Chapter 43
Valerie’s POV
When she ended the call, I called her back so that I can give her my own threats too.
“I never knew you’d call me back. Do you miss me already?” She sneered
“Claire, why are you doing this? Haven’t you done enough? Why won’t you just give up? You and Damian are not meant to be together, not now, not ever.”
“You don’t deserve him either. You are just a gold digger, looking for who to latch on to.”
“Claire, let me warn you for the last time. Let this be the last time that you’ll ever call me or even speak to me anywhere. From now onwards, we are enemies. Since you drew the battle line by attempting to come in between I and my boyfriend, I hate you. I thought you were my friend!” I said bitterly.
“Oh, shut the fuck up. You are nothing but a wrench, calling me to dish out empty threats and warnings. I will make your life miserable in due time. For the mean time, enjoy Damian while he is still with you. But believe me, you will witness everything that will happen with your two eyes.” She said and the line went dead.
After the calls, I made sure to block her lines and any way that she could use to reach out to me. I went about my usual day, went to the mall for grocery shopping and stayed indoors afterwards.
It was past nine p. m when I heard a knock on the door. It would obviously be Damian, he said that he would drop by in the evening. I had already changed to my night wear so I went to open the door and it was Damian.
“Are you just coming back from work now?” I asked, opening the door for him to come in.
He hugged me briefly, his face looking a bit pale from stress.
“Yes. I was terribly busy today and the traffic was not helping matter either. I drove straight up to this place because I’ll be travelling tomorrow morning, as early as 6 a. m. Our flight is going to take off before 7 a. m.”
“So you’re still going to travel to New Orleans tomorrow? Can’t you leave it till after the wedding?” I asked, with a pout.
“Babe, I’ll be back by tomorrow or next. I just need to go and seal some business deals with our associates over there. Besides, I want to go and see the progress we are making at one of our branches. I assigned someone to manage so that I can remain here.”
“Okay, Babe. I never knew that you had a branch at New Orleans. You can go ahead and travel, but you must promise me that you will return tomorrow or next. Don’t forget that the wedding is in less ten days.”
He grabbed my waist and pulled me over, and we fell on the sofa. The kiss that followed was a passionate one, expressing how we longed for each other. I began to unbutton his shirt but he held my hands and gave me a sly smile.
“Don’t worry, we will continue when I return. I should be leaving now. I know that you want me, I want you too but let’s reserve it for later.” He said as he began to button up his shirt.
“Babe, Claire called me today and she said something that is still bothering me.” I said.
“What’s that? I’m all ears.”
“She said that she’ll still get you and I’ll witness it with my eyes. Do you still have anything going with her? I suppose you don’t but I just want to confirm.” I said, fixing my eyes on his.
“Val, we have nothing going on between us anymore. I could give you the same assurance over and over again. Can I go now? I need to get some rest before morning.”
“Okay, just promise that you will avoid her by all means. Even if she calls you, don’t pick please. Claire is a scheming person, I don’t know what she may be planning now but I have a bad feeling about it.” I concluded.
“You should. But don’t let it bother you, nothing will happen. We are getting married and that is all. Goodnight Valerie.” He bent over and gave me a peck on my forehead.
After he left, I returned back to my room and continued watching my favorite series “Bridgerton.” I had a very good night sleep, knowing that my wedding was in a few days time.
***********
Claire’s POV
I felt so bad when I returned home yesterday. I had returned Anthony (my son) back to his foster home. My plan did not work, I never knew that Damian would suggest a paternity test, I thought they would just buy my story straight away but my plan almost pulled through if not for Damian. I’ll show him.
Reflecting on how my life had been over the years, tears began to roll down my cheeks. I only wanted a father for my son, every mother wants to give her child the best, why would mine be different?
As the tears flowed down, I was drawn down the memory lane… This is the part of my story which I did not reveal to Damian and his parents when I narrated my college life to them.
(Flashback to six years ago.)
Claire’s POV
After my graduation party and prom night, I had spent the night with Damian and we had sex after which I never heard from him again.
After Damian bursted of my house that morning, realizing what we had done the previous night, my boyfriend called me over to Manhattan. I did not refuse to go because I would not want him to suspect.
I packed my bags and travelled to Manhattan, arriving at his place that night. We celebrated my graduation over bottles of wine and champagne. The mini party ended with us being drunk and we had sex too. I stayed at his place for two weeks before I went back to my place.
I found out that I was pregnant some weeks later, being so confused and not knowing what to do. I didn’t know if Damian was responsible or Jack, I tried to tell Damian but he travelled and blocked me off.
I informed Jack about and he was super excited. He suggested that I should come to his place and stay until the baby comes, although I declined. He took responsibility for the baby and promised to take good care of me. Jack was the best thing that happened to me at that time, he was so caring and loving. He called every hour to know if I was comfortable which made me feel so guilty because I was doubting if this baby was truly his own.
Two months before my die date for delivery, he died in a car accident which shattered my entire being. I was all alone and had no one to speak to. I had to leave the city where I was and leave in isolation. Those were one of the most painful days of my life and I hate remembering them.
Jack, my husband-to-be and legal father of my baby was gone. I had no where to run to as my friends (Damian, Scott and Ethan) had gone several ways to face their own lives. I had my baby with the help of midwives. But then I still doubted who the father was.
So one day, I took him to a hospital to check his paternity. They took blood samples and found out that his father was Jack. I wept profusely, at the realization that my baby’s father is not even Damian but Jack. My little hopes of reuniting Damian and my son one day, were dashed on the rocks. I signed the papers and handed him over to his foster parents where he has been till this moment.
Unfortunately, all my plans seemed to always fall through, no matter how hard I try. Well my next plot will not fail me. I wiped my tears and began to make new plans.
Valerie must have thought that I was joking when I told her that I would get Damian. My entire plan is to make Valerie cry so much , so that she would give up on Damian. I will not rest until it is achieved no matter what the cost would be.
I heard that Damian travelled and he would return tomorrow, my informant was one of the workers he travelled with and Valerie is not the only one looking forward to his return.