Andrea struggled to free her arm, but the effort only caused Valentine Anderson to clamp down tighter, jealousy blazing in his eyes.
"Release me!" Andrea's plea was a pained whimper.
"Did you sleep with him? Tell me!" Valentine's voice thundered with fury.
Tears welled in Andrea's eyes as she cried out, "You're hurting me—let go!"
In his rage, Valentine had lost all sense of reason, but the sight of Andrea's tears rolling down her cheeks snapped him back to reality. He immediately let go, his face awash with remorse.
"Andrea, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—" he began, but halted as he met her furious gaze.
Taking a deep breath, Andrea's response was icy. "Val, just go away. And don't come back."
Valentine's panic surged at her words. He moved closer, desperate to make amends, "Andrea, please—"
"Get out! I never want to see you again!" Andrea's voice was a crescendo of anger, as she recoiled from his advance and shoved him back.
Valentine raked a hand through his hair, his anxiety palpable. "Listen, Andrea, I—you have to understand, I was just—"
But his words faltered; his thoughts a jumbled mess.
"I don't want your explanations. Leave!" Andrea cut him off sharply and pushed him out of her room, slamming the door shut.
Left alone in the hallway, Valentine stood before the closed door, his expression one of deep regret. He knocked gently, his voice soft with contrition, "Andrea, please. I'm sorry... I didn't mean any harm. Forgive me."
When silence was the only reply, his anxiety deepened. "Andrea, just give me a chance to explain. I didn't intend—"
Housekeeper Win observed the scene with a shake of her head, disappointment etched on her features. She deemed Valentine too immature—Lucas would have been a better choice, in her eyes.
Approaching Valentine, she advised, "Sir Valentine, persisting here will only irritate Miss Andrea further. Perhaps you should take a moment to consider how you might truly make amends."
The idea seemed to spark hope in Valentine's eyes. He knew that continuing to knock would be futile. "Thank you," he said, gratitude in his voice as he hurried away. But Housekeeper Win shook her head once more, recognizing that Valentine's impulsiveness had yet to subside.
Valentine Anderson slipped into his car, the mansion shrinking behind him as he ventured out into the midnight hush of the city. The streets were nearly empty, save for the occasional car or motorbike that whisked by in the night.
As he drove, Valentine's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about how to mend things with Andrea. Their history ran deep—they had dated in college and even shared a brief marriage. Back then, any gift he chose was cherished not just for what it was, but because it came from him.
An idea sparked when he remembered how Andrea used to recite a poem about roses, her voice imbuing the words with a passion that matched her love for the flowers themselves. With a newfound sense of purpose, Valentine combed the city in search of a florist, but the late hour had rendered his search fruitless. Every flower store was closed, and by 1 a.m., he had to accept defeat.
Driving to the Anderson mansion, weariness etched into his features, Valentine was met by the family's butler, who promptly informed Mrs. Anderson of her son's late visit. Surprised, she descended the staircase to find Valentine slumped in a chair, the picture of misery.
"What's happened? Why are you here at such an ungodly hour? Did Andrea send you away?" Mrs. Anderson inquired, her face etched with concern.
With a heavy heart, Valentine murmured, "No, she didn't send me away. I left on my own."
His mother's confusion deepened, prompting her to press for details. "Valentine, what transpired after we departed?"
Though he was reluctant, Valentine knew he couldn't withhold the truth from his mother. He had always turned to her when matters of the heart troubled him. As he recounted the events, Mrs. Anderson listened in silence, her expression turning to one of speechless dismay. She hadn't expected that Valentine's attempts to reconcile with his son would not only fail but potentially lead to the collapse of his already fragile marriage.
After a pause heavy with concern, Mrs. Anderson spoke with measured calm. "Valentine, I understand this is hard. I'll speak with Andrea myself and ask if she's been with Lucas. You haven't rested all day; try to get some sleep."
Valentine nodded, his movements sluggish with exhaustion, and trudged off to bed. Mrs. Anderson was left alone with her furrowed brow and the weight of worry. The possibility of Andrea's infidelity with Lucas was a thought she dreaded; such a revelation could pit her sons against each other. Yet, she also knew that avoiding the issue could lead to incessant quarrels between Valentine and Andrea, tearing them further apart.
Mrs. Anderson wanted neither outcome but felt trapped between a rock and a hard place. After laboring over her decision for an hour, she finally surrendered to sleep, her mind still churning with unease.
The sun barely shone through the cloudy morning sky when Mrs. Anderson decided it was time to call her daughter-in-law.
"Mom, is everything alright?" Andrea's concerned voice resonated from the speaker as she answered.
"Andrea, do you have a moment? Please, come over to the house, we need to talk," Mrs. Anderson said, her voice laced with hesitation.
There was a pause before Andrea responded. "Mom, I'll swing by before heading to work."
As the call ended, Mrs. Anderson's face was etched with worry. She was uncertain about how to broach the sensitive topic with Andrea. In her frustration, she gratefully accepted a glass of water from her maid.
"Is Val still asleep?" Mrs. Anderson inquired.
"Yes," the maid confirmed, having checked on him just a few minutes prior.
Relieved, Mrs. Anderson let out a sigh. She preferred that her son Valentine wasn't around to overhear her conversation with Andrea.
"Madam, your daughter-in-law has just arrived," announced the butler a short time later.
Anxiety knotted Mrs. Anderson's stomach at the news of Andrea's presence, but she composed herself and left her bedroom to greet her in the living room.
"You look absolutely radiant today, Andrea. You must've had a good night's rest," Mrs. Anderson said with a warm smile.
Andrea's furrowed brow suggested she was wary of her flattery—it often came with a hidden agenda.
"Mom, I'm due for a meeting in five minutes, and I can't afford to be late," Andrea said, a clear edge to her voice.
Sensing the tension, and realizing that Andrea was upset with Valentine, Mrs. Anderson decided to be forthright. "Andrea, I'm your mother-in-law, but I'm also concerned about you and Val. I can't stand to see you two in constant conflict. I have to ask you directly, did you have sex with Lucas while you both were living as husband and wife?"