Valentina chuckled darkly. “Oh, please. Spare me the act you’re no angel either. I know you can get that kind of drug, You handle that risk
the rest.”
Juliette hesitated, her voice low and cautious. “Just be careful. If anyone finds out, we’re both screwed.”
“Obviously. I’m not stupid.”
The two girls exchanged a glance. In each other’s eyes, they saw the same flicker of excitement.
They had a shared goal: to ruin Valerie completely.
Jealousy, like beauty, was a primal instinct–cruel, deep–rooted, and natural,
Valentina soon tracked down two men.
One was in his thirties, unmarried, and a complete deadbeat who’d only shown up thanks to his well–connected father. After Everett brought Valentina back into the family and Valerie’s status fell, this man had approached Valerie, trying to marry her.
even
She’d been so frightened she’d avoided the entire extended family ever since.
The other was a brawny man in his mid–twenties–strong, dim–witted, and notoriously aggressive. His mother, a domineering relative from Alannah’s side, had always been fiercely protective. She was also one of Valentina’s allies.
Originally, Valentina had planned to use this aunt’s help to make Valerie’s life miserable–after all, Valerie had “stolen” her identity for years. Asking for some compensation seemed only fair. The aunt had agreed instantly.
But who would’ve thought Valerie would win her over with a few gifts? Worse, now she had Aiden backing her up. That aunt had probably already forgotten all about their little plan.
Valentina sneered at the betrayal, but she wasn’t worried. These two men had both lusted after Valerie before–if such a tempting opportunity presented itself, there was no way they’d let it slip by.
Schemes buzzing in her mind, Valentina pulled a server aside and whispered a few words.
Juliette, true to form, had already come prepared. She’d tucked the illicit drug into her bag earlier, just in case Valerie proved hard to bait.
After slipping it into the designated drink, she caught Valentina’s eye across the room.
Valentina gave her a subtle thumbs–up. Juliette followed her gaze and blinked–two men? And one of them looked like a damn linebacker.
This wasn’t just a setup. It was an ambush. Juliette’s heart skipped a beat at Valentina’s ruthlessness, but she quickly got to work. One would stall at the party; the other would lure Valerie away to a room they’d arranged in advance.
At the main table, Valerie sat beside Aiden. Guests came up constantly, offering drinks, compliments, and thinly veiled flattery.
Everett was overjoyed. The more people came to toast Aiden, the more he bragged, “This is my son–in–law! The future of the Walker family“”
Valerie remembered a time–her past life–when she’d watched Valentina bask in this very spotlight, surrounded by praise and admiration. She’d felt envious back then, longing to be the center of attention.
Now that she was, it all felt… exhausting. Empty.
Moreover, most of these people were here solely because of Aiden.
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They only sought to climb the social ladder, but with the Walker family’s current status, getting acquainted with these people would only be
Valerie couldn’t take it anymore. She leaned in and whispered, “I’m going to the restroom.”
“I’ll come with you,” Aiden replied with a smile.
She paused.
Immediately, someone nearby chimed in with a teasing tone. “Wow, newlyweds really
anth
apart–even for the bathroom!”
“I mean, can you blame him?” another laughed. “If I had a wife like that, I’d stick to her
glue. Wouldn’t risk losing her!”
“And let’s give credit where it’s due–Everett really raised a gem. Beautiful and charming. Truly admirable.”
Everett beamed like a man who’d just won the lottery. “Go ahead, sweetheart–but don’t forget, your gift presentation’s coming up!”
Valerie nodded with a smile.
Then came the gift ceremony.
She suddenly thought of something and scanned the surroundings.
In her past life, that event had been a turning point–Everett’s grand reveal of Valentina to society. To raise her visibility, he and Alannah had invited a slew of reporters. That had also been the day all hell broke loose.
Reporters. Photos. Witnesses. Her failed escape. Aiden’s terrifying arrival. Nelson’s broken legs. The scandal that followed spread like wildfire, and even Aiden couldn’t completely contain it.
Valerie had become infamous overnight.
Yet today–not a single journalist in sight. Something wasn’t right.
Just then, a warm breath brushed her ear. “What are you thinking about?”
Aiden’s voice was low, curious.
She turned, and as always, was caught in the depth of his obsidian eyes. She looked away quickly, feigning calm. “Just wondering… this birthday party’s huge, but not a single reporter? That’s not like Everett.”
She wasn’t wrong–last time, the media presence had been overwhelming.
Aiden glanced at her. “Because I don’t like it.”
Valerie blinked, then understood.
Of course. Aiden had always stayed out of the media. No photos, no interviews. He thrived in the shadows.
Of course he’d ordered the reporters to be removed.
Realization sank in–and so did curiosity. “Weren’t you supposed to be in Aprealand? I thought there was a major signing ceremony today Isn’t it important?”
This party, which meant nothing to him.
As far as she knew, there was supposed to be an important signing ceremony over at Aprealand.
Even in the previous life, Aiden had always made sure to wrap–up everything related to Aprealand before rushing back here…
Aiden looked at her. “Weren’t you headed to the bathroom?”
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GM
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FO
Chapter 58
Valerie froze. “Uh…” Okay, so maybe that had been an excuse.
Aiden leaned in, his voice teasing. “Or was the bathroom just a cover–what you really wanted was to sneak off and spend some time alone with me?”
