Chapter 48: Good news
Valerie sat silently, staring at her laptop displaying nurous writings from her thoughts, her hands still hovering over the keyboard as if unable to type any longer.
"Huh... Why is it so difficult to concentrate now?" She sighed, leaning back on her chair and brushing her hair back.
Her phone rang.
Valerie quickly picked it up, seeing an incoming call from a contact nad Sandy.
"Hello?"
"Valerie, you need to check the dashboard on our platform now!" said a man nad Sandy from the phone.
Valerie furrowed her brow. "What’s happening?" she asked, shifting her focus from the laptop, exiting the Microsoft Word application, and entering a different platform.
"Just take a look. You secured 3rd place for writing, and you’ll receive an invitation to a eting in Korea. There, you’ll et authors, senior authors, platform owners, and much more. Of course, you’ll also et a Korean drama producer... If they find your book suitable, they might adapt it into a film or drama series!" explained Sandy.
Valerie fell silent, her eyes welling up as she saw her na and book listed on the dashboard alongside other winners.
"Don’t miss this opportunity. You have to co to Korea. All travel expenses and your stay will be covered by the platform, and, of course, I’ll accompany you," Sandy clarified.
"Yes, I’ll co," Valerie replied tearfully.
"This is a golden opportunity, Valerie. It could be a stepping stone for you to beco a famous author, and you need to enhance the quality of your writing!"
"Yes, I’ll keep trying even though it’s challenging... Concentrating is difficult for
now," Valerie said, wiping away her tears.
"Well... I know you might face new challenges when you return ho. It’s normal, but you have to balance your ti between your career and the issues there. You can’t handle everything at once; prioritize what benefits you the most."
"Alright, but when should I leave? Can I take Daniel?" Valerie asked, contemplating leaving Daniel might make it easier for Demian to take him, and eting Darius could be troubleso.
"We’re leaving next week; I’ll inform you of the schedule. You can bring Daniel only, without his babysitter... It’s a platform rule since they know you have a baby. But if you can afford to pay for her ticket, no problem... You can take her," Sandy explained.
Valerie fell silent. ’If I take Hannah, I might not be as free as I want, I’d have to pay extra for everything. Hotel expenses will increase, food costs too, and buying a ticket for her will be expensive. I could use money from Damian’s mother, but that’s not possible. She gave that money for Daniel’s needs... I shouldn’t use it for having fun with soone else,’ she thought anxiously.
"Valerie?"
"Eh..." Valerie refocused on the phone. "Okay... I’ll prepare myself. Just inform
about the schedule."
"Alright... You might also need to prepare ntally... You’ll have to speak a bit there, talk with influential people... And perhaps buy so elegant clothes because, after the formal event, there’ll be a party..."
"Okay, I’ll get everything ready."
"Okay, see you next week."
The call ended, and Valerie took a deep breath, placing her phone on the table. She smiled, still shocked and overwheld by her writing success.
"Mama!"
A loud and adorable voice from outside disrupted Valerie’s thoughts. She turned to the door and saw Daniel rushing towards her. She imdiately stood up from her chair and bent down to hug him.
"Ummhhh, mama’s boy!" She kissed his cheek while embracing him. "How was your day? What did you do with your teacher and friends?" She asked, looking at Daniel’s slightly flushed face, as if tired.
"I play," Daniel replied.
"You didn’t cry, did you?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Good boy!" Valerie kissed his cheek again.
"But he almost cried because tried to take soone’s toy," Hannah, entering the room, ntioned while hanging Daniel’s bag on the row of hangers next to hanging clothes.
Valerie looked at Daniel again. "You don’t need to fight over toys with your friend... It’s not good. Besides, you have plenty of toys here, or maybe you can use other toys... Don’t take sothing that doesn’t belong to you or is already held by soone else," she advised.
"But I want that toy!" Daniel replied with a pout, clinging to Valerie.
"We’ll buy it tomorrow so you can use it for learning at ho. I’ll contact your teacher later," Valerie said, releasing her hold on Daniel. "Now, take off your jacket; you must be hot," she continued, removing his blue jacket.
"I want milk!"
"Okay, wait a mont."
Valerie handed Daniel’s jacket to Hannah, then led him to sit on the bed and imdiately breastfed him.
Hannah also took off her jacket, and then sat in a chair near Valerie’s work desk, observing her laptop still displaying contest results on a platform.
"What’s this?" she asked.
"I beca one of the winners," Valerie answered with a smile, unable to hide her happiness.
Hannah widened her eyes at Valerie. "Are you kidding ?"
"No... This is not a joke. Look, my na is there."
Hannah looked back at the laptop screen.
"Next week, Sandy and I will go to Korea to receive the award and attend the event," Valerie said, her fading smile. "Maybe I can’t take you... The platform will only facilitate
and Daniel... I don’t have much money to take you there," she continued with concern.
Hannah fell silent as if contemplating sothing.
"I have a black card from Damian’s mother, but I don’t want to use it because maybe she gave it for Daniel’s needs... I don’t want her to think I’m using Daniel to have fun with her money," Valerie added.
Hannah suddenly smiled. "That’s okay... I’ll stay here. Maybe I’ll spend so ti having fun here. I an... Maybe I’ll go shopping and et so friends here," she said.
"You’re not angry, right?" Valerie ensured.
"No, of course I’m not angry!" Hannah shook her head. "I’m happy that you’ve achieved this position."
"That’s true, I’m very happy..."
"The next books might also have more opportunities to be published... Everything will get better."
Valerie nodded.
Hannah fell silent, then returned her gaze to the laptop, but in her heart, she thought, ’Maybe this is my chance to get closer to Samuel. I’ll make him dislike Valerie... And maybe I’ll also let Damian know about this plan. He’ll surely be very interested!’
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