Rosalie, grinning ear to ear, eagerly swiped the card. “Please enter the PIN!”
Aiden glanced coolly at Valerie. “Put it in.”
Valerie hesitated. “I… don’t know the PIN.”
Aiden shot her a sideways look. “It’s your birthday. Don’t tell me you forgot?”
Arianna thought, ‘Her birthday? A globally unlimited black diamond card, tied to her birthday?‘
Arianna’s jealousy flared so hard it nearly made her bite through her lip. Her glare at Valerie could have burned a hole through steel.
Valerie’s heart raced, emotions swirling, but she quickly entered the code. Transaction successful.
Rosalie lit up. “I’ll wrap it up right away!”
“No rush,” Aiden said lazily, glancing back at Valerie. “Anything else you want?”
Valerie shook her head. “Nothing else caught my eye.”
The words had barely left her lips when the store’s glass doors swung open–and more than a dozen men in black suits strode in.
Aiden gave a slight nod and said casually to his men, “Wreck the place. Have the boss bill finance.”
Rosalie’s smile froze midair. The other clerks paled in shock. “Please, sir, you must be joking!” one of them stammered.
Aiden gave a low, cold chuckle, wrapped an arm around Valerie, and turned to leave.
Valerie panicked. She grabbed his sleeve, blurting out, “Wait–don’t be reckless! This store’s really expensive!”
She thought if he destroyed everything, the compensation would be astronomical.
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Even Arianna rushed forward, trying to intervene. “Aiden, calm down! Spending that kind of money over a woman–how can it be worth it?”
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Aiden’s gaze swept over her, icy and disdainful. “My woman was humiliated in public. That’s an insult to me. This money? It’s a lesson–to make sure next time, no one dares pull the same stunt.”
Valerie’s heart pounded wildly. She could feel the envious, hateful stares boring into her from every direction. She gripped the hem of her dress tightly, forcing herself to stay calm.
In her previous life, her entire heart had been tied to Nelson. To her, Aiden was nothing but a nightmare–a man who had taken everything from her.
All she had ever wanted was to escape him. She had never truly looked at him, never cared how he treated her.
Because in her mind, there was only one truth: She didn’t love him. She feared him.
And as for him? He didn’t love her either. He just needed a wife–a quiet, obedient puppet. And she had never been that.
Aiden held her tight and walked out the door. Behind them came the sounds of chaos–shouts, smashing glass, the crash of displays hitting the ground.
Arianna stood frozen where she was, her heart twisted with rage and unwillingness. She thought, ‘He’s really willing to do all this–for her?‘ Her stomach roiled with jealousy.
As she turned, her gaze landed on a nearby gift bag, Startled, she stepped closer and peeked inside.
On top of a neatly wrapped package was a small note, the handwriting clean and elegant: [Happy Birthday, Dad
From your daughter–in–law, Valerie.]
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Chapter 5
RW
Arianna’s heart sank. Today’s… David’s birthday. She had nearly forgotten.
She looked at the gift–beautifully wrapped, clearly prepared with care. Judging by the size and packaging, it was probably something practical, like a massage device–thoughtful, meaningful.
Arianna’s hands tightened into fists. She stared at the note, hatred flashing in her eyes. Without hesitation, she tore it to shreds.
Arianna thought, ‘That Valerie–She’s planning to bring a gift to celebrate David’s birthday? If she sees the present she’s carefully picked out appear in someone else’s hands… What kind of face will she make then?‘
Just imagining it filled Arianna with satisfaction. She grabbed the gift and quickly slipped out of the store.
Outside the mall, the moment they stepped into the open air, Valerie instinctively pushed Aiden away a little, keeping some distance between them.
She looked up and said, sincerely, “Thank you.”
Aiden immediately caught her subtle attempt to pull away. His gaze cooled. “For something like this, it didn’t occur to you to call me?”
Valerie paused, then mumbled, “It wasn’t a big deal.”
Aiden’s mouth pulled into a thin line. He let out a cold laugh and stepped closer, towering over her. “No big deal? You think the wife of Aiden getting humiliated in public is ‘no big deal‘?”
Valerie was momentarily speechless.
Aiden gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice dropped to a dangerous murmur. “Next time, act like you have a backbone. Otherwise, it’s my reputation you’re dragging through the mud.”
His grip was rough enough to sting. Valerie nodded quickly.
Only then did Aiden let her go and stride toward the car without another word.
Valerie scrambled after him. She had just pulled open the car door when a familiar voice rang out behind her-“Wait!”
Turning around, she saw Arianna hurrying over, a brilliant, sugary smile on her face.
But clearly, that smile wasn’t meant for her. Arianna stopped in front of Aiden, looking as bright and sweet as ever. “Aiden, today’s David’s birthday. You’re heading back to the estate, right? I’m going too. Since we’re going the same way… could I get a ride?”
Aiden didn’t even look at her. “Not convenient.”
He turned his sharp gaze back to Valerie. “What are you standing there for? Need an engraved invitation?”
Valerie rushed into the car. The Maybach roared to life, kicking up a cloud of dust as it sped away–leaving Arianna standing there, completely ignored,
like she didn’t even exist.
Arianna trembled with rage,
But she was a celebrity. She couldn’t afford to cause a scene in public. Gritting her teeth, she slipped into the shadows, pulling out her phone. “Find out everything you can about Aiden’s new wife. I want her full background–everything.”
When they finally arrived at the Walker Manor, Valerie was practically unrecognizable.
Before heading over, Aiden had taken her to a professional styling agency, and they had transformed her from head to toe.
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Chapter 5
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She wore a soft blush–pink dress paired with fresh, youthful makeup. Her skin glowed, her features looked even more delicate, and the overall effect was stunning–sweet, gentle, almost ethereal.
Even Aiden had paused for a second when she walked out of the styling room.
As they stepped out of the car at the Walker Manor, they immediately caught everyone’s attention.
Upstairs, from the second–floor balcony, Kelly spotted Valerie–and her eyes widened in shock.
She had been prepared for Valerie to be beautiful, but not this beautiful. She thought, ‘No wonder even the aloof, untouchable Aiden has lost his mind. With a woman like that, who wouldn’t?‘
Jealousy flared in Kelly’s chest. She watched as Valerie walked closer and closer…
Until finally, just as Valerie passed directly beneath her, Kelly seized the basin of water she had prepared–and dumped it out with a vicious splash.
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