Chapter 43: I can’t let you suffer
Upon arriving at her new ho at exactly 3 p.m., Valerie directly organized the groceries in the fridge and cabinets, while Hannah cleaned the sowhat dusty rooms. anwhile, Daniel played with Adriana.
"Why don’t we just tell Damian?" Adriana asked.
"The problem is, I have to keep my distance from him, so he shouldn’t know I moved here. Not even Samuel or Darius should know," replied Valerie, placing boxed drinks forcefully in the fridge. She did it with intensity, as if emotional; her lips even looked pouty. "Who is really at fault here? I returned because I still have a conscience; I want him to know about his son. But why does everything have to be so complicated? Why doesn’t his father seem to understand my feelings... Damian is the reason I didn’t want to co back!" she finally vented.
Adriana stayed silent with Daniel on her lap, watching Valerie unable to contain her anger.
"I’m exhausted!" exclaid Valerie, then sat on the floor facing the open fridge. Her tears slowly broke, revealing her frustration. "I just want peace... But why does he act like I’m the most guilty and responsible one? Why... is it because I’m ugly and poor that my feelings are not valued?" She wondered while recalling Darius’s words about his choice of a girl.
Adriana sighed, suddenly feeling guilty for urging Valerie to accept Damian.
"Why don’t people understand my feelings?" Valerie asked, holding her chest as if suffocating. "I still can’t forget it... He has sex with my friend, even before our marriage. It kept
from sleeping soundly all this ti. That day felt like a never-ending nightmare! I’m truly tired... But why does everyone think I’m wrong for hiding Daniel? Isn’t it my right?"
"Valerie..." Adriana lowered Daniel from her lap and then placed her hand on Valerie’s shoulder.
Daniel imdiately approached Valerie, looking at her seriously, as if curious about why his mother was crying.
Valerie continued to cry.
"Enough, don’t keep crying, Daniel will feel sorry for you," Adriana whispered, kneeling beside Valerie.
Valerie glanced at Daniel, then hugged him tightly. Her tears broke again, imagining how she struggled with longing and a wounded heart during her pregnancy.
"Mama," Daniel whispered.
"Do what makes you comfortable and calm. Don’t listen to anyone," Adriana said anxiously. "I apologize for pressuring you to take him back... I just thought your future together would be better. But if you can’t, it’s okay... Maybe God has other plans," she continued resignedly.
"We can’t be together," replied Valerie, releasing her embrace on Daniel, letting him sit on her lap while she wiped her tears. "He has accepted an arranged marriage with another girl... I don’t want to hope for him anymore, and besides, I have my faults too, so his family won’t accept
if he cancels the engagent just to be with
again. The problem will only get more complicated," she continued.
"What if he’s willing to fight for you?" Adriana asked.
"I don’t care, I just want peace with my son!" Valerie answered, hugging Daniel again, occasionally kissing his head. "He is more precious than anything. I won’t let him suffer because of this issue. I don’t want him to see that his grandfather doesn’t love him!" she said with tears.
Adriana sighed, choosing to remain silent as if unable to advise Valerie further.
From the door, Hannah snapped a picture, quickly returned to the living room, and sat on the bluish-gray sofa.
"I have to tell Damian about this. Damian must always pursue her so Samuel won’t have another chance," she whispered, promptly sending the photo with a caption.
"She moved hastily after your father ca to see her. Her new house is not far from your parents’ house. We are at house number 525... Don’t say I told you."
Hannah smirked after successfully sending the photo, then imdiately resud her work.
...
Damian was at a salon, sitting leisurely in a long chair, staring blankly at the white-thed ceiling, seemingly oblivious to the people around him undergoing hair and, face and nail treatnts.
He seed lost in his world until a beautiful girl approached him and sat beside him.
"Damian," she called.
Damian quickly turned. "Karina..." He shifted away from the chair’s back and glanced around.
"I’m done. We should leave now," Karina said, standing up.
Damian sighed, looking at Karina, who looked beautiful in a black outfit with long hair and a white branded bag, approaching another woman and hugging her.
’I can’t continue like this. Whether she likes it or not, I have to make her understand that I can’t continue with our arranged marriage... Before she genuinely becos interested in , I have to push her away,’ he thought anxiously.
Karina had bid farewell to the salon owner and returned to Damian, who was lost in thought.
"Hey, why are you lost in thought?" she asked with a laugh, showing her white and neat teeth.
Damian smiled faintly and stood up. "Sorry..."
"I think you’re sleepy."
"Yeah, a bit."
"In that case, just go ho. No need to go back to the office. Or do you want to go to... my apartnt?" Karina asked sowhat awkwardly.
Damian paused for a mont as if thinking.
"But I’m hungry; we better just eat," Karina suddenly said.
Damian nodded. "Alright, let’s go to my favorite café."
"Okay..." Karina smiled, walking ahead, and Damian followed her out of the salon.
...
They sat facing each other on the outermost chairs near the glass wall, allowing them to see the outside view.
Damian let Karina order food first, checking his phone, and discovering several ssages from Hannah.
’What’s going on? Is he causing trouble again? How can he do this to Valerie when I’m the real jerk!’ he wondered, his breath suddenly catching, his eyes continuously drawn to a photo showing Valerie hugging Daniel near the fridge, while Adriana seed to comfort her.
’I can’t let this happen. They deserve to be happy, and I will make them happy!’ He gritted his teeth, then took a deep breath as if holding back his emotions.
"Damian." Karina saw Damian looking tense. "Is there a problem?"
"No..." Damian looked at his phone again and, without further thought, handed it to Karina. "I can’t hide this from you any longer..."
Karina fell silent, looking at the photo, then back at Damian.
"Valerie?"
"You know her?"
"Yes... of course. You almost married her. But at that ti, I wasn’t too concerned about you two because I was still busy with my affairs," explained Karina.
Reviews
All reviews (0)