C3 Chapter 3

VALERIA

Even if I were to die in his hands someday, at least it was better than staying in this den of snakes and scorpions that I call family.

After making a decision in my heart, I calmly wiped away the tears on my face before standing up to face the three of them and then I couldn't help but thinking.

How was it that I did not realize how selfish, hypocritical, detestable and mercenary these people I called family were all this while?

Let's start with mom. She appeared to love her children very much but in fact she loved the luxurious life that only my dad could offer more. Therefore, she would never allow anyone, not even us, her children to disrupt or hinder it. And as for the man in question, he seemed like a stern and loving father normally but was in fact an hypocritical bastard who wouldn't hesitate to sell his daughter for glory as long as it brought enough benefits.

As for Aaron... Like the others, today has made me realize that the brother in my memories who always had a warm and accommodating smile on his face was nothing but a mercenary person who wouldn't hesitate to push his biological sister into what he knew was a fire pit.

And talking of that twin sister of mine...

Ha.

She indeed worthy of being called the 'perfect' socialite after all one thing I had observed about those so-called socialites was that they were no doubt hypocritical. They were the exact kind of people who wouldn't hesitate to stab you right in the back as long as they were given an opportunity to do so and the worst part was that they even do it with a smile on their faces!

"What a family!" I lamented while even being in a mood to joke with myself.

"Then if there should be no mistake, my existence should probably be a genetic mutation. That explains why I could never seem to fit in with them from the beginning."

Speaking of which, while I consider it as me having a great adaptability which helps me in coping in whatever situation I found myself in, no matter how bad, my friends call it 'being heartless.'

My first and only ex-boyfriend also called me that after I broke up with him back then. But not until this moment did I believe that I might really be without a heart because that was the only way I could explain why my heart was so calm, terrifyingly so at this moment. It was as if the tears I had cried and later wiped away had brought with it all the indignation, hatred, suffocation and other negative emotions which I 'should' still be feeling.

I had probably forgot or maybe I didn't, that there was something called keeping everything bottled away in one's heart. It was a good way to convince yourself and others that you are fine and that nothing ever really gets to you. That you are as heartless as they thought...

But that was that.

Currently, I had to focus on the matter on hand. So, I took a deep breath and locked away every other distracting thoughts before speaking.

"Fine. I agree to marry that man."

"Really?!" I wasn't even surprised that the first to show her excitement as always was the woman who gave birth to me. Therefore, I paid her no attention and acted like I heard nothing. Instead, I stared calmly at the two men who could really make the decision here.

That was also why I noticed that although they both didn't show their excitement as obvious as their wife(mother), the glint in their eyes still gave them away.

However, before they could get ahead of themselves and be too happy early, I continued.

"But only on one condition.."

Immediately after I said that, I saw a vigilant and defensive look appear in both men's eyes and I couldn't help my amusement at the situation and ended up chuckling out loud.

"Really? Don't worry. I am seriously not after anything that belongs to you."

"Or that will belong to you," I added as an afterthought, connoting Aaron who looked at me defensively after I stated I had a condition. Not that I could blame him for reacting so, after all to him, the Hale family was no different from being in the bag considering the fact that Mr. Hale had patriarchal tendencies. So, the fact that I was suddenly raising a condition had no doubt made him suspicious that I wanted a share of 'his' pie.

"What I want in exchange to marry that man is simple. A severance of ties' letter from you. That should be not be a problem for you, I believe?"

The moment I finished saying that, I saw Mr. Hale's face darken while Aaron looked thoughtful. He was probably thinking of whether there was a deeper motive to me saying that.

"What do you mean by that, Valeria? ! You better explain yourself," Mrs. Hale pointed at me as she questioned angrily.

"That is my only condition. You either fulfill it or I don't go through with this farce of a marriage. Of course, you can also try forcing me to do so but I doubt that man would be pleased by that."

I confidently waited for Mr. Hale to make a decision, one that I knew would no doubt be in my favor considering how calculative the man was.

Sure enough, I soon heard him saying, "Alright! I agree."

"Darling! Are you.."

Mrs. Hale was probably planning to raise an objection to his decision when she got interrupted by her husband. "Shut up for me. Your thoughts aren't needed here!"

Instantly, I saw Mrs. Hale shriveling up and bowing her head submissively but not before giving me a complicated look, a look I couldn't even be bothered to decipher for it meant nothing to me.

With a smile on my face, "That's great then. For all of us. After today, I would have nothing to do with your family and nor you will you have any to do with me. From now on, let's consider ourselves strangers, okay?"

"Val.."

"I think that's all I have to say. Do inform me when that man or rather his subordinates arrive here. Before that, I will be heading to clean up my room."

Afterwards, I didn't wait for any of them to react and headed upstairs leaving the trio alone in the living room.