Chapter 1

"Hey, Valerie! Look over there! That's the CEO of Nash Group, a super handsome guy with looks and money."

Rachel Carr nudged the pretty Valerie Hatfield beside her, who was busy clearing up equipment, and excitedly motioned toward the distance.

Valerie's hands froze. When she looked up toward the distance with clear, bright eyes, a small entourage in tailored suits was making its way toward the mall's exit, surrounding a man in its center.

The leading man—Gabriel Nash—was the youngest among them and the most striking.

He had a stunningly beautiful face, the kind that would make you think the universe had been playing favorites when making him. It was as if the finest craftsmanship had been used to sculpt his features.

His tailored, sleek suit fit him perfectly, the crisp black pants framing his long, lean legs. There wasn't a single thing about him that wasn't perfect.

He looked the same as before, yet not the same at all. The rebellious air about him had faded, and now, he was more mature and sharper, very much like the heir of the Nash family.

"What do you think, Valerie? He's good-looking, isn't he? He's the man every woman in Josewood dreams of, with the perfect family, perfect talent, and even the perfect face."

Rachel clenched her hands dramatically and closed her eyes as if she were lost in a fantasy.

Valerie reluctantly withdrew her gaze and stopped looking in that direction. "Handsome or not, he has nothing to do with you. Wrap it up, and let's return to the station. Mr. Galloway's still waiting for the footage."

Rachel's eyes widened as she pouted and murmured a complaint, "I know. We're just two overworked rookie reporters, and we don't deserve him. We can only look at rare men like him from afar. See? His perfect match is that gorgeous, rich heiress over there."

Valerie froze for a beat, then found her eyes drifting uncontrollably back in that direction.

A stunning woman had joined Gabriel by his side. She was elegant, polished, and with the poised confidence of a lady raised in a wealthy family.

Next to him, though, she looked almost delicate and petite.

To outsiders, they looked like a picture-perfect pair.

Rachel added, "She's Zara Ramirez of Pinnacle Group, a woman with an overall score of 95."

Valerie laughed. "Who on earth is bored enough to come up with such scores?"

Rachel cocked her head and said, "The guys at the station. They rate every famous celebrity. Oh, and they rated you, too."

"Ridiculous. I'm not a celebrity."

"But you're the charmer of the station. Ever since you joined, everyone's been talking. They say you're prettier than all the anchors in the station. It's just a pity that you have an ordinary family background, so you only score a 92."

Valerie was briefly startled before she smiled under her mask and loaded the equipment onto the media van. "Enough now. Let's pack up and leave."

After filing their report at Starfield TV Station, Valerie dragged her exhausted body home.

The old residential complex had outdated facilities and no elevator, so she had to climb six floors of stairs just to get home. Rubbing her shoulders, she finally stood at her doorstep.

She'd just pulled out her keys when the faded door opened with a creak from the inside.

"Mommy! You're home!"

A childish voice called out as a little boy wrestled the handle of the metal door open with practiced ease. Then, he blinked up at Valerie with round, shiny eyes and happiness written all over his face.

The moment Valerie saw her son, Micah Hatfield, all trace of fatigue seemed to vanish.

"Who told you to open the door by yourself, Micah? I told you it's dangerous to open the door without permission, didn't I?"

Though Valerie pulled a stern expression and pretended to be mad, her arms betrayed her delight. She stepped forward to scoop up the sweet-smelling boy and rested her chin on his little shoulder.

Yet Micah wasn't having any of it. He pushed her away in disgust and said, "You're dirty and don't stay clean!"

Valerie crunched up her face and exasperatedly tapped his forehead. "Where did you get that attitude from? You're tiny and already acting grumpy like some rich CEO."

From within the apartment, a graceful middle-aged woman with a smile stepped into view. Her hair was neatly combed back, and though her clothes weren't luxurious, the air she gave off made her seem completely out of place in that old, worn-out building.

She was Valerie's mom, Rosa Palmer.

She lifted Micah out of Valerie's arms and laughed as she scolded, "You're right. Your mom doesn't wash her hands and just hugs you as soon as she gets home. She's dirty."

"Oh, of course the two of you teamed up against me," Valerie muttered, grinning as she headed toward the bathroom. "What's for dinner, Mom?"

"I know you've had a long day at work, so I made your favorite ribeye steak, garlic butter shrimp scampi, and maple-glazed ribs."

"You're the best, Mom! After years of having Vestrian cuisine abroad, nothing hits like real Skaumese food."

After washing her hands, Valerie walked up to the small four-seater table. Completely ignoring etiquette, she grabbed a shrimp and popped it into her mouth.

Rosa tapped Valerie's hand lightly with her spoon. "Have you forgotten all your manners after spending four years abroad? Micah's right here. What kind of example are you setting as his mom?"

In his baby dining chair, Micah shook his head as if to say he was used to it.

Valerie sighed. His personality was so unlike hers and always got on her nerves, but it was all down to his dad's strong genes.

"Let's move, Mom. This place is uncomfortable. It's cramped, noisy, and honestly not safe." Valerie spoke between bites as she tried to discuss the matter with Rosa.

She'd tried to bring this up on the day she returned to Skaum, but Rosa had been dead set against moving to a new place.

It wasn't about money. On paper, Valerie was just a rookie reporter, but in reality, she'd achieved financial freedom as an online writer.

Every story she posted on the platform turned into a hit. Several of her books had been adapted into TV shows with wildly successful ratings when aired. So, money wasn't an issue for her at all.

Rosa adopted a no-negotiation attitude. "Have you forgotten what happened to your dad? If we get too much attention—"

"We have to keep a low profile. I get it." Valerie cut in and didn't say more.

She looked up at the black-and-white photo on the wall. A kind, righteous-looking man in his early 50s with sharp features smiled gently back at her.

Valerie withdrew her gaze and took a bite of the maple-glazed ribs. Whether it was the weight of the conversation or something else, a bitter taste lingered in her mouth.

Suddenly, Rosa set down her spoon and looked at Valerie with tears glistening in her eyes. "Val, do you hate me for forcing you to go abroad after everything that happened at home?"

Valerie kept her head down and continued eating. "That's all in the past, Mom. You don't have to bring it up now."

Rosa grew agitated, and her fingers trembled slightly on the table.

"I know you blame me. I know you do. But Val, the Nash family is too powerful and complicated. You would've suffered if you'd married them.

"Even with your dad holding an influential position, we still couldn't have guaranteed your safety, not to mention that back then…"

Chapter 2

Valerie frowned and reminded Rosa, "Stop, Mom. Micah is all grown up now, so let's not talk about these things in front of him anymore."

Rosa glanced at the quietly eating Micah and swallowed the rest of her words. She lovingly added some food to his plate and dabbed away a tear from the corner of her eye with a napkin.

"Fine. I'll stop here. From now on, let's just focus on living our own lives."

Valerie replied with a hum.

After returning to her room, she typed for a while. But when her mind drifted to Gabriel, whom she'd seen earlier that day, she couldn't help but open a photo album she'd kept locked.

Every photo in the photo album featured a man smiling brightly, no matter what he was doing. The affection in his eyes seemed to practically spill out of the screen and flow right into the heart of the person looking at the photo. After all, the person who'd taken the photos was the one he loved.

Valerie found herself touching the edge of his all-too-handsome face as the ache deep in her heart spread through her limbs.

In the end, she resolutely closed the photo album.

…

The next day, she arrived at the office and heard her colleagues in the midst of a heated discussion.

"Valerie! Hurry up and come here!" The head of her department, Zach Galloway, spotted her from across the room and waved her over.

She clipped on her employee badge and curiously walked over. "Is there an assignment, Mr. Galloway?"

Rachel squeezed past the other colleagues to stand beside her. "We're interviewing a big shot today, and Mr. Galloway's choosing who'll go for it. I think you'll likely be on the list."

Denise Hopkins, a colleague who'd never been particularly friendly with Valerie ever since she joined, scoffed dismissively.

"Don't be ridiculous. How could a rookie qualify to interview such an important figure? Do you even know who we're interviewing today?

"It's Gabriel Nash, the CEO of Nash Group! Countless stations are fighting for an interview with him. How could we possibly send a rookie? What a joke."

When Valerie heard the interviewee's name, her eyes widened in shock. "Denise is right. I shouldn't be part of this interview since I don't even know a lot of the procedures yet."

But Zach waved her off. "Everyone starts as a rookie, and Valerie's abilities and work ethic have spoken for themselves ever since she joined us. She's never once backed away from a tough job.

"With her looks, it would be a waste not to have her out there covering more reports."

The colleagues nodded in agreement. Valerie's looks were indeed a strong asset and had gained her fame in the media circle after just a few assignments.

Just as Valerie was about to say more, Zach cut her off.

"Enough. Let's not waste time now. Rachel and Riley, the two of you shall go with Valerie. Remember to ask sharp questions for the ratings… You know what I mean."

On the media van, Rachel scratched her head, clearly troubled. "Ratings, ratings, ratings… As if that means anything other than making us dig for the CEO's private life. That's what the viewers want. As long as it's gossip, it guarantees sky-high ratings, especially when it's about a gilded CEO like Gabriel."

Riley Grant, a seasoned veteran, sighed as he chewed his gum. "Everyone thinks this is a prime assignment, but they don't realize how tricky it is. Mr. Nash is a tough nut to crack, and so far, no one has managed to walk away unscathed after dealing with him."

Valerie sat quietly in her seat without saying a word. She understood exactly what they meant. After all, she knew what kind of person Gabriel was better than anyone.

If things had still been like before, no matter what question she asked, Gabriel would smile and answer. He would even go out of his way to provide extra details to make sure her work went smoothly.

But now…

She had no idea how he would react when he saw her again. If anything, he might just make things difficult for her.

"You take the lead on the interview today, Rachel. I'll back you up."

Rachel looked flustered. "What? But Val, Mr. Galloway specifically assigned you to interview Mr. Nash. He's going to review the footage when we get back."

Valerie slumped defeatedly into her seat. She honestly wanted to quit her job on the spot. Never would she have expected to face Gabriel right after she returned to Skaum and that too, under such unavoidable circumstances.

The three of them were still wearing matching frowns when their media van rolled into Nash Group's parking lot.

The skyscraper towered over them, and every spot in front of the building was already packed with media vans. As expected, every major media station was fighting to cover the public interview with Nash Group.

Valerie's group entered the large conference hall and picked an inconspicuous corner to sit in. But just as Valerie took her seat, reporters from other stations gathered around and greeted her.

"You must be Valerie Hatfield, right? We've heard that a new beauty joined the media circle, but seeing you in person really is something else."

"With your looks, why are you even a reporter? You should be an actress."

"Exactly! Shall I introduce you to many big-name directors I know? Just don't forget us when you're famous."

Noticing Valerie's low spirits, Rachel shooed the onlookers away. "Get out of here! We don't have time for chit-chat."

After Riley set up the equipment, he looked around their spot in confusion. "We're from Starfield TV Station, the leading station in Josewood. Why did you give up the front row seats to others, Val?

"If we don't get to interview Gabriel today, Mr. Galloway is definitely going to make our lives miserable."

Rachel confidently pulled out a sheet of prepared questions and handed copies to Valerie and Riley.

"What's there to worry about? There's no way anyone else would dare to ask the questions on this list.

"I doubt Mr. Nash would say anything harsh once you're up there and he sees your face, Val."

Valerie puzzledly skimmed the questions, all of which were gossip-related. She recoiled and tossed the sheet to the floor as if it had just burned her.

If she actually asked those questions, Gabriel would tear her apart on the spot, completely disregarding any history between them. Then again, Gabriel probably didn't harbor any lingering feelings for her anyway.

Rachel picked up the sheet on the floor, looking clearly confused.

Suddenly, the room fell silent—the main character had arrived.

With one hand in his pocket, Gabriel walked on stage surrounded by Nash Group's senior executives. His black suit was of exquisite quality and highlighted his tall, solid frame. Despite its simple style, somehow, he managed to wear it in a way that set him apart.

"Damn! He's so handsome!" Rachel started swooning again.

Even as they recorded the scene, the female reporters around them couldn't help but stare starry-eyed at the man commanding all the attention on stage.

The senior executives beside Gabriel sat stiffly, their backs straight. In contrast, Gabriel lounged somewhat lazily in his seat, but he still exuded the air of someone in complete control.

Before Valerie could even react, reporters began firing questions at Gabriel, one after another.

Gabriel picked up the microphone with one hand and answered the questions with an air of casual indifference, but his gaze never left the woman sitting in the corner.

From the moment he walked in, he'd spotted Valerie, the woman he'd searched for four years and who'd avoided him for just as long.

And now, she'd appeared before him without warning…

Chapter 3

Gabriel tightened his grip on the microphone, his gaze narrowing as he waited to see when Valerie would finally speak up for the sake of her assignment.

The whole time, Valerie dared not lift her head. She could feel the sharp intensity of his stare from afar, as if he wanted to crush her whole.

Rachel nudged her. "Val, if you don't raise your hand to ask questions now, today's interview is going to be over."

Riley added, "That's right, Val. If we don't finish our assignment, we'll receive a scolding when we get back to the station."

Valerie gathered her thoughts and realized that all the questions she'd prepared had been asked by other stations.

Rachel shoved a sheet of paper into her hand. "Ask this. If Mr. Nash answers even just one line, we'll definitely be on the front page tomorrow."

It was a question about Gabriel's love life, and no other reporter had ever dared to ask about it. If they pulled it off, their ratings would skyrocket.

While Valerie debated, the host on the stage began wrapping up. "Any final questions for Mr. Nash? If not, we'll be concluding today's press conference."

Rachel panicked. "Val, hurry up!"

Riley was equally anxious as he looked at Valerie. "Even if Mr. Nash blows up at you, it's better than failing and reporting back to the station empty-handed. Go!"

Reporters from other stations turned their expectant gazes to Valerie, looking forward to what she was going to ask.

After all, Starfield TV Station was famous for its bold reporters who weren't afraid to ask questions others wouldn't dare to.

Valerie clenched her fists and decided to go all out. She grabbed the microphone and abruptly stood up, locking eyes with Gabriel on the stage.

"Mr. Nash, I'm from Starfield TV Station, and I have one more question for you. Regarding the recent rumors of your engagement to the heiress of Pinnacle Group, are they true? Is Nash Group considering a marriage alliance with Pinnacle Group?"

Deep down, other reporters cheered at Valerie's boldness, but they couldn't help but give her looks of sympathy.

Everyone knew Gabriel hated questions about his personal life. If he was displeased, he wouldn't hesitate to have reporters thrown out.

Gabriel froze for a few seconds before the corner of his lips curved into a smile.

He stared back at her, lifted the microphone he'd set aside on the table, and coldly replied, "Has Starfield TV Station run out of competent reporters? Didn't anyone train you on what questions are appropriate? Since you're so interested in my love life, should I ask my mom to step aside so you can take her place?"

Sure enough, he was as ruthless as ever.

Valerie lowered her head in defeat and muttered under her breath, "No one wants to be your mom. If I had a son like you, I'd be lying in a coffin by now."

A few seconds later, her eyes widened in horror as she stared at the microphone in her hand.

The last echoes of her words still hung in the conference hall, and every word she'd spoken had been picked up by the recording equipment present on site, accompanied by gasps from the crowd.

Onstage, Gabriel had heard every word clearly. His expression was now complicated and unreadable.

Beside her, Rachel and Riley covered their mouths with their fists and looked up at her wide-eyed.

Terrified that Gabriel might deal with her on the spot, right in front of the reporters, the senior executives quickly stepped in to appease him.

"Mr. Nash, she's clearly just an intern who doesn't know any better. Please don't take it to heart."

"Yes! Please be magnanimous and forgive her. Perhaps she just didn't get enough sleep last night."

Gabriel briefly lowered his head. Though his voice carried a hint of laughter, it sent chills down everyone's spine.

"Right. She doesn't know any better, but when has she ever? I wonder who spoiled her so much that she's got such a nasty temper."

In the end, Valerie couldn't even remember how she made it out of the hall. She vaguely sensed the mixed looks people threw her, most of which were pitying. Everyone probably assumed she'd just ended her career in the media industry.

All she remembered was Rachel and Riley apologizing to Gabriel over and over on her behalf, begging him to forgive her and not fire her from her job.

They'd been looking out for her since the day she'd joined the station, so she was deeply grateful to them.

In the end, Gabriel didn't say much and simply told them to leave.

But before Valerie's group even made it back, news of her publicly mouthing off at Gabriel had already spread through the station.

Back at the station, Zach dragged the three of them into his office and unleashed a torrent of scolding.

"Valerie is new and doesn't know any better, but you two have been here for so long—you can't say the same about yourselves, can you?

"Don't you know who Gabriel Nash is? If we offend him, how is Starfield TV Station supposed to run in the future? If he so much as lifts a finger, this station could shut down today. Do you understand that?"

Rachel and Riley hung their heads, not daring to utter a word. Valerie knew the fault lay with her, so she took off her employee badge and placed it on Zach's desk.

"This is on me, Mr. Galloway. They had nothing to do with it and couldn't stop me from saying what I wanted. I'll resign. Please stop yelling at them."

Saying that, she turned to leave, but Zach could feel a throbbing headache coming on.

"Hey! Who said you could leave? Why are young people so short-tempered these days?"

Rachel and Riley immediately yanked Valerie back.

"We're in this together. It makes no sense for you to quit alone."

"Well, well, well. Aren't you all loyal?" Zach murmured as he unlocked his phone and sent Valerie an address.

"Mr. Nash just called. He said that if you meet him and apologize in person, he'll let it slide. Make sure you seize this chance, Valerie. Don't let your temper get the better of you and make things worse with Mr. Nash."

"…He's the one who started it," Valerie muttered under her breath, but she quickly fell silent under Zach's sharp glare.

Still uneasy about her going alone, he pointed at Rachel. "You should go with her and keep an eye on her. Whatever Mr. Nash says, just listen and forget about it.

"Even if he does say a few harsh words, apologize. A man running a billion-dollar company isn't going to hold a grudge against a young lady like you."

Valerie felt a wave of exasperation. Zach was seriously overestimating Gabriel's manners…

Gabriel had two completely different faces at work and in private. And yet, he was the same man who'd once spoiled her beyond measure.

The thought made her heart ache again.

As per Zach's instructions, Valerie and Rachel arrived at the address Gabriel had provided, which happened to be the most popular bar in Josewood.

The place offered entertainment, karaoke rooms, drinks, and dining, which made it a favorite spot for young men and women. Of course, it was expensive. Anyone without deep pockets wouldn't dare step inside such a luxurious place.

Valerie had been here with Gabriel before. Back then, with her friends and the man she loved by her side, she'd believed she was the luckiest person alive.

"Wow! This place is fancy. The prices must be insane."

Rachel's voice pulled Valerie out of her thoughts. It had been four years since she'd last been there, and the entire place had been renovated.

Chapter 4

Given Gabriel's status, he definitely wouldn't be sitting downstairs in the general area.

Without hesitation, Valerie took Rachel's hand and took the elevator straight to the third floor, heading toward the private room she used to visit.

Sure enough, she opened the door to the private room to find Gabriel lazily lounging on the couch with his legs spread. He was idly fiddling with a somewhat worn silver lighter.

When Valerie's eyes fell on the lighter, her gaze trembled slightly.

She'd given it to him on New Year's Eve. She'd had a gardenia, her favorite flower, on it with the whimsical idea that the flower would keep him company when she wasn't around.

She'd never imagined he'd still have that lighter after all this time.

A mocking voice drifted over. "Well, well, well, who do we have here? If I'm not mistaken, it's Ms. Hatfield, isn't it?"

When Valerie looked over, she noticed the voice belonged to the man sitting beside Gabriel, Xavier Duncan. He'd exaggeratedly rubbed his eyes to confirm he hadn't mistaken someone else for her before starting to throw sarcastic remarks at her.

Xavier was the youngest son of Josewood's Duncan family. He was three years younger than Gabriel and the same age as her.

At 25, he was still acting like a kid.

He was Gabriel's die-hard fan, having idolized the latter since childhood, and always stuck close to him. His loyalty naturally lay with Gabriel, and he went along with the latter's moods.

There was once a time when he and Valerie could have been considered friends.

"Val, isn't that Mr. Xavier Duncan of the Duncan family? How does he know you?"

As an experienced reporter, Rachel knew the major families in Josewood like the back of her hand.

"Yeah. We've crossed paths a few times, but we aren't close."

After hearing Xavier's words, the others in the room paused their games. Most of them were strangers to Valerie, so they were probably new friends Gabriel had made over the years.

But she was very familiar with the two men next to him. One was Xavier, and the other was the eldest son of Josewood's Newton family, Daniel Newton.

When Daniel saw Valerie, his eyes first widened in disbelief. Once he snapped out of the shock, he immediately turned to check Gabriel's expression.

Gabriel shifted his posture and placed one long leg on the coffee table, resting an elbow on his knee. He lazily spun the lighter in his hand, never once looking up at Valerie.

"Val, come here and take a seat!" Daniel stood up and reached for her arm, trying to pull her toward Gabriel.

Rachel grew increasingly puzzled as she watched them, only to realize that Valerie and Gabriel seemed to know each other.

Valerie gave a little smile and shook her head. "It's fine, Mr. Newton. I'm here today to apologize to Mr. Gabriel. I accidentally offended him earlier, so I'd like to offer a formal apology. I'm sorry."

As she spoke, she lowered her head as well, leaving no room for anyone to criticize her.

Gabriel's fingers stilled and tightened around the lighter. Then, he let out a mocking laugh. "Mr. Gabriel, huh? You certainly know how to address people."

While the others respectfully called him "Mr. Nash", she held on to that uncomfortable title.

Only men who still lived under their families' shadows and lacked real power were addressed with first-name titles. He'd long since become a force to be reckoned with in his circle, so being called "Mr. Gabriel" utterly disgusted him now.

Valerie straightened up as though she hadn't detected the mockery in his tone. "Now that I've apologized, I hope you'll keep your promise and not make things difficult for Starfield TV Station. Please enjoy your night."

As she turned to leave, Xavier quickly got up and blocked her way.

"That's way too simple for an apology! Let's do it this way—finish this bottle of wine, and I'm sure Gabriel will be forgiving enough to never bring up what happened today again."

With that, he darted a cautious glance at Gabriel's expression. Seeing that Gabriel showed no reaction, Xavier relaxed and fetched a bottle of wine.

Rachel tugged at Valerie's sleeve. "That wine's strong, Val. Can you handle a whole bottle?"

Valerie glanced at the bottle and smiled faintly. "This matter has to be resolved. It's just wine—it's not like they're asking me to be a whore, so don't worry."

Xavier was stunned. "To be a whore?"

If only he'd thought of that, he would've suggested she spend the night with Gabriel instead! Gabriel had been starved of women for years, and he must be in need of a woman, but he'd only ever wanted Valerie…

Deep down, Xavier regretted it, but since he'd already said it, he had no choice but to pour the drink for Valerie.

"No need. Give it to me."

Valerie stepped forward and snatched the wine bottle from Xavier. Amid everyone's shocked gasps, she raised it and began gulping it down.

When she couldn't force any more down, she paused and coughed hard.

Rachel gently patted her back and said, "Forget it, Val. This isn't worth hurting yourself."

Valerie shoved Rachel aside, her head spinning as she raised the bottle to drink more.

Gabriel's gaze darkened. He knew that once her stubbornness took over, no one could stop her.

"Enough!"

Still, she ignored him and kept drinking.

"I said enough."

Gabriel stood up, yanked the wine bottle from her hands, and smashed it onto the floor. The bottle shattered, spilling the rest of the wine across the floor.

Everyone in the room was terrified by his outburst, and no one dared make a sound.

Valerie pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. The pain in her joints was flaring up again, especially in her waist.

It was a lingering postpartum problem she'd been facing since she'd given birth.

Back when she'd had Micah, she'd been alone abroad. If it hadn't been for the kind seniors and classmates who took care of her, she would have ended up with far worse health issues.

"Mr. Nash, since you said it's enough, should I take that to mean you've accepted my apology?"

She didn't hear Gabriel's reply. She swayed unsteadily, and Rachel stepped forward to hold her just in time.

"Let's go, Rachel."

Valerie didn't want to be entangled with these people any further. They were from different worlds in the first place anyway.

With Rachel's support, she stumbled out of the private room.

Xavier was baffled. "Why are you just letting her go, Gabriel? She disappeared for so long without a word. You've been searching for her all these years—are you just going to let her walk away?"

Gabriel's icy glare sent a chill down his spine. Daniel stepped forward to clamp a hand over Xavier's mouth before dragging him back to the couch.

…

By the time Valerie reached the bar's exit, she could no longer hold herself together.

Her entire body felt like it was falling apart, but she still lied to Rachel, saying, "Rachel, I called a ride, and it should be here soon. You should go home. I'll be fine on my own."

Rachel firmly refused. "No way. I'm taking you home."

"Go ahead. I'm fine, really. We have work tomorrow, so you should get home and sleep. I'll text you when I'm back."

Under Valerie's insistence, Rachel reluctantly left, glancing back every few steps.

Valerie couldn't hold on any longer. She found a pillar to lean against and slid down to sit, hoping to ease the pain before she got up to leave.

She buried her head in her arms, the agony nearly making her cry out loud.

Suddenly, a warm, oversized coat was draped over her shoulders.

When she lifted her head with great effort, she saw the handsome, stunning face of the man from her memories under the dim, golden light.

Chapter 5

Valerie weakly called out, "Gabriel? Why are you out here?"

Gabriel crouched down and pulled the coat snug around her shoulders. "Aren't you going to call me 'Mr. Gabriel' or 'Mr. Nash' anymore?"

She turned her head away. The gentleness from her memories had suddenly appeared in front of her again, but she was going to treat it like a dream.

When she didn't answer, Gabriel quietly sighed. "Are you drunk or hurting somewhere?"

"No."

Valerie's voice was muffled. The pain in her joints rolled through her in waves, sharper and deeper each time.

The doctor had warned her never to drink or touch any cold food, but the bottle of wine had been chilled.

It was just great. Now that she'd had alcohol—and a chilled drink at that—she almost felt like she deserved this pain for being so stubborn.

A low, painful hiss slipped out of her, and the sound seemed to hit Gabriel right in the heart. Without another word, he swept her up in his arms and started walking toward the car.

"What are you doing? Where are you taking me?"

"Where else? Of course, I'm selling you off."

Valerie lifted her head slightly. From this angle, all she saw was the sharp, clean line of his jaw. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in such a long time, and his embrace felt so familiar.

When they got in the car, the driver, Bernard Slater, was surprised to see Gabriel get in with a woman in his arms. When he looked carefully, he realized it was Valerie from years ago.

"Ms. Hatfield, are you back?" Bernard could barely hide the joy in his voice.

Valerie politely greeted him. "Long time no see, Bernard."

"Are the two of you close?" Gabriel's cold voice cut through the air.

Valerie instantly fell silent. Leaning back against the seat, she turned her face away without saying a word. She pressed her palms against the sore spots on her body, trying to ease the pain.

The wine was taking effect, and the pain was unbearable. Eventually, she passed out from the agony.

Gabriel called out to her a few times but received no response, so he assumed the wine had knocked her out.

Bernard glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Where to, Mr. Nash?"

"Bayside Residence. And call the private doctor."

"Understood."

Gabriel noticed how Valerie had been trying to massage her joints. Now that she was asleep, he reached over and, copying her earlier movements, pressed his palm gently along the spots she'd touched to ease her discomfort.

Half-conscious, Valerie felt the warm, dry pressure of his palms over the aching parts of her body. She shifted into a more comfortable position and drifted deeper into sleep.

After returning to Bayside Residence, Gabriel carried the asleep Valerie upstairs. When the housekeeper, Wanda Smith, saw who was in his arms, her jaw dropped in disbelief.

Moments later, the private doctor, Harriet Morse, arrived.

Wanda followed Gabriel upstairs with a bowl of hangover soup. When Harriet entered the bedroom and saw Valerie on the bed, she turned to Gabriel. "Mr. Nash, I need to perform a full examination for Ms. Hatfield. Could you please step out for a moment?"

Gabriel nodded and left, while Wanda stayed to assist.

Harriet took Valerie's vitals and examined her under her clothing. Shocked by her findings, she gave Wanda some instructions before stepping out.

By the time Harriet left, Gabriel had gone to the study, so they didn't cross paths.

"Wanda, please relay what I just told you to Mr. Nash. I'm going back to get Ms. Hatfield's medication."

Wanda seemed still dazed by what she'd learned, but she nodded blankly and shuffled toward the study after Harriet left.

Hearing movement at the door, Gabriel looked up at Wanda. "Is Dr. Morse done? What did she say?"

"M-Mr. Nash, Dr. Morse just told me that Ms. Hatfield has postpartum complications."

As soon as Wanda spoke, she quickly lowered her head, too scared to look up.

Gabriel clearly hadn't processed what he'd just heard. "Postpartum complications? What does that mean?"

Wanda lifted her head and decided to explain everything in one breath. "It's when a woman is left with long-term issues if she doesn't recover properly following childbirth. Ms. Hatfield gave birth and didn't recover well postpartum, so now her joints act up.

"Dr. Morse said she shouldn't consume alcohol or anything cold. But since she drank wine today, it triggered this."

The more Gabriel listened, the darker his expression grew. His well-defined facial features slowly twisted into a frown as he clenched his fists and angrily swept everything off the desk.

"Gave birth? Postpartum? She really has some nerve! I searched for her for four years, yet she was hiding away, getting married, and having a baby. You sure treat me so well, Valerie."

He kicked the chair aside and stormed toward the master bedroom. Wanda nervously rushed after him, terrified that something might happen.

"Please calm down and don't act on impulse, Mr. Nash. Let's wait until Ms. Hatfield wakes up, then we can ask her about it."

Gabriel charged into the room without a second thought, but when he saw Valerie lying on the bed with a pale face, as if she might break at the slightest touch, there was nowhere he could vent his anger.

"Did Dr. Morse say when she'll wake up?"

Wanda exhaled in relief. "Sometime in the morning. Her sleep is partly due to the wine."

Gabriel gave Valerie a long, deep look before turning to issue brisk instructions. "Take good care of her. If anyone calls, tell them that she's drunk and staying at a friend's place for the night. Make sure you say it's a female friend."

"Understood, Mr. Nash."

This was the second time Gabriel felt truly defeated. The first was when he couldn't find her despite searching for many years.

He hadn't intended to ask her why she'd left. As long as she returned to his side, he would have no questions. But now, everything had changed.

He grabbed his coat, drew a deep breath, and walked out of Bayside Residence.

…

The next day, after being given medicine in the middle of the night, Valerie woke up feeling completely loose and light. It was nothing like the unbearable pain she usually felt when she woke up.

She looked around her strange yet familiar surroundings and abruptly sat up on the bed.

Beside Valerie, Wanda was sleeping soundly with her head resting on the edge of the bed. Sensing movement, she slowly opened her eyes and lit up in delight.

"Ms. Hatfield, you're awake!"

"Wanda? Why are you here? Oh, I forgot you've always been here."

Valerie slapped her forehead, trying to clear her head. During her university years in Skaum, she'd moved in with Gabriel, and this had been their former home together.

Memories came flooding back to her, each one filled with the way he used to care for her.

"Oh, right. Where's Mr. Nash?"

"Mr. Nash?"

Wanda felt her heart clench. Once, Valerie and Gabriel had been so in love and inseparable. When had they turned into such distant strangers?

But of course, Valerie was married and had a baby now. Nothing could go back to what it once was.

"He left last night and told me to take good care of you. Besides, Dr. Morse said you need proper treatment for your postpartum complications if you want to recover. She prescribed three rounds of medication, and after you finish them, she'll give you more."

She handed Valerie the medicine Harriet had dropped off last night.

Valerie frowned and asked, "Does Gabriel know that I had a baby?"

Though Wanda didn't understand why Valerie had asked that, she nodded anyway. "Yes, he knows."