Chapter 112


    “Yep!” Tiana watched Whitney quickly regain herposure, returning to the familiar friend she knew


    and loved. “You think ine put Hannah up to framing you at the party? Let’s dig up some proof.”


    “There’s more to it,” Whitney mused, sensing that ine’s preparedness meant her hostility ran deeper


    than it seemed. She was certain ine had designs on L, a possessive desire to steal him away.


    “Oh, right, let me just butt in for a second.” Tiana, beaming, booted up herptop. “Haven’t you been


    waiting for Valerie’s investigation? About how Monica got propped up by foreign Judges, and who’s the


    bigwig backing her? Valerie got in touch with me today. Just hang on…”


    Tiana immediately connected with Valerie, who was halfway across the world.


    Whitney frowned slightly, a thought from Tiana earlier that morning echoing in her head, “You’ve been


    like a trouble mately!“.


    Monica’s miraculouseback in thepetition, followed by the scheme framing her for buying fake


    gemstones andnding her in jail, seemed unrted to her recent entanglements with L


    But were they truly unrted?


    A bold idea sprouted in Whitney’s mind–if the person behind Monica was…


    At that moment, the call connected, and Valerie’s voice came through. She was the epitome of


    sophistication, and even after a long absence, there was no excitement in her greeting, just a slight


    smile and pressed lips. “Whitney, long time no see.”


    Among the three, Tiana was bubbly, Whitney mischievous, but Valerie was always the grounded one,


    like a ss of clear water with a few floating leaves–understated at first nce but with a lingering,


    mellow taste. If Whitney’s edgey beneath the surface, Valerie’s was right out in the open.


    Among the three of them, Valerie contacted the least, having been abroad for studies and only briefly


    reuniting with them when she returned home.


    But that was how their friendship was–Ste, despite being in constant touch, turned out to be nothing


    more than a fair–weather friend.


    “How’s the investigation into the judges going, Valerie?” Tiana asked eagerly.


    “There was definitely someone pulling strings to get those foreign judges to boost Monica, Valerie said,


    taking a sip of water. A hint of amusement crossed her face.


    “Can you find out who it was?” Whitney pressed, certain that this person was either Monica’s backer or


    closely connected to them.


    Doubt flickered in Valerie’s eyes, and she gave a thin smile. “It’s my husband, Ashton Fuller.”


    “What?”


    “Valerie, you’re married?” Whitney and Tiana gaped in unison.


    A bittersweet smile crossed Valerie’s lean face. “Sorry, it’s hardly what you’d call a marriage. I did not


    see the point in bringing it up.”


    “Ashton, isn’t he the man you’ve always loved?” Despite Valerie’s private nature, Whitney remembered


    bits and pieces. “When did you marry him?”


    “A year ago.”


    Tiana was stunned. “Girl, how much have you kept from us while studying abroad? That’s not cool. But


    Ashton–he’s the Fuller family’s eldest son, right? Why would he help that bitch Monica…”


    Whitney was just as puzzled, but a very elegant male hand appeared on Valerie’s screen before they


    could inquire further.


    The man roughly pulled Valerie up, and theptop fell to the floor, cutting to ck


    “Valerie? Was that handsome hand Ashton’s, Banyan City’s second–most handsome man after Mr.


    Lippert?”


    Whitney stared at the ck screen, deep in thought.


    On the other side of the ocean, in the middle of the night, Valerie was lifted effortlessly. She was


    slender, with a model’s physique: delicate in front, striking curves behind, and legs that were a sight to


    behold.


    Ashton’s eyes were bloodshot with drink. He was tall and Imposing, with sharp features and a cropped


    haircut that ented his chiseled bone structure.


    He tossed Valerie onto the bed without a hint of tenderness and copsed on top of her.


    He kissed her fiercely, murmuring another woman’s name in his fervor.


    Valerie’s eyes, which had been distant, suddenly froze with pain, a pain that felt like a knife twisting in


    her heart. This agony had never stopped torturing her.


    And so, tired of the torment, she grabbed his sturdy neck, her face cold with rage. “Open your eyes,


    Ashton! I’m not her, not your first love. If you’re drunk, go find a hooker You’ve got plenty of lovers,


    don’t you?”


    Ashton sobered slightly, his gaze filled with deep loathing as he saw her cool, detached expression.


    He sneered. “Valerie, you’ve been whispering poison in Dad’s ear, saying I’ve neglected you since our


    wedding a year ago. Aren’t you just lonely and desperate? Forced by him toe here for a


    honeymoon, I ignore you, so you start digging into that judge’s affair, trying to get my attention at all


    costs. Now that I’m giving you what you want, you’re not happy? It’s been a year since you crawled into


    my bed–are you that thirsty?”


    His insults cut through her like a cold wind.


    Valerie’s heart was as cold as her radiant, forced smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck.


    “You’re overthinking. I just don’t want to catch anything.”


    “You think you’re so clean? I despise women like you. If it weren’t for her needing a liver transnt


    urgently, do you think I would’ve married you under duress? You’re just like your mother, all high and


    mighty on the outside but a whore on the inside. I hate being threatened. Just wait and see how


    miserable I’ll make this marriage for you!”


    Indeed, it had been a mere year, but she had gone from a foolish hope that he might fall in love with


    her to experiencing a living hell.


    Initially, she had manipted the situation, forcing him away from his first love. No, that was not true.


    Valerie scoffed bitterly, enduring the pain as she red at him,


    “Ashton, don’t act like I stole your love. Her heart was never with you; she was sweet on another man,


    and oh, that man happens to be your best friend. In the end, you’re just a pitiable man.”


    A sharp p across her face silenced her for good.


    Ashton’s eyes reddened, the emotion lingering until the very end.


    He roughly pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up as he coldly pinched her pale chin, examining her face


    with a mocking sneer. “You’re nothing like her.”


    Valerie shut her eyes, hershes quivering. He always knew how to wound her with his icy words.


    “Don’t you dare go running to Dad, he warned, his voice dripping with disgust as he started to dress.


    “The very thought of touching you makes my skin crawl!”


    Wrapped in a nket that only highlighted the patches of red on her skin, Valerie was an irritating sight


    to him, yet she defiantly lifted her chin, biting back, “Make your skin crawl? Yet you can’t seem to stay


    away, can you? Hypocrite and shameless–that’s what you are, Ashton Fuller!”


    Ashton red at her coldly, his departure punctuated by the mming door and a phone call. “Get the


    private jet ready. I can’t stand another second around this woman,”


    19:03


    Chapter IIZ


    Well, if he was disgusted, she would make sure to repulse him further.


    Valerie booked her own flight home immediately. She was curious how Ashton would orchestrate the


    overseas judges to boost Monica.


    Whose side was he really on?


    Only one person could manipte Ashton into unconditional aid – the woman he loved.


    Têxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Besides, Tiana had contacted her not long ago, and Valerie learned about the major crisis Whitney had


    been through in the past months. She had to return and check on her friend.


    Whitney and Tiana had been waiting at the café for an hour when Valerie finally came back online.