the sound of chaos filled her ear.
Juliette’s voice was frantic, “Valerie, you finally answered! Please, you have to help me, I’m stuck at a bar and they won’t let me leave…”
Her voice trembled, thick with panic and a hint of tears.
.
