Chapter 331
Valerie confirmed Clayton had left and quickly got out of bed to lock the hospital room door, then found her phone.
Earlier, she’d received a message from an unknown number. The person said they’d give her money if she made the Patel family restless and firmly refused to divorce Clayton.
The profile picture showed it was a woman, and her Instagram wasn’t public. Valerie approved her friend request. No matter the person’s motives, she’d do anything for money.
Anonymity: [You’ll have takeout later.]
Shortly after, a delivery person brought a meal. She double–checked if there was anything else, but the delivery person said no. If she went through all this trouble just for a meal as payment, it would be a huge loss.
Valerie opened the bag reluctantly, then quickly pressed it shut. She rushed outside the hospital room to look around. The patients, family members, and medical staff passing by didn’t glance her way.
She closed the door and opened the bag again. Inside the black plastic food container was actually a stack of money–ten thousand dollars.
Valerie’s eyes lit up instantly. She grabbed her phone and messaged the stranger back, Valerie: [The food was delicious.}
Anonymity: [Welcome to order again next time.]
Just as Valerie was wondering where to hide the money safely, the hospital room door suddenly opened. She hastily stuffed the cash under the quilt.
Clayton glanced at the food packaging on the table and walked in.
Valerie lay on the bed, pressing the stack of money under her. “She scratched my face like this and accused me of being mentally ill. She has to
compensate me.”
Clayton wearily pulled over a chair, sat down, rubbed his face hard, and said, “Alexa won’t let you take Riley away.”
Alexa had been crying and screaming in the hospital room, claiming she’d kill herself if Riley left her. Wyatt was annoyed but helpless.
“She’s unstable right now. I’ll talk to her again later. You should go back first. If you’re caught leaving Ashbourne without permission, the consequences will be serious,” Clayton said.
Valerie turned over to face away from Clayton and didn’t speak.
Clayton thought she’d agreed, stayed in the room for a while, and then left.
However, when he arrived with breakfast the next day, Valerie was gone from the hospital room.
Valerie took Riley to Tony’s workplace, the Quality Supervision Department.
Wearing a hat and mask to hide her facial injuries, she told Riley to go to the security gate and ask to see her grandfather. The security guard let them in without much thought.
The project at the East District of Municipal Hospital was in full swing, and Earl had brought his team to chair a meeting.
Just as Tony finished reporting the work progress, someone told him his granddaughter was looking for him. Tony was unhappy. With successive troubles in Wyatt’s family, he’d been avoiding getting involved with them.
Earl asked, “Is something wrong? Go deal with it first.”
“Nothing important. Work comes first. Let them wait,” Tony said. He told the security guard to take Riley to his office to wait. Just then, a wail sounded
outside the door.
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Chapter 331
Riley shouted, “Grandpa, please talk to my mom. I really can’t live like this
Valerie said, “Mr. Woodson, Alexa is crazy. She forced her daughter to jump off a building. Please help usi”
Tony froze in shock. Earl frowned tightly. He motioned to his secretary beside him, who quickly went to the door. The moment the secretary opened it. he jumped to the side.
“Mr. Woodson, we’ve been driven to desperation,” Valerie said, pulling Riley to kneel outside. When she saw the door open, she crawled insides
Not recognizing Tony, she randomly grabbed a person and took off her hat and mask.
“These injuries on my face and body were all caused by Alexa. As Riley’s aunt, I only wanted what was best for her, but Alexa not only beat me but also accused me of having AIDS. She’s trying to kill me!” said Valerie
The stranger she’d grabbed didn’t dare to move at all.
When Riley saw she’d grabbed the wrong person, she desperately tried to signal her.
Valerie realized the man she’d grabbed was the same one Riley was looking at. She sat up and saw a very displeased man with graying temples. “Mr. Woodson.” She stumbled toward him.
“Get out now–we’re in a meeting,” Tony said. He’d never been so embarrassed in front of Earl.
Earl had always praised his work, and Tony had hoped to get promoted through this project. He couldn’t afford any mistakes now.
“Mr. Woodson, everyone in the neighborhood saw Alexa forcing Riley to commit suicide,” Valerie said.
She pointed to her face for everyone in the room to see. “Look at this! I just tried to reason with Alexa because I felt sorry for Riley, and she beat me like
this.”
“If it weren’t for your sake, Mr. Woodson, I would’ve called the police to arrest her,” she added.
Tony was too angry to speak.
News of Valerie’s incident spread through the Quality Supervision Bureau. Everyone said Alexa had abused her daughter and beaten Valerie using her father’s influence.
Alexa was summoned to Tony’s office by phone. From the moment she entered the bureau, people stared and whispered. She couldn’t stand others‘ judgment, and now being gossiped openly pushed her frayed nerves to the breaking point.
The moment she walked into Tony’s office and saw Valerie and Riley, she lost control. “Bitch, how dare you come here? I’ll kill you both.”
Alexa lunged at Valerie like a mad woman. Valerie quickly pulled Riley behind her and said with tears, “Alexa, calm down! Riley is just a child–you’re scaring her.”
Seeing Riley foolishly siding with Valerie and now bringing her to their father’s office, Alexa couldn’t calm down at all.
Just then, a coffee cup smashed hard on the floor. Alexa’s swinging hand froze in mid–air. She turned to look at Tony’s stern face.
“Earl, I’m sorry you had to see this,” Tony said, turning to bow his head to Earl, who sat in the corner.
Everyone left except Earl. He wanted to see for himself if Tony’s daughter was abusing her power. After witnessing everything, Earl put down his coffee cup and left the office without a word.
Tony despaired. The look he gave his daughter was as cold as a blade, and Alexa was terrified by her father’s gaze.
Stiffly turning her head, she saw Valerie smirking at her and gritted her teeth. “You set me up.”
Alexa lunged at Valerie again, but Tony slapped her to the ground. “How did I end up with such a disgraceful daughter?” he said.
Chapter 331
Alexa glared hatefully at Valerie, wishing she could tear her apart right then.
Valerie secretly pinched Riley, then pretended to be magnanimous. “Mr. Woodson, everything I’ve done is for Riley. I’d even die to make sure she has a
better life.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
