Chapter 8

Hearing the sound, Valerian immediately pushed Juliette aside and rushed to Quinn.

“Baby, you’re awake. Are you trying to worry me to death? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Seeing the calmness in her eyes, Valerian anxiously clutched her hand, his voice hurried.

“Baby, don’t misunderstand. I only wanted to ease the girl’s guilt; I was just comforting her.”

“I swear, there’s truly nothing between us. The one I love most is still you. Please, don’t turn away from me.”

Quinn gently pulled down the hand he raised in oath and gave a faint, weary smile.

She unlocked her phone, only to be instantly swallowed by a flood of vicious comments.

[These days, reporters really will do anything for a scoop, won’t they? Ignoring people in need of saving just to film!]

[While she was busy filming, the other girl had already been rescued!]

[I heard that the girl will never be able to have children again. I declare that the reporter’s uterus should be removed too!]

[I agree!]

By the time her finger slid to the bottom, Quinn’s face had turned pale as paper.

The most prominent report carried Juliette’s name.

“Juliette, you slandered me; this isn’t the truth!” Quinn’s hoarse roar broke from her throat.

Juliette tilted her head with a smile, though a glint of cunning flickered in her eyes.

Valerian stepped in front of her protectively, his brow furrowed as he explained.

“Baby, it’s over now. She didn’t mean it.” He bent toward her, reaching out as if to caress her face. “Darling, leave it to me. Trust me to handle this, alright?”

Quinn turned her head away, then suddenly hurled the phone at him.

“Get out!”

Valerian handled the matter swiftly, and before long, the tide of online abuse vanished.

To avoid further trouble, Quinn spent her remaining days resting quietly in the villa.

One afternoon, as she sat on the garden swing, a commotion broke out.

“Sorry, you can’t go in!”

“Where’s that heartless reporter? Tell her to come out here!”

A woman brushed past the nanny’s obstruction and charged straight at Quinn.

“The other day when I went in, it was already…” Quinn stepped back, trying to explain.

The woman drove the blade viciously into her stomach.

The moment before collapsing, Quinn heard her curse through gritted teeth, “You ruined my daughter’s chance to make money, now you’ll pay with your life.”

A sharp, sterile scent of disinfectant stung her nose.

“Darling, you’re finally awake!” Valerian anxiously clutched her hand.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let a single one of those who hurt you escape.” His voice turned cold. “I’ve already sent her to prison.”

Quinn was about to speak when Juliette, feigning timid guilt, softly interjected.

“Mrs. Montero, I’m sorry. It was my fault. If she hadn’t come to the company causing trouble, I wouldn’t have been forced to tell her where you lived.”

“There’s still one more,” Quinn said calmly, pointing at her.

“I…” Juliette’s eyes shimmered with tears as she turned to Valerian for rescue.

“Get out!” Valerian’s voice cracked sharp as a whip.

At the sight of his furrowed brows, Quinn swallowed her words, the courage to speak slipping away.

The day she was discharged also happened to be the day she left.

Valerian arrived early to pick her up.

“Baby, don’t be upset. Later, I’ll take you to an auction, whatever you want, I’ll buy for you, alright?” he said with an eager smile.

Just as Quinn was about to refuse, her eyes fell on Juliette seated in the back.

“She hasn’t seen much of the world, so I thought I’d take her along.” Valerian held her hand, his tone coaxing. “Baby, I promise this is the last time. She’s about to graduate; after this, I’ll never see her again.”

Quinn’s lips curved into a self-mocking smile. ]Valerian, you and I, it’s also the last time we’ll see each other.]

“Hmm, I know,” Quinn spoke calmly. “I left something at the hospital. You two go ahead, I’ll come later.”

Though puzzled, Valerian released her hand.

When he saw the calm, rippleless gaze in her eyes, his heart suddenly pounded violently, as if something precious was slipping through his grasp.

Back at home, Quinn lifted the suitcase she had packed long before. She quickly ordered a car.

Everything tied to Valerian had already been discarded, except for the camera that still hung around her neck.

As the ground fell farther and farther away beneath her, she blocked and deleted all of Valerian’s contacts without a flicker of hesitation.

A rare wave of relief washed through her heart.

Never again, Valerian.