Chapter 54
Valerie instinctively reached out and pressed down on his hand, pleading softly, “Don’t…”
Aiden’s gaze darkened. He leaned in close, his voice rough and low against her ear. “Why?
Because of the man on the balcony?”
Her body stiffened instantly. The hands clutching at his chest began to tremble.
So he had noticed.
It was likely he’d heard everything from the beginning–her entire conversation with Nelson.
Valerie’s eyes flickered as she wrapped her arms around his neck, murmuring, “You know I love you.”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it wasn’t faint either.
Aiden paused. Something deep in his eyes seemed to burst, like a fuse catching flame.
Valerie’s heart was racing.
In her previous life, these words had worked–many times. But those had come much later.
Now, she wasn’t sure if they would still have the same effect on this Aiden.
Outside on the balcony, Nelson trembled.
That one line shattered the last bit of hope he had been holding onto, leaving him cold to the core.
And then, he heard Aiden reply–his voice calm, unhurried, and devastatingly certain: “I love you too.”
Nelson, who had been leaning weakly against the wall, suddenly couldn’t stay upright anymore.
His knees gave out beneath him, and he sank to the icy floor like all strength had been drained from his limbs.
The wind blew, dragging with it a swirl of cold dust and bitterness.
His vision blurred, warm droplets falling fast onto the backs of his hands. His body trembled violently, but he bit into his knuckles, refusing to make a
sound.
His world had collapsed.
Meanwhile, Valentina had been waiting anxiously. She’d even redone her makeup and adjusted her dress, all to make sure that when Aiden appeared, he’d be stunned by her beauty.
Micah? That useless idiot had been taken down in seconds, injured in a place most men feared most. No wonder Valerie didn’t want him.
Now, Valentina didn’t care for Micah either.
Even if the Clarks and Sullivans were about to sign a deal, getting close to the Walker family would be far more beneficial.
She thought she had it all planned out. But the more she waited, the more irritated she became–Aiden never appeared.
Not only that, Valerie seemed to have vanished too.
Frustrated, she pulled her mother aside and demanded, “Mom, why didn’t you ever tell me Aiden was so young? And that good–looking?!”
14:21 Thu 5 Jun
Chapter 54
JGM
Alannah was startled. “What’s gotten into you? He might look like that, but his temper is terrible. He was kidnapped as a child–traumatized. His ma state’s always been… unstable. That kind of man is not husband material.
Valentina frowned. “But he seems to treat Valerie
things. And you’re actually falling for it?”
Alannah sighed and clutched her daughter’s
“ly well…”
sweet girl. You can’t just go by appearances. Valerie’s putting on a show to make you regret
Valentina hesitated. “You sure you’re not saying all this just to make Valerie’s life easier?”
Alannah shook her head. “I’d never do that. Eve
Idoi
is for you. And someone like him–you wouldn’t be able to handle him.”
Valentina recalled Aiden’s face–almost godlike in its perfection–and felt a twist of reluctance in her chest. But she couldn’t deny it: her parents had always given her everything, while Valerie barely got scraps.
If this marriage were such a good thing, would they really have handed it to Valerie?
That thought eased the sting. She gave a satisfied nod and chirped, “Alright, Mom. Oh–and you didn’t forget what you promised, right? Valerie’s st stays at the guest table?”
Alannah smiled. “Of course not. It’s all arranged.”
Valentina smirked. “As it should be. She’s not even real family. Why should she sit with us?”
But the moment she finished her sentence, her smile froze on her face–because just then, Valerie appeared, hand in hand with Aiden.
There was no trace of the cold, ruthless man from earlier. Aiden now looked regal, composed, tall and noble. He held Valerie’s hand gently, and though his expression was calm, he radiated quiet satisfaction–like he was in an unexpectedly good mood.
Valentina’s face drained of color.
AD
