Chapter 152
Chapter 152
Valerie nodded slightly, feeling a bit nervous.
In her previous life, she had never taken part in any events with Vivian. The few times she had seen Vivian’s friends were only because they had come over as guests, which was how Valerie got to meet them at all.
It was clear to her that they had been very dissatisfied with her.
She pondered, ‘These women genuinely adored Arianna. They’d all been fantasizing about her marrying Aiden, but then I came along and took that spot It’s no wonder they were bitter.
‘In my last life, Arianna’s status in the Walker family kept rising, and in their eyes, she was a perfect match: So, when they met me, they naturally didn’t like me. They made things hard for me, using both subtle jabs and outright exclusion.
”
‘But in this life… Arianna’s relationship with Vivian had cooled significantly. Her place in the Walker family was weaker by the day. Even Kelly didn’t like playing with her anymore. I wonder how these women feel about Arianna now?‘
Valerie had no way of knowing, so she simply braced herself for the worst.
When they arrived at the venue, she realized the event was being held at Lucianna’s beauty salon.
Many of the guests were women Valerie had seen before–Vivian’s social circle. They were also Lucianna’s most loyal clientele.
The moment Vivian walked in with Valerie, Lucianna, who had been chatting with the others, called out warmly and smiled brightly, “Vivian! You’re here, come in!”
Vivian’s full name was Vivian Mulvey.
Lucianna stood with a group of women, and the moment she greeted them, their eyes naturally swept past Vivian and landed right on Valerie.
Vivian knew they were curious about her daughter–in–law. She smiled and walked over cheerfully. “Here we are! Weren’t you all dying to know what my daughter–in–law looks like? Valerie, come say hello to everyone.”
“H–hello aunties,” Valerie said with a sweet, slightly shy smile. “I’m Valerie. Nice to meet you. I didn’t expect you all to be so young and beautiful–l almost feel bad calling you ‘Auntie‘!”
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed just the right shade of pink. Her eyes sparkled with sincere admiration as she looked at their faces, giving the impression of genuine awe and longing.
It didn’t feel fake at all–in fact, it felt completely honest.
These women were used to hearing flattery, but Valerie’s timing and tone hit all the right notes. It was hard not to take her seriously, and they were visibly delighted.
Valerie glanced around and noticed that Vivian’s closest friend wasn’t here yet. The others were friendly enough, but none of them were quite that close to Vivian..
One woman stepped forward and said, “You really know how to talk! Just look at that baby–soft skin. You’re so young–barely look like an adult!”
Another chimed in, “Exactly! Doesn’t your husband feel guilty sleeping with someone this young?”
Valerie gave a shy little laugh and replied, “I’m almost twenty–one.”
“Look at her blush–how adorable!” another woman leaned in and gently poked Valerie’s cheek. “If I were a man, I’d just want to smother you with love.”
The women–all seasoned flirts–exchanged looks and giggled. One teased, “That Aiden of yours always looks so cold and aloof. I wonder if he’s actually.
sweet behind closed doors?”
1/3
Chapter 152
“Oh ho, with such smooth skin and a delicate figure, if he is sweet, we’re doomed,” one of them whispered to Valerie. “Is your married life. harmonious?”
The bold question caught Valerie completely off guard. Her face turned even redder as she stammered, “1…we…”
“Alright, that’s enough!” Vivian gently scolded, “Valerie’s shy–she even blushes for ages if I catch her sneaking a kiss with Aiden at home! Don task her
stuff like that!”
The women burst into laughter and cried out, “So that’s what’s going on!”
One teased, “Sneaking kisses at home? Sounds like they’re head over heels.”
Another laughed, “I honestly thought Aiden was going to be single forever. He never even had a girlfriend! But when he finally liked someone, he married her straight away. That was fast!”
A third added, “Exactly! I really thought he and Arianna had something going on, but… huh?”
Before she could finish her sentence, someone bumped into her, and she immediately went quiet.
Lucianna’s expression darkened slightly, but when she turned to Valerie, she still smiled and said, “You’re Valerie, right? You’re absolutely beautiful- much prettier than my Arianna. That girl of mine, she’s always been a bold one, never blushes no matter what she says. I really envy girls like you–just a few words and your face goes pink. Men love that sort of thing.”
Her words, though coated in sweetness, were clearly laced with passive aggression. She was suggesting Valerie was fake–and more skilled at seducing men than Arianna.
Everyone picked up on it, but no one addressed it directly. The atmosphere shifted and it became awkward and unpleasant.
The women exchanged glances. Vivian’s expression darkened slightly, and she clearly wasn’t pleased.
Valerie also caught on but acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing. With a shy but sincere smile, she replied, “I’ve met Arianna a couple of times. She has a really bold personality. I’ve always admired people like that–they don’t get pushed around.”
“Exactly, Arianna’s got the personality of a boy,” one woman laughed. “No one can push her around. She’s been spoiled since she was a kid–total little tyrant!”
“That’s right,” Lucianna added with a glowing smile. “She’s been my little treasure since birth. So pure–hearted–whatever she feels, she shows it. She has no clue about how harsh the world can be. When she runs into people who know how to act and put on a show, she always ends up at a disadvantage.”
If Lucianna’s earlier words were passive–aggressive, this was almost a direct accusation.
But Valerie simply smiled, as if she hadn’t caught on at all. She replied, “I don’t think so! I saw one of her shows, and she was fantastic! Her acting was amazing–really!”
Lucianna’s smile froze. She let out a dry chuckle, clearly unsure whether she was just embarrassed or annoyed.
Arianna was a dual–career artist–both a singer and an actress.
Lucianna thought, ‘If I say her acting is bad right now, wouldn’t that be the same as saying she’s unprofessional?‘
She hadn’t expected Valerie to steer the conversation this way. With that sincere expression on her face, Lucianna couldn’t tell whethe genuinely that naive… or just pretending.
was
Cautiously, Lucianna made à mental note to watch out for her. Meanwhile, Vivian looked at Valerie with newfound appreciation, thinking, ‘This girl’s got
brains.<
‘Taking a step back to gain ground.
Chapter 152
‘Now, that’s smart.”
Vivian laughed and said, “Of course! Arianna’s a professional actress–she graduated from performing arts school. By the way, isn’t she coming today)”
“I am!” Just as she finished speaking, Arianna’s voice rang out from a distance. She walked over to them, gave Valerie a meaningful glance, and then sweetly said, “Mrs. Walker! It’s been ages! You look even more stunning than before!”
