Chapter 6
Valerie stood there, frowning, as she entered the security code for the house. The password had been set by her and Terrence, using their birthdays. It should have been foolproof.
But when the screen blinked red, signaling the password was incorrect, Valerie’s heart skipped a beat. There was no way it could be wrong.
Before she could try again, a voice from inside the house interrupted her thoughts.
“Who is it?” The voice was middle-aged, strong, and demanding.
Valerie’s pulse quickened, but she quickly regained her composure. “Who are you?”
The door opened a crack, revealing a woman with a stern face. She met Valerie’s gaze with a sharp, expectant look.
“I’m Valerie,” Valerie said cautiously, her mind racing.
The woman stared back blankly. “Who are you?”
In an instinctive motion, Valerie pushed the woman aside and stepped into the house. She didn’t need permission; she had every right to be here. As she stepped forward, her eyes were drawn to the figure walking out of the bedroom in a thin nightgown.
Margaret.
The woman who had destroyed everything.
Valerie couldn’t suppress the laugh that escaped her lips, though it was laced with anger. “Who allowed you to live here?”
Margaret didn’t look the least bit surprised. In fact, there was a sense of smugness in her eyes.
“I moved in with Terry’s permission, of course. Valerie, don’t you understand? Terry only has me in his heart. Always has,” Margaret said, her voice dripping with arrogance.
Valerie’s chest tightened, but she refused to show the depth of her emotions. Instead, she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, dialing the property management.
“Hello, property management? My house has been illegally occupied by a stranger. I need an explanation and a solution immediately,” Valerie said calmly, the steel in her voice unmistakable.
An hour passed.
Valerie stood in the living room, her arms crossed, her face set with determination. But it wasn’t the property management staff who arrived.
It was Terrence.
He walked in with a scowl etched into his features, his cold eyes locking onto Valerie. His impatience was clear.
“What’s this fuss about now?” Terrence’s tone was laced with annoyance.
Valerie’s heart dropped at the sound of his dismissive voice. She had hoped, in vain, that this situation might bring some resolution, but his lack of concern only made things worse. She felt a sharp pang in her chest as she met his gaze.
“This is our marital home,” she said, her voice unwavering. “Why did you let her move in?”
The tension between them was palpable. The room seemed to shrink as Valerie stood her ground, refusing to let him dismiss her feelings so easily.
Margaret, seemingly delighted by the drama unfolding before her, played her part without hesitation. She began to sob, a mockingly exaggerated act of innocence.
“Terry,” she whimpered, clutching her chest dramatically. “I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I didn’t know this was your marital home. I’ll move out right away…” She coughed violently, holding her chest as if she were about to collapse in a fit of sorrow.
Valerie’s eyes narrowed, watching the act unfold. She could see right through Margaret’s manipulative performance, but Terrence… Terrence was still there, watching her, oblivious to the cruel game that was being played.
The silence stretched on as Valerie’s gaze met Terrence’s, and she realized that no apology or gesture could bring back the love she had once hoped for. The pain, though familiar, still stung.
But now, there was nothing left to fight for.
