Chasing The Vengeful Villainous Heiress-Chapter 48: Ross and Stewart were friends
Valerie was a bit confused. She looked at the old man staring at her with a sorry expression and shook her head.
"How did you know them?" She asked, acting rational and he answered,
"Your mother was like a daughter to me." He said. "Your mother and my daughter were close friends and after you were born, we were all so excited because you would be a perfect match for my grandson, that rascal grandson of mine." He said, referring to Max who had left to attend to some business. "And we would officially become a family."
"My mother and your daughter were friends? Our two families were close? Why... Why didn’t I know that?" Valerie asked, still feeling confused. This sort of information... She didn’t think she would come across it.
Ross and Stewart were friends? Partners? Then what happened? Was it because of the accident?
"Then that means, Max and I were naturally supposed to get married?" She asked and he nodded.
"Though it was just some random talk on our side and the final decision would be made by you two when you were older. But the talk never happened and we never even got to see you as a baby when we got the news that they had passed away in the car crash." He said in a sad tone, his eyes on her hands. "The news was devasting and my daughter fell into depression."
’Maximus’ mother.’ she thought.
She was the one who lost her family that day yet she was feeling sad for Maximus whose mother fell depressed from losing her best friend.
Maybe it was because she never knew her parents and didn’t have any regrets or memories to cry on, but she, who had spent forever with her best friend was left with nothing but memories and a broken heart.
"Why didn’t you take me in instead?" Valerie suddenly asked. "If you saw me as family, why didn’t you just take me in that moment when I was left alone?"
"I am sorry." Grandpa Leo apologized and she bit her bottom lip. Why? Why was he apologizing? "Child, I made a decision that day with both you in my heart as well as my selfishness." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
"What does that mean?"
"First off, your safety. Stewart isn’t a place filled with rose petals. There are dangers everywhere and you, who was just a baby could die. Then there was the fact that you were destined to be Maximus’ wife in the future. And because you, who is Ross’s heiress will get married to him, he is bound to become a target of those envious eyes."
He shook his head and looked aside.
"I didn’t want to lose my grandson and send you to an early grave either so I left you to your relatives."
"Then what about when you found out I was being maltreated? Why didn’t you do anything?" She asked, clenching her fists.
"That is where my selfishness comes in." He said and roasted his gaze to meet hers. "Child, I couldn’t take you in because I didn’t want to take any risk to my company or reputation."
Valerie thought about it but because of her unsteady emotions, she could not make light of his words. He needed to explain for her to understand his reasons.
"About a year ago, there was a trending news. There was a man who took in the child of his friend after his friend’s passing in the hopes of coaxing the child to give all the property and possessions to them once they were of age. Did you not hear a news like that?" He asked and Valerie nodded.
"Yes, I did. It was about one Malpale. He took in his close friend’s child after he passed away, and was close to the child but when the child turned 18, he signed the transfer papers in gratitude for Malpale raising him, and all businesses were sent to Malpale but then the child died." Valerie said. "It was rumored that he killed the child after coaxing the child to transfer everything to him." As soon as the words left her mouth, she came to understand
Her expression of realization gave Grandpa Leo the idea that she had already caught on to his reasons.
"You didn’t take me in to avoid something like that from happening. Is that correct?" Valerie asked and Grandpa Leo nodded.
"If you had died after you came of age, in my arms, I would immediately be suspected as the culprit, whether you signed or did not sign the papers." He explained. "Because Stewart is so powerful and to stay at the top, they want to swallow up Ross as well. That would’ve been the headlines."
From there, they both went silent. This topic was rather heavy and Valerie dwelled on his words.
So many things would’ve gone wrong if he had taken her in and she could see that. But she was so bent on the fact that she was left with her wicked uncle when she could’ve been raised by such a nice old man and Maximus’ family.
She could’ve been raised with love and affection, just like him.
It saddened her to know that her origin was still the cause of her missed opportunity. Why was it so hard to have a happy family?
"Child," Grandpa Leo called and Valerie raised her head, showing the sad expression on her face. "Oh, child." He reached his hands out to hold her face and grazed her cheeks with his thumbs. "I understand you are sad. But the family you seek now can only be formed..." He took her hands. "With these hands."
"I... I don’t understand." She said and pursed her lips, holding off her pained emotions. "How can I make a happy family with these hands? I don’t even know the first thing about being happy."
"But you’ve already taken the first step." He said but she was confused. What first step?
"Are we done here?" Max asked as he knocked on the opened door and they both looked up. "I’ve been gone and back. Are you still taking my wife’s time, old man?"
"You ungrateful brat. You have her all to yourself yet you won’t let me spend this little time with her." Grandpa Leo complained and took his cane that was resting next to him and stood up with it.
"Old man," Valerie muttered, catching the hem of his shirt and he looked down at her.
"Don’t think too much about it dear. The happiness you seek will find its way to you." He said, "Maybe not now but it will eventually come to you. And who knows? You might already be experiencing that happiness right now. Take care, child."
