Chapter 327
Clayton: [Don’t hurt Riley. Take this money first I’ll go to the company tomorrow to advance my salary for the rest.)
Valerie received the text first, and before she could open it, a bank notification popped up. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she said, “Riley, Fll take you to sit. amusement park tomorrow.”
“Really?” Riley, who’d been lying on the other bed playing with her phone, jerked her head up and said in delight, “I’ve wanted to go for ages but never
had time.”
She threw off the blanket, hopped out of bed, and lunged onto the other bed as if to kiss Valerie’s cheek, Valerie blocked her with an elbow and tilted her head to dodge. “You’re not a kid anymore.”
“But I like you, Aunt Valerie.” Riley stayed on her bed, chatting about what they’d play tomorrow.
taxi
They slept late but woke up early. The hotel they stayed in was a two–hour iride from the amusement park. To squeeze in more rides and cut down on queuing, Valerie bought VIP tickets.
Riley already thought highly of Valerie, and seeing her generosity, she thought -I wish you were my mom,” Riley said.
literally an angel. “I wish my mom were half as nice as you. No
At noon, they ate at a restaurant. Riley asked, “Aunt Valerie, when are you going back to Ashbourne? Can I go with you?”
Valerie took a bite of pizza and smiled, “Sure, but your parents probably won’t agree.”
“I want to go to Ashbourne. I don’t want to stay here anymore,” Riley said.
Riley had already transferred schools twice. The first time was because she framed a classmate but ended up getting raped herself; the second was because gang members harassed her.
As soon as she arrived at the new school, her past was exposed and exaggerated. Some even said she’d had an abortion.
Riley tried explaining to classmates, but they kept spreading rumors behind her back. Her grades were already average, and under the pressure, her studies fell apart completely.
She’d told Alexa she didn’t want to go to school, but Alexa refused to let her drop out.
Even if Valerie hadn’t come to find her yesterday, Riley was already planning to escape school. To her, Valerie was a ray of light in her dark life, her savior.
“My life in Ashbourne isn’t so good.” Valerie finished her pizza. “I told Clayton I kidnapped you and asked him for 40 thousand dollars. He only gave half, so I can afford to take you here.”
Riley’s mood instantly sank, and the pizza in her mouth tasted like plastic. “I’d rather live a hard life than stay here,” she said.
Alexa contacted the school, learned Riley hadn’t returned and went with Wyatt to Clayton’s workplace.
After handing off his work to a subordinate, Clayton took them to a quiet spot. “Valerie wants 40 thousand dollars. I gave her 20 thousand last night. The rest–I borrowed from the company, but it hasn’t been approved yet.”
Alexa tried to hit Clayton, but Wyatt grabbed her wrist. He stared coldly at Clayton and said, “You should give your wife money since she’s asking.”
“We’re staying here until Riley goes back to school. Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t work here anymore,” Alexa said, sporting dark circles from lack of sleep.
Clayton said, “Wyatt, if-”
“No ‘ifs,” Wyatt cut him off.
09:22 Thu 19 Jun.
Chapter 327
Clayton had to muster the courage to go to the company’s finance department to advance his salary. With his short tenure, fer Cadet sosyal thousand dollars, so he had to mortgage his car to the company.
After getting the money, he ran into Neil and asked, “Can I invest in that face mask your wife is representing?” Heil agreed to set up a meeting to doors details.
Clayton transferred the money to Valerie in front of Wyatt, and she quickly replied. Valerie: (Riley will be home tonight.)
At dinner, Alexa, Wyatt, Lillian, and Clayton all waited at home. Alexa and Wyatt looked furious, Lillian wore a worried expression, and she’d secretly hidden a belt, fearing Riley would get beaten.
Clayton felt conflicted. He hadn’t dared to tell them Valerie had a sexually transmitted disease, afraid they’d do something irreversible in a fit of anger. Meanwhile, he was gambling that Valerie wouldn’t be crazy enough to hurt a child.
The clock struck seven. Just as Alexa was about to lash out at Clayton, the sound of a password being entered came from the door.
The whole family looked toward the entrance, and Riley walked in. Seeing the living room full of people staring at her, she froze in panic, instinctively wanting to run.
“Riley, the food’s ready. Go wash your hands and have dinner,” Lillian said quickly, forcing a smile to break the tension.
Riley hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. After the door closed, Alexa turned to grab the belt but found the tool she’d prepared to beat Riley
was gone.
Riley knew what her mother was up to by her movements. Realizing the beating was inevitable, she confessed bluntly, “Mom, Dad, I want to go to school in Ashbourne.”
“Do you know what you’re saying?” Alexa shouted. “With your terrible grades, you have the nerve to make demands? You’re lucky to even be in school- now you want to go to Ashbourne?”
She stormed over, grabbed Riley’s collar, and shook her violently. “I told you not to associate with Valerie. Are my words a joke to you? Now you’ve learned to skip school! What lies did that bitch tell you to make you rebel against me?”
Riley’s head spun from the shaking. She looked at Wyatt, who sat on the couch in silence, not even glancing at her. He tacitly approved of Alexa’s actions.
Lillian looked worried but didn’t dare
stop Alexa’s abuse. After all, she had no say in the family.
Alexa, exhausted from shouting, shoved Riley away. “Go back to school after dinner. If you skip school again, I’ll break your legs.”
Riley stumbled back two steps and hit a cabinet with a loud thud.
“I’m not going back! Do you know what my classmates say about me? Do you know how horrible it is?” Riley shouted back at Alexa, glaring. Alexa, already furious, grew even angrier at being questioned by her daughter.
She snapped coldly, “Now you care about being ashamed? Do you know how many people talk about your father and me because of your actions?
“We can’t escape like you. We’ve lost all our dignity, but we still have to go to work every day and endure those ugly accusations and insults.
“Thi
ou deser
utation
