Chapter 10
I struggled relentlessly, knocking over the vase stand beside the chaise. “Stop it! Calm down, Simon!”
“Is anyone there? Help!” I screamed.
Despair engulfed me like a suffocating
wave.
Just as I was on the verge of exhaustion, a stern voice boomed from the doorway.
“Simon! Stop this madness right now!”
Simon froze at the sound, his movements halting abruptly.
Grandpa Henry entered the room, leaning heavily on his cane. Following closely behind him was Brian, who rushed to my side and helped me up from the chaise.
“Brian, take Valerie outside,” Grandpa commanded.
Simon opened his mouth to speak, but the
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Chapter 10
Chapter 10
I struggled relentlessly, knocking over the vase stand beside the chaise. “Stop it! Calm down, Simon!”
“Is anyone there? Help!” I screamed.
Despair engulfed me like a suffocating
wave.
Just as I was on the verge of exhaustion, a stern voice boomed from the doorway.
“Simon! Stop this madness right now!”
Simon froze at the sound, his movements halting abruptly.
Grandpa Henry entered the room, leaning heavily on his cane. Following closely behind him was Brian, who rushed to my side and helped me up from the chaise.
“Brian, take Valerie outside,” Grandpa commanded.
Simon opened his mouth to speak, but the
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Chapter 10
sharp glare from his grandfather silenced him.
Once I had left the room, I heard grandpa’s voice, cold and commanding.
“Kneel.”
A loud slap echoed through the study as he struck Simon across the face.
“You’ve brought disgrace upon this
family! Do I need to remind you how I raised you?!”
Simon let out a low grunt but complied, kneeling down without a word.
Simon knelt in the study for three days and three nights.
Meanwhile, I stayed at Brian’s home, too traumatized to speak.
Brian stayed by my side every day, offering quiet comfort.
It took a long time, but I eventually began to heal. Once I felt strong enough, I
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Chapter 10
decided to return to France and resume my
work.
On the day I left for the airport, Brian handed me my luggage.
“Take good care of yourself in France,” he said with a gentle smile.
I nodded, smiling back. “You too.”
He hesitated briefly, his gaze warm. “Can I give you a hug?”
Caught off guard, I blinked but eventually nodded in agreement.
As he wrapped his arms around me, the warmth of his embrace made me tremble
slightly.
“Goodbye, for now,” he whispered softly
into my ear.
The boarding announcement echoed in the terminal, signaling it was time to go.
I settled into my seat on the plane, relieved to finally be moving forward.
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Chapter 10
Just then, someone sat down beside me.
“Valerie, what a coincidence,” came a familiar voice.
I turned my head, startled, to find Brian smiling at me.
“Brian? What are you doing here?”
His grin widened.
“Someone’s got to make sure you‘ re looked after, right?”
I stared at him in disbelief as the plane began to taxi down the runway, my heart suddenly lighter than it had been in years.
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