Avery blinked once, the smile still stretched across her lips—but her eyes had narrowed, just slightly.
Still Valentina didn’t blink.She wasn’t here to play gas.
However Avery’s smile didn’t fade, but sothing in her eyes shifted—just a flicker, barely noticeable unless you were really watching. She stayed silent for a second longer than necessary, then gave a forced chuckle and stepped back.
"Okay," she said, brushing invisible lint off her jacket, "if you say so."
Her tone was light. Too light.
But inside her chest, her thoughts were roaring.
She kept her face calm on the outside, but her mind was racing.
"I thought they were rumors. I thought her face and her skin were ruined beyond repair... That she’d hide forever. But standing here now, it’s just unbelievable,"
Avery couldn’t deny what her eyes were seeing, Valentina looked... perfect.
Not just good. Not just recovered. Perfect.
Her skin glowed. Her posture was sharp, confident. The sa Valentina, but stronger. Like nothing ever happened.
At that mont Avery’s fists clenched slightly at her sides.
’This isn’t fair. What am I supposed to laugh at now?’
The last few years, Avery had held onto that image—that burned girl. That fragile version of Valentina who had disappeared. That was her comfort. That was the story she loved to tell at private events, to laugh quietly about. But now? There was nothing left to mock. No scar. No limp. No trace of that accident, Just Valentina looking brand new.
But Avery quickly shook off the thought. She wouldn’t show weakness. Not here. Not now.
Whatever, she thought, lifting her chin slightly.
’ She may look brand new, but I will not forget who she married.’
At that mont a smug grin played at the corner of her lips. ’A holess man. A nobody. That’s who Valentina gave her life to.’
Suddenly, she relaxed.
"There’s no need for fights, really. We’ve grown. We’re not kids anymore. There’s no point in bringing back all that old rivalry. We should be laughing, not attacking. Talking, not throwing looks. we hadn’t seen each other in years. And I think it’s ti to let go of the childish gas we used to play."
Valentina stood calm, her hands folded gently in front of her as she spoke, her voice firm but level.
"There’s no problem," she said. "You asked a question, and I gave you an answer. That’s all. No one attacked anyone."
Avery bit her bottom lip for a second, trying to keep her face straight. She gave a small nod, pretending to agree, even though her chest felt tight.
She wasn’t used to Valentina holding her ground like this—not so calmly, not so confidently.
Then Avery’s eyes shifted to Raymond again, still standing silently beside Valentina. She tilted her head with a curious smirk and pointed toward him again.
"I guess this is your husband, not friend?"
Valentina didn’t hesitate. With full confidence, her chin lifted slightly and her eyes lit with pride.
"Yes," she said. "That’s my husband. Raymond."
Imdiately Avery’s gaze swept across Raymond’s fra slowly, trying to find sothing—anything—to mock. But it wasn’t working. The man standing there didn’t look anything like the "holess nobody" people whispered about.
He was well-grood, sharp-eyed, quiet but firm in presence. His clothes were simple, but they sat well on him. He didn’t have that loud rich look, no flashy watch or expensive shoes, but he didn’t look like soone who had nothing either.
He looked... solid.
Like a man who knew exactly who he was.
"Oh," Avery said, blinking. "So this is him?"
Valentina smiled.
"Yes. This is the love of my life. The man who stayed when everyone walked away. The man who helped find my smile again when I had nothing left. He’s more than just a husband—he’s my peace, my ho, and the man my heart beats for."
Upon hearing what Valentina just said Raymond looked at her quietly, not saying a word, but his hand brushed lightly against hers.
Avery’s jaw tightened behind her smile.
"Interesting," she said slowly. "Really interesting."
But she wasn’t done. Her voice lowered slightly, her tone shifting into sothing more cutting.
"Well, I an, he doesn’t exactly look like the kind of man I expected you to end up with, Valentina. No offense, of course. I just know you. You’ve always had a certain standard. So, what really happened? What made you choose... soone like him?"
Valentina’s smile slowly faded, her posture still calm but her voice no longer soft.
"Avery," she said, "you need to mind the way you talk. I don’t care if we used to be friends. I don’t tolerate disrespect, especially not when it cos to my husband. You don’t speak about him like that in front of ."
Imdiately Avery’s brows lifted slightly in mock innocence.
"Whoa, okay," she said, raising both hands. "I wasn’t trying to offend you. I was just being a good friend, that’s all."
Then Valentina shook her head gently. "No. I don’t need advice, especially not from soone who barely knows . Try advising yourself first."
At that mont Avery’s smile twitched, it was clearly forced now. But she quickly recovered, letting her tone shift to sothing lighter, though her words still carried bite.
"Well, before I forget," she said, "my wedding’s in two weeks. I’d like to specially invite you... and your husband." She turned briefly to Raymond and gave him a nod, then back to Valentina.
"I an, it would an a lot to see both of you there."
Valentina kept her voice polite. "I’m quite busy these days. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it. Maybe I’ll show up... if I can."
Upon hearing what Valentina just said.
Avery’s smile cracked, and her voice rose a little sharper than before.
"Oh, co on, Valentina," she said. "Busy? Doing what exactly? Everyone knows you don’t work. You’ve always been at ho. Stop pretending. You and I both know the truth."
Valentina’s expression didn’t change, but her words ca out slow and steady.
"All those things you think you know about ," she said, "are outdated lies. If you truly knew anything about , Avery, you would’ve known that I’m now the Director of Sterling Design."
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