Chapter 197
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Waylon thought, ‘Marrying a Clark daughter earns you a reputation as a devoted man and keeps the Clark family on your side. But marrying an orphan, what good does that do for anyone?‘
Valerie remained remarkably composed. After putting everything in order, she said with respectful yet dignified poise, “Please get some rest. F’ll take my leave now.”
Waylon watched Valerie’s retreating figure, his face darkening like a gathering storm.
He thought, ‘Truly a proud child. What a pity, without proper family backing, such pride is utterly worthless.”
Valerie took a deep, steadying breath before stepping out the door.
Waylon had many mistresses, but money was all they ever got, nothing more.
They had no legitimate status, and their children grew up fatherless. Even during the holidays, they could never have a proper family reunion. They were just mistresses, and their children couldn’t even acknowledge Waylon as their father. They were forever forced to live in the shadows, hidden away like a
secret.
Valerie thought bitterly, ‘So, how is that any better than being an orphan?
‘The Walkers may be powerful, but I’ve never wanted any of that. So why should I lower myself for something I don’t even care about?”
As Valerie stepped out, every eye in the room instantly turned toward her.
Aiden noticed that while Valerie’s face remained as composed as ever, there was something distinctly different about her eyes now.
There was a new heaviness in her gaze, the corners of her eyes faintly tinged with red, so subtle, yet undeniably different from before she entered.
Aiden’s heart clenched as he stepped forward, concern etched on his face. “What’s wrong?” he asked gently.
Valerie looked up at him with a faint smile. “It’s nothing,” she said softly.
The nurse said, “Mr. Aiden, Mr. Waylon would like to see you now.”
Aiden’s brows furrowed slightly as he glanced at the doctor, then looked down at Valerie, concern flickering in his eyes.
Valerie gave Aiden’s hand a gentle pat. “Go ahead,” she said softly.
Aiden hesitated briefly, then nodded.
As soon as Aiden went inside, the Walkers swarmed around Valerie, bombarding her with questions: “How’s Waylon’s health? What about his mental state? How is he doing overall?”
Valerie answered each question politely yet mechanically, finally managing to extricate herself from the suffocating crowd.
David and Vivian, along with Kelly, finally approached Valerie. Vivian asked cautiously, “Valerie, what exactly did Waylon say to you?” Kelly chimed in, her curiosity obvious, “Yeah, what did Grandpa talk to
you
about?”
Valerie offered a faint smile and replied, “Oh, nothing much. He just mentioned some things about my background.”
Aiden’s parents were far from foolish, in fact, they knew their father all too well.
Vivian’s face was the first to darken, her brows knitting as she stared at Valerie.
David’s expression was equally somber.
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Chapter 197
Kelly didn’t overthink it and pressed on, “And then?”
“Then, that’s it, nothing more to say,” Valerie said with a light chuckle, “Waylon’s mental state has improved a lot. He’s speaking and acting normally now. I have some things to take care of, so I’ll head back to campus first. Could you tell Aiden later?”
Something felt off to Kelly. She thought, ‘Valerie came with Aiden, so why is she leaving alone now?”
But since Valerie had said so, Kelly didn’t dwell on it and just nodded.
Nót a single Walker stopped her.
As Valerie walked past, the way people looked at her became subtly mocking. Snide whispers could be heard, “Some people really think that clinging to a man is enough to secure her place in the Walker family. Does she even know her place? Getting kicked out is only a matter of time.”
Renata crossed her arms, her face twisted in undisguised contempt.
Rebecca shot her a sharp look and snapped, “That’s enough. Anyone who made it this far must be far more scheming than you. How could a naive girl like you ever hope to outmaneuver those ruthless social climbers?”
Valerie ignored them and strode out, her head held high.
Renata beamed with triumph, then shot Kelly a condescending glance, radiating an air of haughty superiority.
After leaving the hospital, Valerie didn’t head back to campus or home. Instead, she found a quiet park bench and sat down.
What Waylon had just said kept echoing in Valerie’s mind, an endless loop she couldn’t escape.
Waylon’s first wife came from a family that, at the time, was even more prominent and influential than the Walkers.
Ruth, though born as a secondary daughter in a prestigious family, managed to outshine more than a dozen siblings through her shrewdness. Backed by her powerful family connections, she could afford to turn a blind eye all these years as Waylon indulged in debauchery, sired illegitimate children, and kept a string of mistresses.
Because those women and their children posed no threat to Ruth’s position, she could afford to turn a blind eye. But Valerie knew she could never bring herself to do the same.
She knew she could never be as forgiving as Ruth, nor could she ever stoop to being anyone‘
*ress.
“Valerie?” someone asked tentatively, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Valerie looked up and instantly recognized the familiar face. Taken aback, she blurted out, “Pearl?”
It was Pearl Brooks. She and Valerie grew up together in the same orphanage, though she was four years older. Back then, she was the alpha kid of the place.
Valerie’s gaze shifted to the little girl beside Pearl. She had two neat pigtails. Peeking out from behind Pearl, the girl stared at Valerie with wide, sparkling eyes full of curiosity.
Pearl’s face lit up with delight. “Valerie? What are you doing here? It’s been ages!”
Valerie’s eyes lit up. “Is this your daughter?”
“Of course!” Pearl said cheerfully, bringing her daughter forward. “Candy, say hi to her.”
Candy was a little shy around strangers, but her curiosity got the better of her. Peeking out from behind her mother, she murred in a tiny, honeyed voice, “Hello…”
Her tiny, honeyed voice was so adorable that it could melt hearts.
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Chapter 197
Valerie’s heart melted. “Hello there,” she said softly.
Candy flashed a sweet, shy smile before quickly ducking back behind her mother,
Pearl scooped up her daughter. “Candy’s a bit shy around strangers,” she said, “What brings you here?”
Valerie’s heart melted at Candy’s cuteness. She smiled and said, “Just spacing out.”
“Come on, my place is just around the corner. Let’s go there.”
Pearl’s home was a modest two–bedroom apartment in a nearby neighborhood. Though not large, it was meticulously tidy, with little touches everywhere that showed a happy family of three lived there.
Pearl made Valerie some drink as they settled into a casual chat.
Pearl met her husband through a blind date. He came from a single–parent family, but he was capable. After scrimping and saving, they managed to buy this pre–owned apartment in Reano City. They had a daughter and have been living happily ever since.
Valerie had always known this was the life Pearl had dreamed of since childhood.
Pearl said with a smile, “Even as a kid, I thought you looked just like a princess, never imagined you’d grow up to be even more beautiful. When you first came to the orphanage, you were so pretty, wearing this gorgeous princess dress I’d never seen before. You practically glittered from head to toe, and the pendant around your neck jingled with every step. Anyone could tell you were a little princess raised in luxury. You’ve no idea how envious I was of you back then.”
Valerie smiled, “But you were always picking on me.”
Back when she was the alpha kid at the orphanage, Pearl used to rule the place with an iron fist. She laughed and said, “Honestly, it was pure jealousy. You were prettier than me, so I just had to get you all dirty too to feel better about myself. Kids, right? I was also obsessed with that wooden pendant you wore around your neck, I wanted it so badly, it practically became my childhood obsession. That’s why, when I grew up, I had a similar one custom–made for my daughter. Look.”
