The audacity in her words sent a shockwave through the room.
Her stepmother’s eyes widened, Chloe’s mouth slightly open, Bernard’s grip on his chair tightened, and even her father—so used to controlling everything about Valentina—was left montarily speechless.
They had expected her to be weak.
They had expected her to bow her head just like she had always done, to accept their will without a fight.
But instead, she had just defied them all.
And for the first ti in a long ti... they didn’t know what to say.
Then Valentina father gaze landed on Raymond, without being told he could tell it was Raymond that must have manipulated her, he couldn’t believe in just a short ti of him being in her life, and all of a sudden Valentina now talk back at them.
It was sothing unheard of.
The room buzzed with disbelief, eyes darting between Valentina and the scattered divorce papers on the floor.
At that mont Chloe scoffed, shaking her head with an expression that scread resentnt.
"I knew it," she spat, her voice dripping with accusation.
"I knew you had this all planned. Who are you trying to fool? There’s no way you don’t have a hand in whatever is going on with right now!"
Chloe, her stepmother, sighed dramatically, crossing her arms over her chest.
"And here we were, trying to do you a favor," she said, mocking disappointnt.
"Trying to close our eyes and welco you back despite everything—despite your disgrace, despite your choices. And this is how you repay us?" She gestured toward the divorce papers on the floor.
"By throwing away the one chance you have to redeem yourself?"
Valentina let out a short, cold laugh.
"Redeem myself?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly, amusent flickering in her gaze. "That’s funny. I didn’t realize I needed to be ’redeed.’ when I have the best gift already, you all decided to push away, and I found myself in his arms"
She gaze at Raymond.
Hearing what Valentina just said.
Her father’s brows furrowed, his grip tightening on the armrest of his chair.
He couldn’t believe Valentina was actually referring to Raymond as the best, the holess under bridge guy.
Then Chloe stepped closer, her voice sharpening.
"Stop pretending, Valentina. You’re acting like you have sothing to offer this family—like you actually matter without us." She smirked. "Just get off that high horse while you still can and beg before we change our minds."
However Valentina’s expression didn’t waver.
She simply looked at them all—the sa people who once turned their backs on her, who discarded her like she was nothing—and laughed again.
"That was the old ," she said, her voice steady, unwavering.
"The girl who used to beg for your approval—who used to lower herself just so you could acknowledge her existence? She’s gone."
Her father’s jaw clenched, her half-sister’s face twisted with irritation, but Valentina didn’t stop.
"I never asked for a divorce. I never asked to co back to this family. So why—why on earth—would I accept this?"
She gestured toward the check and the papers like they were nothing more than trash.
A heavy silence followed.
For the second ti, they realized—this wasn’t the sa Valentina they once controlled. She wasn’t coming back.
At that mont, the man who had been standing silently—Sebastian Aldrich—finally stepped forward.
His sharp gray eyes flickered with calculation as he adjusted his tailored suit, smoothing out the invisible creases. He had been waiting for this mont.
The call from Valentina’s father and stepmother last night had given him everything he needed—a perfect opening to finally gets what he wanted.
With a small, knowing smile, Sebastian spoke, his voice calm but authoritative.
"Mr.Callum, Mrs. Callum," he said, turning his attention to Valentina’s parents first, his expression charming yet confident.
"I understand why you’re frustrated. You just want the best for Valentina, right?
Valentina’s father nodded slowly, suspicious but intrigued.
Sebastian’s gaze then shifted to Valentina, his smile deepening.
"And Valentina," he continued smoothly, "I’m sure you know I’ve always had the utmost admiration for you."
Valentina’s expression remained unreadable, but her eyes narrowed slightly.
Sebastian chuckled softly, as if sensing her skepticism.
"I don’t bla you for being cautious," he said, stepping closer. "But let’s be honest—this situation isn’t ideal for anyone. You’ve always been brilliant, Valentina. Even when you were working under your family’s company, your na was on everyone’s lips—you were the future. The smartest, most capable woman in the industry."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"And that’s exactly why I think you should reconsider." His voice lowered, his tone gentle but persuasive.
"You deserve a family that values you, a place where your talents won’t be wasted. And if you join the Carter family, I can promise you that you will have everything you’ve ever wanted."
His eyes glead with unspoken intent—because this wasn’t just about admiration.
It was about power.
Sebastian knew that Valentina’s mind was still as sharp as ever, and if he could secure her—if he could tie her to his family—she would beco his greatest asset.
And he wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away.
Then Sebastian cleared his throat, adjusting the cufflinks on his wrist before stepping forward with asured confidence.
His sharp eyes locked onto Raymond, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he assessed him.
"You know," Sebastian began, his voice smooth yet laced with underlying arrogance, "I never thought you’d be this... grudging. But I suppose I underestimated you."
He took a deliberate step closer, hands casually in his pockets, his posture relaxed but dominant.
"But since you are a man, and I am a man, let’s talk—man to man."
Valentina’s expression darkened, but Sebastian ignored it, keeping his focus solely on Raymond.
"You and I both know what you want," he continued, his tone cool and calculated. "So let’s cut to the chase. Tell —how much do you need to sign the divorce papers?"
A tense silence fell over the room.
Sebastian’s smirk widened as he gestured toward the table.
"We can have another divorce agreent drawn up imdiately—right now," he said, his voice thick with certainty.
"just na your price, Raymond," he added, his eyes sharp and unwavering.
"How much will it take for you to walk away from Valentina’s life—for good?"
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