An Ugly Heart

Watching Valerie reluctantly enter the luxurious Maybach from his vantage point across the street, Rowan sat deep inside the stealthy minivan. The rain hammered against the tinted glass, obscuring his small figure. He pulled his backpack onto his lap and unzipped the main compartment, quickly pulling out his specially modified laptop. He rested it on his knees and booted up his custom tracing software. His smooth, chubby fingers flew across the keyboard in a blur, rapidly typing the Maybach's license plate number into the terminal. Code cascaded down the screen, bypassing basic security firewalls before locking onto the vehicle's registration data.

The screen rapidly flashed Gideon Vance's detailed profile. Rowan scrolled past the endless lists of corporate achievements, massive net worth estimations, and global business connections. His sharp gaze halted on a specific, glaring line of text under the personal section. Seeing that the powerful man was officially engaged, Rowan felt a surge of protectiveness for his mother.

He clenched his tiny fists in righteous indignation, his eyes burning with fierce loyalty. "He puts on this fake show of being a respectable gentleman, but he is nothing more than a shameless womanizer. He is already engaged to someone else, yet he used his own kid to charm my mother and get her into his car. Unforgivable. I am going to teach this rich jerk a lesson he will never forget."

Inside the lavish Vance mansion, the storm raged against the reinforced windows, but the sprawling master bedroom remained a sanctuary of warmth. Oliver slept soundly, his small breaths even and peaceful, safely tucked in Valerie’s warm embrace. His tiny fingers clung to the damp fabric of her dress like a lifeline.

Sitting nearby on a plush velvet chair, Stella aggressively eyed the intruder. The little girl crossed her arms over her chest, eying Valerie with deep suspicion. "Are you here to steal my daddy?"

Valerie found the girl's fierce protectiveness endearing rather than offensive. She offered a genuine, warm smile, adjusting Oliver slightly so he rested more comfortably against her shoulder. She shook her head firmly. "I promise you that I have no interest in your daddy."

Stella was left in sheer disbelief. Her jaw went slack for a brief second. The little girl was utterly accustomed to endless women fawning over Gideon's immense wealth, social status, and striking looks. Every socialite in the city tried to play nice with the twins just to secure a spot in Gideon's bed. Hearing such an unwavering, blunt rejection from a beautiful woman threw Stella off balance.

From the shadowy doorway, Gideon stood perfectly still. He had overheard her unwavering, blunt rejection. His handsome face instantly darkened, and the temperature in the room plummeted. He slowly walked into the room, his towering frame dominating the space.

Stella caught sight of her father and immediately jumped to his defense. "Are your eyes broken or something? My daddy has unmatched wealth and incredible looks! Everyone wants to marry him!"

Valerie stretched her stiff neck, adopting a lazy, relaxed posture despite the intimidating man standing near the bed. She refused to let his presence rattle her. "I prefer people with beautiful hearts, like you, Stella."

The unexpected compliment caught Stella off guard. The little girl blushed profusely, ducking her head to hide the shy, pleased smile forming on her lips. The sweet gesture sharply and painfully reminded Valerie of her own son. Rowan always exhibited those exact same mannerisms whenever he felt shy or embarrassed.

After carefully settling the sleeping children beneath the thick, expensive duvets, Valerie smoothed the covers one last time to ensure they were warm. She turned away from the bed and attempted to slip out of the room unnoticed. She stepped into the grand hallway, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind her.

Gideon's frosty voice echoed down the corridor, blocking her escape. "Ms. Thorne, does that comment imply you believe I have an ugly heart?"

Valerie stopped in her tracks. She turned around to face his towering figure. He stood just inches away, his dark eyes boring into hers with piercing intensity. Valerie remained indifferent to his imposing, dangerous aura. She squared her shoulders. "I am afraid only you can truly answer that question, Mr. Vance. I have zero interest in associating with my sworn enemies."

Gideon coldly demanded, stepping into her path to block her again. "Name your price."

Valerie met his icy stare, her brow furrowing in irritation.

Gideon issued the lucrative offer like an absolute command that could not be refused. "You are a renowned child psychologist in Oakhaven. I want you to act as the children’s private psychologist. Name your price, and I will pay it ten times over. Do not hesitate to ask for whatever resources you require."

Valerie let out a dry, humorless laugh. "I am a professional photographer now. I refuse your money. Besides, Rosalind is the supposed mother of these two children. She should be the one handling their emotional needs, not a stranger you hire off the street."

Gideon's expression grew dangerously cold. His jaw tightened, a muscle feathering in his cheek as he scrutinized her defiant posture. He stepped closer, towering over her. "Is this a negotiation tactic? You have a track record of destructive behavior. Your past actions pushed your own father to the point of falling ill. Do not play games with me."

The mention of her father felt like a physical blow. Her eyes instantly flashed crimson with suppressed rage, the grief and anger bubbling over in a split second.

Valerie lunged forward. She shoved him, pinning him forcefully against the hallway wall by his expensive collar. Her knuckles turned white as she twisted the fabric, slamming his broad shoulders against the custom wallpaper. "Shut up! You know nothing of the truth, so keep my father out of your mouth!"

Astonished by her sheer audacity, Gideon stared down at the slender hands twisting his collar. He was a man accustomed to absolute obedience; nobody dared to speak to him this way, let alone lay hands on him. He violently grabbed her slender wrist to subdue her.

He pulled her close, intending to peel her off him and put her in her place. But as the physical distance between them vanished, a familiar, delicate fragrance wafted from her skin. The scent hit his senses like an explosive trigger. It forcefully resurrected locked, buried memories of a wild, unforgettable night years ago in a pitch-black hotel room.

His grip involuntarily tightened around her wrist with a terrifying, dangerous intensity. He stepped into her space, his chest brushing against hers, his eyes darkening into an unfathomable abyss as he tried to reconcile the scent with the defiant woman pinning him to the wall.

Without a second of hesitation, Valerie ruthlessly stomped her sharp high heel directly onto his foot.

Gideon let out a sharp grunt, the sudden pain causing his grip to loosen just enough.

Valerie broke free from his stunned grasp. She spun around and fled down the grand staircase, sprinting out of the mansion and vanishing into the rainy night before he could recover.

Meanwhile, pure chaos erupted at the Thorne residence.

Rosalind overturned an antique mahogany table. Expensive porcelain vases and framed photographs shattered across the hardwood floor, sending sharp fragments flying in every direction. She stood amidst the wreckage, her chest heaving with manic fury as she glared at a visibly trembling Beatrice.

Rosalind viciously demanded, her shrill voice echoing off the high ceilings. "Why did you lie to me? You swore the problem was dealt with! You told me you witnessed Valerie burning to death in that incinerator with your own eyes!"

Beatrice shrank back against the wall, shaking uncontrollably. She was terrified of Rosalind's wrath, but she was even more terrified of Gideon ever discovering the horrific truth about the twins' real parentage. If the billionaire found out they had orchestrated this massive lie, they would both be dead.

Beatrice stammered pathetic excuses, her face pale with dread. "I do not know how she survived! I swear I thought she was dead! The fire was massive. Who could have known that wretched woman possessed such insane luck? If Mr. Vance finds out about those two kids and what we did to his real family..."

Rosalind coldly silenced her, her eyes burning with malicious intent. "Shut your mouth before I shut it for you!"

Rosalind paced across the room, her high heels crunching over the broken porcelain. She could not let Valerie ruin everything she had built. The Vance empire, the endless wealth, and the supreme status were all within her grasp.

Rosalind declared, her voice dripping with lethal venom. "Since Valerie is back, we will simply have to make her disappear permanently again. This time, I will ensure there is nothing left for anyone to find."

Miles away, outside Ivy Residence, the rain continued to pour in relentless sheets. Valerie trudged up the front steps, soaked to the bone. Her hair clung to her cheeks, and her clothes dripped icy puddles onto the porch.

She sneezed violently, wrapping her arms around her shivering body.

Pushing open her front door, the warmth of the house immediately embraced her. Before she could even kick off her wet shoes, hurried, tiny footsteps echoed down the hardwood hallway.

Rowan shouted, rushing forward with his arms wide open. "Mommy! You are back!"

Valerie dropped her purse on the floor and scooped him up into her arms. She ignored her soaking wet clothes and planted a firm, lingering kiss on his chubby cheek. The sweet scent of him instantly calmed her racing heart.

Rowan pulled back and frowned with deep concern. He reached out to touch her dripping hair, scolding her like a miniature adult.

Rowan demanded, crossing his small arms over his chest in disapproval. "It is raining so heavily outside. Why did you not wait for the storm to stop before coming home? You are going to freeze!"

Valerie looked into his worried dark eyes. She was unwilling to admit that she had fled in sheer panic from Gideon's intense grasp. The terrifying memory of the billionaire's predatory gaze still made her stomach twist. Desperate to shield her son from the Thorne family's lethal complexities and the dangerous man she just left behind, she offered him a reassuring smile.

Valerie softly explained, her tone overflowing with love. "I hurried back because I was terrified you would be lonely here all by yourself. I missed you too much to wait out the storm."

Bending down, she playfully gestured to her own cold cheek and asked, "Do I get a reward for that?"