Chapter 24

"Fractured Trust"

Valeria's POV

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The morning after our date felt surreal. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my lips still tingling from the kiss we shared under the stars. A part of me couldn't believe I'd let myself get caught up in that moment—soft, vulnerable, and undeniably human.

And then there was Ren.

That damn man with his stupid smirk, intense eyes, and the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the world worth noticing. How did I let him sneak past every wall I'd built, every defense I thought was unbreakable?

I groaned, covering my face with a pillow. "Get a grip, Vee. You're not a lovestruck teenager."

But the truth was, I liked him.

No. Scratch that. I was starting to like him. That warm, fuzzy feeling in my chest when I thought about him? Yeah, that was a problem. It made me reckless. It made me weak.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking my train of thought. I reached for it, and the sight of Raymond's name on the screen made my stomach twist.

"We need to meet. Now."

Just like that, the spell was broken. Reality came crashing down around me, dousing any lingering warmth with a cold, harsh slap.

What was I doing? Playing house with Ren? Dreaming about kisses and stars while the man who took everything from me still walked free?

I swung my legs off the bed, the hardwood floor cool against my bare feet. I didn't have time for this. No time for emotions, for distractions, for Ren.

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I met Raymond in a dimly lit bar on the outskirts of the city. The kind of place where no one asked questions, and everyone pretended not to notice the bloodstains on the floor.

He was already there when I arrived, sitting in a corner booth, his face shadowed by the dim light overhead. He looked like the predator he was, calm and calculated, sipping whiskey like he owned the world.

"Valeria," he said with that smooth, oily smile that made my skin crawl. "You're late."

"Traffic," I replied flatly, sliding into the seat across from him.

He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Got something for me?"

I reached into my bag and pulled out a small USB drive, sliding it across the table. "Everything you asked for. And more."

The lie came easily. The drive was a decoy, filled with carefully curated nonsense that would lead him in circles without giving away anything useful.

He picked it up, turning it over in his fingers like he could see through the deceit. "You're being awfully cooperative these days."

"Maybe I just got tired of fighting," I said, keeping my tone neutral.

Raymond's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Good. Because if I even suspect you're playing games, Valeria..." He trailed off, his fingers tightening around the drive. "Let's just say I wouldn't want to be in your shoes."

"Noted," I said, meeting his gaze without flinching.

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By the time I returned to the penthouse, the weight of the encounter hung over me like a storm cloud. I felt dirty, like I needed to scrub Raymond's presence off my skin.

Ren was waiting for me in the living room, his expression unreadable.

"Long day?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with an undertone of suspicion.

"You could say that," I replied, brushing past him.

"Darling."

I stopped but didn't turn around. His voice had that edge—the one that told me he wasn't in the mood for games.

"What?"

"You've been... distant," he said, stepping closer. "Is this about last night?"

"No," I lied. "This is about me focusing on what matters. I can't afford to get... sidetracked."

"Sidetracked," he repeated, his tone flat.

I turned to face him, crossing my arms. "Look, Moretti, I don't need you analyzing my every move. I've got my own shit to deal with, okay?"

His jaw tightened, but he didn't press. "Fine. But don't shut me out."

I didn't respond. Instead, I turned and walked away, retreating to the sanctuary of my room.

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Sitting at my desk, I stared at my laptop, the screen glowing faintly in the dark. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating.

I wanted revenge. I wanted to destroy Raymond, to tear apart the empire he built on the ruins of my life. But the thought of dragging Ren into my mess made my chest ache.

I couldn't afford to care about him.

Not when the cost was so high.

I steeled myself, pushing every emotion, every lingering thought of Ren, into a box and locking it tight. Cipher didn't have feelings. Cipher didn't get attached.

It was time to remember who I was.

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˗ˏˋ Author's note ˎˊ˗

Heyy (✿◡‿◡)

*hides*

I'm sorry okay?! But it's not easy for Vee to open up just like that with all her trauma.

Please Vote and comment to make another insignificant human happy (^◕.◕^)

Question of chapter:

Brush your teeth with mustard or wash your hair with mayonnaise?

Ughh...

that's hard...

let's just go with Brush your teeth with mustard. At least we can wash our mouth afterwards.

It's a good day <3

Byeeee

Izel

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