Jack and Andrea strolled hand in hand towards the banquet hall exit, their laughter filling the air.
Behind them, Rose Ferguson couldn't resist the urge to follow, with Valentine Anderson quickly trailing after her.
"President Valentine," a guest called out, recognizing him in the crowd.
Valentine Anderson's expression turned dark as he snapped, "get lost!" His fierce demeanor sent the guests scurrying away in fear.
Hurriedly, he made his way out of the banquet hall only to find Rose engaged in a heated discussion with Jack, who held onto Andrea's arm.
In a fit of anger, Valentine Anderson wordlessly clenched his fist and struck Jack in the face, his voice filled with menace. "Keep your hands off her!"
Jack staggered back, blood staining his lips, as Rose, now composed, sharply exclaimed, "Valentine Anderson, are you trying to make me a widow?"
Ignoring her, Valentine Anderson seized Andrea's hand and led her towards the exit without uttering a single word.
Andrea followed him calmly until they reached the desolate parking lot.
Valentine Anderson raked his fingers through his hair, feeling increasingly frustrated and anxious as Andrea simply gazed at him in silence.
He had expected her to erupt in anger and argument, but her unusual composure only served to baffle and unsettle him.
"Andrea," he murmured, reaching out to touch her shoulders with trembling hands.
With a blank expression, Andrea met his gaze. "Why?" Valentine Anderson finally voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind.
Why couldn't Andrea forgive him?
Why did she choose Jack over him?
With a scoff, Andrea brushed off his hands and sneered, "How does it feel to see the one you believed was yours in someone else's embrace?"
Valentine Anderson was taken aback by the realization that Andrea's motive for hanging out with Jack was to retaliate against him. As he gathered his thoughts, a mixture of shock and pain crossed his face before he spoke up, "Andrea, I felt suffocated, like I couldn't breathe. It was like a thousand knives piercing my heart when I saw you both dancing together. I felt like my whole existence was meaningless."
Andrea looked at Valentine with surprise, unprepared for his sudden burst of emotion.
Tears welled up in Valentine's eyes as he continued, "Andrea, I understand you're still upset with me. Is there another way you can punish me? I can't bear to see you with someone else."
Andrea's gaze hardened as she realized the true source of Valentine's jealousy – his own ego.
"Who I choose to spend time with is none of your concern. I am no longer your wife," Andrea Singers responded firmly before turning to leave.
As she took three steps, Valentine Anderson reached out, grasping her arm and pulling her back towards him. She fell into his arms, her head finding rest on his chest as their eyes locked. In that moment, they felt completely isolated from the rest of the world.
Unable to resist, Valentine Anderson leaned in and kissed her. Andrea made no move to pull away.
Their lips remained entwined for a long moment. When the kiss finally ended, Valentine Anderson spoke softly, "Andrea, please forgive me. I love you, Andrea."
Andrea licked her lips, then let out a cold laugh before fixing an angry gaze on Valentine Anderson's face. "Do you love me?" she demanded.
Valentine Anderson's expression shifted abruptly, a dark premonition settling over him as Andrea pushed his chest impatiently, demanding an answer.
"I... I do love you, Andrea," Valentine confessed, his gaze full of longing. "Since you left, you've been all I can think about."
Andrea's face twisted with disbelief as she retorted, "You claim to love me, yet you played the part of a humble chauffeur when you picked me up from the airport. Did you truly think I would believe that the powerful president of Val. Corp was just a taxi driver? Do you still see me as that naive girl you once deceived?"
Valentine hung his head, overwhelmed with guilt and regret.
"You have no words left," Andrea sneered, her tone cutting. She turned on her heel and strode away toward the gleaming headlights, her driver already en route to pick her up.
Valentine stood in silence, watching her departure with a mix of frustration and sorrow. He knew he couldn't stop her, his guilt weighing heavily upon him.
After lingering there for a considerable time, Valentine Anderson eventually got into his car and made his way to the Singer mansion.
Upon reaching the gate, he noticed a complete turnover of the gatekeepers; Andrea had replaced all the household staff while they were away at the banquet.
"Sir, Ma'am Andrea Singer has instructed not to let you in," the gateman informed him firmly, following the strict orders given.
"Thank you," replied Valentine Anderson calmly, showing no signs of discouragement or attempting to push his way through. He simply stepped back into his car and settled in to wait, much to the bewilderment of the new gatekeepers.
Expecting him to drive off, the gatekeepers watched as an hour passed and the car's engine remained silent, indicating his lack of intention to leave.
Valentine Anderson eventually dozed off, only to wake up the next morning to find Andrea Singer's furious expression staring back at him through the windshield.
Stepping out of the car, he retrieved the bouquet of flowers he had purchased the night before.
"Darling, in five years of our marriage, I've never bought you flowers. Please accept these," Valentine Anderson said, a wide smile on his face, seemingly unaffected by Andrea's angry expression.
"Move the car; I'm running late," Andrea snapped, her mood far from affectionate.
"I will, but only if you accept my flowers," Valentine Anderson replied unabashedly.
Andrea clenched her teeth, resisting the urge to slap Valentine's smiling face.
"Hooligan," Andrea muttered under her breath as she snatched the flowers from him.
"Andrea, I'm going to court you properly until you agree to be my wife," Valentine Anderson declared with unwavering resolve.