Chapter 57: Chapter 57

“Ouch!”

Claudia groaned in excruciating pain as her husband applied some ointment on her swollen wound.

“You shouldn't have gone to Davison's villa. This is what you get for trying to cause a nuisance” Mr. Edmond mumbled.

Claudia winced in pain. “I just wanted to know where our daughter is working. I didn't know the Davison's would be so callous.”

“Are you trying to tell me that the only reason why you went to Valerie's working place was to know where exactly she works?” Mr. Watson, who was still in disbelief, raised his brows at her.

Without hesitation, Claudia nodded her head in agreement. “What other reason do you think would make me go there? Oh, Edmond. You're really not concerned about me, are you?”

“This should teach you a lesson. The earlier you stay away from the Davison's, the better for you. I'll get our family doctor to come over and give you treatments” Mr. Watson replied, and she nodded her head in agreement as he walked out of the room.

Groaning helplessly, she struggled to sit up on the bed. The creaking sound of the door drew her attention to the door. Reluctantly, Patricia walked into the room and she turned her gaze away. “Mom, how are you feeling?”

Claudia scoffed, and replied with sarcasm. “Oh, I'm feeling heavenly. Very wonderful!”

Gulping hard, Patricia bit her lower lip hard. “Are you still angry with me? Mom, can't you see the result of going to the Davison's? If I had gone with you, do you think I'd be able to take this kind of pain in my condition?”

“Shut it! Whatever I did was for your own good, Patricia. I don't want that stepsister of yours to be ahead of you. Oh, but what you did was tell me to my face that I got what I deserved. You're so ungrateful!” Claudia half yelled, but felt a sharp pain in her chest, and groaned a little.

However, Patricia sat right beside her and patted her. “I'm sorry, Mom. We can think of another way to make her pay. I don't think going to Davison's villa will help us.”

“All good! With how mean and cold, the President of the Davison's empire looks, I'm sure she'll lose her job. When she comes knocking here, I'll throw her out. She'll have no choice but to wander about like a tramp that she is.” Claudia forced a smile at Patricia, even though she was still in pain.

Meanwhile, Valerie was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She had a night shift at Davison's villa. The doorbell rang noisily.

“Susan! Andy!! Anyone close? Please get the door. I can't leave the kitchen, the eggs will burn if I do” She screamed.

Susan stormed out of the room. “I'll get it!”

She walked to the door, and twisted the doorknob open. Her jaw dropped in shock on seeing the handsome looking young man, standing in front of the door.

“Good… good morning” Susan stuttered, blinking rapidly.

With a warm smile, he responded. “Good morning.”

“Valerie! Valerie, are you expecting someone?” Susan asked anxiously.

Valerie rolled her eyes. “Of course not. Why? Who's there?”

Susan turned to the man with a nervous smile. “Who are you looking for, please? I'm sorry, I just haven't seen you before.”

“Uhm… my name is James. I'm here to see Valerie” He replied, and Susan gasped. She knew instantly that James was the person who Valerie went on a date with the other time. She just didn't expect him to be so good-looking.

“Oh, my bad! Please come in. I didn't know you were James” Susan smiled warmly.

Rushing into the kitchen, Susan panted heavily. Startled, Valerie turned the cooker off, and stared at Susan in dismay. “What's going on? Why are you panting? Who's there?”

“You won't believe who's there, Val. Oh my God! I think he's the perfect definition of every woman's dream” Susan dreamily said.

Valerie sighed. “You're so unbelievable! Who is he?”

“James” She replied sharply, and Valerie choked. Coughing helplessly, she widened her eyes and asked. “James? Are you certain?”

Susan nodded. “Yeah.”

Taking off her cooking apron and cap, she adjusted her dress and walked out of the kitchen without realizing she had the cooking spoon with her.

“Give me that.” Susan snatched the spoon from her as she walked to the sitting room.

“James? Oh my goodness.” She smiled in surprise.

Upon seeing her, James chuckled softly. “Hi, Valerie. I'm sorry if this is urgent, I just couldn't help but check up on you.”

“I'm truly sorry I failed to contact you after the last time we were supposed to meet. I was hooked up with something, I'm sorry” Valerie apologized.

James gulped hard, and asked. “What about yesterday? You and I were supposed to meet at the ice cream parlor. I waited all day, and you didn't show up. I thought maybe something happened.”

Confused, Valerie stared at him for a few seconds before blinking her eyes. “Yesterday? Ice cream parlor? What are you talking about?”

“Did you forget about it? I tried calling you, but your line was not connecting. I was confused and scared. Actually, I waited for you for close to two hours, and you didn't show up.” James explained.

With her brows puckered, Valerie scratched her head. She was trying to comprehend what James just told her.

“Is this some sort of joke? What ice cream parlor?”

“I don't understand. I can't remember having any conversation with you about an ice cream parlor meeting or…” Valerie paused.

James shook his head. “I texted you, and you replied. That was the day before yesterday. You can check your inbox”.

Valerie quickly picked up her cell phone. She rushed to the messages, and she saw no message. “Here it is. I got no message from you”.

On the other hand, James gave his cell phone to her and she saw the message. It was from her, but she didn't write the message.

“How is this possible?” She mumbled.

James asked curiously. “Did you lose your phone or something?”

Valerie scratched her head, and gasped all of a sudden. “President Ethan?”