Chapter 2

"We're here, Ms. Vaughn," the driver said, pulling me out of my sadness. "This is your new home."

Stepping out of the car, I stared at the lavish villa in shock. I knew this place, it was the neighborhood where all the country's elites lived.

A chubby maid walked out and greeted me respectfully, "Ma'am, I'm Lucy, your personal maid. Please follow me."

Half in a trance, I followed Lucy inside. The gentle aroma of incense drifted through the air, easing my mood a little.

Lucy led me to a white room and gently pushed the door open. "Ma'am, as Mr. Valentine instructed, there will be professionals coming to give you full-body care. They're already inside waiting for you."

I felt a bit uneasy, but stepped inside anyway. The air was thick with the scent of rose oil and warm milk. Two women gently took off my grimy work clothes for me.

I felt embarrassed. "I can handle it myself."

They firmly replied, "This is what we're here for, ma'am."

Soaking in the warm milk, I let them carefully massage a thick, white cream into my hands, making sure every scar and callus was completely covered.

After working so many jobs, my hands really didn't look like they belonged to a twenty-seven-year-old woman.

Staying in such a comfortable and tranquil place, my mind finally wandered back to the day I first met Mr. Valentine.

*****

I met Mr. Valentine back when I was working as a cleaner at a fancy hotel. While I was changing the sheets on his bed, a piece of paper slipped out.

It was an intricate and lavish earring design, but there was only one, a single earring, obviously meant for someone unattached.

I hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Sir, I know I'm probably not the right person to say this, but there's an obvious flaw in this earring design."

Mr. Valentine stepped out of the bathroom, and I was honestly shocked that he'd actually taken a shower while someone was cleaning his room.

His light brown hair was still dripping wet, and his skin, usually pale, was tinged with a post-shower blush. As he walked toward me, I caught sight of water droplets tracing the lines of his chest and abs.

With the masculine energy he radiated filling the air, my cheeks flushed before I could even control it.

Mr. Valentine looked down at me. "Oh? So, in your opinion, how should it be changed?"

I swallowed nervously and said, "It's so lavish that wearing just one looks unbalanced, it doesn't really do justice to how beautiful it is. And the straight hook design means it could easily slip off."

He seemed really interested, raising an eyebrow. "Go on."

"And if you only market it to single people, your customer base is way too narrow. You probably won't make the kind of profit you're hoping for."

Mr. Valentine burst out laughing. "You're really something. With talent like yours, why not work at a jewelry company?"

That was a sore spot for me. I looked a little down. "Because I never went to college."

Maybe I looked too sad, because Rex just tossed the paper onto the table. The emerald on his thumb ring shimmered gently. "What a pity. I never went to college either. This is my friend's design. I'm just someone who sells rocks."

"Rocks?"

"Yeah, rocks. Sometimes I trade in glass too."

Somehow, hearing that made me feel a bit relieved. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Valentine."

"Same here, Miss Layla Vaughn."

That night, after I moved into the villa, my best friend Fiona called me. "Layla, I swear, is Liam out of his mind? He showed up at the party with some woman and announced he's marrying her in a week.

"But weren't you supposed to get married too? Who is this Grace, anyway? Is that bastard cheating on you? Just say the word, and I'll break his nose for you."

Fiona's words made me laugh, honestly, it was the first time in two days I'd laughed for real.

"Thanks, Fiona. Yeah, he's cheating on me, but I want you to keep provoking him. Make sure he shows up at my wedding that day," I said.

Fiona sounded confused. "Why not let me beat him up for you? You should've seen how cozy he was with that woman. And I've got some gossip."

She lowered her voice. "Word is, Grace is pregnant. I'm sorry to say this, but honey, there's no way you two are getting back together."

'Pregnant?' That really caught me off guard, but honestly, I felt a weird sense of satisfaction. After all, I knew a secret about Liam, one he didn't even realize himself.

"Alright, Fiona," I said, my tone suddenly bright. "You have to come to my wedding. Trust me, you won't want to miss the drama."

After hanging up, I felt a surprising sense of relief. Betrayers always get betrayed in the end. That saying is spot on.

Lucy appeared behind me. "Mrs. Valentine, Mr. Valentine wants you to go pick out the wedding rings."

"Is Mr. Valentine coming with me?" I asked.

"Sorry, Mrs. Valentine, but Mr. Valentine is still in Alzahra handling business. He probably won't make it back in time," Lucy replied.

I walked ahead, head down, feeling a bit disappointed. Ever since I made that call, Rex hadn't come back even once. The driver was already waiting for me, but the place he was taking me was somewhere I didn't want to set foot in now.

It was the Valentine Jewelers store, the place where Liam and Grace worked.