Chapter 8 A Scumbag
The footsteps outside the door finally faded, and Valentina let out a long breath before slowly returning to the living room and sinking into the couch.
Just then, her phone on the table suddenly lit up.
It was a call from Luciano.
Valentina picked it up. After two days without a single call or explanation from him, she was curious to see what he had to say now.
The moment the call connected, that familiar yet distant voicecame through. “Where have you been? Why did ittake so long for you to answer?”
Valentina listened to his voice, and for the first time, she found his voice too foreign to be true.
They had once shared hardships together. How had they come to where they were?
“Do you know what you did wrong now?”
After a moment of silence from her end, Luciano finally asked in a low voice.
Valentina gave a cold laugh in response, her tone distant as she countered, “And what exactly did I do wrong?”
From beginning to end, he hadn’t offered a single explanation, and yet he had the nerve to gaslight her like this. Had she been too tolerant before?
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“Valentina, I don’t know why you’ve become like this. It seems like you haven’t reflected at all over the past two days.”
Lucianosoundeddisappointed.
Valentina was so furious she nearly laughed out loud. Her cold voice was laced with sarcasm. “You spent your days with your future sister–in–law while leaving your fiancée to the side without the slightest sense of guilt. How comel’m the one who needs to reflect?”
“Enough! Don’t project your dirty thoughts onto others. This has nothing to do with Duffy. She’s been nothing but kind and tried everything to explain things to you! Whatever problems we have are between us. Don’t pin it onher!”
Luciano’s voice was filled with undisguised disgust and cold detachment.
“You’ve never once reflected on your own behavior. Everything is always someone else’s fault. I’m truly disappointed in you.”
Disappointed?
Dirty thoughts?
Did he think she was blind?
She saw the way he acted around Duffy. Did he really thinkthatshe didn’t notice?
All those times the paparazzi caught them, who was the one cleaning up
the mess?
Had he really forgotten? Or did he deliberately choose to neglect it?
People never changed.
“Marriage is just marriage. What could be more important than a life, right? How long are you going to keep this up? I never knew you were this petty and cruel. You really wish something bad would happen to Duffy, don’t you? She’s your sister! She’s no stranger!”
Luciano’s voice was filled with anger and condemnation.
Marriage wasjust marriage?
A life?
Pain and bitterness rosein Valentina’s chest. After a long moment, she finally spoke in a hoarseand numb voice. “A life, huh? So Duffyis dying now? And that’s why she just had to summon you over? Well, good for her! If she’s dying, let her die already. I won’t forget to pray for her after she’s gone. After all, her death will save a ton of trouble for me!”
“Shut up! Still claiming you’re not at fault? You’ve always beenmean, cold, and sharp! You’reso domineeringthatyou never even pause to reflect on yourself. Valentina, do you even realize that?
Withyourpersonality,even if you do get married, you’ll never be happy. Who could possibly put up with you? What kind of man could stand you?”
Lucianoseemed determined to pour out all his grievances.
Valentina instinctively clenched her fist, thepain in her palm intensifying.
Luciano never hesitated to unleash his most venomous words on her while always treating Duffywith the utmost gentleness.
It turned out that not every effort you made wouldbe appreciated or remembered. Some people tookit as a weakness, thinking highly of
themselves.
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Sambag
She had backed down time and again, and now, she was backed into a
corner.
If this was the result of her selfless giving…
Back incollege, she had graduated early with top marks from her master’s program and received an invitation from a prestigious overseas university Just as she was about to graduate, the Aurora Group was on the brink of
crisis…
She had to end her studies early. She didn’t even get her diplomaand resolutely gave up further education to return and help at the Aurora. In just two years, she turned the company from crumbling to booming. multiplying its profits and making it a rising star in the industry.
At that time, she was at the height of her success, and the entire company focused on her. Even Luciano, the CEO, was overshadowed by her
brilliance.
In order to keep everything in balance, she dimmed her own light, accepted Nevaeh’s offer, and turned to workatthe Crawford Group.
And in the end, what did she get?
So it was true. Sometimes, one just had to learn it the hard way.
“Valentina… I hope you’ll seriously reflect on this. It’s better for both of us.”
Realizing he might’ve gone too far, Luciano finally lowered his voice slightly.
Valentina’s lips curved in mockery. She gave a cold laugh and said, “Just a man. I’m not going to torture myself over a bitch. If you think Duffy is gentle, kind, and pure, then I sincerely wish you both the best. Just take
Chepkes it & Scumbag
care of your woman and stop bothering me. That’s not too much to ask, is
it?”
“Enough!”
Luciano couldn’t believethat Valentinawas now speaking to him like this.
“Luciano Stanton, you disgust me.”
“I said that’s enough, Valentina!”
Her tone was icy and firm, making Luciano uneasy. “Do you really have to be so harsh, you…”
Valentina no longer wanted to hear the rest. She hung up the phone.
They were always judging and demanding, bossing her around.
She admitted that she was starved for love. She had tried to win her
family’s affectionandhis care. But it was all in vain.
She couldn’t understandwhy her father didn’t love her. Why didn’t her grandmother care? Even her so–called fiancé thought she was toxic.
She had fought so hard to heal her childhood self, but it didn’t work….
She was numb now….
She just sat there in silence, her vision blurring.
She didn’t want to cry. He wasn’t worth it.
And yet, she just couldn’t endure the pain.
Right then, a faintfamiliarscent drifted past her nose, and a moment later, awhite handkerchief appeared before her eyes.
