My Love Until the Last Goodbye by Alut

Chapter 0207 Chapter 0207 The next morning, Valerie's bedroom was filled with the lingering scent of Marcus's cologne. Her alarm went off, and she noticed that Marcus was no longer there. He must have woken up early and left before she stirred. It was Friday, and she needed to get ready for work. As she moved around the bed, Serenity began to wake, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Mommy, Mommy! Daddy cto see me!" the little girl shid, her voice filled with excitement and a bright smile. "What?" Valerie asked, confused.

"Daddy came! He slept with me..." Serenity said, pointing herself.

Though she was still young and her sentences were simple he effort Serenity made to tell her this warmed Valerie's heart. For her daughter, Marcus was already a father figure. He was the only man consistently present in her life, especially since Camille only rented rooms to worden. Valerie couldn't bring herself to correct her daughter, so she gently explained: *Serene, Mr. Bartz broughthlast night, and he cto see you. He fell asleep while watching over you, and I slept on the other side of the bed." "Yes, Mommy, you were sleeping..." Serenity said with conviction.

"How do you know?" "I saw you! Daddy left," she replied confidently.

Valerie was surprised. Clearly, Serenity had woken up and seen Marcus leave. While her speech was still simple, Valerie understood exactly what her daughter meant.

When Marcus woke earlier that morning, a cold sweat ran down his spine. For a brief moment, he didn't recognize the room and panicked. He tried to sit up quickly, but small hands clung tightly to his shirt. Serenity, still sound asleep, was curled against his chest, her feet near Valerie's head.

He remembered how she had stirred during the night, sitting up and calling him "Daddy." Trying to soothe her back to sleep, he had lain down beside her, intending only to stay for a moment. But between the soft light and his exhaustion, he had drifted off. The next thing he remembered was waking up to find his glasses neatly placed on the nightstand and a pink blanket draped over him. Valerie must have taken care of him, but the details were fuzzy. Or were they? Marcus wasn't sure.

Valerie turned on the TV and put on Serenity's favorite show to keep her occupied while she got ready for work. She washed up and went to her small wardrobe to find something to wear. Most employees at the office wore standard company shirts, which they could pair with skirts or pants. Lately, Valerie had been sticking exclusively to pants.

But as she rifled through her clothes, she realized with dismay that all her pants were in the laundry. Digging deeper, she found a black formal skirt at the very back of her wardrobe. She had pushed it there for a reason but couldn't remember why at the moment. With no other choice, she put it on.

When Valerie emerged from her room, Camille had already prepared breakfast. As part of their unspoken arrangement, Valerie gave Camille extra money to buy groceries and cook meals for both of them. It was a silent deal that worked well for them.

After eating quickly, Valerie kissed Serenity goodbye, giving her the blessing that Camille had taught her. It had Chapter 0207 beca ritual she never skipped, always entrusting her daughter to the care of all the angels.

Camille, too, gave Valerie her blessing and called out with a cheeky smile as Valerie rushed out the door, "Go on, dear! We'll see you tonight. And you look gorgeous today" #25 BONUS

Valerie usually wore flats during her commute and changed into heels once she got to work. Today, as she ΟΠ approached the company building, she began to notice the states. They weren't casual glances-these were lingering, appreciative looks. That's when she remembered why she had banished this skirt to the back of her wardrobe.

The innocent-looking A-line skirt had an asymmetrical front with large diagonal buttons. It reached her knees but clung perfectly to her hips and emphasized her figure in a way that made her und uncomfortable.

Whenever she wore it, she attracted attention-flattering comments, flirtatious smiles, and overly friendly behavior from men. It made her uneasy, knowing exactly what those reactions were about. That's why she had stopped wearing it. But today, she had been in too much of a hurry to think. With no other choice, Valerie tugged at the hem, trying futilely to make it longer. It didn't help. She took a deep breath, resigned to her fate, and walked into the building, heading for the CEO's office.

Valerie had a meeting to prepare for later that afternoon with an important client. She needed to organize all the to necessary documents and ensure everything was ready, Standing in the elevator, she kept pulling at the skirt, trying to make herself feel less self-conscious. When the elevator bell chimed, signaling her arrival on the top floor, she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

'Valerie, you're an adult. For God's sake, don't let a silly shift ruin your day. Get to work-bills don't pay themselves!" she told herself, stepping confidently out of the elevator and into the office.