Raymond stared at her wrist a little longer, his eyes scanning every inch with silent focus. He could tell it wasn’t serious—no swelling, no bruising, nothing that looked life-threatening.
Still, he didn’t like the way she said she felt tension. It could be nothing, yes, but it could also be sothing small now that grows into sothing worse later.
He didn’t want to take chances. Not with her.
Valentina raised a brow.
"What? Why are you looking at like that?"
Then Raymond looked up, his expression calm.
"We’re going to the hospital."
"What? Why?" she frowned. "I told you I’m fine."
"I know you said that," he said, stepping back and walking toward the car, "and I heard you. We’re still going."
Valentina sighed but didn’t argue. She followed him, quietly sliding into the passenger seat.
Raymond didn’t say much on the way. He kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting lightly on the gear shift, eyes fixed on the road. But inside, his mind was running. He always noticed things—small things. And sothing about the way she held that arm didn’t sit right with him, however he could feel it was nothing serious, but he needed to act more human when ever he’s around her.
They arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later.
As they stepped inside, the scent of disinfectant filled the air, and the low hum of voices echoed around the hallway.
Raymond stayed close beside her, hands in his pockets, looking calm but alert.
Then it happened, A voice rang out behind them—the voice was sharp and clear.
"Valentina?"
They both turned, valentina’s face changed instantly.
Her brows lowered, her lips tightened, and her steps froze mid-stride. She stared at the person who had called her na, but her expression didn’t carry surprise.
It carried sothing colder.
Her eyes, once calm and professional, darkened in a flash.
Like she had just seen sothing she wished she hadn’t.
The mont Valentina turned around, her heart sank.
She didn’t need a second glance to recognize that voice. Only one person in her life could say her na with that kind of sharp, fake sweetness.
"Avery."
Valentina’s jaw tightened slightly.
Of all places, of all days.
Avery walked toward her with that usual confident strut—her chin slightly up, steps too calculated, eyes already scanning Valentina from head to toe like she was asuring her for competition.
It had always been like that, From the very beginning.
Elentary school? Avery was there.
High school? Still there.
University? Of course—sa departnt, sa major. The sa exams. The sa competitions. The sa boy, even.
Avery was never a friend. Not really. She was the girl who smiled at your wins just so she could try to outdo them the next week. The kind who wanted the spotlight, even if it wasn’t hers to take.
And when she suddenly disappeared—three years ago, right after her father won so massive math-based lottery—Valentina thought she was gone for good. Rumor had it her family traveled abroad. Fresh money always ca with fresh noise.
Now she was back, Back with that sa look in her eye. That sa air of I’m better than you but I’ll pretend we’re equal.
Then Valentina stood straighter, not letting the surprise show too much on her face.
At that mont Avery gave a wide smile. "Valentina... wow. It’s been so long."
Valentina nodded slowly, keeping her tone calm.
"Yeah. Three years."
Avery tilted her head. "You still look the sa."
However Valentina didn’t smile. She didn’t need to. She could already tell this wasn’t a casual reunion.
It was the beginning of another silent war between them.
Avery’s smile didn’t reach her eyes—it never did. It was the sa old curve of the lips, laced with sugar and poison.
Valentina didn’t respond right away. Her thoughts were running—tracking back to the last thing she ever heard about Avery. It was about a year ago.
Whispers. News. A booming business.
Apparently, after that lottery win, Avery’s father had invested smart. Real smart. Their family company exploded—deals with senators, international contracts.
Last Valentina heard, their company was commanding over fifty billion in assets. That wasn’t small talk anymore. That was real power.
She also heard Avery was engaged now. To who? She wasn’t sure. The details were foggy, and Valentina hadn’t cared enough to dig deeper, she had her own problems to face then.
But now, staring at her, she realized the story wasn’t over.
Avery flicked her hair over her shoulder, casually glancing at Raymond, who stood quietly behind Valentina.
"You ca with soone?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Valentina’s back stiffened just a bit.
Then Avery’s eyes lit up—not with curiosity, but with sothing else. A twisted delight.
"Well, hello," Avery said, stepping slightly to the side so she could face Raymond better.
"You didn’t introduce to your... friend."
Raymond gave a small nod, saying nothing.
Valentina remained calm. "He’s with ."
Then Avery’s lips twitched. "Of course, he is."
There it was—that tone. That sharp edge in her voice that wrapped itself in politeness but cut straight through.
"I’ve always said, and believe you had taste, Valentina," Avery continued. "But I never thought you’d start shopping in the luxury aisle."
Valentina didn’t reply. She didn’t need to.
Avery took one more step closer, her eyes darting between them.
"Anyway," she said with a fake chuckle, "you look... happy. Really. It’s good to see you finally catching up. I an, it took a while, but... you’re here now."
At that mont Valentina kept her expression still, her voice calm. "So people climb slow. Others just show off halfway."
Avery blinked, surprised—but only for a second. She smiled again, but this ti, it looked tighter.
That was Avery, the type of woman who didn’t just want what you had—she wanted to mock you for having it, wanted to break it or steal it just to prove that she could.
Then Avery’s heels clicked softly against the hospital tiles as she stepped even closer, her arms now loosely folded like she was here for so kind of casual chat. But Valentina knew better what was coming.
"You know," Avery said, voice light but filled with edge, "I honestly didn’t expect to run into you here today. What a surprise. A hospital, of all places."
However Valentina didn’t answer right away. She knew Avery wasn’t finished.
"And I heard..." Avery leaned in slightly, lowering her voice with a fake sense of curiosity, "that you finally did it. The surgery. To get your face and body back."
At that mont Raymond’s brows furrowed, but he stayed silent.
Valentina turned to look at her properly, calm and composed, even though inside, she could feel a slight stir.
"No," she said clearly. "That’s not true."
Imdiately Avery raised her brow, tilting her head. "Oh? Really?"
Valentina’s voice didn’t waver. "Does this face look like sothing shaped in surgery? Avery, you’ve known since I was a child. You’d know the difference between soone who got their face restored and soone who paid to build a new one."
Upon hearing what Valentina just said.
Avery gave a little laugh, the kind that was ant to sound amused, but only felt insulting. "I don’t know why you’d say sothing like that. Are you accusing of spreading rumors now?"
"I’m not accusing anyone," Valentina said simply. "I’m just saying what’s true. If you know how to tell the difference, then you should know I didn’t do any surgery."
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