Chapter 22: Chapter 22

“I'm sorry, Miss. But I'm actually the one who got hurt, not you”.

With that, Valerie got up and glared at her. She was so furious that the woman was being rude. The woman was the one who bumped into her, so why the hell was she angry and even yelling at her, since she was burnt?

Snorting in disgust, the lady tapped her on the shoulder. “You peasant! What gave you the right to talk back at me? I'm sure you're just a new servant around here, you swine”.

Valerie's arm was already sore and reddened. The pain she felt was unbearable, and talking to the rude lady was the least of the things she wanted. She packed up the vacuum flask on the ground. “I'll clean this up”.

“Hey! How dare you walk out on me?” The lady grabbed her arm, and Valerie winced in pains. It was the same arm that the hot soup had poured on.

“REBECCA!” A childish, but tiny voice screamed from the front door. The lady quickly freed Valerie, who groaned in pain.

Rebecca, the rude lady, smiled dryly as little Audrey walked towards her. The hate and anger in Audrey's eyes was quite obvious.

“Hey, Audrey! What's up, baby?” Rebecca sarcastically laughed. She was obviously faking the laughter.

Audrey glared at her in disgust, before turning to Valerie. “Are you okay, Miss old-fashioned? Oh my God! You're hurting”.

Rebecca scoffed, and rolled her eyes. She wasn't even sorry for what she did to Valerie. “Argh… How pitiful! You should talk to her, let her know she needs to use her eyes anytime she's walking”.

“How dare you hurt my nanny? What are you doing here, anyway?” Audrey huffed at her.

Walking closer to Audrey, she bent over to her ear and whispered. “I'm here to get your daddy”. With that, she laughed rather coldly.

“I hate you” Audrey cursed. Her words did not even affect her. All she did was snort.

“What's going on here?” The deep and manly voice came from the balcony. There was no doubt, it was President Ethan. He was looking as hot as ever in the casual dress he was putting on. Occasionally, he works from the house, and of course, he goes to the office when he's needed.

“Ethan?” Rebecca smiled seductively, and walked up to him, licking her lips.

Valerie bowed slightly on seeing him, and turned to Audrey, who was looking so sad to see her hurt. “I have to clean this mess up. Don't worry, I'm fine. Just a massage with an ice, I'll be all good, okay?”

“Are you certain? I'm sorry, Miss old-fashioned” Audrey pouted, and Valerie smiled before walking away.

“You should leave, Rebecca. You just came today, and you are causing a lot of trouble already. I freaking hate you even more” Audrey glared at her before rushing upstairs.

Ethan took a deep breath before turning his gaze at Rebecca, who was all over him. Precisely, he was already used to her. “Why are you here, Rebecca? You didn't tell me you're coming”.

“Hmph… Is there any reason for me to tell you that I'm coming over to visit you, Ethan? Can't I come see you anytime I feel like?” Rebecca clicked her tongue, and wrapped her hands around his neck.

Ethan took her hands off his neck, and whispered. “You should have told me before coming here”

On saying that, President Ethan headed into his room, and Rebecca followed him. “Ethan, aren't you happy to see me? Besides, I told your mother I was coming back from the states to see you, and she said it was fine”.

“When the hell did my mother become me? If that's the case, then why don't you go and visit her? You have no good memory with my daughter, and you still expect me to welcome you with open arms? Have you forgotten that you two don't get along?” Ethan freaked out.

Rebecca sniffed hard as crocodile tears circulated in her eyes. “Isn't that why I'm here? I just wanted to know her better, and then we can start up from somewhere. Why are you being so mean?”

“That's enough! You're already here. I just hope you two don't get off on the wrong foot again. Lastly, if you really want to get on Audrey's good side, I'll advise you to be nice to her nanny” President Ethan sternly replied, and Rebecca swallowed hard.

“Her nanny? Why is she so important to that little devil, Audrey? I'm here to take what's mine. The only thing that's mine now is Ethan”.

Rebecca stepped into the guest room, and quickly picked up her phone. “I'm in”.

Rebecca Taylor had always wanted Ethan to herself. They practically grew up together in Washington, DC.  Their families were friends, so they became good friends too. Sadly, Ethan fell in love with Sara, her friend, instead of her. She was bittered, but she had no choice than to play along. Fortunately, two months before Ethan's wedding with Sara, they found out that she was diagnosed with cancer and has a month to live. Rebecca was happy, but that felt like the end of the world to Ethan and his first love, Sara.

The last days of Sara's life, she spent all of it with Ethan. Before she died, Sara had always wished she had a child with Ethan, and to fulfill that, Ethan resulted to getting a surrogate mother. That was how little Audrey was born.

President Ethan's mother had always wanted Rebecca for her son, and that was okay with Rebecca because she liked Ethan. Sadly, she was hated by Audrey. Now, she's back to claim Ethan and make him love her, even if his daughter hates her.

Meanwhile, Valerie sat on Audrey's bed as she read her a bedtime story. Audrey helper her massage the scald on her arm with an ice. She was still reading the story when her and Audrey fell asleep. Audrey laid her head on her lap, sleeping soundly.

Not long, the door creaked open, and President Ethan walked into the room. Upon seeing them, he smiled softly. “Sleepyheads”

Laying Audrey's head on the pillow, he covered her with a duvet. He turned to Valerie, and that was when he saw the burn on her arm.

He took the storybook from her. Gently, he carried sleeping Valerie in his arms bridal style, and walked out of the room.

“What the…?” Rebecca, who was peeping through the keyhole, freaked out.