chapter 10

THIRD PERSON POV

“Baxter, Bailey, come on guys,” Her melodic voice was enchanting.

Her brunette hair was in a pretty, messy bun where some hair is left loose, creating an angelic face. Her long slender body is of a model as a blue sleeveless dress fits her perfectly.

Vale was busy scanning the girl from head to toe, not realizing Peter walking towards the brunette. When she does, she let out a loud gasp as her eyes turn wide in shock. She recovered before frantically looking at Mason and Anne, who stood calmly at the scene.

“What happened to my clean freak brother? Oh god, I must be dreaming-ouch! That hurts! I’m not dreaming! Keith, why did you flick my forehead?” Vale rubbed her forehead, glaring at Keith.

Keith ignores her glare and chuckles, shaking his head. He was as confused as Vale was. Although he doesn’t know Peter well, judging by the scene in front of them, there’s no way he’s a clean freak.

“You’re freaking out,” Keith stated the obvious.

“Of course, I am freaking the hell outs! Peter doesn’t like fur, no, he can’t stand seeing small dirt, not even a speck of dust,” Vale explained with wide eyes, still shocked at the scene before them.

Peter is kneeling on the porch floor, the twin dogs were all over him and even dared to lick his face. He patted the dogs and even laughed at their antics.

However, Vale didn’t miss how the brunette girl stood uncomfortably beside Peter.

“Let’s go,” Keith urged them all to go inside. Leaving Peter and the Brunette outside.

The family is already seated at the massive living room at the northeast wing, where the sofa was laid out at the left corner of the living room. A small glass coffee table sat in the middle of the floor as many black coloured sofas surrounded it.

The white tiles are covered by a light burgundy carpet. At the southeast of the mansion is a massive kitchen. The dining room is in the middle, separating the living room and the kitchen. A hanging TV planted on the wall facing the living room.

The north-west contains the gym, the south-west provides the game room and in the middle of it is the movie room. As far as Vale remember, the other rooms are empty. But, perhaps her mother had done something to them by now.

The staircase is placed in the centre of the house leading upwards to the second floor, which includes their room and the guest rooms. By now, Vale guessed, her dad and her brothers each own a studies room.

At present, the living room still got a big space even when the sofas is put on the left corner.

Vale shakes her head, looking at it. Why didn’t they put the couch in the middle of the room instead? Her parent preferences are weird. Vale raised an eyebrow seeing a few maids walking here and there doing their jobs. Her parents must’ve had hired a few more maids.

Vale’s father and mother sat at the head of the sofa and had their back on the wall. Kayden sat on the other couch on her mother’s left side facing Mason and Anne. Vale and Keith sat on the couch, which is facing her parents.

A maid, Ayla, knocked on the door before she and her friend, Lucy, enter the room with a tray of drinks. They quickly left after serving the glass to them.

“So, care to tell me what actually happened between you and Kayden?” Her mother shoots a question to Vale after sipping her glass of water.

“I found him cheating on me at his apartment when I come back from work. I leave the house and goes to my friend, Nancy’s house. Nancy dragged me to go with her to Remy’s party, and Kayden was there with the girl he cheated me with. The girl saw me and Kayden arguing and told me that she’s his fiance,” Vale shrugged nonchalantly, thinking back about the incident.

“Is that true, son?” Her father turned to Kayden.

Kayden swallowed. He never expected that Vale would blow the story straight up to her parent. “Yes, but-” Kayden was cut off by Vale’s siblings groan.

“Have you got no shame at all? You cheated on her and even dared to come here!” Mason was outraged.

“The engagement is off,” Kayden blurted out what has been playing on his mind all day.

Yes, the engagement is off because Mia’s father messed up in one of his business. He regretted cheating on Vale but Mia, the whore, signed a contract with him saying he needs to sleep with her if he wanted her father’s business. Not only that, but he also had to marry her. Mia’s father, Kairos, is a rare businessman and to ally with them is giving him an enormous profit.

He knows Mia way long before he met Vale and they were engaged way long before he met her. He wanted to possess Vale, the beauty and own her. So, he dated her and hid his ring deep somewhere in the apartment. Vale doesn’t want to show off their relationships, and that makes Kayden lies hidden way too long.

But, that night, Mia had asked for some chill time. Afraid, the contract would break, he had no choice but to drag her to one of his apartment, where he and Vale live together. Believing that Vale might be working late again.

“Why?” Andrew heaved a long sigh before asking.

“It was a contract marriage, and she broke one of the clauses,” Kayden face turn solemn and deep down, he hoped they would take him in again.

Andrew nodded before crossing his arms and place one of his hand on his chin, thinking. Even Vale’s mother was interlocking her finger’s together as she gazes down on her hands.

“Let’s get this straight. I may make the decision for my daughter, but that depends on what will brings her good and happiness. You had hurt her by cheating and lying for so long. You lie to us, and my family will not bear a liar. Son, it takes courage to reveal the truth, and I hoped what you experienced will be your life lesson. There’s still so many fish in the sea, and one of them might be more valuable than the one you got in the past. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Kayden nodded as he looks down on the floor in defeat.

“Don’t worry about your parent’s. I will visit them later and explain it to them,” Andrew sighed.

“Thank you,” He said just as his phone beeped. He took out his phone and checked the message before standing up.

“I-uh-have an emergency at the company. Excuse me,” Kayden said before storming out of the room.

Vale’s bitterness towards her parent disappear hearing his father’s voice, she almost teared up. But, her father saying he wouldn’t bear a liar in the family hurts her deep. Peter and the brunette girl walk into the living room and sat on the couch Kayden sat before.

“Thanks, Dad,” Vale’s voice turned hoarse. Keith slung his arm around her shoulder and rubbed her arm gently in a soothing manner.

“I don’t deserve it, darling. I should’ve fucking-ow!-investigated it before scolding you,” Andrew grin sheepishly at his wife who smacked his arm for swearing.

“Dad, how’d you know about it?” Mason asked.

“Jarred, Vale’s ex-boss, told me about it. Jarred said to me that you broke up with Kayden and that you’re fired for being absent continuously. I investigated the case after scolding you. That’s how I know you resigned and I also found out about Kayden and Mia’s engagement,” Vale’s father sipped on his water before he put it back on the table.

“But why is he invited to Melissa’s wedding?” Peter asked with confusion.

“He won’t come clean unless we strike first,” her mother answered.

“Your mommy’s a badass,” Keith whispered in my ear, and I elbow him, smirking slightly.

“Kyle,” Andrew’s voice filled the room once more.

Hearing his fake name, Keith sat up straight on his seat. “Yes?” Vale bit her lip from laughing out loud, sensing his nervousness.

“Any chance we could work together in business?” Vale’s father was blunt, you see. He shoots straight and doesn’t hide his intent at all.

Vale choked on air upon hearing the word business. If only her father knows what Keith really does, he’d be terrified. Hands shot up and patted Vale on her back, and Vale coughed trying to mask her surprise.

“You okay, babe?” Keith answered, but his mouth curled up as he gave Vale a knowing look.

“Nana, why do you seem surprised? Does he have any funny business we don’t know about?” Anne asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively towards Vale. Putting emphasis on the word, funny business.

“Nope, I’m okay. Something’s stuck on my throat,” Vale rubbed her throat and glare towards Anne.

“I think I have something we could work together, Mr Andrew. I just started this project a few days ago...” Keith ranted business that Vale doesn’t understand. Her father and brothers started their business talk in a family meeting where we’re not supposed to talk about work. We talk about the family’s business.

Vale managed to catch the mocking tone on Peter’s from time to time. She shivers at the menacing look on his face. She looks at the bored brunette girl beside him, and suddenly she got a way on how to confirm if Peter is in a gang or not.