Valerie’s POV
Anna had been working at Nightshadow Industries for three days now, and every evening brought delicious updates that made my vindictive heart sing with satisfaction. She’d call after work, her voice bubbling with malicious excitent as she described how perfectly her plan was unfolding.
"You should see her face, Val," Anna had whispered into the phone last night, her voice carrying that familiar note of cruel pleasure I rembered so well from our school days. "Every ti I dump more work on her desk, every ti I make her fetch my coffee, she looks like she wants to strangle . But she can’t do anything about it because precious Damien thinks I’m his long-lost love."
I’d laughed until my sides hurt, imagining that pathetic oga bitch scrambling to keep up with Anna’s demands while pretending everything was fine. After years of watching Seraphina sohow land on her feet despite every obstacle thrown her way, it was deeply satisfying to know she was finally getting what she deserved.
But Anna’s best discovery had co yesterday afternoon.
"I found her address," Anna had announced triumphantly. "And get this—I know where her little bastard goes to school. Silver Moon Harbor Elentary, just fifteen minutes from the office. The kid gets picked up every day at three-thirty by so woman nad Ophelia."
The information had sparked an idea so perfect, so beautifully cruel, that I’d actually shivered with anticipation. If there was one thing I knew about Seraphina Knight, it was that she would do absolutely anything to protect that child of hers. Anything.
Which was exactly what I was counting on.
Now, sitting in Gabriel’s pathetic excuse for a car outside our cramped apartnt, I dialed my mother’s number with steady fingers. The phone rang twice before Elizabeth’s familiar voice answered.
"Valerie? What do you want? I’m busy."
"Hello to you too, Mother," I said sweetly, injecting just enough sarcasm to let her know I wasn’t intimidated. "I called because I have so interesting news about our dear adopted daughter."
There was a pause, and I could practically hear Elizabeth’s ntal gears shifting. "Seraphina? What about her? I thought we agreed that ungrateful little bitch was dead to us."
"Oh, she’s very much alive," I said, settling back in the passenger seat with a satisfied smile. "In fact, she’s doing quite well for herself. Working at one of the most prestigious companies in Silver Moon Harbor, living in her own apartnt, raising her little bastard son."
"I don’t care if she’s the CEO of the entire damn company," Elizabeth snapped. "That girl chose to walk away from this family. She made her bed, and nowâ€""
"What if I told you she could still be useful to us?" I interrupted, knowing I had to play this carefully. Elizabeth was greedy, but she was also stubborn. I needed to make her think the idea was coming from her.
Another pause, longer this ti. "What do you an?"
"Think about it, Mother. Dad’s dical bills are getting worse every month. But Seraphina... she’s young, healthy, and apparently quite beautiful according to my friend who works with her." I paused for effect. "There are n out there who would pay handsoly for a woman like that."
The silence that followed was so complete I wondered if the call had dropped. Then Elizabeth’s voice ca back, lower and more interested than before.
"What kind of n?"
"The kind with deep pockets and flexible morals," I said, my pulse quickening as I sensed her taking the bait. "Gabriel knows soone from his... wilder days. A businessman nad Harold Morrison. Very successful, very wealthy. He’s been looking for a wife for years."
Elizabeth was quiet for a long mont, and I could practically hear her calculating. "How wealthy are we talking?"
"Wealthy enough to cover Dad’s dical bills ten tis over," I said, knowing I had her now. "Wealthy enough to buy you that house you’ve always wanted in the nice part of town. Wealthy enough to make sure you never have to worry about money again."
"And this Harold person would be interested in Seraphina?"
"Mother, she’s twenty-three years old, beautiful, and has already proven she can bear children. Harold wouldn’t just be interested—he’d be grateful." I paused, playing my trump card. "The only problem is getting her to agree.
"She’d never agree," Elizabeth said imdiately.
"Not if she had the right motivation." I said carefully.
I could hear Elizabeth’s sharp intake of breath as understanding dawned. "The child."
"I have her address," I said, triumph flooding through my veins. "And I know where the boy goes to school."
"Good. I’ll handle the rest." Elizabeth’s voice had taken on that brisk, businesslike tone she used when she was planning sothing particularly unpleasant. "You’ve done well, Valerie. This could solve all our problems."
---
The next day, I checked my appearance in the car’s rearview mirror, making sure I looked appropriately respectable. My blonde hair was pulled back in a conservative style. Most importantly, I’d brought my identification—the driver’s license that clearly showed my legal na as Valerie Knight Nightshadow.
Sa last na as Seraphina’s. Perfect.
The school day was ending, and I could see children beginning to erge from the building in small groups, their backpacks bouncing as they ran toward waiting parents and caregivers. I made my way to the main entrance, where a tired-looking teacher with graying hair was checking off nas on a clipboard.
"Excuse ," I said, approaching her with my most winning smile. "I’m here to pick up my nephew, Adrian Knight. His mother had an ergency at work and asked to collect him."
The teacher looked up from her clipboard, her expression politely curious. "I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’ve t. I’m Mrs. Henderson, Adrian’s teacher. And you are?"
"Valerie Knight," I said, emphasizing the shared surna as I pulled out my driver’s license. "Seraphina’s sister. Well, stepsister technically, but we’re very close."
Mrs. Henderson examined my identification carefully, noting the matching last na. "I see. And Seraphina called to arrange this?"
"She tried to call the school, but the line was busy," I said, my voice taking on just the right note of concern. "She’s absolutely frantic about this work ergency, and she knew Adrian would be worried if no one showed up to get him."
"Well," she said, glancing at her clipboard, "I suppose it’s alright. Adrian!" she called out toward the playground. "Your aunt is here to pick you up!"
A small figure detached itself from a group of children and ca running toward us, his dark curls bouncing with each step.
"Hi," Adrian said cautiously as he approached, his little backpack slung over one shoulder. His eyes were wary as they studied my face, clearly not recognizing . "Are you really my aunt?"
"I am," I said, crouching down to his eye level and speaking in the gentle tone I’d perfected during my brief stint babysitting neighborhood kids for extra cash. "Your mommy had to work late today, so she asked to co get you."
Adrian’s expression remained skeptical. "Mommy said only Aunt Ophelia is allowed to pick up. She said I should never go with strangers."
"You’re absolutely right to be careful," I said approvingly, pulling out my driver’s license again. "That’s exactly what smart boys do. But look—see my na? It says Valerie Knight. Just like your mommy’s na. That ans we’re family."
Adrian studied the identification with the intense concentration only four-year-olds could manage, sounding out the letters with obvious effort. "V-A-L... Valerie. K-N-I... Knight." He looked up at with those devastating blue eyes. "You have the sa last na as Mommy."
"That’s right. I’m your mommy’s sister." The lie ca easily, sweetened with just enough truth to be believable. "She’s at work right now, but she asked to pick you up because I have sothing very special to tell you."
"What kind of special?"
I leaned closer, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "It’s about your daddy."
The change in Adrian’s expression was imdiate and heartbreaking. His eyes went wide, his small body practically vibrating with sudden excitent. "You know about my daddy? Mommy says she doesn’t know where he is."
"I know exactly where he is," I said, feeling only a small twinge of guilt at the hope blazing in those silver-blue eyes. "But it’s a secret, and I can only tell you if you co with . Do you want to know about your daddy?"
Adrian nodded so enthusiastically I was afraid he might give himself whiplash. "Yes! Yes, please! I want to know everything!"
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