Valerie Anjanetta Rusli, is not an ordinary woman who easily gives up on anything, including her feelings. In everything, she prioritizes reason.
So it's no wonder that when Kelvin betrayed her, she decisively chose to separate. It is forbidden for her to plead for love that has been tarnished, let alone to lower her dignity for it all. No! It will never happen no matter what.
Even though the feeling of love still exists, but if the man she loves is not good for her, she will push him away. She will not give him the chance to cause a deeper wound.
Even her hurried marriage was not solely to vent her pain. It is because on the other hand, she is confident in Riu's personality. As a man respected by her father, surely Riu has no black marks. It is proven by her father's disapproval which was only based on mere 'defects'. There is not even a single reason that involves his nature.
"As long as you still respect me as your wife, I will always support you. Those wicked siblings of yours... I will help you deal with them," Vale thought as she entered the main Brox family house.
She was no longer wearing work clothes, but a sleeveless red long dress. Her hair was left loose, covering a part of her exposed shoulders, while her long legs were exposed from beneath the dress that reached above the knees.
As for her face, don't even ask. Thanks to the makeup applied directly by an expert, Vale's beautiful features were extremely captivating that night. Not only would a man's eyes be mesmerized by her, but even a woman's eyes would be enchanted when they looked at her. Vale also wore some jewelry that added to her luxurious appearance.
Yes, Riu called her earlier this afternoon. He said that his siblings had already arrived and she needed to prepare herself.
"Sorry, I'm late," Vale apologized as she entered the dining room.
At that moment, she was still busy casting her charm, unaware of who she was facing.
It was only when her gaze shifted to every corner of the room that she noticed a very familiar figure. Kelvin, her ex-boyfriend who had dated her for four years, was sitting there with a look of surprise.
"Kelvin!"
"Vale!"
Each murmured softly, just for their own ears to hear.
"Don't tell me his wife is Riu," Kelvin said in his heart. Mixed emotions surged within him at the thought.
Unlike Kelvin, who was still stunned, Vale was able to regain control first. She flashed a wide smile, as if nothing had happened between them.
After that, Vale continued walking and took a seat next to Riu. Still with her deadly smile, Vale spoke up again. But, this time, only for Riu.
"Darling, I'm sorry, I made a bad first impression on your big family. I underestimated the traffic that I should have considered earlier," she said.
"It's okay, we haven't been waiting long. And what matters is that you are here safe and sound now." Riu not only stroked Vale's back hand, but also held and kissed it.
Vale was surprised. It felt like an electric shock running through her entire body. Riu's wet, soft, and warm lips touched her skin directly. Damn, there was something within her that seemed to rise just from that brief kiss.
"Uncle, you're doing that in front of us. Isn't it rude?" Kelvin had run out of patience. Jealousy had eroded his defenses. As a result, the reprimand slipped from his lips, with a tone far from friendly.
"We're still newlyweds, so please understand if sometimes we don't know our limits. But... I don't think it's a big deal because there are no young children here. You too... maybe your knowledge is more than that," Riu replied with a chuckle. It was as if he was joking, but he was actually laughing at the angry faces of his brother and nephew.
"Oh, so this is the niece you told me about, Honey? The one who was left at the altar by her boyfriend?" Vale chimed in.
"Yes."
"Such a shame, considering his handsome face. But, his love story was not fortunate enough. Ahh, be patient, the path of life is often difficult to predict. Aunty prays that you will find a replacement soon." Vale looked at Kelvin with a melancholic expression. Not forgetting to refer to herself as 'aunty'.
"You haven't been married to Riu for long, yet you dare to invade my child's privacy. Were your parents never taught manners?" Annisa said angrily. She couldn't bear to see her child cornered, at a loss for words.
Ahh, truly beyond expectations. What was imagined to be a rustic woman turned out to be Vale. A woman with great eloquence.
"How high are the standards of etiquette nowadays, sis? Sleeping together before marriage is sometimes considered polite, even something to be proud of. Isn't it?"
Hearing Vale's answer, Annisa became furious. Abruptly rising from her seat, she glared at Vale sharply.
"What do you mean by saying something like that?" she shouted.
But Vale just laughed softly.
"I was only joking, sis, so our conversation wouldn't be too awkward. Don't take it too seriously, okay?"
"Alright alright, let's just eat. It'll get cold if we talk for too long," Jason interrupted. Once again, he was being bothered by the dynamics within the family. To the point that he regretted his past behavior towards Dilara—Riu's birth mother.
After Jason spoke up, everyone fell silent. Each of them took their food and savored it. However, their thoughts wandered in different directions.
Camelia and Vir, who had been silent all along, started to understand the situation. Vale, Riu's wife, was the same Vale who used to be Kelvin's lover. They both had to rethink their stance, as conquering a woman like Vale would certainly not be easy.
Meanwhile, Theo's ambition started to burn again. He was certain that he couldn't make Vale take his side, considering what Kelvin had done before. Now, the only way to take back the assets was to eliminate them. As quickly as possible, before they took action first.
Unlike his father, all Kelvin felt was envy and hatred. He couldn't bear for Vale to belong to Riu.
"I will do whatever it takes to take her away from you. You should know that a flawed man like you is not worthy of her. Only I am deserving of her," he thought at that time.
On the other hand, Vale felt a significant unease. Undeniably, Riu and Kelvin's relationship still shocked her. Additionally, she felt slightly awkward with Riu's behavior. After kissing her hand, she repeatedly fed her bites. As if she was the most beloved wife, and somehow, her heart started to beat faster because of it.
"No wonder he said that yesterday, apparently he already knew that my ex-boyfriend was Kelvin. Ahh, be aware, Vale, these sweet gestures are just a pretense. He's only helping you exact revenge on Kelvin. So, don't involve your heart," Vale warned herself.
"Dad, even though Riu is now married and entitled to the assets. But... shouldn't performance also be taken into account? I'm just afraid that it will impact the company's development," Camelia interjected. After thinking for a while, she started to find a way to undermine Riu.
After suffering paralysis for several years, there won't be many achievements that she can contribute to the company, and that can be used as a reason to postpone ownership.
"That... that___" Jason struggled to answer.
Meanwhile, Riu chose to remain silent, seemingly disagreeing with Camelia's suggestion. However, unbeknownst to them, she had already done many things behind the scenes.
"Everything is ready, Sir. Everything is going according to plan."
Riu smiled mischievously. In her heart, she said, "Consider me weak and you will let your guard down."
To be continued...
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