Valerie stared at the long list that was handed to her with her jaw dropped. “Is this really for that little girl? These are the lists of things she does in a week?”
“You must be careful with her. She's allergic to seafood” Old Lady Vero snapped me out of my thoughts with her words.
“She's allergic to seafood? I'm allergic to that too, so we won't be having any issues” She gulped. Why does she feel attached to the little girl? They even had the same allergy, and the same favorite food.
“Good. You're expected to be here tomorrow, and don't be late” The old lady handed some documents to her.
“Thank you” Valerie mumbled as she grabbed her bag, and hurried out of the mansion. Just the little time she spent at the mansion, she felt rather fresh.
A cab dropped her in front of the apartment she shared with her friends, and she walked into the house.
“Hey! You're back” Susan raised her eyes from the cellphone she was operating. Probably, she could dictate whether Valerie got the job or not by looking at her facial expression.
Valerie sat heavily on the couch, taking off her shoes and earrings. “So, it looks like someone got a job, huh?” Susan winked at her, and Valerie smiled dryly.
“Well, I got the job… yeah! But I'm on a month probation period, so I don't know whether I should say I got the job or not” Valerie grabbed the shoes, heading to the room.
“But goodness me, Val. What's with the attire? I didn't get to see it properly when you left in the morning since you were rushing. Isn't it too old-fashioned?” Susan shrugged, and Valerie turned swiftly to her with her eyes narrowed.
“I've heard that already, Susan. The little girl who I'm going to take care of told me that already” Valerie snorted, and Susan burst into laughter.
“Gosh! I wonder the kind of friend you are, Susan. You're just making matters worst. Where's Andy?” Valerie shouted from the room, but Susan continued laughing without responding.
“That dickhead!” Valerie cursed under her breath. A few minutes later, she got out of the room with her dress already changed into a casual one.
“I'm so hungry. Is there any food prepared?” She asked, yawning hungrily.
“Nope. Andy called to say that he'd be treating us to dinner. Actually, he got a promotion at work today. Additionally, you also got a job, so it's celebration all the way” Susan giggled excitedly.
The door was flung open, and Andy walked in singing loud in excitement. “Congratulations, Andy” I chuckled, and hugged him tightly.
“I heard you got a job at the Davison's empire today. We have double good news” He snapped, and I nodded my head in agreement.
“Let's grab a few bottles of drinks and food. My treat, guys” He screamed, and we shrieked in excitement.
“You know what, guys? I've decided that once I get my first salary, I'd divide it into two, and give it to you both” Valerie bowed her head, and her friends turned to her with arched eyebrows.
“What for?” They chorused.
“Come on, guys, you both deserve more than that. For the past six years, you both have been more than family to me. You have me shelter, fed me, and even treat me to dinners. I don't know how to repay all the kindness, you guys have shown me” Valerie pouted her mouth, and they burst into laughter as they exchanged glances.
“What's funny? You both are just so annoying” Valerie cried out.
“It's funny because you sound silly. What the hell are you talking about? We are friends, and we should always look out for each other” Susan held Valerie's hands.
“We only did what we should do, as your friends. Will you stop being a crybaby, Val? Get ready, we're eating out” Andrew hurried into his room to change over into something simple.
They headed out of their apartment, and stormed into a bar. They already settled in a table when suddenly Valerie heard a familiar voice.
Turning swiftly, her eyes met with someone's. Valerie blinked her eyes rapidly to make sure she wasn't seeing things. It was really her, Patricia.
“Hey, sister” Patricia cat walked to her with a sarcastic smile. Valerie forced a smile at her.
“Patricia!” She called out, swallowing hard. She never expected to run into her. Patricia had told her that she was going to the university with Justin. What was she doing there?
“Oh! I thought I mistook you for someone, but I was wrong. Here you are, sister. You look so shabby, life must have been so tough on you. You've lost a lot of weight too” Patricia feigned concern. Of course, she was only mocking Valerie, and Valerie knew she was.
“Is… is that so? Susan and Andy, let's get the hell out of here” Valerie got up from the couch, and her friends followed suit. They could tell she wasn't comfortable anymore.
“You're leaving so soon? You know Mom, Dad, and I missed you so much” Patricia laughed mockingly. Valerie knew that was a big lie because her family never bothered to check on her. They must have wished her dead. Patricia, on the other hand, was so happy to see that Valerie didn't look so well. “Life must have been so tough for her?”.
“I'm doing well, Patricia. You can tell your parents that” Valerie turned to leave, but she heard another voice. This time the voice called her name tenderly. “Valerie!”
She halted, and slowly turned around. In front of her stood the man she loved so much, and could do anything for. It was Justin… she even noticed a love bite on his lip.
“Justin?” She raised her brows, as her stepsister rushed to Justin, and kissed his neck. “Baby, have you ordered?”
Tears circulated in Valerie's eyes, but she blinked it right in. “I can't shed a damn tear for him or Patricia”.
“Let's go, guys” She hurried out of the bar.
Walking out of the prison with her hands cuffed together and led by the police, Claudia approached the visiting room.She grinned maliciously the moment she saw Valerie and her husband, President Ethan, seated, waiting for her. “Why are you here, Valerie? I'm sure you are here to mock me, but you shouldn't rejoice yet.”Trying hard not to burst into tears, Valerie held Ethan's hand tight. “What have I ever done to you, Claudia? Why do you loathe me so much?”“Ridiculous! Do you expect me to love you? You must be stupid to think I will love you. All you ever did was take everything that I wanted for my daughter and myself. I wish you'd die, Valerie Watson.” She spoke with so much hatred.President Ethan smirked at her. “Before you can kill her, you'll have to get through me first. I, personally, will make sure that you rot in jail.”“President, it's my daughter who you should have gotten married to. She's the one who would have become your daughter's mother, but this thwart took that a
Claudia's eyes widened in shock. She wanted to speak, but words refused to come out of her mouth.“So this is what you've been planning, Claudia? You just want to kill me and take everything I own away from my biological daughter?” Mr. Watson blurted out.Patricia sniffed hard as she rushed to Mr. Watson. “Dad… Dad… I've always loved you as my father. I have never colluded with her to hurt you.” “Get your filthy hands off me, you daughter of a bastard! I have lived with you for so long without knowing that you're not my daughter.” He continued.With that, Claudia went on her knees, sobbing helplessly. Of course, she knew her little show was about to go down. “Eddy, you heard wrong. I didn't mean it that way… I… I…” “Shut your mouth, you chronic liar! You think I wouldn't find out, right? All you've ever done was tear my family apart, and give your bastard daughter a place where she has no place. How dare you, Claudia?” He yelled at her.Sobbing uncontrollably, Patricia rushed to hol
The gate flung open, and a sparkling sports car drove into the magnificent mansion of the Davison's.Immediately the car halted in the parking lot, the door was opened and Rebecca got down from the car.She blew the gum she was chewing noisily as she approached the entrance. The guards standing at the entrance greeted her in chorus. “Good day, ma'am.”Ignoring the greetings, she turned to one of them. “Get my luggage from the car trunk immediately.”“Yes, ma'am.”She walked into the house. Her eyes caught Valerie's figure seated in the sitting room and watching television. She fluttered her lashes in disgust.“What's that b*tch doing here? I thought Ethan would have annulled their freaking marriage.”Walking to the sitting room, she picked up the remote control and turned the television off, before turning her gaze to Valerie. “Why are you still here, you thwart?” “Rebecca, why did you turn off the television?” Valerie asked curiously.Rebecca scoffed. “I see you've got guts, right?
Valerie couldn't stop sobbing. Tears kept falling down her cheeks. “Val, will you stop crying? Do you think crying will solve the issue? You're only going to fall sick if you keep this up.” Susan tried to console her.She shook her head, sniffing hard. “How do you expect me to react? Susan, how do I face the public? Did you see the scornful words I'm getting from people on the internet? What have I done to deserve this?”“Listen, I know that whatever it is that was seen on that movie projector, it must be a plot.” Susan told her.Breaking into tears again, she continued lamenting. “How do I face the world, Susan? And Ethan, how is it going to face the public after the kind of shame that I rubbed on his face? Have you forgotten that all his business partners were present? Most of all, how is my daughter going to see me? Susan, I don't think I can take this anymore. All I want is to go far away from here, I can't stand it any longer.”“To go far away from here? You must be kidding me,
The car drove into the church, and Valerie got down from the car with Susan. Immediately President Ethan sighted her, he ran to her with smiles all over his face. “Hey! Are you okay?” “Yes, I am. Why do we need to switch to another car on our way here? I mean, we were supposed to drive in with a Lamborghini, but we took a bus instead.” Valerie stared at him confused.President Ethan smiled. “Actually, I just had a bad feeling about it, which is why I had you guys switch to another car. I just got a call that the car you were in was ambushed.”Fear gripped Valerie as her jaw dropped in shock. She stared at her friend, who was also as gobsmacked as she was. “Ambushed? Someone got shot, huh?”“Apparently, the gunners thought you were still in the car, which is why they ambushed the car in the first place. Smart enough, I figured out that something bad might happen.” Ethan smiled.Exhaling deeply, Valerie bit her lips. She just couldn't stop herself from panicking. “Ethan, are you sure
“No, you listen to me, Ethan.” Mrs. Davison yelled at him angrily.Calmly, Ethan sipped from the glass of orange juice and replied. “For the past few years, I've always listened to you. Mom, I practically do every single thing that you've ever wanted. This is the only thing I've decided to do, and you're not going to support me, really?” “Ethan, you're my son. I can never deceive you. That woman, you see that Valerie girl, she's not the one for you. Have you forgotten that you have been engaged to Rebecca for almost three years?” She continued ranting.Ethan scoffed. “An engagement that I've already called off, or is there any other one that I don't know of?” Raising her brows in surprise. Mrs. Davison asked. “I beg your pardon.”“That's true, Mom. I already called off my engagement with her. Likewise, I told her that we were done.” Ethan replied.Visibly shaking in annoyance, Mrs. Davison couldn't stop herself from giving Ethan a deafening slap. “How dare you, Ethan?”Without sayin