LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 31: Paris, the problem
"Well, I–" Valeria hesitated to voice out her opinion. Markos nodded and encouraged her to say what was in her mind. "I want to visit Paris, as a lucky charm for us." She suggested the place intentionally which brought a sour expression over his face. Valeria reached for his arm, rubbing his bicep and she spoke in a shallow voice. "I know we both don't have a good memory of that place. But maybe–"
Valeria trailed off with reluctance as she glanced at him once again. Her voice was now barely a whisper which made Markos force a smile. "Maybe we can start all over from the same place which ruined our lives?" Valeria doubted Markos would even agree to go back down that horrendous road. Paris was the destination where they shared their passionate night. The one sinful encounter which stained them both.
She waited for him to recall everything and respond after thinking patiently. Standing there with her eyes glued to Markos' face, the woman could see hurt creased all over his body language. "We will fix everything from the same spot." Valeria gently squeezed his arm to bring him back to the present. Whereas, Markos felt like his past flashed in front of his eyes. Something he never wanted to re-live.
"If that is what you want to do." Markos agreed with a beaming smile which made her happy. Valeria wanted to start her new life with him as Mrs Markos without any regrets. "Whatever you say. I want you to have no regrets this time." She had something up her sleeves to make up for the blunder she did to him back then. Paris was the best pick to restart things with Markos. This time with mutual consent and in utter consciousness.
While they were savouring the moment, a few voices downstairs snagged their attention. "Shh–stay here. They will handle whatever it is." Markos placed his index finger over her lips and pulled her closer. "Leave everything for now. Let's just devour this moment." Tracing his nose with hers, Valeria tried to push him while giggling. Tilting her head Markos kissed her neck and cheeks with frequent pecks.
Reluctantly they both headed downstairs upon listening to the loud voices. Valeria saw her stepmother with the bags sitting on the sofa. Miss Agnes seemed confused and was trying to get her out. "What are you doing here? Get out!" Valeria shouted at her with a straight face, when Markos held her by shoulders to calm down. Miss Agnes also seemed equally confused and angry.
"Hello, my dear stepdaughter~" Alice walked closer and hugged Valeria with a squeeze indicating malicious intentions. "You totally forgot that you have a mother back in that rusty apartment." Valeria shrugged her hands off her shoulders and glared at the cunning woman. Meanwhile, Markos could grasp the situation and realised why Alice had arrived suddenly. Whereas, Miss Agnes witnessed everything unfolding.
"Stepmother." Valeria corrected her publicly which made Alice widen her eyes at the audacity. "Rusty apartment?" She scoffed at Alice and stepped backwards. While Markos took a step forward to stand in between the ladies. "Isn't that the same place you willingly sold to Castello?' Valeria interlaced her arms and confronted her. "You even gobbled up all the money and you're here to extort more?"
Markos was surprised and kept on observing what was happening. He could comprehend that Valeria didn't have a good relationship with her stepmother. "The audacity! Go somewhere else, I am not going to cater your greedy ass now. You are not welcomed here or in my life anymore." Valeria rebuked her while Alice tried to compose her anger. She needed Valeria's support since Castello ditched her for money.
"What are you even saying? I–I gobbled the money?" Alice scoffed and rolled her eyes at the accusation. Her blonde hair and wrinkled face was at the verge of displaying the utter rage she had. "I never got that money, Valeria. You cannot blame me for resorting to selling that apartment. If you had gotten money to feed us both, I wouldn't have committed such a bold step." Alice tried to justify her actions.
Markos was still trying to compile the information which was being fed to him unintentionally. 'So the apartment she lived in was bought by her long ago. How is it possible that her stepmother sold it without her consent? That bastard Castello must have something to do with the forging of documents.' Studying the body language of Alice, he knew she was there either for money or to stay and extort.
"Whatever." Valeria simply shrugged with that single word reply. The way she responded made Markos cover his face with the hand to hide the smirk. "You can leave. Else I will ask the security to escort you." He was amused how she tackled the situation while subtly claiming she owned the place. Meanwhile, Miss Agnes didn't like Markos' not responding to her obvious bold claims.
Miss Agnes didn't hate Valeria but the misunderstandings between both of them had been growing. "I cannot believe how fast you have changed Valeria. I am your only relative even though I am your stepmother. You are obliged to take care of your parents. You are living here lavishly while I am on the streets. You seriously cannot be heartless, can you?" Alice tried to push her intentions under the guise of emotional blackmail.
This time Markos stepped in and approached Alice. Hugging her from the side he squeezed the woman's arm. "She is right, Valeria. How can you not let your mother stay with us?" Markos stared straight into Valeria's eyes, which she could clearly read that he had a plan. "Let's forget everything. Who did what shouldn't matter anymore. We all are here together, as a family. Right, Miss Agnes?"
Markos shifted his gaze towards her, Miss Agnes reflexively was caught off guard and looked at Valeria. She shook her head and mouthed no to the elderly lady. Whereas, Miss Agnes couldn't go against Markos so she simply smiled. "It's settled then, you are staying with us. Miss Alice." Markos grabbed her hand and kissed it as the gesture of welcome.