Chapter 5 Part 5 : A Meeting in the Woods

Chapter 5: A Meeting in the Woods?

Vallerie woke up from her sleep and saw Bryan sitting, cradling her legs. Feeling uneasy, Vallerie tried to move them.

"It's okay, darling. Just leave your legs on my lap," Bryan said as he gently massaged her feet.

Vallerie smiled at her husband's romantic gesture. The man was typing something on his laptop. She glanced at the wall clock, realizing it was already 5 p.m. The room was dim, without any lights on.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Bryan asked.

Vallerie smiled even wider, revealing her perfectly aligned teeth. "I just can't believe it. Am I dreaming, or is this just my imagination?"

"About what?"

"About you."

Bryan looked at her and set his laptop aside. "About me?"

"Yes. It feels like a dream to have such a caring and thoughtful husband like you," Vallerie said shyly.

"Don't be shy, darling. It only makes me want to cuddle you even more. But I have an important meeting in 30 minutes," Bryan teased, leaning closer. Vallerie's face turned red, but thankfully, the room was dark, only dimly lit by the fading evening sunlight.

"You're leaving again? Where are you going? Can I come?" Vallerie asked, bored of being stuck at home.

"Yes, it's a crucial meeting for the Pripda Group located outside the city. It's about an hour's drive from here."

"But I want to come. Please..." Vallerie pleaded.

"I know you're bored, but you'll be even more bored once you're there," Bryan said, gently caressing her face.

Vallerie pouted as Bryan denied her request. She jumped off the bed, clearly upset.

"Fine! Just go!" she snapped, standing by the iron railing near the bedroom balcony.

Bryan smiled and approached his sulking wife. "Alright, you can come."

"Yay!" Vallerie exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.

"Thank you! Mwah!" she kissed him before heading to the wardrobe.

Bryan smiled at her excitement. He realized he hadn't taken Vallerie out in a long time, not even for a romantic dinner at a restaurant.

As Vallerie rummaged through her clothes, Bryan remembered something. "Here, I got this for you. I forgot to give it to you," he handed her a beautiful knee-length dress with long sleeves. He wanted to make sure she dressed modestly.

"Is it really suitable for me? I don't really like feminine clothes."

"You haven't changed at all, have you? Most women want to look pretty and feminine, but you still want to dress like a man," Bryan teased.

"Was I really like that before?" Vallerie asked curiously.

"Yes, you were very tomboyish," Bryan replied.

"...Now put on the dress before we're late," Bryan urged.

"Alright," Vallerie agreed.

ʕ⁠っ⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠ʔ⁠っʕ⁠っ⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠ʔ⁠っ

During the ride, Vallerie looked excited. It was the first time she had left the house in a while. They sat in the backseat with a driver. There was a partition so the driver couldn't see or hear anything going on behind them.

Bryan held Vallerie's hand tightly, and the intensity increased. She didn't mind, and even enjoyed the closeness.

After a while, they arrived in the city. "So our house is close to the city, huh? I thought we lived in the middle of the woods," Vallerie remarked as she admired the nighttime cityscape from the car window.

Bryan chuckled. "I wouldn't make you live in the woods. Our house is near the city, but I designed the surroundings to feel like a forest. I don't like noise," Bryan explained.

Vallerie nodded in understanding. "Rich people really do have different tastes," she thought to herself.

An hour later, they arrived. Bryan noticed his wife had fallen asleep in his lap.

"Stubborn. I told you this would be boring," he said, gently moving her head off his lap.

"John, take good care of Mrs. Vallerie," Bryan instructed as he stepped outside.

"Yes, sir," John responded, wearing dark sunglasses.

The area wasn't in the city but deep in a dense forest. In the middle of the forest stood a small, rundown house with faded paint.

Bryan quickly entered the house.

Not long after, Vallerie woke up. She found a jacket covering her and wondered where her husband had gone.

"Where did he go?" she muttered to herself.

"Are we here?" she asked, peering outside the car window.

Even the driver wasn't there. The car's interior was dark. Vallerie stepped out, immediately sensing an eerie atmosphere.

"A meeting in the woods?" Vallerie thought, confused.

"Who is he meeting here?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

She eyed the house. Part of her wanted to go inside, but it looked too creepy. However, her curiosity got the better of her.

"Ugh, don't be too curious, Vallerie. It's better to wait in the car," she said, returning to the vehicle.

Two hours later...

Vallerie grew increasingly anxious. Bryan still hadn't returned.

"Something's not right. I better go check inside," she murmured, stepping out of the car again.

Her heart raced with worry, fearing something had happened to Bryan inside.

She entered the house, which was dimly lit and gave off an eerie vibe. Anxiety gripped her heart, but she had to find Bryan.

At the end of a hallway, she overheard people talking in a room.

"What will you do with a corrupt man like him, Mr. Bryan?" a deep voice asked.

"It's true, Bryan's in there," Vallerie thought.

"But what? Did they say 'corrupt'?" she wondered, peeking in closer.

Through a small window, Vallerie saw Bryan sitting at a small table, holding a small pistol. He pointed the gun at a terrified man standing before him, trembling with fear. Vallerie was in shock, seeing her husband with a gun.

Her eyes widened as she witnessed the scene inside. There were many people, but she only recognized Bryan.

"A corrupt man like him deserves to die," Bryan said as he pulled the trigger.

Bang!

Vallerie gasped, covering her mouth with both hands.

She quickly fled from the house.

"What is going on? How could my loving, caring husband kill someone?" Vallerie muttered, trembling as she climbed back into the car.

Her face turned pale, and sweat poured from her forehead.

"Who is he really? Did I fall in love with a killer?"

"Darling?"

"Hah?!" Vallerie jumped, her heart racing as she saw Bryan standing there.

To be continued...