29 Chapter 29
Valerie’s POV 1
Anna had been working at Nightshadow Industries for three days now, and every evening brought delicious updates that made my
vindictive heart sing with satisfaction. She’d call me after work, her voice bubbling with malicious excitement as she described how
perfectly her n was unfolding.
“You should see her face, Val,” Anna had whispered into the phonest night, her voice carrying that familiar note of cruel pleasure I
remembered so well from our school days. “Every time I dump more work on her desk, every time I make her fetch my coffee, she looks
like she wants to strangle me. But she can’t do anything about it because precious Damien thinks I’m his long-lost love.”
I’dughed until my sides hurt, imagining that pathetic omega bitch scrambling to keep up with Anna’s demands while pretending
everything was fine. After years of watching Seraphina somehownd on her feet despite every obstacle thrown her way, it was deeply
satisfying to know she was finally getting what she deserved.
But Anna’s best discovery hade yesterday afternoon.
“I found her address,” Anna had announced triumphantly. “And get this-I know where her little bastard goes to school. Silver Moon
Harbor Elementary, just fifteen minutes from the office. The kid gets picked up every day at three-thirty by some woman named
Ophelia.”
The information had sparked an idea so perfect, so beautifully cruel, that I’d actually shivered with anticipation. If there was one thing I
knew about Seraphina Knight, it was that she would do absolutely anything to protect that child of hers. Anything.
Which was exactly what I was counting on.
Now, sitting in Gabriel’s pathetic excuse for a car outside our cramped apartment, I dialed my mother’s number with steady fingers. The
phone rang twice before Elizabeth’s familiar voice answered.
“Valerie? What do you want? I’m busy.”
“Hello to you too, Mother,” I said sweetly, injecting just enough sarcasm to let her know I wasn’t intimidated. “I called because I have
some interesting news about our dear adopted daughter.”
There was a pause, and I could practically hear Elizabeth’s mental gears shifting. “Seraphina? What about her? I thought we agreed that
ungrateful little bitch was dead to us.”
“Oh, she’s very much alive,” I said, settling back in the passenger seat with a satisfied smile. “In fact, she’s doing quite well for herself.
Working at one of the most prestigiouspanies in Silver Moon Harbor, living in her own apartment, raising her little bastard son.”
“I don’t care if she’s the CEO of the entire damnpany,” Elizabeth snapped. “That girl chose to walk away from this family. She made
her bed, and nowa€”” 1
“What if I told you she could still be useful to us?” I interrupted, knowing I had to y this carefully. Elizabeth was greedy, but she was
also stubborn. I needed to make her think the idea wasing from her.
Another pause, longer this time. “What do you mean?”
“Think about it, Mother. Dad’s medical bills are getting worse every month. But Seraphina… she’s young, healthy, and apparently quite beautiful ording to my friend who works with her.” I paused for effect. “There are men out there who would pay handsomely for a
woman like that.”
The silence that followed was soplete I wondered if the call had dropped. Then Elizabeth’s voice came back, lower and more
interested than before.
“What kind of men?”
“The kind with deep pockets and flexible morals,” I said, my pulse quickening as I sensed her taking the bait. “Gabriel knows someone
from his… wilder days. A businessman named Harold Morrison. Very sessful, very wealthy. He’s been looking for a wife for years.”
Elizabeth was quiet for a long moment, and I could practically hear her calcting. “How wealthy are we talking?”
“Wealthy enough to cover Dad’s medical bills ten times over,” I said, knowing I had her now. “Wealthy enough to buy you that house
you’ve always wanted in the nice part of town. Wealthy enough to make sure you never have to worry about money again.”
“And this Harold person would be interested in Seraphina?”
“Mother, she’s twenty-three years old, beautiful, and has already proven she can bear children. Harold wouldn’t just be interested—he’d
be grateful.” I paused, ying my trump card. “The only problem is getting her to agree.
“She’d never agree,” Elizabeth said immediately.
“Not if she had the right motivation.” I said carefully.
I could hear Elizabeth’s sharp intake of breath as understanding dawned. “The child.”
“I have her address,” I said, triumph flooding through my veins. “And I know where the boy goes to school.”
“Good. I’ll handle the rest.” Elizabeth’s voice had taken on that brisk, businesslike tone she used when she was nning something particrly unpleasant. “You’ve done well, Valerie. This could solve all our problems.”
The next day, I checked my appearance in the car’s rearview mirror, making sure I looked appropriately respectable. My blonde hair was pulled back in a conservative style. Most importantly, I’d brought my identification-the driver’s license that clearly showed my legal name as Valerie Knight Nightshadow.
Samest name as Seraphina’s. Perfect.
The school day was ending, and I could see children beginning to emerge from the building in small groups, their backpacks bouncing as they ran toward waiting parents and caregivers. I made my way to the main entrance, where a tired-looking teacher with graying hair was checking off names on a clipboard.
“Excuse me,” I said, approaching her with my most winning smile. “I’m here to pick up my nephew, Adrian Knight. His mother had an emergency at work and asked me to collect him.”
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29 Chapter 29
The teacher looked up from her clipboard, her expression politely curious. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Mrs. Henderson,
Adrian’s teacher. And you are?”
“Valerie Knight,” I said, emphasizing the shared surname as I pulled out my driver’s license. “Seraphina’s sister. Well, stepsister
technically, but we’re very close.”
Mrs. Henderson examined my identification carefully, noting the matchingst name. “I see. And Seraphina called to arrange this?”
“She tried to call the school, but the line was busy,” I said, my voice taking on just the right note of concern. “She’s absolutely frantic
about this work emergency, and she knew Adrian would be worried if no one showed up to get him.”
“Well,” she said, ncing at her clipboard, “I suppose it’s alright. Adrian!” she called out toward the yground. “Your aunt is here to pick
you up!”
A small figure detached itself from a group of children and came running toward us, his dark curls bouncing with each step.
“Hi,” Adrian said cautiously as he approached, his little backpack slung over one shoulder. His eyes were wary as they studied my face,
clearly not recognizing me. “Are you really my aunt?”
“I am,” I said, crouching down to his eye level and speaking in the gentle tone I’d perfected during my brief stint babysitting
neighborhood kids for extra cash. “Your mommy had to workte today, so she asked me toe get you.”
Adrian’s expression remained skeptical. “Mommy said only Aunt Ophelia is allowed to pick me up. She said I should never go with
strangers.”
“You’re absolutely right to be careful,” I said approvingly, pulling out my driver’s license again. “That’s exactly what smart boys do. But
look-see my name? It says Valerie Knight. Just like your mommy’s name. That means we’re family.”
Adrian studied the identification with the intense concentration only four-year-olds could manage, sounding out the letters with
obvious effort. “V-A-L… Valerie. K-N-I… Knight.” He looked up at me with those devastating blue eyes. “You have the samest name as
Mommy.”
“That’s right. I’m your mommy’s sister.” The lie came easily, sweetened with just enough truth to be believable. “She’s at work right now,
but she asked me to pick you up because I have something very special to tell you.”
“What kind of special?”
I leaned closer, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s about your daddy.”
The change in Adrian’s expression was immediate and heartbreaking. His eyes went wide, his small body practically vibrating with
sudden excitement. “You know about my daddy? Mommy says she doesn’t know where he is.”
“I know exactly where he is,” I said, feeling only a small twinge of guilt at the hope zing in those silver-blue eyes. “But it’s a secret, and
I can only tell you if youe with me. Do you want to know about your daddy?”
Adrian nodded so enthusiastically I was afraid he might give himself whish. “Yes! Yes, please! I want to know everything!”
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