Chapter 3
Valerie had barely been at the station for an hour when Lucius personally showed up to bail
her out.
“Mr. White, are you sure you want to settle this privately with the instigator?” asked the officer on duty.
Lucius glanced at Valerie, who was unscathed, and answered curtly, “Yes.”
The officer hesitated. “The initial estimate of your hotel’s losses is over a million dollars…”
Valerie twirled a pen between her fingers. “Send the bill to my husband.”
Lucius’ brow twitched ever so slightly, and something unreadable flickered in his eyes as he regarded Valerie.
After completing the bail formalities, the couple stepped into the elevator, one after the other.
Lucius cornered Valerie. “Who’s going to clean up the mess you made?”
At six-foot-two, he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, his presence weighing
down on her. Not only was this man ridiculously handsome, but he also gave off a dangerous
air.
Valerie remained perfectly calm. “My husband, of course.”
He arched his brow. “And where is he?”
Her voice carried an amorous tone. “Isn’t he standing right in front of me?”
Lucius let out a short, incredulous chuckle at her matter-of-fact tone. “What makes you think I’d pay for your wrongdoings?”
Valerie smirked. “Didn’t you come over in person to help me clean up my mess?”
When the elevator doors slid open, she brushed past his shoulder and walked out.
He fell into step beside her. “Were you that sure I’d come?”
“Of course,” she responded without a moment’s hesitation.
“And why were you so sure?”
“Well, we’re in the same boat, after all.”
Lucius replied, “Not for long.”
Just then, a sleek black SUV rolled to a stop in front of them.
Keane Harris got out of the driver’s seat and respectfully opened the door for Lucius. “Mr. White.”
Lucius didn’t take his eyes off of Valerie. “Let’s talk about the divorce, shall we?”
“I’m game anytime,” she responded.
He ordered, “Get in.”
Valerie took one look at the SUV’s make and logo, a flicker of murderous intent flashing
through her eyes before she hastily masked it. “Cars make me sick. Pick a place, and I’ll meet you there.”
“I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
“If I’m even a second late, I’ll concede.”
“The Golden Chalice, Room 1908.”
As soon as his words fell, Valerie stopped a skateboarder who was passing by. She whispered something in his ear and pulled out a few bills. The young man accepted it and surrendered his stylish skateboard.
Valerie hopped onto the skateboard with effortless flair before waving to where Lucius stood beside the SUV. “See you later.”
Lucius and Keane gaped as she vanished down the street on her board.
Skyler was unaware that Valerie had already been released.
Jay’s life was hanging by a thread, and only Valerie’s kidney could save him. Yet, at such a critical moment, she had gone and wrecked Lucius’ hotel. Even if he wanted to pay ten times the damages, he wouldn’t dare say a word if Lucius refused to let her go.
Sure enough, as soon as he walked out of the hotel with Marnie and Sonia, a call came from the hospital.
A whistleblower had tipped off the authorities. Several doctors at a private hospital were harvesting organs for profit from healthy people and transplanting them without their consent. The victims’ families gathered at the hospital to demand justice, sparking a massive public outcry.
With solid evidence and witnesses, the cops arrested everyone involved for investigation, including the two surgeons scheduled to operate on Jay.
As the grim news sank in, Skyler’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground. Valerie was behind bars, and the surgeons had been arrested. Who could save his beloved son now?
By the time Lucius’ black SUV pulled up at The Golden Chalice, Valerie was already waiting at the entrance with her skateboard in her arms. Room 1908 was Lucius’ private suite. He sat on the left side of the negotiation table, a calm look on his face as he savored his red wine.
Three days ago, he had learned that he was married. His father, Melvin White, had recently passed away. After the funeral, Lucius began taking over the family business.
While signing the business transfer documents, the lawyer handed him a brown envelope containing two marriage certificates. The lawyer explained that his father had chosen a wife for him before he died.
Without his knowledge or consent, Melvin had arranged everything so thoroughly that Lucius and a woman named Valerie Collins had already been legally married for a year.
Valerie twirled a pen on the right side of the table, her feelings just as tangled as Lucius’.
Three days ago, Lucius had shown up at her door with those two marriage certificates. When he asked why her name was on the spouse column, she was even more dumbstruck than he was. If he hadn’t come looking for her, she would never have known she’d been married off a
year ago.
Lucius’ gaze lingered on the pen twirling between her fingers. The pen spun in a bright, mesmerizing blur, its unique design unlike anything sold on the market.
After admiring it for a moment, Lucius shot Keane a subtle look. “Bring it out.
Keane retrieved a document from his briefcase and set it in front of Valerie. “Ms. Collins, this is your divorce agreement with Mr. White. Read it over-if everything looks good, you can sign it.”
Valerie accepted the papers and casually flipped through them. In short, she was to keep their marriage a secret under all circumstances.
Halfway through, one clause caught her eye. “You’re compensating me financially for the divorce?”
Keane handed her a blank check.
Lucius swirled the wine in his glass. “I asked my lawyer. This marriage happened because my father owed your adoptive father a favor. Since it’s a favor we owe you, I won’t be stingy with the compensation.”
He tilted his chin toward the blank check. “Write whatever amount you want.”
Valerie inquired, “Is there a limit?”
“As long as you agree to the terms, the amount you name will be delivered in full.”
“In that case, I won’t hold back!”
pen
The in her hand turned into a fountain pen as she filled the figure line with a long string of nines, right in front of Lucius and Keane. Realizing she might never stop, Keane couldn’t help but clear his throat, signalling her to quit it.
Valerie shot them an amused look. “Am I asking for too much?”
Lucius remained perfectly calm. “I can always make more money. All that matters is that you’re happy.”
Valerie broke into a smile. “You’re quite an interesting man.”
With three graceful spins, a small flame bloomed at the pen’s tip, reducing the check to ashes. After blowing out the flame, the pen turned back to its original state, and she swiftly signed her name on the divorce agreement in bold, sweeping strokes. Her writing was as beautiful as a piece of art-just like her.
Just then, her phone she had left on the table, buzzed. Ignoring the message, she slid the signed divorce agreement toward Lucius. “We may not be meant to be, but that’s no reason to turn against each other. From here on, our paths will divide. Don’t worry, I’ll keep our marriage a secret.”
Valerie picked up her phone, rose to her feet, and put on her mask. “I have something to
attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Lucius watched her retreating figure. “See you at the courthouse tomorrow afternoon.” Without so much as a glance over her shoulder, she waved to show that she’d heard him.
