The next morning arrived quietly.
Harrison had been released from the police station the night before, but the events of the previous day still weighed heavily on his mind.
Surprisingly, he didn’t seem eager to see Valentina.At least, not yet.
He had already made a deal with Ashley.
As long as she kept Valentina safe and away from the Whitmore family’s conflicts, Harrison would obey her demand.
But that didn’t mean he had forgiven her.
Whitmore Villa
Morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of Carter Whitmore’s bedroom.
Ashley walked into the room with an elegant smile.
“Good morning, my husband.”
Carter slowly opened his eyes.
Ashley leaned closer and greeted him warmly, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.
Carter smiled.
“Good morning, Ashley.”
She sat beside him.
“I think you can stop worrying about Harrison.”
Carter’s expression immediately changed.
“What do you mean?”
Ashley smiled confidently.
“I’ve handled it.”
Carter stared at her.
“You managed to convince him?”
Ashley nodded.
“Very soon, Harrison will come to you himself.”
She paused.
“And he will apologize.”
Carter’s eyebrows rose.
“Apologize?”
“And he will agree to get married.”
Carter couldn’t hide his surprise.
He had spent years trying to convince Harrison to settle down, but his son had always resisted.
He couldn’t understand how Ashley had managed to accomplish what he couldn’t.
“You really convinced him?”
Ashley gave him a reassuring smile.
“He will listen now.”
Carter leaned back against the headboard, clearly pleased.
He had always trusted Ashley since the day he married her, he had often relied on her judgment even more than he relied on Harrison.
To Carter, Ashley was the kind of woman who knew how to handle difficult situations.
He had no idea what she had threatened Harrison with and Ashley intended to keep it that way.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Ashley turned toward the door,a glamorous smile immediately appeared on her face as the door opened.
A young man stepped inside.
“Good morning, Father.”
Carter’s face brightened.
“Good morning, my son.”
It was Andrew Whitmore…..Harrison’s younger half-brother.
Andrew walked into the room with an easy smile, completely unaware of the secret battle that had taken place between his mother and Harrison.
To Carter, Ashley loved both of her sons equally.
He had no idea that, in Ashley’s eyes, Andrew her real son had always been her favorite.
Andrew greeted his mother before taking a seat then another set of footsteps approached.
The room became quiet.
Harrison walked in,his expression was calm.
Cold and Unreadable.
“Good morning, Father.”
Carter looked at him.
“Good morning.”
Harrison barely glanced toward Ashley.He certainly didn’t greet her.
Carter immediately noticed as his expression hardened.
“Harrison.”
Harrison stopped.
“You haven’t greeted your mother.”
Silence filled the room.Harrison’s jaw tightened.
He knew exactly why Carter was saying it but he had made a promise.
For Valentina’s sake, he couldn’t break it.
Slowly, Harrison turned toward Ashley.
“Good morning.”
Ashley smiled sweetly.
“Good morning, my dear Harrison”
The exchange was brief.
But to Harrison, it felt like swallowing his pride.
Andrew stood near the doorway, watching the scene with amusement.
A small scoff escaped him.He smirked.
Something about Harrison’s sudden change entertained him.
The man who had always challenged their father was suddenly behaving like an obedient son…Interesting.
Carter, however, was pleased.
“That’s better.”
Harrison said nothing.
Carter continued.
“I’ve already told you what I want.”
Harrison’s eyes hardened.
“A marriage between two elite families.”
He paused.
“You’re going to do it.”
Harrison took a slow breath.He remembered Ashley’s warning.
Valentina.
That was the only reason he was standing there.
“Fine.”
Carter blinked.
Harrison continued.
“I’ll get married.
The room went silent.
For a moment, Carter looked as though he couldn’t believe his ears.
Then a broad smile appeared on his face.
“Excellent.”
He looked at Ashley proudly.
“I knew you could reach him.”
Ashley smiled but Harrison didn’t return the expression.
Carter continued excitedly.
“I’ll find the right family.
Someone suitable.
Someone from a respectable background.”
Harrison’s expression remained emotionless.
“You can choose whoever you want.”
Carter smiled even wider.
“This is the decision I’ve been waiting for.”
Andrew watched Harrison carefully.
His smirk slowly returned.
So the great Harrison Whitmore had finally surrendered or so it seemed.
Harrison didn’t wait for the conversation to continue,he turned around and walked toward the door.
“Harrison,” Carter called.
Harrison stopped.
“You won’t regret this.”
Harrison didn’t answer and he simply walked away.
The Basement House
Harrison’s footsteps echoed across the path leading to the smaller house behind the main villa.
He had been avoiding Valentina since returning.
But now he couldn’t delay it anymore as he needed to see her.
He needed to make sure she was safe and more importantly, he needed to answer the questions he knew were probably troubling her.
Who was he?
Why had he lied about being her boyfriend?
Who was the woman claiming to be her mother?
And why had she been brought to the Whitmore Villa?
Harrison stopped outside the door.
For a moment, he simply stared at it.
He remembered the woman he had found lying helplessly in the rain.
The same woman who had somehow become the center of a conflict he never expected.He exhaled slowly.
Then he knocked.
Inside, Valentina lifted her head.
Her heart skipped slightly when she heard the knock.
And it appeared to be someone she had been awaiting for answers
And somehow, she knew the man standing behind that door might be the only person who could give them to her.
The door slowly opened.
Harrison stood there.
Cold,silent but his eyes immediately searched her face.
“Valentina.”
She looked at him.
“Harrison…”
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Valentina finally asked the question that had been troubling her since the day she woke up.
“Why did you lie to me?”