Chapter 32
Just as Valerie was about to get out of bed, Lucius grabbed her arm.
“What are you doing?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him, looking wary and alert.
He said, “Maybe what you suggested last night is worth trying.”
“What suggestion?”
“Having a baby.”
She slapped his hand away, slipped into a thin silk robe, and shot him a glance over her shoulder. “My humble self can’t possibly carry your noble bloodline.”
With that, she marched into the bedroom and slammed the door shut.
Watching the door bang in his face, Lucius let out a low laugh. Valerie was young, but she had quite a temper. It seemed that she was upset now.
At breakfast, they tactfully ate in silence. Both of them were mindful not to let the housekeepers notice their secret marriage.
Before Valerie moved in, Keane had informed the housekeepers that she was Lucius’ distant relative, temporarily staying at Azure Bay. They were instructed to attend to her needs and ask
no questions.
Even so, Hannah stole glances at the two of them. She noticed Lucius never intended to strike up a conversation with Valerie, which gave her a rough idea of what was going on.
He must not think much of Valerie, the distant relative. Otherwise, the two wouldn’t sit through breakfast without exchanging a single word.
Although the Whites had a century-old legacy and more wealth than they could spend in a few lifetimes, there were always a few shameless relatives looking to curry favor.
Valerie probably thought her half-decent face would earn her special treatment and catch Lucius’ eye, but she was honestly too naive to think that.
Setting a plate of freshly made omelet on the table, Hannah turned to Lucius and feigned a delicate, hushed voice.
“Ms. Woodward called half an hour ago. She said that she lost an earring last night and was wondering if it might have fallen in your car. She asked if you could take a look when it’s convenient.”
Almost instinctively, Lucius glanced at Valerie, only to see her absorbed in the news on her phone, ignoring their conversation.
He waved Hannah away with a silent gesture to leave, acknowledging he’d heard her.
As he watched Valerie, she was focused on her phone, clearly unconcerned with his affairs.
Feeling oddly irritated, he couldn’t help but break the silence. “Where are you headed later?”
Without looking up, she answered, “School.”
“I heard that you’re studying biological science at Arcton University.”
When she replied with a hum, he pressed, “What’s your specialization?”
“Pharmaceutical science.”
That answer drew his interest. “In modern medicine?”
She looked up at him and asked, “Is that strange?”
“I thought you’d be interested in traditional medicine.”
Although the rescue video at Absolute Zero had been blurred, Lucius knew that Valerie was the masked lady who’d saved Josh. The Millers had announced an offer to reward the savior from that night, but no one knew what happened after that, when they suddenly went quiet.
She caught his implication and asked, “Do you think I’m the person in that viral rescue video?”
“Aren’t you?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
Lucius hadn’t expected her to admit it either. “Are you skilled in acupuncture?”
Valerie speared an omelet with her fork and shoved it into her mouth, right in front of him. “A few years ago, I worked at a traditional massage parlor near home during summer break, picking up both acupuncture and massage.
“Would you like to try my skills sometime?”
Her cheeks were stuffed with food like a hamster’s, and Lucius almost smiled. “Sure. We can try tonight.”
Swallowing the omelet, she held up five fingers. “Just so we’re clear, it’s a paid service.”
