Justin bowed his head slightly, and swallowed hard. “Can you please let me in? I promise I'll be quick with whatever I want to tell you”.
Valerie exhaled deeply before rolling her eyes. She would rather not face Justin. I mean, why would she want to face him? He is her half sister's fiancé, and most of all her ex-boyfriend.
“I'll give you 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes elapses, you'll have to leave then” Valerie heaved, and Justin nodded as he got into the sitting room.
“Can I?” He asked, pointing at the couch.
“Yeah”
Justin sat quietly. There was silence between both of them for a few minutes before Valerie broke the silence. “What do you want? How did you find out where I'm living? Why are you here to see me?”
“Actually, I really apologize for coming unannounced. I'm sorry, Valerie” He sniffed, and Valerie scoffed.
“It's nothing. I don't think there's any reason for you to apologize to me. What do you want, Justin? What made you come here? I don't want Patricia to find out that you are here. Both of you are getting married soon for God's sake, and it will really be disastrous if she finds out that you visited me” Valerie demanded with her eyes narrowed.
Justin didn't let her finish her statement before he cut in. “I don't want her”
“What?” Valerie gasped.
“Honestly, I know you would rather not hear what I have to say, but ever since I saw you, I've not been myself. I looked for you everywhere after you left Watson's residence, but I couldn't find you” Justin continued, and Valerie snorted.
“Listen, Justin, I genuinely understand that we are not meant to be together. You are now my sister's fiancé, and you expect me to want to have anything to do with you? You already gave her an engagement ring, I'm eagerly awaiting your wedding invitation. Likewise, you have nothing to worry about, I'll surely be present on your wedding day” Valerie smiled dryly.
Justin shook his head in disagreement. “Valerie, I'm sorry that I betrayed you. I shouldn't have started dating your sister. I was only heartbroken after finding out that you lied to me, I didn't know what to do”.
Valerie stood up, and walked to him. Patting his shoulder softly, she forced a smile at him, blinking her eyes rapidly to stop herself from dropping a tear. “I was the one who offended you, Justin. I hold no grudge against you, I mean I lied to you not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice. I just want you to know that everything that happened is all in the past. You should focus on the present, and that is your relationship with my step-sister. I really wish you both good luck”.
“No!” Justin banged the table, and Valerie flinched, panicking.
“Justin?”
Justin got up, and held her hands tight. “Val, I don't want your step-sister. I never wanted her, it's you who I love. My heart never stopped beating for you, Valerie. No matter how hard I tried, I still couldn't forget you”.
“That's enough! Time's up. Leave, Justin” Valerie snatched her hands from him. Walking to the door, she opened the door.
“Val. Please give me another chance, I can end everything with Patricia” Justin approaches her.
“Don't you dare step an inch closer to me. I would rather not be rude to you, Justin. Please leave” Valerie cried out.
Justin stared at her for a few seconds with tears in his eyes. Valerie turned her gaze away, trying hard not to soften. “I'll leave now, Val” Justin said, and walked out of the house.
Valerie slammed the door, and fell on the ground, crying. “Why do you have to show up, Justin? You're just hurting me even more”.
At the Davison's villa, Valerie walked into the villa. She had been trying to get a hold of herself after her encounter with Justin. Even though she couldn't get her mind off it, she had to.
She walked into the room at the servant's quarter, and met Clara. “Hey, babes. Welcome”.
“Thanks” Valerie forced a smile at her as she grabbed her uniform.
Clara could sense the coldness in Valerie's voice, and that was unlike her. “Valerie, are you okay? Is something the matter?”
“Yes, I'm fine. Just a little tired” Valerie nodded her head.
“Oh, I see. Audrey went out with her friend and her friend's nanny. She'll be back in an hour” Clara said.
“Okay, thanks” Valerie replied before leaving the room.
“You have to cheer up, Valerie. You can't let Justin ruin in your mood. You have been living without him for the past 6 years, and you shouldn't allow his presence to affect you. Please keep in mind that he's engaged to your half-sister, Patricia”.
She kept saying those words to herself. She brought out the timetable for the day, and stared at it for sometime before reading it out.
“Fish soup for Audrey? Gosh! I don't think she'd like that anyway” Valerie smiled. She put on the cooking apron, and proceeded into the kitchen.
Thankfully, Anastasia wasn't in the kitchen. One of the servants told her that Anastasia had gone to the grocery shop. She couldn't help but feel relieved. In as much as she isn't concerned about Anastasia or whatever she'd say to her, Valerie wouldn't want to worsen her situation talking back at Anastasia.
A few minutes later, the fish soup was already done. Scooping it all into a vacuum flask. She didn't want it to get cold before Audrey gets back.
“All set! I'll have to make Audrey eat this since it's strictly written that it's medicinal” Valerie smiled as she carried the vacuum flask, and headed out of the kitchen.
She was about to get to the corridor when someone bumped into her, and the hot fish soup poured on her. She fell on the hard ground, groaning in pain.
“You wretch! Are you blind?”
She raised her head, and in front of her was a sophisticated, beautiful but rude lady who was chewing a gum and glaring at her with annoyance.