Chapter 8: An Awkward Encounter

Dawn brought a refreshing air for Valeria. After the emotional night she had experienced, waking up in her spacious apartment felt like a strange calm had taken over. She got up slowly, stretching before heading to the kitchen. She prepared a cup of coffee, avocado toast, and sat down to have breakfast in front of the large window offering a panoramic view of the city.

Valeria felt better, though a faint echo of her emotions from the previous night lingered. However, she had a busy day ahead. As she savored her rich breakfast, her phone vibrated with a call. It was her assistant, Laura.

"Good morning, Miss Valeria. Everything is set for tonight's event at the hotel. The vendors arrived early, the decoration is ready, and the reception team is confirmed."

"Perfect, Laura. Thanks for keeping everything under control. Make sure our most important partners have priority seating, and don’t forget our message: supporting emerging talent."

"Of course. See you tonight."

Valeria hung up with a satisfied smile. But her good mood faded when she saw who was calling now: her mother.

"Hi, Mom, how are you?" Valeria said, trying to keep her tone cordial.

"Sweetheart, how do you think I am? Your sister agreed to let you come to the wedding again, but there’s one condition."

"And what’s that condition, Mom?"

"That you apologize to the entire family and to her fiancé's parents."

Valeria let out a dry laugh.

"Apologize? Why should I? They started with the offensive comments, and all I did was defend myself."

"Sweetheart, I know they weren’t right either, but..."

"No, Mom. I won’t apologize to anyone. If they don’t want me there, that’s fine. I’ll save myself the trouble."

There was a tense silence on the other end of the line before her mother spoke again.

"Yesterday, your sister chose her wedding dress. She looked beautiful, Valeria. The dress cost your father a lot, you know."

"Yes, Mom. I think my sister should’ve graduated from college first instead of spending Dad’s money on a wedding. But hey, that’s her problem."

"Valeria... We’re not asking for money, but things are a bit tight for your father."

Valeria sighed, knowing where this conversation was heading.

"Fine, Mom. I’ll transfer some money to Dad to cover the wedding expenses."

"Thank you, sweetheart. I didn’t want to ask, but..."

"That’s enough, Mom. I’m busy. Have a good day."

Valeria hung up, feeling a mix of irritation and sadness. Her mother would never understand that it wasn’t about the money. It was about the constant emotional blackmail.

That evening, Valeria arrived at the exclusive hotel where the event was being held. As a partner in the venue and the host of the event, her entrance had to be flawless. She stepped out of her luxury car in a designer dress that left her back completely exposed. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo, and her flawless makeup made her look like the perfect, powerful woman she was.

Upon entering, all eyes turned to her. Valeria radiated confidence, and no one could ignore her. She greeted a few strategic partners and had brief conversations with businesspeople interested in collaborating with LuxeWorld, her multimillion-dollar company.

"Miss Valeria, may I introduce myself," a man said, approaching her with a friendly smile. "I’m Javier Morales, from a tech startup."

Valeria shook his hand and listened intently as Javier explained his ideas. He mentioned that his partner would arrive shortly and that they both hoped to establish an alliance with LuxeWorld.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you. My partner is here now; let me introduce him to you."

Valeria nodded, but as she saw the man approaching, her body tensed immediately. It was Roberto. And next to him was Carolina.

Roberto and Carolina looked equally surprised. The discomfort in the air was palpable. Javier, unaware of the shared past between them, introduced them enthusiastically.

"Miss Valeria, this is Roberto, my partner."

Before Valeria could respond, Roberto stepped forward.

"We already know each other."

"That’s right," Valeria said coldly. "Though unfortunately, I don’t associate with people like you."

Carolina frowned, trying to maintain her composure.

"Valeria, please. That was years ago. Don’t you think it’s time to grow up and leave it all behind?"

Valeria looked at her with a mix of disdain and superiority.

"Betrayals are never forgotten, Carolina. Much less forgiven, especially with people like you two."

Javier watched the scene, clearly uncomfortable with the tension. Valeria, unwilling to give the matter any more importance, apologized to him.

"I’m sorry this has been awkward for you, Javier. But I’m not interested in working with them."

Valeria turned and walked away elegantly, leaving Roberto and Carolina frozen in place.

As Valeria walked away, Roberto couldn’t stop watching her. He was mesmerized by how beautiful, elegant, and confident she looked. For a moment, he wondered if he had made the right decision in leaving her.

Carolina, noticing his gaze, nudged him with her elbow.

"What’s wrong with you?"

"Nothing. It’s just... she’s changed so much."

"Of course, she has. But don’t forget, you chose me."

Roberto nodded, though deep down, he wasn’t so sure. His mind began to wander, imagining what his life would have been like if he hadn’t decided to leave her at the altar. Meanwhile, Javier, annoyed by the tension, scolded them.

"What the hell was that? Can you explain why we just lost a multimillion-dollar opportunity?"

Neither Roberto nor Carolina responded. They both knew their relationship with Valeria was over for good and that now she had the power to make their lives miserable if she wanted to.

Valeria stepped out onto the hotel terrace, needing fresh air after the encounter. Though she had handled the situation with elegance, her heart was pounding.

"I’m better off without them," she told herself.

But her emotions were more complicated than she wanted to admit. It wasn’t just anger she felt; there was also pain. A pain she thought she had overcome but that now returned with force.

With her gaze lost in the city lights, Valeria let out a sigh. She swore she would never let Roberto and Carolina affect her again. But deep down, something inside her longed for revenge—not out of spite, but for justice.

That night, Valeria promised herself she would prove once again that she didn’t need anyone to be the powerful woman she was. And that the past, though uncomfortable, would not define her future.

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