Chapter 4

Daniel's expression changed drastically as he snapped, "Don't talk nonsense. Val is the only one in my heart." "Is that so?" Camille laughed softly. "Then why did you keep going last night? Once would have been enough, but you couldn't seem to stop yourself." Her fingers traced lightly across his chest. "And just now, when someone came to propose, you got so angry your eyes turned red. If that's not jealousy, what is?" Daniel was about to argue back when he caught sight of Valentina standing in the shadows by the doorway. His face instantly changed. "Val? When did you... wake up? What did you hear?" "Just now." Valentina's voice was eerily calm. "Should I have heard something?" Hearing that she hadn't caught anything, Daniel visibly relaxed. "Nothing, nothing at all. Go get washed up, I'll make you breakfast." At the breakfast table, Valentina looked down at the two plates Daniel had prepared. One was her usual mild breakfast, the other was spicy food she couldn't eat. Camille was devouring the spicy meal with obvious enjoyment—a sharp pain shot through Valentina's chest. She remembered when Daniel used to cook different meals for her every day when he was pursuing her. He'd said her stomach was sensitive and she had to eat on time. Back then, he'd sworn he'd never cook for anyone else. But now, even this special treatment had been given to someone else. After the meal, Daniel spoke up. "Val, I noticed you haven't bought any new clothes lately. I have the day off today. How about I take you shopping at the department store?" His tone was gentle, as if they'd returned to how things used to be. Camille immediately chimed in. "I was just thinking I needed new clothes too. Why don't we all go together?" Daniel frowned, but ultimately didn't refuse. The department store lights were blindingly bright. Daniel patiently stayed by Valentina's side, helping her pick out new clothes piece by piece. "This one suits you perfectly." He held up a light blue dress, comparing it against her. "We'll take it." Jane Watson, the sales clerk, wrapped everything efficiently, her face beaming. "Captain Pierce is so good to his wife. I've never seen anyone be so generous, buying so many clothes at once! Valentina looked down at the beautifully wrapped packages, but felt no joy at all. Just then, Camille walked over carrying an armload of clothes. She set them on the counter and said sweetly, "Could you ring these up, please?" Jane quickly calculated the total. "That'll be 85 dollars and 60 cents, ma'am." Camille opened her wallet, then her face fell. "Could you give me a discount? I don't have enough money." "This is already our lowest price," Jane said apologetically. "Maybe you could buy one less item?" "No." Camille shook her head stubbornly. "I picked these out carefully. I need every single piece." Daniel frowned and walked over. "How much are you short?" Jane checked the receipt. "68 dollars exactly." The number made Daniel visibly freeze. That was exactly the total cost of the clothes he'd just bought for Valentina. The air suddenly felt suffocating. Valentina watched Daniel's rigid back, her fingernails unconsciously digging into her palms. After a long silence, Daniel finally spoke. "Cancel those clothes from earlier." He turned to Jane. "Pack these up instead." Camille's face immediately lit up with a triumphant smile as she shot Valentina a smug glance. "Val," Daniel said as he walked over, his voice low. "She's all alone now, so I need to take care of her..." Valentina looked at him quietly, suddenly remembering how Daniel used to despise exactly this kind of spoiled, demanding behavior from Camille. He'd once said that women like her were fake and troublesome, that he couldn't stand that type. But now, he was willing to give up all the clothes he'd picked out for his own wife just to make Camille happy. If this wasn't love, what was it? A sharp pain shot through her chest as Valentina smiled, her heart aching with every beat. Daniel had truly betrayed her completely. As they walked out of the department store, the setting sun stretched their three shadows long across the pavement. Daniel carried Camille's shopping bags in one hand while trying to take Valentina's hand with the other, but she smoothly avoided his touch. "Val..." he coaxed softly. "When I get paid next month, we'll come back and get you those clothes." Valentina kept her eyes down, saying nothing. She knew perfectly well that his gentleness now was nothing more than guilt over what had just happened. "Ah!" Camille's scream suddenly pierced the air. A motorcyclist roared past, yanking the gold chain right off her neck as he sped away. "My necklace!" Camille ignored the pain and bolted forward to chase after the thief. Daniel grabbed her wrist. "Don't chase him! We can buy another one later, it's too dangerous!" "No!" Camille's tears started flowing. "That was the engagement gift Marcus gave me! The locket has our only photo together!" With that, she wrenched free from Daniel's grip and ran into the street with tears streaming down her face. "Camille!" Daniel's shout was drowned out by the screech of brakes as an out-of-control truck came barreling straight toward her. In a split second, Daniel lunged forward and shoved her out of the way. The heavy impact was so loud it made everyone's ears ring. Valentina watched in horror as Daniel's body flew through the air like a ragdoll, landing hard on the asphalt several yards away. Blood immediately began pooling on the pavement beneath him.