Valentina’s eyes reddened in an instant, teeth sinking into her lip so hard she nearly drew blood.
Everything she had meticulously arranged tonight–every step, every trap was meant for Valerie.
She refused to accept it. Lifting her head, ready to speak, she found herself staring straight into Aiden’s eyes–piercing, cold as frost.
Her breath hitched. A chill ran down her spine, and she instinctively took a step back.
Valerie looked at Valentina with a friendly smile, her voice soft and sweet. “Valentina, it’s Dad’s birthday today. It’s just a seat, nothing more. I’m sure Mom and Dad care for you too. You don’t mind, do you?”
Those words, fake and gentle, were almost identical to the ones Valentina had rehearsed in her head–words she was meant to say to Valerie, not the other way around.
Rage churned inside her. She shot Valerie a venomous glare, arms crossed tightly, grinding her teeth, every fiber of her being screaming to wring that woman’s neck.
“Of course,” Everett laughed awkwardly, stepping in to smooth things over. “It’s just a seat. Both of you are my daughters–of course I care about both of you. Alright, Valentina, head down for now.”
Tears burst from Valentina’s eyes. She turned and fled, sobbing.
Alannah, heart aching, made a move to follow her daughter–but Everett stopped her with a firm hand and a warning in his eyes. They must think of the bigger picture.
They couldn’t afford to offend Aiden.
The room buzzed with chatter, too much noise for most guests to clearly hear what had happened. But they all saw Valentina fleeing in tears–and
neither Everett nor Alannah made any move to stop her.
People exchanged glances, surprised.
They couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What’s up with Everett and Alannah? They’re usually all over Valentina, treating her like she’s their precious gem. So why
the sudden switch?‘
More shocking still was Everett’s behavior toward Aiden. Everett invited him to sit at his side with such excessive warmth, it was as though he’d reunited with a long–lost brother.
Valerie felt the weight of the crowd’s astonished stares. Her heart twisted with conflicting emotions.
In her previous life, she had been the one everyone pitied and stared at. But now, Valentina was reaping what she’d sown.
She instinctively looked at Aiden–only to find his gaze already fixed on her, playful and amused.
“Happy with how it turned out?” Aiden murmured, so quietly only she
ecou
hear.
Valerie blinked. “What?”
He let out a soft chuckle–or maybe he didn’t. His hand found hers, and he leaned in close, his breath warm on her skin. “You can be honest with me.”
That teasing whisper made Valerie’s heart skip /Feeling strangely exposed, she quickly lifted the coffee cup just handed to her and pretended to sip, blowing gently at the steam to cover her fluster.
Meanwhile, Valentina’s dramatic exit had not gone unnoticed.
Many guests–once eager to curry favor with her–were now second–guessing their moves. Because beside Valerie stood a man so powerful, his mere
1/3
1421 Thu, 5 Jun 1 GM®
Chapter 57
presence had upended the entire hierarchy.
Valerie’s value had skyrocketed, enough to push the once favored Valentina out of the spotlight.
Now people weren’t sure whether to offer comfort–or keep their distance.
Juliette had seen everything. She immediately rushed after Valentina and caught
UP
to her, calling, “Valentina!”
Valentina was in a foul mood. She couldn’t stand Juliette, and seeing her smug face now only made her blood boil–she just knew the girl was here to rub it in. When Juliette reached out, Valentina swatted her hand away. “What the hell do you
The outburst, thick with tears, was so loud it sent snot flying.
Juliette rolled her eyes. “Come with me. I have something to tell you.”
I want?” she snapped.
Valentina cried harder, spitting venom as she growled, “That bitch Valerie–God knows like that. Don’t tell me… she planned for him to come here and humiliate me?”
what
kind of seduction she used to make that devil protect her
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. She clenched her fists, eyes burning with hatred. “I won’t let her get away with this. By the way, that thing you mentioned before–what’s the status?”
“I was just about to tell you,” Juliette said hurriedly, face tense. “We had agreed to bring Valerie’s ex, remember? But…”
“You brought him, didn’t you?”
“I did, and I told him to lay low until it was time. But then he suddenly texted me just now–you won’t believe what he said.” She whipped out her phone.
Valentina glanced over. The message read: [I’m leaving. Let’s pretend I was never here.]
Panic surged through her. “What the hell? That wasn’t the plan! He was supposed to meet Valerie. I’d humiliate her in public, then you’d step in all sympathetic and lead her to the garden.
“Then he’d appear, and I’d bring people over just in time for that devil to catch her in the act.”
Her name, her face, her dignity–all of it would’ve been shattered.
And now the most critical piece had fled. It was unacceptable.
“This is your fault,” Juliette snapped, furious. “You didn’t tell me Aíden was coming! If I’d known, I never would’ve sent that stupid anonymous message saying he had a surprise waiting here. Thank God I didn’t sign my name, or I’d be screwed.”
“There’s no point crying about it now,” Valentina hissed, a sinister gleam flashing in her eyes. “The plan failed. We’ll need to improvise.”
Juliette recognized that look immediately–she was up to something dark. “What are you thinking?”
Valentina smiled, slow and chilling, the venom barely concealed. “Aiden loves Valerie so much, doesn’t he? Then tell me–if she got violated in front of everyone, would he still want her?”
Juliette gasped. The thought horrified her, and yet, something about it made her pulse race. “That’s… that’s too far, isn’t it? And where would we even find someone to-?”
Valentina gave her a wicked grin. “Oh, there are plenty. Valerie may be low–born, but she has the kind of face men would kill for. A few pills, and if the right man sees her at just the right moment–what do you think will happen?”
Juliette shivered violently at the image flashing through her mind, equal parts terrified and exhilarated. “God… you’re so bad.”
