11. Let Me Handle It

River's voice thundered through the room. "Absolutely not!"

"River," Ellie started, placing a hand on his arm, but he glared at her before turning back to Valerie.

"Under no circumstances do you need to be seeing Antonio again," he insisted.

Valerie took a deep breath, trying to remain calm in the face of her brother's anger. "River, I understand your concern, but we need to sort out what Antonio wants from me. We never got to put that whole Julian thing to rest because I went into labor!" she exclaimed.

"You have bigger things to worry about now, Valerie. I will set things straight with Antonio Costello. All you need to worry about now is being a mother to your son," River argued.

"And what if he won't stop, River? What if ignoring him just makes things worse?" Valerie asked, frustration seeping into her voice. "We can't pretend he doesn't exist. He has already intruded into our lives, and we need to know what he really wants."

"Valerie, you're not dealing with an ordinary man," River said, his tone softening but still firm. "Antonio is dangerous, and I don't want you or my nephew anywhere near him. Let me handle this."

"No, River," Valerie said firmly. "I am used to dealing with men like this, so let me figure this out. If he wanted to hurt me, he would've already, but he didn't," she said.

River's jaw tightened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might continue to argue, but then he took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. "Valerie, I know you're strong. But this isn't just about you anymore. It's about Landon. You have to be careful."

"I will be careful," Valerie promised, her voice steady. "But I can't just ignore this. We need answers, and the only way to get them is to confront Antonio myself."

Ellie, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "River, maybe we should trust Valerie on this. She knows what she's doing, and we can support her while still keeping Landon safe."

River looked between Ellie and Valerie, his expression a mix of frustration and reluctant acceptance. Finally, he nodded. "Alright, Val. We'll do it your way."

"Thank you, River," Valerie said, feeling a wave of relief.

She quickly left the room, her heart pounding in her chest. As much as she wanted to assure River that everything would be fine, she was scared, not for herself, but for Landon. He was her world now, and the thought of putting him in danger made her blood run cold.

Valerie went inside Landon's room. The room was filled with an array of presents Antonio had sent over. Molly had moved them in here, and Valerie hadn't had the chance to look through them until now. She walked over to Landon's crib and looked down at his peaceful, sleeping face. The sight of his tiny chest rising and falling with each breath filled Valerie with a sense of happiness.

Taking a deep breath, Valerie began to sort through the gifts. There were bags of baby clothes, diapers, and pretty much everything she'd ever need for Landon. Her focus went to the handcrafted crib. It was a beautiful piece of work, meticulously detailed. There was something personal about it, almost as if Antonio was trying to make a statement beyond mere generosity.

As she sifted through the gifts, Valerie found a small, unmarked envelope tucked away under the crib's mattress. Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it and pulled out a neatly folded letter. The handwriting on it was elegant, and she read the words carefully:

Bella, I understand that my actions might seem intrusive, and for that, I apologize. But know this: this is not a game. Antonio.

That was it. That was all he wrote. Valerie thought the man was weird.

Just then, she heard a soft knock on the door. She turned to see her fourteen-year-old niece Tiffany standing there, her eyes wide and curious. "Aunty Val, what are you doing?"

Valerie forced a smile. "I was just thinking."

Tiffany walked over and looked at her. "Thinking about what?"

Valerie quickly folded the letter and put it back in the envelope, setting it aside before turning her full attention to Tiffany. "Just thinking about how lucky I am to have all of you and Landon," she said, reaching out, tugged at her braid.

Tiffany's face lit up with innocence, her eyes sparkling. "Can I help with sorting the presents?" she asked eagerly.

"Of course," Valerie replied, her heart warming at her eagerness. She looked at Tiffany carefully. This girl had grown so beautiful. River and Ellie needed to make sure they keep a close eye on her. "Let's see what else is in these boxes."

As Tiffany and Valerie explored the gifts together, she couldn't help but marvel at the sheer quantity and quality of the items Antonio had sent. A part of her felt uncomfortable accepting so much from someone she barely knew, especially when that someone was technically her enemy.

Well...not her enemy, per se. More like Julian's enemy, Valerie thought.

Tiffany held up a stuffed bunny. "Look at this one. Doesn't he have a funny face, aunty Val?"

Valerie giggled. "I guess he does."

Valerie turned back to the gifts, and her thoughts returned to the meeting with Antonio. What would she say to him? Should she thank him for the gifts? Or should she yell at him for inserting himself into her life?

And that dress...what was that all about?

Later that evening, after putting Landon to bed, Valerie sat in her living room, the small envelope from Antonio resting on the coffee table in front of her. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something much more complicated.

River and Ellie joined her, their expressions reflecting their shared concern. River spoke first, his voice gentle but firm. "Val, are you sure about this? Confronting Antonio on your own?"

Valerie nodded, determination in her eyes. "I need to know what he wants, River. I can't live in fear of the unknown. I'll meet with him and get the answers we need."

Ellie reached out and squeezed Valerie's hand. "We'll support you, whatever you decide. Just be careful, okay?"

Valerie smiled gratefully. "I will, Ellie. Thank you."