57. Happy Birthday

Valerie settled into her new routine at the mansion. It had been four months, and things had been quiet since their wedding night, and there had been no more problems. The mansion was still and serene, but there was a lingering sense of emptiness that Valerie couldn’t ignore. After a month of living with her, River sent Tiffany to a prestigious boarding school. The decision, though necessary, left a void in Valerie’s life. At least he was allowing Lucas to live with her since he was only five years old. She missed Tiffany’s presence. She was so much like her mother, Ellie. But Valerie understood that the school would be good for her. Tiffany needed to be far from where her mother was killed. She needed to heal. Antonio was devoted to her and Landon as always. He tried to do things to cheer her up, but Valerie still felt gloomy. “You alright, mi amore?” he asked as he watched her play with her scrambled eggs. “Yes,” she said quietly. “Are you lying to me?” he asked. Her eyes snapped up