The two exchanged glances, swallowed hard, and stammered.
“Chief, you gave specific instructions for everyone in the department to go easy on Valentina and Victor. We were just doing what you said,”
Valentina, whose name was mentioned, squeezed Victor’s hand, signaling him not to panic. Then she stepped forward, nodding with a composed, neither humble nor arrogant, demeanor.
4:02
<
Valentina, whose name was mentioned, squeezed Victor’s hand, signaling him not to panic. Then she stepped forward, nodding with a composed, neither humble nor arrogant, demeanor.
2
“Director Miller, it’s good to see you. I’m Valentina. Thank you for looking out for me all these years. I’ve always wanted to visit, but you always put me off. What brings you here today?”
I watched Valentina’s elegant posture, a wave of melancholy washing over me.
When we first met, she was a naive young girl, stealing buns from a vendor on the street, getting beaten until she bled, yet still stuffing them into her mouth while clutching her wounds.
I found it amusing and took her in. Little by little, I taught her proper etiquette, little by little, I helped her achieve
Now, she had blossomed into a stunning woman, every movement graceful and composed, impeccable.
But between us, there were three heavy years.
Victor watched Valentina’s actions with smug satisfaction, glaring fiercely at me, his voice mocking.
“I thought it was your little helper who arrived, but it turns out it’s a friend of our Valentina.”
“You’re lucky, you get to dance around for a few more minutes, but…
Before he could finish, Director Miller had already moved past Valentina.
a
life of luxury.
Valentina looked at her empty outstretched hand, ready for a handshake, in surprise. Just as she was about to ask, Victor was slapped across the face, sending him flying.
“Who the hell do you think you are?!”
Victor was stunned, taking a long moment to register what had happened.
Valentina looked utterly shocked and rushed to check on him.
“Director Miller, I was kindly greeting you. How could you hit my husband?!”
Director Miller let out a cold sneer, walked over to my side, bowed slightly, then turned to glare at Valentina.
“You’re not even worthy of greeting me!”
His words flustered everyone present.
“What’s going on? Didn’t we grow so strong because Director Miller was looking out for us?!”
“Director Miller is a big deal! Why is he bowing to Jaxson? Didn’t Victor just say he was just a convict?!”
“Are we really in deep trouble this time…?”
Their speculations buzzed with uncertainty, but then, with the blare of sirens, another convoy of discreet black sedans drove straight in.
