Fools on Display

Donovan found himself amused by the daring woman voluntarily pressing her soft curves into his strong arms. The sweet fragrance of her hair drifted into his senses, sparking a sudden, undeniable heat in his chest. He reached up and firmly grabbed her delicate chin, tilting her face up to force her to meet his intense gaze. His deep voice carried a dark, suggestive edge.

"Let me help you wash wherever it is filthy tonight."

Valerie flushed a brilliant shade of crimson. His bold words instantly conjured vivid, intimate images in her mind. She had only meant to provoke his mother and Roxanne with her earlier statement. She had not expected him to cooperate so seamlessly in her little game. Deciding to call his bluff, she purposely leaned her weight even closer against his muscular frame. The two shamelessly displayed their physical affection right in the middle of the living room. They pressed their bodies tightly together, ignoring the furious onlookers fuming mere steps away.

Miriam swayed on her feet, dizzy with pure fury and humiliation. She felt as though she might actually faint from the blatant disrespect shown in her own home. Roxanne rushed forward in a panic to support the older woman's heavy weight before she could collapse.

"Donovan, come quick and take a look at your ailing mother!" Roxanne urged with a frantic, desperate tone.

Valerie cast a cold, mocking glance at the two pathetic women putting on their show.

"Since Mrs. Whitmore clearly still has the strength to curse at people, she must be perfectly all right. I do not think my help is needed here."

Miriam shot a fierce look at the loyal housekeeper standing quietly near the corner of the room.

"Donovan, I know you do not believe me! But I have hard evidence of this damn girl's infidelity!" Miriam screamed at the top of her lungs. She was determined to expose Valerie personally and permanently. She had ordered a specific item to be safely hidden away just for this exact explosive moment to ensure maximum damage.

Following her explicit orders, the housekeeper cautiously approached the pristine coffee table. She presented a large white shirt and gently laid it flat on the polished glass surface. A faint red bloodstain marked the fine fabric for all to see. Miriam glared at her daughter-in-law, her eyes red with intense agitation.

"Valerie returned that exact day with messy hair and was wearing this very white shirt. There is also a clear bloodstain right here! I am not slandering her. Everyone in the residence saw exactly what happened that day. Are you going to shamelessly deny it?" Miriam shouted, jabbing a manicured finger toward the stained fabric on the table.

Valerie calmly studied the wrinkled shirt and deliberately forced a heavy blush to her cheeks. To the unknowing eye, she looked exactly as though she were embarrassed by her exposed, dirty lies.

Roxanne immediately seized the opportunity to feign dramatic shock. She let out a loud gasp and covered her mouth with both hands.

"How could you betray Donovan like this, Valerie? Donovan is going to be incredibly sad!"

Valerie rolled her eyes inwardly at the terrible acting. Donovan had not shown a single sign that he was sad about any of this nonsense. She shot a piercing glare at her tall husband, silently demanding he explain himself before this ridiculous farce went any further.

Instead of offering an explanation, Miriam pointed a trembling finger directly toward the heavy front door.

"Get out of here right now and never step foot in the prestigious Whitmore residence ever again!" Miriam screamed. She signaled the large bodyguards standing nearby to take physical action and drag the girl out of the house.

Donovan narrowed his gaze. His eyes darkened with sheer menace as he stared down his mother.

"This shirt is mine!" he declared in a firm, loud voice.

The large room fell into a stunned, heavy silence. Everyone except Valerie stared in total disbelief. They had all assumed the shirt belonged to her supposed secret lover.

Miriam refused to accept the claim.

"Even if you do not want to admit you have been cheated on, the ugly truth is right in front of your face! Can you not deceive yourself?" Miriam yelled, her voice cracking with desperation.

Roxanne probed for a hole in his story, refusing to let her rival off the hook so easily.

"If the man was really you, why were you at the hotel then?" Roxanne chimed in quickly.

Valerie stared at the two pathetic clowns and let out a heavy sneer.

"What do you guys know? This is simply one of my and my husband's intimate interests. It is a sexual roleplay." Valerie boldly questioned their ignorance, delivering the mocking claim with a straight face.

A sharp pang struck Roxanne's greedy heart. Panic set in as she mentally spiraled into jealousy. Does that mean Donovan has been deeply intimate with Valerie ever since he was cured of his allergy?