ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 70: I’m not yours to control

Valerie glanced at him, then let out a soft laugh. "I’m always expected not to hope," she replied lightly. "Even though... hoping is human too."

Their gazes met for a brief moment.

There was no awkwardness. No tension that forced either of them to look away.

Only a quiet understanding, slowly taking shape.

Kaiser did not look at her the way most people did not with judging curiosity, nor with the kind of pity that felt unbearable. He listened. Truly listened. Even when Valerie fell silent, he did not rush to fill the space.

And it felt... comfortable.

"It’s strange," Valerie murmured after a while. "I’m not usually this easy to talk to."

Kaiser smiled, warmer this time. "Perhaps because you’re not being judged."

Valerie fell silent. The words were simple, yet they struck something deep within her.

They moved toward a quieter corner of the room, far from the heart of the gathering. Valerie’s laughter came more often now not the polite kind, but light and unrestrained. Even Sera and Lira, watching from afar, could see the change.

For the first time since arriving in the capital, Valerie felt fully present.

She was not thinking about Demian. Not thinking about Ivanka. Not thinking about her place.

Just herself and someone who made her feel enough without asking for anything in return.

"You look more alive when you smile like that," Kaiser said suddenly.

Valerie turned, slightly startled. "What?"

"Nothing," he said quickly, then chuckled softly. "Just an observation."

Valerie smiled again and this time, the smile truly reached her eyes.

That night, they made no promises. Nor did they speak of the future.

Yet when the gathering ended and they parted at the entrance to the hall, Valerie realized one thing with absolute clarity:

That comfort was real. And for the first time in a long while, she did not feel alone in the midst of the crowd.

That night, Valerie returned with steps lighter than when she had left.

Not because of the party, not because of laughter, but because for a few precious hours she had been able to breathe without guilt.

Yet the moment the door to her chamber closed, that feeling vanished.

"Where have you been?"

The voice came from the darkness.

Valerie froze. Her heart pounded as Demian stepped out of the shadows, standing rigid near the table, his expression hard and cold. He looked as though he had just returned his coat still on, his jaw tight, as if he had been holding his anger in for far too long.

"Demian...?" Valerie said softly, instinctively. "You’re back already?"

She was genuinely surprised. As far as she knew, Demian was not meant to return yet she had thought he was still away with Ivanka.

"You didn’t answer my question," Demian cut in sharply.

Valerie swallowed."I attended a salon gathering," she answered honestly. "Countess Avaina’s invitation."

"I know," Demian replied coldly. "What I want to know is who was the man with you?"

His voice was low, but heavy with pressure.

Valerie lifted her chin."Why does that matter?"

Demian’s gaze darkened.

"Answer me," he said, stepping closer. "Who was he?"

Valerie took half a step back not out of fear, but in shock at the distance between them closing so abruptly.

"That’s my concern," she said quietly but firmly. "I didn’t do anything that crossed a line."

Demian let out a short, humorless laugh.

"My people saw you," he said. "With a man. Too close. Too comfortable."

Valerie frowned."So now I’m being watched as well?"

"You live under my name," Demian snapped. "Every move you make carries my reputation."

Valerie clenched her teeth.

"Funny," she said softly. "You can leave with Ivanka without a single explanation—"

"That’s different," Demian interrupted quickly.

"Different because I don’t have the right to ask?" Valerie’s voice trembled slightly, but she stood her ground. "Or because I’m not allowed to enjoy one evening without you?"

Demian fell silent for a moment, then his expression hardened even further.

"Who was the man?" he repeated.

Valerie looked at him for a long moment.

"I won’t tell you."

Silence fell heavy, suffocating.

Demian grabbed her wrist not roughly, but firmly enough to reveal the anger he could no longer control.

"You’re forgetting your place," he said in a low voice.

Valerie stiffened, not from pain but from the meaning behind the gesture.

She looked down at his hand on her wrist, then back at his face.

"No," she said softly. "I’m finally remembering it."

Demian released her at once, as if only then realizing what he had done.

"You have no right to interrogate me," Valerie continued, her voice steadier now. "I didn’t betray you. I was simply... living."

Demian stared at her, breathing heavily.

"And you have no right," Valerie added quietly, "to be angry at me for the very things you do yourself."

The words struck home.

Demian turned away, taking a few steps back, his hands clenched into fists.

"You’re playing with fire," he said at last, without looking at her. "And I don’t like losing control."

Valerie smiled bitterly.

"That’s the problem, Demian," she said softly. "I’m not yours to control."

Demian lunged at Valerie like a fucking beast unleashed. His face twisted in burning rage, eyes drilling into her with murderous fury.

"You filthy slut!" he spat, grabbing a fistful of Valerie’s hair and yanking hard enough to wrench her neck back.

Valerie struggled, cursing under her breath, but Demian only got rougher, more vicious.

"You think I didn’t see you? Whoring yourself with that bastard at the Countess Avaina’s party? You cheap fucking whore!" Demian’s voice thundered through the room, dripping with hate and jealousy.

With one savage shove, Valerie was thrown against the wall, her body trapped, no room to escape. His big, brutal hands pinned her wrists above her head, squeezing so hard it hurt.

"Listen, you damn slut. Tonight you’re mine, only mine. I’ll make sure your body remembers who fucking owns it!" Demian crashed his mouth onto Valerie’s, biting down cruelly, leaving angry red marks. Valerie sobbed quietly, trying to kick free, but Demian didn’t give a fuck. He manhandled her, tossing her onto the bed like she was nothing.

Every breath Demian took was laced with venom and spite. "Look at you. Why fight? You love this shit, don’t you? You love teasing every guy in front of me. Now fucking take it, slut!"

He pinned Valerie down with no mercy, kissing and biting her with savage hunger each movement harsh, vengeful, punishing. Valerie was helpless, forced to endure Demian’s raging lust. Every word out of Demian’s mouth was filth,

"Don’t pretend you don’t want it. Your body’s fucking begging for it, isn’t it?" He didn’t stop until he was satisfied, leaving Valerie sobbing beneath him, marked and exhausted Demian didn’t care. All he wanted was to pour all his anger and jealousy out on Valerie.

Valerie’s voice shook as she tried to fight back, her wrists straining under Demian’s iron grip. "Let me go, Demian! You have no fucking right to do this!"