Chapter 90:A Shoulder to Lean OnDay 31/365VICKYI’ve never been more grateful for a public holiday in my entire life.After last night’s eggy disaster, waking up felt like peeling off shame from my pores. I took a long bath, used all the expensive soaps Rue stacked in the guest bathroom, even that lavender one that smells like money and retirement plans. And still—still—I swore I could smell egg yolk on my skin.Maybe it was in my head. Or maybe humiliation really does linger longer than perfume.I wrapped myself in my robe and made my way downstairs. The house was quiet, almost suspiciously so. Rue was in the kitchen wearing his hoodie like he was trying to pretend he was a regular guy and not the man whose entire bloodline witnessed my public egging.He turned when he saw me. “Morning,” he said, far too casual. Like nothing happened.“Morning,” I replied, squinting at him. “You look… suspiciously calm.” “ How was your night ? did you sleep well ?” He asked his face beaming with s
Chapter 89: Enemies MultiplyWilliams practically danced through the front door. There was an unusual pep in his step, one Valerie hadn’t seen in days not even after his last sabotage rant.She was walking down the staircase in one of her oversized silk shirts when he swung the door open like he was auditioning for a rom-com. Before she could ask, he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her off the floor, and spun her so dramatically her ponytail whipped across his cheek.“Williams!” she laughed, slapping his shoulder. “What the hell?”He dropped her gently and grinned like a schoolboy. “Babe. You will not believe the kind of poetic justice I witnessed today.”Valerie arched a brow. “Let me guess you finally quit Rue’s company and bought that beach house in Cabo?”Williams laughed, shaking his head. “Better. Infinitely better.” “ You finally got your dad’s company shares ?” “ Well …No but you will love this “ “Oh, this I’ve got to hear.” She followed him to the living room, pl
Chapter 88: Scream TherapyDay 30/365VICKYI had egg yolk in places I didn’t even know existed. And even though I had changed out of that dress—burned it in my mind, actually—the shame? Still stuck to my skin like it was scented.Rue insisted we leave early. I didn’t argue. Honestly, I didn’t have the energy.We didn’t say much as we walked to the car, and the silence in the ride home was starting to feel like a punishment. I was sitting beside the man who chased after my egg-thrower like some knight in polished shoes, and all I could think of was how to pretend this wasn’t eating me alive.So, I tried humor.I tucked my hair behind my ear and said, “At least your mother might like me more now. You know… after I got baptized with egg yolks in public.”Nothing.I turned slightly. “You didn’t even crack a smile. Get it? Crack?”Still nothing.“God, tough crowd,” I muttered, leaning back in the seat.Rue glanced at me. “You don’t have to pretend.”I blinked. “Pretend what?”“That you’re
Chapter 87: Painted in YolksDay 30/365VICKYI wasn’t going to waste my second day at work being boring. Williams still walked around like he owned air, and I figured it was time to let him know the new sheriff was in town. I wasn’t going to punch, it was just gonna be a poke.I opened my drawer, took out the envelope I had prepared the night before, and smiled. I’d had a copy of his old HR photo—courtesy of Julia and it looked like a yearbook picture gone wrong. Greasy hair, smug smirk, and a tie that looked like it was choking him into submission. Perfect, i wanted to taunt him just something to remind him that i was now in office .I slid the photo inside a white envelope and wrote neatly across the front in black ink:“Would you like me to request a better photo for your ID? You’ve had five years to upgrade. —V.R.”Subtle. Classy. Annoying, it would ruining his ego ,Just the right amount of petty to ruin his mood. I placed it carefully in the internal mail tray like I was doing G
Chapter 86: The Villian and His Lady Valerie’s eyes were glued to her phone, refreshing the job portal on Sienna’s website like her life depended on it. She didn’t even care if her friends were still blabbing . “ She’s still on that damn website “Talia scoffed “ This is such a difficult thing to watch , i’m going home “ Brielle added “ Oh come on , you guys are overreacting with this , i just want a job “ she smirked “Sure,” rolled her eyes. “Let me know how pretending to take coffee orders helps you sleep at night. I’m out.” “ i’m coming too …” Talia followed . “ Good byeeeee”Valerie waved them off . When the door slammed shut, Valerie stared at the screen again. New update: “Application Received – Processing.” She smiled. Good. Exactly how she wanted it. By the time Williams walked into the apartment two hours later, she was still on the couch, one leg tucked under her robe, sipping lukewarm tea. “You’re back,” she said, not even turning. Williams dropped his brie
Chapter 85: Curiosity Kills The CatValerie’s fingers tapped impatiently on her screen as she scrolled through Sienna’s Instagram page for the third time that morning. Same recycled content, Law stuff Art, gallery shots, filtered selfies with nauseating quotes like “Grace finds those who seek it.” Ugh. But that wasn’t why Valerie was stalking her. Her eyes paused at a throwback post—Rue’s hand around Sienna’s waist. They were at some rooftop party. It was old, but it was still there.No caption. No “ex.” No archive. Just sitting there, unbothered.So she hasn’t moved on.Valerie leaned back into the sofa, phone still in her hand, lips pursed, she was so invested . “Of course she hasn’t,” she mumbled to herself. “Why would she? Rue is not the type of man you just move on from ““You’re talking to yourself again,” Brielle, her oldest friend, muttered from across the room. She had a smoothie in hand and a smirk on her face.“I’m not,” Valerie said defensively, sitting up straighter. “I