Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Arianna had always had life easy–whatever she did, things just seemed to fall into place. But today was the first time she had ever suffered such a crushing humiliation.
Getting thrown out in front of so many people? She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Burning with embarrassment and rage, she shot a vicious glare at Valerie.
What made her even angrier was that Valerie looked completely unbothered. She sat there gracefully sipping her coffee, as if nothing had happened.
Even when she felt Arianna’s furious stare, she only looked over calmly–expression unreadable, utterly detached. It was like none of this had anything to do with her at all.
Valerie watched coldly as Arianna was shown the door, raising her cup to mask the faint flicker of cold amusement in her eyes.
In her previous life, Arianna had it all–both in the entertainment world and within the Walker family.
On screen, she was a glamorous A–list star. At home, she played the perfect, loving wife to Aiden.
To the outside world, Valerie was a shameless thief who stole Arianna’s man and plagiarized her songs, claiming them as her own and painting herself as some flawless, pure–hearted beauty.
But no one knew the truth: it was Valentina who had stolen her sheet music and repackaged herself as a musical prodigy. Arianna? She was just the one singing the songs. And it was those songs that shot Arianna to stardom.
Afraid of the truth getting out, Valentina had pushed Arianna to fan the flames online, inciting a wave of vicious cyberbullying against Valerie. For a long time, Valerie didn’t dare leave the house, didn’t dare even open a browser. But the fans were relentless. While Aiden was away on a business trip, someone mailed her a dead cat. The shock caused her to lose the first child she’d ever conceived.
What happened tonight? It was just the beginning. Just a taste of payback.
Just then, she sensed someone watching her. She looked up–and was pulled straight into the depths of Aiden’s eyes.
His gaze was sharp, intense, as if he could see straight through her.
Valerie’s heart gave a little stutter. She quickly looked away.
She thought, ‘What kind of look was that? Could he have figured something out?‘
A wave of unease rose in her chest. She didn’t dare meet his eyes again.
She thought, ‘This man is too good at hiding things–too hard to read.‘
After the drama with Arianna, David looked slightly unsettled. He stood up and said, “Aiden, come with me to the study.”
As Aiden left, Ruth slowly rose from her seat as well. Her voice was gentle, but carried weight. “Valerie.”
“Yes,” Valerie responded obediently.
“Come. Keep me company while I paint.” She extended her hand with a kind of effortless authority.
Valerie already knew her ways well. Without missing a beat, she stepped forward to support Ruth, carefully helping her out to the courtyard.
in this house, Ruth was the unquestioned matriarch.
in her previous life, Valerie hadn’t had much interaction with her. But she knew one thing: Ruth hadn’t liked her much.
Still, compared to the cold contempt from Vivian and the biting sarcasm from Kelly, Ruth had at least treated her with some measure of decency.
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22:09 Tue, 27 May U
Chapter 9
Once they reached the courtyard, Ruth asked casually, “That gift just now–did it have anything to do with you?”
Valerie felt her heart skip a beat. She lowered her eyes and replied demurely, “That was Miss Reed’s gift. Before today, I’d never even met her.”
Ruth’s gaze–aged but razor–sharp–rested quietly on her face.
She studied Valerie for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she spoke slowly, evenly. “So in other words, it had nothing to do with you?”
Valerie’s voice was soft and sweet. “No, it had nothing to do with me.”
Ruth picked up her brush and said mildly, “Good.”
She hadn’t said anything accusatory, yet Valerie couldn’t shake the uneasiness creeping over her. Her eyes dropped and she quietly took her seat.
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Ruth was never one for small talk. It wasn’t until a servant came to announce dinner that she finally set down her brush and said calmly, “Let’s eat.”
Only then did Valerie let out a quiet breath of relief, rolling her shoulders to ease the tension she’d been carrying all evening.
Suddenly, Ruth remarked, “Spending time with someone like me must be terribly dull, no?”
Valerie stood and replied with a graceful smile. “Not at all, Ruth. You’re a renowned artist–getting to model for you is something most people would envy.”
Her tone was composed and respectful, striking the perfect balance between warmth and confidence.
Ruth gave her a glance, her expression unreadable as always, then turned and walked out.
That glance left Valerie slightly unsettled.
Everyone in the Walker family was hard to read–one more guarded than the next.
There was a strict family rule: no talking at the dinner table.
Once the silent meal was over, it was finally time to go home.
Valerie, who had been holding her breath the entire evening, finally relaxed.
She leaned back against the seat as the car pulled away from the Walker Manor. As she casually turned her head, her eyes suddenly caught a figure in the distance–someone achingly familiar.
Tall and slender, he carried a quiet elegance, softer and more refined than Aiden’s sharp and imposing presence.
He was thin, with one hand tucked into his pocket. A cold breeze stirred the hair at his temples.
Then, as if sensing her gaze, he turned his head. The moment his eyes landed on her, he froze. “Valerie?” he murmured, stunned.
A sharp ache shot through Valerie’s chest.
It was him—the man she had lost in her previous life. The one she owed everything to, yet could never repay.
Her eyes trembled, just for a moment. Then she looked away, turning her gaze forward to avoid his eyes.
Nelson’s heart gave a hard thump. That had to be her–his Valerie.
Without hesitation, he broke into a sprint, striding quickly toward the car. “Valerie!” he shouted, voice raw and desperate.
His cry was loud, as though he were pouring everything he had into that one word.
Aiden, hearing the commotion, glanced in the rearview mirror and spotted a tall, handsome man chasing after the car
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Chapter 9
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Next to him, Valerie leaned quietly against her seat, her expression calm–unnaturally so..
But the slight tremble in her amber eyes gave her away.
Aiden’s face darkened instantly.
His eyes flicked back to the man still chasing them. Then, in an offhand tone, he asked, “That guy behind us–he calling out to you?”
Valerie looked him straight in the eye, her voice steady. “No.”
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Aiden gave a small, ambiguous smile–or maybe it was just a twitch of the lips. He stared at her for a long moment, like he was trying to peel back every layer. Then he leaned in slightly and said in a low voice, “If that’s the case, let’s stop and find out.”
The driver, Phillip, instinctively tapped the brakes, and the car began to slow.
A wave of panic surged through Valerie. She bit her lower lip without even realizing it.
But Aiden beside her noticed–and that tiny gesture was enough to ignite his fury.
Valerie forced a light laugh. “Is that really necessary…?”
Aiden chuckled quietly, a trace of menace behind the sound. “What are you so afraid of?”
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