Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

29 Chapter 29

Valerie's POV 1

Anna had been working at Nightshadow Industries for three days now, and every evening brought delicious

updates that made my

vindictive heart sing with satisfaction. She'd callafter work, her voice bubbling with malicious excitement as

she described how

perfectly her plan was unfolding.

“You should see her face, Val,” Anna had whispered into the phone last night, her voice carrying that familiar

note of cruel pleasure |

remembered so well from our school days. “Every t| dump more work on her desk, every t| make her

fetch my coffee, she looks

like she wants to strangle me. But she can’t do anything about it because precious Damien thinks I'm his long-

lost love.”

I'd laughed until my sides hurt, imagining that pathetic omega bitch scrambling to keep up with Anna’s demands

while pretending

everything was fine. After years of watching Seraphina somehow land on her feet despite every obstacle thrown

her way, it was deeply

satisfying to know she was finally getting what she deserved.

But Anna’s best discovery had cyesterday afternoon.

“I found her address,” Anna had announced triumphantly. “And get this-I know where her little bastard goes to

school. Silver Moon

Harbor Elementary, just fifteen minutes from the office. The kid gets picked up every day at three-thirty by some

woman named

Ophelia.”

The information had sparked an idea so perfect, so beautifully cruel, that I'd actually shivered with anticipation.

If there was one thing |

knew about Seraphina Knight, it was that she would do absolutely anything to protect that child of hers.

Anything.

Which was exactly what | was counting on.

Now, sitting in Gabriel's pathetic excuse for a car outside our cramped apartment, | dialed my mother’s number

with steady fingers. The

phone rang twice before Elizabeth's familiar voice answered.

“Valerie? What do you want? I'm busy.”

“Hello to you too, Mother,” | said sweetly, injecting just enough sarcasm to let her know | wasn’t intimidated. “I

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

called because | have

sinteresting news about our dear adopted daughter.”

There was a pause, and | could practically hear Elizabeth's mental gears shifting. “Seraphina? What about her? |

thought we agreed that

ungrateful little bitch was dead to us.”

“Oh, she’s very much alive,” | said, settling back in the passenger seat with a satisfied smile. “In fact, she’s

doing quite well for herself.

Working at one of the most prestigious companies in Silver Moon Harbor, living in her own apartment, raising her

little bastard son.”

“I don’t care if she’s the CEO of the entire damn company,” Elizabeth snapped. “That girl chose to walk away

from this family. She made

her bed, and nowa€”” 1

“What if | told you she could still be useful to us?” | interrupted, knowing | had to play this carefully. Elizabeth

was greedy, but she was

also stubborn. | needed to make her think the idea was coming from her.

1/4

Another pause, longer this time. “What do you mean?”

“Think about it, Mother. Dad’s medical bills are getting worse every month. But Seraphina... she’s young,

healthy, and apparently quite beautiful according to my friend who works with her.” | paused for effect. “There

are men out there who would pay handsomely for a

woman like that.”

The silence that followed was so complete | wondered if the call had dropped. Then Elizabeth's voice cback,

lower and more

interested than before.

“What kind of men?”

“The kind with deep pockets and flexible morals,” | said, my pulse quickening as | sensed her taking the bait.

“Gabriel knows someone

from his... wilder days. A businessman named Harold Morrison. Very successful, very wealthy. He's been looking

for a wife for years.”

Elizabeth was quiet for a long moment, and | could practically hear her calculating. “How wealthy are we

talking?”

“Wealthy enough to cover Dad’s medical bills ten times over,” | said, knowing | had her now. “Wealthy enough to

buy you that house

you've always wanted in the nice part of town. Wealthy enough to make sure you never have to worry about

money again.”

“And this Harold person would be interested in Seraphina?”

“Mother, she’s twenty-three years old, beautiful, and has already proven she can bear children. Harold wouldn't

just be interested—he’d

be grateful.” | paused, playing my trump card. “The only problem is getting her to agree.

“She'd never agree,” Elizabeth said immediately.

“Not if she had the right motivation.” | said carefully.

| could hear Elizabeth's sharp intake of breath as understanding dawned. “The child.”

“I have her address,” | said, triumph flooding through my veins. “And | know where the boy goes to school.”

“Good. I'll handle the rest.” Elizabeth's voice had taken on that brisk, businesslike tone she used when she was

planning something particularly unpleasant. “You've done well, Valerie. This could solve all our problems.”

The next day, | checked my appearance in the car's rearview mirror, making sure | looked appropriately

respectable. My blonde hair was pulled back in a conservative style. Most importantly, I'd brought my

identification-the driver's license that clearly showed my legal nas Valerie Knight Nightshadow.

Slast nas Seraphina’s. Perfect.

The school day was ending, and | could see children beginning to emerge from the building in small groups, their

backpacks bouncing as they ran toward waiting parents and caregivers. | made my way to the main entrance,

where a tired-looking teacher with graying hair was checking off names on a clipboard.

“Excuse me,” | said, approaching her with my most winning smile. “I'm here to pick up my nephew, Adrian

Knight. His mother had an emergency at work and askedto collect him.”

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29 Chapter 29

The teacher looked up from her clipboard, her expression politely curious. “I'm sorry, but | don’t think we've met.

I'm Mrs. Henderson,

Adrian's teacher. And you are?”

“Valerie Knight,” | said, emphasizing the shared surnas I pulled out my driver's license. “Seraphina’s sister.

Well, stepsister

technically, but we're very close.”

Mrs. Henderson examined my identification carefully, noting the matching last name. “I see. And Seraphina

called to arrange this?”

“She tried to call the school, but the line was busy,” | said, my voice taking on just the right note of concern.

“She’s absolutely frantic

about this work emergency, and she knew Adrian would be worried if no one showed up to get him.”

“Well,” she said, glancing at her clipboard, “I suppose it’s alright. Adrian!” she called out toward the playground.

“Your aunt is here to pick

you up!”

A small figure detached itself from a group of children and crunning toward us, his dark curls bouncing with

each step.

“Hi,” Adrian said cautiously as he approached, his little backpack slung over one shoulder. His eyes were wary as

they studied my face,

clearly not recognizing me. “Are you really my aunt?”

“I am,” | said, crouching down to his eye level and speaking in the gentle tone I'd perfected during my brief stint

babysitting

neighborhood kids for extra cash. “Your mommy had to work late today, so she askedto cget you.”

Adrian's expression remained skeptical. “Mommy said only Aunt Ophelia is allowed to pickup. She said |

should never go with

strangers.”

“You're absolutely right to be careful,” | said approvingly, pulling out my driver's license again. “That's exactly

what smart boys do. But

look-see my name? It says Valerie Knight. Just like your mommy's name. That means we're family.”

Adrian studied the identification with the intense concentration only four-year-olds could manage, sounding out

the letters with

obvious effort. “V-A-L... Valerie. K-N-1... Knight.” He looked up atwith those devastating blue eyes. “You have

the slast nas

Mommy.”

“That's right. I'm your mommy's sister.” The lie ceasily, sweetened with just enough truth to be believable.

“She’s at work right now,

but she askedto pick you up because | have something very special to tell you.”

“What kind of special?”

I leaned closer, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “It's about your daddy.”

The change in Adrian's expression was immediate and heartbreaking. His eyes went wide, his small body

practically vibrating with

sudden excitement. “You know about my daddy? Mommy says she doesn’t know where he is.”

“I know exactly where he is,” | said, feeling only a small twinge of guilt at the hope blazing in those silver-blue

eyes. “But it's a secret, and

| can only tell you if you cwith me. Do you want to know about your daddy?”

Adrian nodded so enthusiastically | was afraid he might give himself whiplash. “Yes! Yes, please! | want to know

everything!”

ooo

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