Chapter 22
Valerie was packing up garbage from the breakfast and didn’t notice what Matthew had done. When she came out from the kitchen, Matthew had already left, leaving only the hamster neviled in the corner of the cage. Valerie was puzzled. “Peanut, you’re usually running at this hour. What’s wrong with you today!“. The bald spot on the hamster’s ear looked like a pranut, so she named it PeanuL
valerie heard a car’s engine outside and saw Matthew’s Mini in macaron blue driving away. “Matthew’s serious face doesn’t fit his linte blur car at all. she thought
Valerie suddenly remembered Matthew had asked her several times if she was scared of him. She thought, ‘Maybe he’s also bothered by his serious face. People think he’s scary for no reason, so he drives this cute little car to change their opinion of him. He’s actually pretty funny”
She had seen a lot of difficult people, and Matthew looked like the toughest kind, but he was actually very easy to deal with by agreeing with him.
It was time to leave for work. Valerie checked the map, Clutvale Estate was in the middle of her apartment and her work. Valerie then bought some gifts and beaded for it. She was going to tell Juhan about her new address. Speaking of the address, she wondered how Matthew knew she worked at Arcton Cars since she had never told him about it
While pondering, she had already arrived at Cluvale Estate. Julian lived on the third floor, but she saw a familiar figure squatting on the stairs.
“Aiden!” she called out
Aiden Warren was sitting on the stairs in a daze. When he heard the voice, he looked up quickly and saw Valerie. He jumped up happily. “Aunt
Valerie!
Valerie put the gifts on the ground and crouched down to hug Aiden. “Hi. Aiden. I haven’t seen you for so long.”
“Aunt Valerie, you, you haven’t come to see me for a while. I, I’ve missed you,” said Alden. Three years ago, Aiden was diagnosed with an intellectual disability, which caused difficulties with communication and cognition, and also led to sumering
Valerie patiently waited for Aiden to finish his sentence. She gently touched his soft hair, giving him a warm smile. “Im sorry. Aiden. I’ve been busy with work lately. Why haven’t you gone to school! You’re going to be late. Where are your mom and dad?”
Aiden’s expression changed immediately. He looked in the direction of his house, uneasy.
Valerie had a bad feeling about it. Are they fighting again” she thought
Just as the thought flashed through
gh her mind, she heard an angry roar inside the house
“We’ve been married for five years, and I’ve been giving you my entire salary. 3.000 dollars a month, so how come we can’t even come up with 4.000 dollars now!” It was Julian’s voice.
But his voice was quickly covered by a woman’s.
“Fine, you wanna know where the money goes? The family’s daily expenses, the mortgage, the car loan, and Aiden’s kindergarten. And now, you’re blaming me for not saving enough money. Some people make ten thousand dollars a month. Don’t hang out with Valerie if you want to save money. She comes over for a meal now and then. That costs money, too! First, you paid for her schooling and then her shop. She’s a bloodsucker! said Ashley.
“Stop calling her that! Valerie is my s
y sister. She has paid me
paid me back all the money?” said Julian.
Ashley snorted. “Bullshit Has she paid your family for raising her? She won’t even bring her husband to your parents. She’s probably married a poor guy. I don’t understand why she would give up 60 thousand dollars. Didn’t they teach her anything in college!”