Chasing The Vengeful Villainous Heiress-Chapter 31: Neither the power, nor the fame

The old man led Valerie outside the hall and towards a bench in the middle of flower pots and flowers that had fallen asleep, leaving their green leaves to stand in defense.

He sat down and tapped on the bench, beckoning her to sit as well.

"Have a seat." He said but she was hesitant and said,

"I don’t think it’s my place to sit next to you, old man." She said. "Since you’re the head of house Stewart."

"Hm, even without anything said of my position, you were able to figure it out." He said.

"Only someone dumb enough wouldn’t notice." She added. "The owner of the house is truly remarkable."

"Then," he slowly took off his mask and showed his face. The same face she had seen that morning. "...would you mind sitting next to this old man? Just this old man and not any head of house or whatnot."

His words... She took his words to heart and sat next to him.

"Honestly, I did not think we would meet again so soon." He said.

"Me neither." Valerie said, "It was only after I left that I came to know that there would be a party at the Stewart mansion."

"I reckon it was thanks to who you had an appointment with?" He asked and she nodded.

"Indeed."

"Hm, I don’t like this." He suddenly said and she turned to look at him. "You speak more formally than how you spoke earlier in the day."

"I cannot simply wave it away because you tell me to." She said. "But don’t worry, once I get comfortable, my speech will adapt."

"And how long will that take?"

"I have no idea." She shook her head and it got him thinking.

"Hm, then, would you like to join me for a meal? I feel you will get more comfortable once we start stuffing our bellies." He said with a smile, and Valerie, who was surprised by his sudden proposal, laughed.

"I think it’s not long anymore." She said and finally took off her mask, flashing him a genuine smile.

She showed the face he had seen earlier on. The genuine smile and the eyes that shone like rubies. Beautiful and elegant, just like her mother’s.

"What should I address you as? I can’t keep calling you old man, can I? I feel it’s disrespectful, given your position." Valerie said but he shook his head, thinking nothing of it.

"Please, between us, there are no positions. Though I go by the name Leo, you can keep calling me old man. It sounds right." He said and she nodded and gazed up at the sky.

The night sky was beautiful and coupled with the fireflies floating around the green leaves of the sleeping flowers, she felt calm. Even the chatter from the hall could not disturb her peace.

"By the way," she dropped her head. "Things might’ve gotten more complicated if you hadn’t stepped in, and once more, one more stain would’ve been added to my name so, thank you for helping me."

"Don’t mention it." The old man said. "I see why you were so happy spending time with a stranger. When you live with sharks every day of your life, you are bound to want to get out of the water and breathe some air... crave some peace."

"Yes. So, how did you come up with all that in a split second? The thing you just did in the hall. You sounded so cool and rational." Valerie asked.

"Well," he looked up at the night sky. "When you live with poison for so many years, you might as well understand the components of the poison." He dropped his head and looked at her with a proud smile. "Compared to the poison I’ve been living with all my life, hers is just a speck of dust. Can’t even compare to what I’ve faced."

"Haha, I guess that’s true." She said with a little laugh. "The position as the head of the house surely didn’t come easy."

"No, it didn’t." He shook his head. "And it still isn’t easy." He said, "And so will the position of Ross. It won’t be easy, child."

"I know. But I won’t give up. I’ve come this far and endured so much. If I can’t have it and shame them, I’ll let it fall with them. I shall not let them be." Valerie declared.

"Wow, what a strong resolve. I reckon you are not doing this just to get to the head of power. You don’t want to live in the glory, if not, you wouldn’t let them toy with your reputation like this." He said and she shook her head.

"You’re right. I don’t want the power or the fame. What I want is to strip that family of what they so much crave. Their greed. I want to make sure they pay for what I came to become. For my loneliness and..." She paused, turned to him, and smiled awkwardly. "I must’ve talked too much, sorry."

"No, child. I quite like your company." He said. "You have a voice filled with serenity and sincerity. I understand how you feel and I will not advise you against taking revenge as it is your right, but I will pray that you come out of it safely. Fighting a war alone is never easy."

"I know. And that’s why I’m not doing it alone." She said, smiling warmly, and out of nowhere, Maximus stepped in.

"I seemed to have heard my cue to come in." He said, grinning from ear to ear. "Did you enjoy your conversation, old man?"

His appearance somewhat startled them but they did not let it show on their faces.

The old man looked at Max and shook his head.

"How many times do I have to tell you, boy? It’s not right to eavesdrop. It’s rude to the guest. Where did you send Oscar to this time?" He asked as he stood to his feet with Valerie’s help, knowing his grandson’s habit fully well.

"Not far." He said and glanced at Valerie. "You two seem well acquainted. How come I did not know of this?"

His gaze was on Valerie and it had a cold feeling to it. Mr. Leo had a bit of a misunderstanding and thought Max was glaring at Valerie because of the rumors he had heard.

Meanwhile, Valerie knew firsthand that he was asking her why she didn’t tell him about her connection with his grandfather.

’Well, for starters, I met him today and I did not even know he was your grandfather.’ she answered in her mind.

"Valerie is a good child." He suddenly said, confusing both of them. "It would be good for you both to get along."

"You think so too, right, old man?" He asked with a cunning grin, causing the old man to look at his grandson, in suspicion. Was there something going on that he did not know of?

"Get along well and make a connection with one another, is what I said. Do not twist it in your brain, child." He rephrased, hoping Max did not get the wrong idea.

"Hm, in that case." Max suddenly pulled Valerie to his side and wrapped his arm around her waist. "I don’t think it would be a bad idea to make formal introductions."

"Old man, let me introduce you." He said, and Valerie had a bad feeling about it. She tried pushing his hand away and asked in a whisper,

"What are you doing?" She asked, but he played deaf to her words and went ahead to say,

"Valerie, meet my grandfather, the head of Stewart." He pointed at Mr Leo.

Mr Leo honestly didn’t know what was going on and decided to stay quiet till the end and then find out.

"And Grandfather," Max gave Valerie a knowing smile. "Meet Valerie, my wife."

Valerie ended up palming her face in embarrassment and disbelief. Max... Why did he have to reveal it now?

Mr Leo’s eyes widened and he exclaimed, "What?!"