Chapter 117: Chapter 117

Walking out of the prison with her hands cuffed together and led by the police, Claudia approached the visiting room.

She grinned maliciously the moment she saw Valerie and her husband, President Ethan, seated, waiting for her. “Why are you here, Valerie? I'm sure you are here to mock me, but you shouldn't rejoice yet.”

Trying hard not to burst into tears, Valerie held Ethan's hand tight. “What have I ever done to you, Claudia? Why do you loathe me so much?”

“Ridiculous! Do you expect me to love you? You must be stupid to think I will love you. All you ever did was take everything that I wanted for my daughter and myself. I wish you'd die, Valerie Watson.” She spoke with so much hatred.

President Ethan smirked at her. “Before you can kill her, you'll have to get through me first. I, personally, will make sure that you rot in jail.”

“President, it's my daughter who you should have gotten married to. She's the one who would have become your daughter's mother, but this thwart took that away from Patricia.” Claudia freaked out.

Fuming angrily, Valerie shook her head. “I never volunteered to become a surrogate mother at a young age, you and your daughter forced me to become one. Worst still, you have me thrown out of my father's house. I practically lived in the street, and I ate from the crumbs that fell from people's tables. Like that was not enough, you even had me drugged just to humiliate me on my wedding day.”

“I wish I had killed you earlier. I hate to see you alive, Valerie. I hate you! Don't you ever come here to see me.” Claudia yelled.

The police rushed to her and led her back to the prison. She kept on screaming as they dragged her. “I hate you, Valerie. You'll regret this.”

Bursting into tears, Valerie bowed her head. What has she ever done to deserve the hatred she got from her stepmother? President Ethan patted her hair. “You don't have to cry, Val. You've done absolutely nothing to her.”

“Thank you, Ethan.” They hugged each other tightly.

**

“Dad, I want to be out of here. I've cleared Valerie's name. I've said the truth, why am I still here?” Patricia sobbed the moment her father came to see her.

With a snort, Mr. Watson continued. “After this conversation, the police will set you free.”

“Really? Oh, I knew you would never let me rot in jail. Thank you so much, Dad.” Patricia tried to touch him, but he slapped her hand off.

“That doesn't mean that I have accepted you back as my daughter. Once you've been released from here, I want you to go back to the mansion and pack every single thing you own. I have transferred $20,000 to your account. I'm sure that will be enough to get you a place to stay and build your life.” Mr. Watson said coldly.

Bursting into tears, Patricia fell on her knees immediately. “No! Daddy, please, you can't send me out. My mother is in prison, my husband has divorced me and my son has been taken away from me. You and Valerie are the only family that I have. I don't know anyone else, please don't throw me out.”

“This should be the last time you call me father. In Fact, I'll order the servants to pack your things. Good luck!” Mr. Watson said with finality in the tone of his voice before walking away, and Patricia continued wailing.

Meanwhile, Rebecca dragged her luggage out of the mansion, wailing uncontrollably.

“Becca, you don't have to fly out of the country. I'm sure there must be a way of talking some senses into my son.” Mrs. Davison tried to convince her.

With a scoff, she turned around. “I am f****** tired of hearing that from you, Aunt. It's obvious that nothing is going to make him change his mind about that girl. I give up. I can't keep doing this any longer.” Rebecca yelled in frustration.

“Are you going to let that peasant take your man away from you?” Mrs. Davison gasped.

She snapped at her. “He was never mine to begin with. If Ethan were mine, I wouldn't have to fight to win his love. Listen, Aunt, if you're not too tired, then I am. I can't stoop so low to fight for someone who doesn't want to fight for me. I'm done!”

“You… Are you giving up on him? Have you forgotten how close your family is with mine? My darling, I promise I'll help you talk to him.” Mrs. Davison continued persuading her.

“I don't need that anymore. I wish him good luck with his new wife. Don't bother calling me back because I'll be heading straight to the airport. Goodbye, Aunt.”

With that, she had the car boot opened, and she placed her luggage into it and drove out of the mansion hurriedly.

Heaving a sigh, Mrs. Davison mumbled. “The peasant actually won this battle.”

At the Davison's villa, Valerie, Audrey, and Ethan were having lunch together.

“You know what I think? I think we need to do a family reunion party. Just to celebrate our togetherness through thick and thin.” Ethan cleared his throat.

Audrey giggled. “That's a good idea, daddy.”

“I am not convinced that is necessary. Wouldn't that be a waste of money? What's important is that we are together as a family.” Valerie replied sharply.

Pouting her mouth, Audrey shook her head in disagreement. “Mommy, I want us to have an ultimate party. Don't be a party pooper.”

“Fine!”

President Ethan and Audrey did a high five, smiling excitedly. “That's my girl!”

Anastasia walked into the dining room where they were having lunch with an envelope in her hand.

“Hey, what's the issue, cook?” President Ethan twitched his brows at her.

Biting her lips, she handed the envelope to him. “Sir, I quit!”

“What?” They chorused.

“Yes, Sir. I can't continue to work here anymore.” She responded.

Without hesitation, Ethan waved at her, signaling her to get lost. He picked up the telephone and dialed the number.

“Another cook is needed as a replacement.”

Just then, they heard commotions from outside the mansion. “Babe, did you invite someone over?”

Ethan shook his head. “Not really.”

The door was abruptly opened and Patricia walked in, looking very unkempt. Valerie's eyes widened in shock. “Patricia? What are you doing here?”

Patricia quickly went on her knees. “Valerie… Please save me! I know that I've not been the best sister to you, but I just hope you'd help me.”

“Security, drag her…” President Ethan was still talking when Valerie grabbed his wrist, and shook her head in disagreement with what he was saying.

Valerie rushed to her, and helped her up. She was looking so pale and hungry. “Patricia, why are you looking this way? What's going on?”

“Val, I'm not really your step-sister. I'm only the bastard daughter of some unknown man. You have every reason to throw me out of your mansion.” Patricia cried helplessly.

She shook her head in disagreement. “No, Patricia. There's never been a time that I never saw you as my sister. No matter what happens between us, you will always be my sister.”

“Valerie, I have nowhere else to go. Daddy has thrown me out of the mansion. I don't even know how I'm going to face the world with all this shame. Look, I can work as a cleaner or maybe a gardener or anything, but please don't throw me out too.” Patricia wailed helplessly.

Tears circulated in Valerie's eyes. “Patricia, I can never let you be a housekeeper. You're my sister, and nothing can change that. All my life, I've always wished that you and I could be happy together. I can be at the top and watch you struggle.”

“I shouldn't… I shouldn't have listened to my mother when she always plotted to hurt you. I was blinded, Valerie. Please, forgive me.”

With that, Patricia passed out. Valerie gasped in shock. “The ambulance… Please, get the ambulance.”

**

The EKG monitor beeped rapidly as Patricia gradually opened her eyes. Her view was blurry, but she saw Valerie sitting right beside her. “Val… Valerie!”

“Oh, thank goodness you're awake. How are you feeling, Patricia?” Valerie held her hand.

She smiled. “I'm fine, Valerie. All thanks to you for taking me here. Tell me, what is wrong with me?”

“You… You'll be fine, Patricia. I'll make sure of that, okay?” Valerie spoke with bitterness and tears in her eyes.

Patricia shook her head in disagreement. “I want to know what is wrong with me, Valerie. Listen, the worst has already happened to me. There's no news that I cannot take, I promise you.”

“You've been diagnosed with a brain tumor, Patricia. But I will do everything to save you, my sister.” Valerie cried out as they hugged each other.

The D-Day finally came, the venue was filled with guests. A giant banner of Valerie, President Ethan and Audrey was hung on the platform.

“Oh my gosh, girl. This is the best moment of my life. Seeing you so happy makes me fulfilled.” Susan shrieked in excitement.

Valerie chuckled. “Silly girl! Shouldn't you be getting ready for your wedding next month?”

“I know, right?”

“Congratulations, Valerie. I'm so happy for you.” That was no apart from Nicole.

They ran into each other's arms. Valerie was so excited to see him. He couldn't attend their wedding because he was out of town. “Oh, Nick! It's a pleasure seeing you again.”

“Hi, cousin.” Ethan smiled at him.

“You're not looking bad. The best man won.” Nicole replied as they shook hands with each other.

The party was going well. Until someone showed up with a pistol. It was Claudia!

Pointing the gun at Valerie, she laughed hysterically like a lunatic. “Do you think the show is over? I escaped from prison just to have you killed. I don't care if I'm being sentenced to life imprisonment.”

“Claudia, what are you doing? Put the gun down.” Mr. Watson yelled at her.

Claudia smirked. “I will definitely put the gun down, my dear husband. But that will be after killing your beloved daughter.”

“Don't you dare, Claudia.” President Ethan was freaking out.

Corking the gun, she directed it to Valerie. “Claudia, what is this?” Valerie cried out in terror.

Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced right into her chest and she fell to the ground. Valerie quickly opened her eyes, and saw her step-sister in the pool of her blood.

“PATRICIA!” Claudia cried out bitterly.

Patricia actually took the bullet for Valerie. Instead of Valerie, she was the one in the pool of blood. Valerie rushed to her and held her up. “Please, Patricia, you have to live. Don't leave me, please.”

“This is the least I could do for you, Valerie. Take good of yourself and my son for me. This will serve as a payback for every wrong deed my mother has done to you. I love you, Valerie.” She smiled faintly.

Claudia screamed helplessly, and fell on her knees. “Patricia, how could you?”

“Let all the grudges and hatred die with me, Mom. Please stop hurting Valerie.” With that, she gave up the ghost.

The police came and Claudia was handcuffed and led out of the party venue. She couldn't even speak, all she did was cry bitterly as she kept staring at her daughter's corpse lying on the ground.

Six months later…

Valerie and Audrey walked into the cemetery with a bouquet of flowers. Valerie was heavily pregnant, and her little daughter held her finger tight.

Two security men walked behind them with an umbrella to shade them from the scorching sun.

With tears in Valerie's eyes, they dropped the flowers on Patricia's grave. Taking off her glasses, Valerie forced a smile. “Patricia, I'm here to see you again. I really wish you were here to see your niece and your unborn nephew… so the scan says. And your son.”

Justin walked in with Patricia's son. “Dada, why we here?” The little boy smiled on seeing Valerie.

Valerie carried him and kissed his cheek. He had so much resemblance to Patricia.

“We love you, Patricia.” They chorused.

Claudia died in jail. And of course, they lived happily ever after.