Fabian’s muffled grunts and Sasha’s moans filled the air all night long. Meanwhile, Valerie sat there like an empty shell with tears streaming down her face.
The sounds lasted until dawn. When Fabian finally opened the door, his gaze was cold.
“Clean the room,” he ordered.
Valerie looked at the room. There were used condoms strewn across the floor. Her chest tightened painfully, but she said nothing. She merely nodded in silence.
Sasha emerged from the bathroom. Her skin was covered in hickeys. She paused at the sight before her, then looped her arm around Fabian’s and gently said, “Let bygones be bygones, Fab. Let Valerie go.”
Fabian’s lips curved slightly, but the smile never reached his eyes. “She wants money, and I pay her to do a job. It’s a fair deal. I’m not forcing her to be here.”
Then, he pulled Sasha closer and softened his tone. “Don’t worry. She’ll be gone for good before the wedding.”
For the next few days, Fabian took Valerie everywhere he went with Sasha.
Whenever someone toasted him, he made her drink in his place until she was completely lightheaded. She stumbled to the restroom to throw up over and over, yet he never let her stop.
During meals, he treated her like a maid, making her peel shrimp for Sasha, pick out fish bones, and wipe her hands. Even when Sasha needed to use the restroom, Valerie had to accompany her.
Meanwhile, Fabian showered Sasha with endless affection in front of everyone.
After every event, he’d coldly retrieve a thick wad of cash from the car and throw it at Valerie.
“Here’s your payment for today.”
She never reacted to his humiliation. She only bent down, picked up the dirty bills, and carefully tucked them into her bag.
Yes, Valerie needed money. Once she earned enough, she could disappear from his world forever.
With sky burial, not even a bone or scrap of flesh would remain. It would be as if Valerie Hartman had never existed at all.
…
On Sasha’s birthday, Fabian threw her a grand celebration.
Anyone could see how much effort he had put into it.
The entire venue was decorated according to Sasha’s tastes. Rumor had it that over a million roses had been used just for the occasion.
The dress Sasha wore that night had been personally designed by Amelia years ago for her future daughter-in-law.
When the couple entered hand in hand, all eyes turned to them.
Fabian was as dashing and charismatic as ever. The only difference was that the woman beside him was no longer Valerie.
Seeing the scene before her, Valerie couldn’t help but recall the moment they got engaged.
That day had been just as grand. Their loved ones had gathered to witness his devotion. Hand in hand, they had stepped toward what they thought would be a lifetime of happiness.
Fabian had slid the heirloom ring onto her finger and said that from the moment she wore it, she was his, and they would never be apart.
Just then, a murmur of conversation snapped Valerie back to reality.
“Seriously, what was Valerie thinking? She and Fabian grew up together. He spoiled her rotten, treated her like a princess, and she repaid him by killing his mother?”
“Exactly! Everyone knew how much he adored her. Why would she do that?”
“If that hadn’t happened, they’d probably have a kid in elementary school by now.”
“Forget it. Who can understand the mind of a heartless woman? She deserves everything that’s happening to her.”
“Yeah. A woman like that should just drop dead.”
Valerie listened to the curses around her with a vacant expression.
Just as they wished, she would soon be dead.
After the party, Fabian stayed behind to say goodbye to the guests, leaving Valerie and Sasha by the lake outside.
This was the first time they’d been alone since Valerie’s release from prison.
Sasha remained silent for a long time before finally saying, “Valerie, did you know? I’ve loved Fab for years. Long before you two got together.
“Back then, you both loved each other, so I chose to step aside and bless your relationship. But why did you betray him?
“Do you have any idea how much pain he has been in all these years? It took everything in me to put him back together, and now you show up again just to wreck him all over again?”
Valerie looked at the woman in front of her. She had never imagined that the best friend who had always been by her side had secretly loved the man she once called her own.
But she hadn’t returned to disrupt their lives.
A woman who had “killed” Amelia and was about to die had no right to fight for anything.
“I’ll be gone soon, Sasha.”
Sasha’s cold gaze flickered with suspicion. She didn’t believe her.
Suddenly, she pulled the ring off her finger and flung it into the lake.
“Valerie, you threw my ring into the water. Shouldn’t you go fetch it for me?”
