Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Season Family.

After Helena returned to her room, the more she thought about it, the more it seemed off.

The car that brought Valerie home was a global limited edition Bugatti Veyron!

She was supposed to be a country bumpkin abandoned in the countryside! When did she hook up with such a rich person?

Ever since Valerie returned to the Season family house, Helena had been compared to her everywhere, and the most infuriating part was, that she was outshone by Valerie in every aspect!

She had barely snatched Alex from Valerie, she absolutely couldn't let Valerie find someone better!

With her nose in the air, she arrived at Valerie's room, her arms crossed, she looked down at Valerie, her eyes full of disdain, "Valerie, are you being kept by someone now?"

Valerie was flabbergasted, she didn't even want to bother with Helena, she loved this room so much, so let her have it!

She moved slightly aside, but Helena blocked her way, looking at her domineeringly.

"Valerie, you are shameless. Alex just divorced you, and you've turned around and hooked up with other men. The ones who can afford Bugatti in Chelsea are all old men, you aren't picky! You'll go for anyone!"

"Fortunately, Alex saw your true face and chose to leave you, otherwise, he would've been disgusted to death by you!"

Valerie had no intention of arguing with her, but some people were just pathetically laughable.

Her eyebrows knitted, her face emotionless, she said frostily, "Helena, what? Do you think you're clean? So clean that you shamelessly sneak into your brother-in-law's bed without any guilt? Aren't you disgusted?"

Struck at her sore spot, slight panic flashed past Helena's eyes.

She glared furiously at Valerie, "Alex and I are in mutual affection, what are you? Simply a bumpkin from the countryside!"

"Oh, by the way, do you know why Dad wants you to marry Leo?" A flash of triumph crossed Helena's face.

Valerie looked at her calmly, waiting for her to continue.

"Because Brooks Corporation is in dire need of capital. Even the money from Alex's family is not enough to fill the hole. And Leo just lost his wife; due to external pressure, he must remarry!"

"So he told Dad that as long as he gives him his daughter in marriage, he will help Brooks Corporation navigate through the crisis. The reason Alex broke off his engagement with you is because he is worried that I would be the one married off instead!"

"And you, you're the bargaining chip in Dad's negotiation with Leo!"

The more triumphant the smile on Helena's face, the more ashen Valerie's face became.

As for why Alex suddenly wanted to break up with her, she had considered countless reasons, but not once did she ever think it was because of Helena!

Their promises of undying love throughout the year were a joke!

All his sweet tenderness, thinking about it now, had been poison given to her.

It's ridiculous.

Watching Valerie's face gradually lose its color, Helena became increasingly arrogant.

She purposely moved closer to Valerie, and in an attitude of victory, whispered into her ear, "Valerie, get ready to marry Leo! Maybe you'll get to meet his ex-wife soon!"

After finishing, Helena walked away triumphantly.

Valerie collapsed on the ground, devoid of strength. She sat there, eyes vacant, heart aching.

Thinking about how she had given her whole heart, only to find out in the end that it was all just her wishful thinking, she felt as if she could no longer breathe.

How can some people be so revolting?

Time was slipping away minute by minute, yet for Valerie, it seemed to stand still. She maintained her initial pose.

Two hours had passed, and her tears had long since dried up.

She clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and her gaze suddenly became determined.

Did they all want her to marry Leo?

Not if she could help it!

The next morning, Valerie was rudely awakened by a group of unknown people.

Before she could even open her eyes, she heard Eleanor instructing, "Hurry up, Leo will be here soon."

Make-up, styling, clothing. Valerie was like a marionette, controlled by them.

When she was fully dressed, Eleanor looked at Valerie, who looked as if a fairy had descended from the heavens, a glint of malevolence flashed through Eleanor's eyes.

This damned girl and her worthless mother were identical!

For over a decade, she had been cast aside in the countryside, left to fend for herself. Yet, unexpectedly, she still turned out to be so dazzling, like a snow lotus from heaven, pure and elegant.

But thinking of her imminent marriage to Leo, Eleanor felt a thrill of schadenfreude. What good would her pretty looks do?

She'd suffer soon enough!

With a disdainful glance at Valerie, Eleanor scolded, "Hurry up and get down there. Be smart when you meet Leo! You're his property now!"

Extremely unwilling, Valerie shot a glance at Eleanor unexpectedly.

This look from Valerie made Eleanor feel a bit uncomfortable all over.

However, she thought to herself, what could this bumpkin possibly do? Lowering her voice threateningly, she said, "You better behave, bear in mind your grandfather!"

Valerie lowered her gaze, secretly gritting her teeth. Her grandfather was seriously ill now, with organ decay and only the life-support keeping him alive. Despite her medical prowess, she was helpless.

Despite dedicating years to medical research and achieving significant success, she didn't make much money.

And ever since her grandfather fell ill, he had continuously been thinking about Felix, for whom she brought her grandfather back to Chelsea.

However, she never expected that her ailing grandfather would now be the leverage they used to manipulate her!

Valerie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and obediently went downstairs.

Leo had already arrived, in the main hall, Felix was constantly buttering up to Leo, "Mr. Leo, rest assured, you will be satisfied later."

As he spoke, Valerie came down from upstairs.

Upon seeing her, Leo was instantly stunned.

Felix too was slightly taken aback, unable to believe the stunning transformation Valerie had undergone.

However, upon noticing the glimmer in Leo's eyes, he immediately fetched Valerie and guided her to sit next to Leo, "Mr. Leo, this is Valerie Brooks, my daughter."

Leo's greasy gaze roamed freely over her body; disgust welled up within Valerie at this, giving her the urge to throw up.

In his fifties, adorned with big, crude gold chains, bald, drenched in oil, pot-bellied, his entire being exuded opulence.

"I'm very satisfied. Let's just get the certificate next week. Don't bother with a big wedding. After all, this is my second marriage. A casual meal together with both families can be considered a completed ceremony." Leo withdrew his gaze from Valerie, and patted his protruding belly, issuing orders as if in command.

"Yes, yes, yes, such grand preparations are ultimately wasteful, it's better to be frugal." Felix cooperates with his flattering.

Leo, cheered up by the flattery, becomes more amicable, "My dear brother, rest assured, once I marry Valerie, you will be my father-in-law. I definitely wouldn't sit back and watch the crisis of Brooks Corporation."

With this guarantee, Felix was even more enthusiastic in his flattery, "As long as you're satisfied, everything can be discussed!"

Leo, being generous, places a card directly on the table, "Here's a million as a dowry. As for the rest, don't worry, I will have someone deliver it all tomorrow!"

He then turns to look at Valerie, her beautiful figure, and sparkling eyes pleasing him more and more, "You can rest assured that once you're with me, you won't be treated unfairly in terms of money!"

Upon hearing his words, Valerie smirks and opens her rosy lips slightly, "I didn't say I agreed to marry!"

Felix, fuming, stands up and admonishes, "Shut up!"

"Valerie! Have you lost your mind? A great man like Mr. Leo is hard to find even with a lantern, and you dare refuse to marry him?! I tell you, you have to obey your parents' decision. You have to marry, whether you want to or not!"

Valerie looks up, her tone icy, "I'm already married."