At the Watson's Residence, Mr. Edmond had just returned. He turned to his wife, who was watching TV on the sofa. With a smile, he sighed and said, “Claudia, you won't believe the good news I brought. Guess what?”
“What?” Claudia looked at him curiously.
“I finally got Valerie's contact. I couldn't believe it. For the past six years, she's been at Northridge. I heard that from an old friend, and she gave me the mail address” Mr. Edmond said happily.
He didn't realize that his wife's facial countenance had suddenly changed and the resentment in her eyes grew. “Why are you still talking about her? Didn't I tell you how she left this house on her own without trace? She shouldn't be let back into this house after leaving without trace”
“Claudia, I've been thinking for some time. She's my daughter, and I should have gone searching for her even if she left. You know what transpired between us in the past, no one would feel good after such happens”.
Anger engulfed Claudia, but she had to get a hold of herself. She can't let her husband since the resentment she had for her stepdaughter, Valerie.
“What are you talking about? She should never have left the house. Who knows where she has been all these years and the kind of business she's been into. I'm sure she must have soiled her hands doing illegal businesses or throwing herself at men for money” Claudia sneered. She really didn't expect Valerie, who had been driven out by her and her daughter, to come back now.
“Did she find out that the family business has been running smoothly, and she's back to get some assets? Hmph! Everything belongs to my daughter. It will be over my dead body that she'll get even a pin from the family's inheritance”.
Seeing that his wife wasn't happy with what he had said, Edmond said no more. He went upstairs to get some rest.
As soon as he left, Claudia picked up her cell phone and dialed Patricia's number.
“Hey! Mom, what's up?”
“Patricia, guess who's back again?”
“Who?”
“That little witch Valerie is back again. Your father even wrote her a letter today”
“What? How can she come back to the house? Why the hell did Dad write to her in the first place? She's going to tell him that we actually drove her out of the house after we've informed Dad that she left on her own”
“That wretch! She must have known somehow that the family's business is booming. She has probably shown herself because she wants part of the family assets, since she has taken fancy of it. With me here, she won't even get to lay a finger in it” Claudia snorted, with her face full of bitterness.
“We were able to drive her out of the house five years ago. So, even if she's back, we'll still be able to drive her out again” Patricia was so confident about it.
Presently, Patricia who was at the spa trying to cool off from the issues she was having with Justin felt so uncomfortable.
“Justin still has feelings for her. If she shows up, then he'll definitely go after her. I can't let her take him away from me again. I've always wanted him, and now that I have him, I can't let him go back to her”.
“Hey, Pat!” Someone tapped her shoulder, and she turned swiftly. It was her best-friend, Rica.
“Oh, what took you so long, Rica?” Patricia gulped, shoving the cell phone into her purse.
“I was stuck in traffic. Hey! You don't look too good. What's the problem?” Rica sat at the other side.
Patricia exhaled deeply, scratching her head, and said, “I don't even know what to say. Justin and I are having issues, and that stupid half sister of mine just showed up in our lives after six years. Just when I thought we were never going to see her again”.
“What? Valerie is back? I think you have so much trouble, Patricia. Have you forgotten that you and your mother had her thrown out of the house? What if she tells your father that?” Rica gasped, covering her mouth with her palms.
“That is the issue. Father travelled for treatment, and my mom and I threw her out. We informed Father that she left on her own, and now that she's back, she's definitely going to tell him” Patricia said disappointed.
Rica turned to her and said, “What's even worse is that she's certainly going to take Justin away from you. I'm sure you know that he still has feelings for her, it will be effortless for her to take him”.
“No way! That will happen only over my dead body. I can't let her take him away from me. It's only a few months to our wedding, and I can't let anything go wrong” Patricia was so determined to serve her relationship come what may.
At Northridge, Valerie's Residence. She stood in front of the landline, shivering. Susan patted her shoulder with a heartwarming smile, and said, “Come on, Valerie. Don't you want to speak to your father after such a long time? You've always told me that he's the only family you have left. I think it's only right if you hear him out”.
“I would rather not get my hopes up high. I'm scared. It's been years since we last spoke” Valerie cried out.
“I still think you should speak to him. It's best you hear from him” Andrew said with a nod.
Valerie dialed the number that was written on the letter.
“Hello” Mr. Edmond's deep voice echoed out of the phone's speaker.
Tears circulated in Valerie's eyes. Hearing his voice alone made her happy. He was the only family she had left. The only one she shared the same blood with, apart from her half sister, Patricia.
'D… daddy” She called with tears in the tone of her voice.
“My baby”