Chapter 31
“Ms. Henderson, are you alright?” Calvin asked Audrey while glancing at Carson behind her.
F’m fine,” Audrey replied, following Calvin nut. Her voice was low. “What are you doing here?”
*Jessica called one. I’ll drop them off first, and then we’ll head back together,” Calvin said as he walked out of the hotel, ouer fo black sedan, and – opened the passenger side door,
He gently shielded her head as she got in, then in
i looked up at Carson who had followed them out. That link carried a clear warning.
Carson fell as it a cold snake had wrapped around his neck, hissing in his ea, Achill crept down his spine,
He was sure he’d seen Calvin somewhere before, but couldn’t quite place it. As he watched their car drive off, he quickly reached for his phone to call Clayton
“Behave yourself later, or you’re staying in your room tonight to reflect,” Valerie said as she shoved Luna aside without a second glance, then got up to
answer the door.
“Clayton.” She threw herself into Clayton’s arms.
Clayton’s body tensed. He instinctively started to push her away, but Valerie had already wrapped her arms around his waist.
She sobbed, “I got a little dizzy after I woke up. I think I scared Luna. She was hiding in the closet and wouldn’t come out. It took me forever to coher
out
Clayton patted her back. “I’ll go check on her.” Then he subtly pushed her away
Valerie watched him walk away, her eyes burning with resentment as she glared past him at Luna
Luna turned around and started crawling back into the closet, but Clayton caught her by the ankle. “Luna, came to see you.”
Luna didn’t respond or turn around. Her tiny body curled up even tighter, still trying to get into the closet
Valerie crouched behind Clayton, her voice soft. “Don’t be scared, Luna. With Clay here, no one’s going to hurt Mommy Right, Clayton!”
Clayton nodded. “That’s right. I’ll protect both of you. No–one’s going to hurt you.”
Luna didn’t try to crawl deeper into the closet, but she didn’t come out either.
Valerie reached out her hand. “Luna, come on out, okay? If you want me to stay with you or you want Clay, either is fine.”
Luna turned around. She was squeezed into the cramped space, her face flushed red, sweat beading on her forehead. She looked at Valerie with hesitation in her eyes.
After Valerie gave her a quick signal, Luna turned toward Clayton again.
Clayton nodded to Luna and held out his hand. “Come on, sweetie. Come here.”
Luns reached out, trying to grab Clayton’s hand, and with one pull, he lifted her into his arms.
Valerie leaned against Clayton’s arm, lightly caressing Luna’s face as she teased, “Looks like Luna you make her feel safer,”
Clayton didn’t respond. He gently brushed the dust off Luna’s back, and she suddenly flinched.
a likes you more than her own mom. It must be b
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Chapter 31
“Is Lună hurt” Clayton asked the reached to lift her shirt
“No” Vaterle hurriedly said, pulling Luna into her own arms and pretending to fix her hair with cars. “Clayton, I’ve decided not to we anymore fidon’t want to equse you any thore trouble.
“I pay back Valentina’s consulting fee, double, I don’t have the money right now, but I’ll write you as 100 and pay yo
“What are you even talking about?” Clayton’s lace darkened.
Even though he wasn’t happy about the mess Valerie had caused at the firm, he figured mistakes on the first day of a new job were bound to happen.
Valerie had studied art, and now that her hand was injured, it’d be impossible for her to find another well paying job if she quit.
Clayton thought it’d be better to keep her at his firm than watch her take on side gigs that would chip away at her pride
It wouldn’t make her rich, but at least she’d have a comfortable life–and that, in his mind, was the least he could do to repay the kindness her father had once shown his family.
“I’ll have Jade guide you. If you’re not sure about something, ask her first. And the compensation for Valentina will be deducted from your salary,“ Clayton said firmly, leaving no room for discussion.
His eyes fell again on the braided chain bracelet on Valerie’s wrist. He wanted to take it back..
Valerie sensed what he was thinking and quickly asked, “Does Valentina really have to give back the house and car Leo bought for her? Bryson’s his son. Leo has a duty to support him. Can’t she keep any of it at all?”
Clayton gave her a quick rundown of the law, then said again, “Audrey carved the words lucky forever on that bracelet hersell”
“Oh, really?” Valerie let out a bitter laugh. “So that’s what it says–lucky forever. Maybe it really works. I’ve been having nightmares for weeks, always dreaming of that bastard beating me.
“But this afternoon, I slept for hours and didn’t dream a thing. Leven woke up feeling lighter. Maybe it’s because of the bracelet.”
After that, there was no way Clayton could bring himself to take it back
He thought, “What, just because it was a gift from Audrey I have to take it away from Valerie and let her sink right back into those nightmares?”
But whenever Clayton thought about Audrey insisting on the divorce, and that look of utter disappointment in her eyes when she looked at him, something just twisted in his chest
Clayton frowned slightly. She was silent for a long moment and then finally said, “You can keep it for a few days. I’ll have someone make you one just like
Valerie nodded with a smile, then mentioned Luna hadn’t eaten and asked if Clayton wanted to eat with them.
He hadn’t eaten either, and was about to say yes when Carson’s call came in,
After the call, his expression turned stone cold. “Carson’s got something going on. I need to go take care of it.”
Valerie had heard a man’s voice on the other end, but she also caught the name Audrey.
She thought, “Why? Audrey keeps going against Clayton, so why does he still drop everything and rush over the second he hears something’s wrong with
her?‘
Valerie shot a quiet glare at Luna. Out of nowhere, Luna let out a frightened yelp and grabbed tightly onto Clayton’s shirt, Clayton paused mid–step.
“Stop this nonsense. Clay has important things to take care of. He can’t stay here with you all day,” Valerie scolded her in a low voice, trying to pry Luna’s hands off by force. “Let go. Don’t got in his way.”
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Chapter 31
Luna pressed her lips together and refused to let go. She was too scared to do that. The moment she did, she knew things would get worse for her once Clayton left.
The more Valerie tried to pry Luna’s hands away, the tighter Luna hold on,
Luna was crying, and Valerie started crying too, her voice full of both grievance and anger as the remarked, “If you keep this up, have to leave you behind. Clay’s not just yours, you know. He’s pot…”
Valerie wiped her tears. “He’s got other people to look after isn’t me being here with you enough?”
Clayton couldn’t bear it. He took Luna from Valerie’s arms. His movements weren’t exactly gentle, but it was the most patience he could muster. He wiped Luna’s tears and said to Valerie, “She’s just a kid. Why are you saying all this to her?”
Luna reached out her tiny hands and wrapped her arms around Clayton’s neck, burying her face against him.
Clayton let out a sigh and looked at Valerie. “Go change. You and Luna are co
ecoming with me.”
Valerie quickly wiped her tears. “I’ll change Luna’s clothes too.”
cy alone.”
“No need.” Clayton waved her off. “Just wait for me in the car when we arrive. I’ll talk to Audrey
Valerie agreed without complaint. But once Clayton headed into the complex to find Audrey, she still followed him, carrying Luna in her arms.
