Chapter 60
Clayton’s heart leaped with joy as he hastily picked up the phone. “Hello, Audrey,” he said hopefully.
“Hi, Clayton.” Valerie’s voice was laced with gr
I with grievance and barely restrained emotion. “Are you okay? I heard you drank a lot tonight.”
The light in Clayton’s eyes dimmed instantly as he wearly leaned against the wall, his voice becoming listless, “I’m fine.”
“I’m really worried about you. Your stomach isn’t well, and you’ve been taking medicine these past few days” Valerie’s voice quivered as if she were on the verge of tears. “I know the law firm is important to you, but if your health deteriorates, how can you make a comeback?”
Valerie’s gentle words soothed Clayton, and he felt the tightness in his chest ease.
He stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the exit of the residential complex. “I won’t let myself fall apart,” he muttered, though his stomach churned, and the sour taste of coffee threatened to make him retch.
On the other end of the line, Valerie seemed genuinely alarmed, “You really shouldn’t have drunk so much. You need to take care of yourself. Your law firm is doing well; it’s just being maliciously slandered by the competition. Even if you don’t entertain them with meals, you’ll be able to prove your innocence in the future.”
Clayton vomited up the water he had drunk earlier, leeling even more dizzy. He decided to sit on a bench in the complex.
After a long pause, Valerie continued, her voice softening further. “Clayton, I’ve prepared some sobering pills for you. Shall I bring them over?”
Clayton weakly replied, “I’m not at home.”
“Are you still at the hotel?” Valerie inquired.
“I’m at Kinsia House,” Clayton said.
Valerie’s nails dug into the countertop, and her eyes darkened with matice. Her expression was twisted, but her words remained gentle. “That’s good. Ms. Henderson will prepare the sobering pills for you. You should get some rest.”
Clayton let out a bitter laugh. In the past, no matter how late he came home from social engagements, Audrey would always keep his dinner warm.
She knew his stomach was sensitive and that he couldn’t handle the salty, greasy dishes served at hotels. Audrey would also prepare lemon water in advance to prevent his hangover headaches the next day.
Now, not only were there no sobering pills, but Clayton couldn’t even enter Audrey’s house. She had even blocked him.
Clayton felt wronged, but he couldn’t share this with Valerie. After all, the main reason he and Audrey had come to this point was that he had been taking care of Valerie.
But he felt a lump in his throat. He remained silent, not hanging up the phone.
Valerie sensed an opportunity and probed further. “Ms. Henderson can’t still be sulking, can she? I understand she might be upset and want you to take the initiative, but you really need someone to look after you. Can’t she put her personal feelings aside for now?”
Clayton remained silent.
“Clayton, Mr. Patel needs you, and Mrs. Patel is still in the hospital. You can’t afford to break down. How about this? Once you sober up, you can try to make things right with Ms. Henderson. For now, let me come pick you up and take you home?”
Clayton took a deep breath and opened his eyes, which seemed to spin with the world around him. “You still have to take care of Luna”
“Luna is already asleep, I’ll come over now and be back quickly,” Valerie said without waiting for Clayton’s refusal. “Wait for me; I’ll be there soon.”
Valerie hung up the phone and walked to the bathroom. Luna was squatting on the floor, washing her underwear. She shivered when she heard Valerie
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Approach
“Finish washing you clothes and go to bed if you dare to cry or make a fuss, just wait till get back to deal with you,” Valerie said.
28%0
After hearing the heavy door slam, Luna came out. She was certain Valerie had left, so she rummaged through th chicken leg that Valerie had dropped on the floor.
rash can and found the half–eaten
tuna hastily ate it, drank some water from the faucet, and then continued washing her underwear
Valerie arrived at Kinsia House and immediately spotted Clayton, who was fast asleep in a chali..
“Clayton?“Valerie gently nudged him. “I’m hee to take you home.”
Clayton forced his eyes open and struggled to his feet. “Let’s go back to Starise House.”
Wyatt was at the hospital with his wife, and the servant was with Lillian at the hospital, leaving the Patel Manor empty.
Clayton was too heavy for Valerie to support, and they stumbled into the room, falling onto the bed.
“Here’s some sobering medicine. I bought it from the pharmacy on my way. Take it first” Valerie said, handing him a small b
bottle of oral liquid.
Clayton opened his eyes briefly and felt the world spinning around him, so he kept them closed.
He took the bottle from Valerie without even looking at it and drank its contents immediately after, he felt a wine of heat throughout his body
Valerie brought him a glass of water, but Clayton grabbed her wrist and, with a sudden flip, pinned her down on the bed. “Audrey, why won’t you listen to my explanation” he slurred.
Valerie looked at him with anticipation, raising her hand to caress his fack
Clayton caught her hand and forcefully pinned it above her head. “Is it only by sleeping with you that you’ll believe I only have eyes for you?
“Audrey, stop acting out. Let’s get back together. We can be like we used to be, and make it up to you”
As Clayton lost himself in the moment, he kept calling out Audrey’s name, which made Valerie’s jealousy bum fiercely.
y won’t
‘So what if Clayton only has Audrey in his heart? As long as he sleeps with me, he’ll have to take responsibility. From now on, I’ll be his wife. Audrey w have a chance to regret it,” Valerie thought to herself
Lost in fantasies of a better future, Valerie began to actively participate.
The next morning Clayton woke up with a pounding headache. He raised his hand to rub his temples, feeling the weight of his arm.
Turning his head, he saw a woman lying beside him. For a moment, Clayton’s mind went completely blank. “What happened last night?” he wondered.
As he moved, Valerie slowly woke up. She winced and looked at Clayton reproachfully, “Clayton, you were so rough last night. It really hurt.”
“What the hell?” Clayton jumped up abruptly, pushing Valerie off the bed.
Valerie, naked and covered in hickeys, was a painful sight for Clayton. He quickly turned away, searching for his clothes and dressing in a disheveled
manner.
With a click, the front door opened. “You go prepare some fresh clothes for your grandma, and I’ll get her regular medication,” a voice said.
Foley entered first, responding. “Got it.”
Wyatt followed, supporting Alexa, and helped her sit on the sofa. “Darling, what would you like to eat? I’ll have the servant prepare it
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Chapter 60
Alexa had wanted to stay in the hospital for a few more days, but Wyatt, being the dating husband he was, insisted on staying by her side.
She agreed to come home to rest, worried that he wouldn’t get proper rest at night.
“Stew some lamb chops, and make sure Mrs. Patel gets some too it’ll be good for her,” Alexa suggested.
“Darling, you’re so sweet, Wyatt said, planting a kiss on her cheek before heading to get the medicine.
“Ah-“Riley’s scream pierced the air, and Wyatt and Alexa rushed to see what had happened. They found Clayton, bare–chested and with his back to the dbor, fastening his belt. His back was marked with several scratches.
Valerie was still on the floor, and upon
on seeing them, she hastily grabbed the bedsheet to cover hersell.
Alexa quickly shielded her daughter’s eyes, her disgust evident. “Valerie, you’ve been clinging to Clayton all this time, and this is what you had in mind?”
“No. I didn’t.” Valerie sobbed, wrapped in the sheet, and kicked the tombra beside her. “Last night, Clayton was drunk. He insisted on dragging me along, and I couldn’t break free, so—‘
