Valerie couldn't stop sobbing. Tears kept falling down her cheeks.
“Val, will you stop crying? Do you think crying will solve the issue? You're only going to fall sick if you keep this up.” Susan tried to console her.
She shook her head, sniffing hard. “How do you expect me to react? Susan, how do I face the public? Did you see the scornful words I'm getting from people on the internet? What have I done to deserve this?”
“Listen, I know that whatever it is that was seen on that movie projector, it must be a plot.” Susan told her.
Breaking into tears again, she continued lamenting. “How do I face the world, Susan? And Ethan, how is it going to face the public after the kind of shame that I rubbed on his face? Have you forgotten that all his business partners were present? Most of all, how is my daughter going to see me? Susan, I don't think I can take this anymore. All I want is to go far away from here, I can't stand it any longer.”
“To go far away from here? You must be kidding me, Valerie. Have you forgotten that you are now legally married to Ethan? You intend to run away, will that solve the issue?” Susan widened her brows.
Valerie continued wailing. “Please Susan, I really want to go far away from here. I think I'm ill-lucked, I'm only going to bring bad luck to Ethan and my daughter. Likewise, I have to leave before Ethan gets home.”
“Val, this is a bad idea.” Susan sighed heavily.
“Really? Do I have to stay here and watch my daughter getting mocked by her peers that her mother is a call-girl? Or you want me to stay here and watch Ethan lose countless contracts because I just tainted his reputation?” Valerie shook her head.
Without a second thought, she grabbed her luggage. Throwing it open, she stuffed her clothes into it hurriedly.
“I understand you, Valerie. I'm just confused, and I think running away isn't the best thing to do.” Susan continued to convince her.
Valerie stopped, sitting heavily on the couch. “Susan, please help me to take care of my daughter. For now, I just can't face Ethan. I can't even if I'm trying hard to be strong.”
“How about you just wait for him to return? Or do you want to go somewhere?” Susan asked anxiously.
She scoffed. “You must be kidding me. To go somewhere, you say? I can't even step out of this house without putting on hoods. The news is all over the place that President Ethan Davison of the Davison's empire's new wife is a prostitute.”
“This must be a plot, and you can't let them put you down. Face it, girl. You can't run away making it look like you're actually what they say you are.” Susan replied.
Sniffing hard, Valerie hugged her tightly and wept in her arms.
**
“Did you see that? Did you see what happened in the public? Oh, my goodness! I can't believe you actually married that wh*re.” Mrs. Davison ranted angrily.
Ethan sat on the couch with his palms cupping his head. “Mom, please. Can you stop making matters worse? What you're saying is not helping issues right now.”
“Do you actually want me to help matters? I warned you not to have anything to do with that flirt, but you were blinded by her. Do you know the height of what she has done? What would other companies think of us?” She continued fuming.
Sighing, Ethan snapped. “Why are you throwing all the blame at her? Shouldn't you be blaming your too-good Rebecca? Of all the places to play the video, she had to do it in public. What was her motive if not to bring us down?”
“You are ridiculous, Ethan. I can't believe that you are actually still siding with that girl? Didn't you watch the video yourself?, didn't you see her snogging and caressing that man?” Mrs. Davison freaked out.
“I don't care what the video says, but I know my wife. Mom, I know the woman that I'm married to. That must be a plot to bring her down.” Ethan defensively replied.
Shocked, Mrs. Davison stared at him with her jaw dropped. She couldn't wrap her head why her son was still vouching for Valerie even after seeing the video that was played publicly at the wedding reception.
“You must have been bewitched because that's the only explanation I will understand.” She shook her head.
Ethan stood up. “I don't care what anyone says, but I know Valerie too well. And I'm going to find out what the truth is, and clear her name.”
Gobsmacked, Mrs. Davison continued shaking her head in disbelief as her son walked out of the house.
At the Davison's villa, Valerie was still seated inside crying her eyes out when the door creaked open, and her daughter rushed in.
“Mommy!” She called out with a teary voice as she hugged her tightly.
Trying hard to force back tears, Valerie patted her wavy hair. “Oh, my baby. I'm truly sorry, my child. I have no explanation, but I'm deeply sorry.”
“You don't have to be, Mom. I know that you're not that kind of person. Even if you are, you will always be my mother.” Audrey continued sobbing in her arms.
They were still crying in each other's arms when a faint knock was heard on the door. Valerie's heart raced faster, she couldn't even help but worry how she would face Ethan.
“Susan! Susan, is that you?” She managed to call.
The door was slowly opened, and Ethan walked in. Valerie quickly stood up. She was visibly shaking in fear.
“Ethan, I didn't…”
Before she could say another word, Ethan grabbed her waist and kissed her passionately. Disengaging the kiss, he whispered into her ear. “I believe you, Valerie. I know you can't do that.”