Only you in my love

When Valerie returned home, she couldn't bring herself to look Bryant's wife in the eyes. When the children started calling her, she turned a deaf ear to them and locked herself in her bedroom. She didn't turn on any lights.

She curled up in one corner of the room and nervously gnawed on her fist.

When Bryant returned home from work, his wife hung up his coat and told him, "Valerie just got back as well, but she didn't look good. The kids and I greeted her, but it was as if she didn't hear us.

Later, I knocked on her door and called her name several times, but she didn't respond. I became worried and tried to enter her room, but she had locked the door. I don't know what happened. Can you go upstairs and check on her for me? We're not as close as you are." "How long has it been?" Bryant undid the top buttons of his shirt and glanced at the stairs leading to the second floor.

"Nearly two hours."

"Okay, I'll go take a look."

Bryant went upstairs and knocked on Valerie's door. "Hey, Valerie. It's me. Can you open the door?"

His calm and deep voice seeped through the wooden door and broke through Valerie's trance. Hearing her cousin's voice made her feel a bit relieved.

When she had lived with the Feng family, everyone had treated her really well, including her cousin, Bryant. Back then, she didn't appreciate it.

The she left C Island. Years later, Bryant brought her to Lexingport City and continued to take good care of her. She was able to maintain her lifestyle as a rich lady, and she was able to pursue her passion for ballet.

Only then did she realize how good Bryant had been to her, and she sincerely cherished his kindness.

A thing became precious when it was rare. This was how Valerie felt about her cousin. Among the Feng family, only he spared any effort to look for her after she had left home.

She knew that she was dependent on him.

Valerie reluctantly unlocked her door. The lights were off and her hair was disheveled so Bryant couldn't get a good look at her face.

But he had a feeling that she was deathly afraid of something.

"Why haven't you turned on the lights in here?" Bryant asked, but Valerie wordlessly kept her head down. He sighed and said, "Can I come in? Talk to me." Valerie stepped back to let him in and then closed the door.

Bryant switched on the lights.

He eventually got a better look at Valerie's face, and he was surprised by what he saw. Her lipstick was smeared and her cheeks were stained with tear tracks. It was obvious that she had been crying.

"What happened, Valerie?" Bryant asked gently, afraid of frightening her.

Valerie returned to her corner and huddled there, wrapping her arms around her knees. She remained silent as if nothing mattered anymore. Bryant became even more concerned. He hunched down in front of her and patted her head comfortingly. "What happened, Valerie? Tell me." After a while, Valerie met his gaze and started to cry. "Bryant..."

The man was like a father figure to her. He always offered his support when she needed it the most.

She allowed herself to fall into Bryant's outstretched arms. She cried so much until it became hard for her to breathe.

Bryant could only pat her back gently. When her wailing subsided into hiccups, he tried asking her again, "What happened? Why are you upset?"

Valerie had cried so much that mascara streaked down her cheeks and the rest of her makeup got washed away with her tears.

She chewed on her bottom lip, unable to say anything.

Bryant stabbed a guess. "Is it because of Leon?"

In the past, Leon had been one of the reasons for Valerie's depression. She used to cry because she was trapped in his castle. Why was Leon making her sad this time? Valerie quickly shook her head.

But after a pause, she nodded.

Bryant recalled seeing Michelle by the gate of Leon's house recently.

"Did you find out that he and Michelle are a couple now?"

He didn't know it for sure, but he had a feeling that the two were currently in a romantic relationship. Leon had a crush on Michelle three years ago, but she ended up going abroad before he could confess his love to her. Now that Michelle was back, Bryant was sure that Leon would no longer hesitate to make his feelings known to her.

Recently, when he went to work, he always caught a glimpse of Leon taking Michelle by the hand and pulling her into his house.

At first, he was glad that Valerie had no reason to leave early in the mornings. Aware of how she felt for Leon these past three years, Bryant knew that such a sight would have made her sad.

He previously thought that Michelle's three-year trip abroad would diminish Leon's attraction to her. On the contrary, absence made the man's heart grow fonder, and he gave all his effort to search for her all over the globe.

Leon had been looking for Valerie, but that was only because he felt guilty. He felt that he owed her and he wanted to make up for any wrongdoing.

After watching Valerie perform the story of Giselle dozens of times, Bryant finally understood something.

From the very beginning, Leon had been attracted not to Valerie, but to the character she portrayed the simple and lively folk girl, Giselle.

And Michelle was very similar to Giselle in character.

She was the only woman that Leon truly liked.

He had tried to warn Valerie. She hadn't had the courage to stay by Leon's side back then. And now that he had fallen in love with someone else, she was unable to get close to him.

Valerie was headstrong when it came to getting her way. But it seemed like she wasn't going to win anything this time around.

Bryant sighed. "Well, I think Leon and Michelle are a couple. I'll understand if you need some time to cry, but try not to take too long, okay? And don't skip your meals. My wife and I worry about you."

Valerie lifted her head to meet his gaze. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. "They're a couple?"

"You didn't know?" Bryant thought she was so upset because of that. "Then why did you cry so hard just now?"

Stunned by this revelation, Valerie ignored her cousin's question.

'They're a couple?'

she wondered.

"Since when?" Valerie asked anxiously.

Bryant was quiet for a moment as he counted back the days in his head. "I think they've been together for a week or two."

"A week or two..." Valerie murmured. She slumped to the floor, looking like a deflated ball. Her face was pale as she muttered under her breath, "No wonder..."

Of course Bryant was confused. "No wonder what?"

"No wonder he threatened me." Valerie looked spiteful for a second and then she burst into another round of tears. "So they're now a couple. They were separated for three years, but how come they still have feelings for each other? Leon and I were separated for four years, and yet he moved on!" Her voice went up in volume in her frustration. "Why? Why can't it be me? What's so good about Michelle? Is she good enough to marry into the royal family? Is she princess material?

Is she capable of becoming queen?

No! She's just an amateur photographer from some no-name family. She thinks she's so awesome. How dare she try to guide me and offer advice!"

Her voice, already hoarse from crying, became even more grating as she spoke.

Her face kept changing expressions, switching quickly between disdain, hurt and rage.

Her reaction frightened Bryant a little bit. With a concerned frown, he held onto her shoulders and tried to bring his cousin's attention back to him.

"Hey. Calm down..." Bryant made sure to soften his tone as he spoke. "I didn't understand what you just said. Can you say all that again but slower? If not, I can just ask while you answer. How does that sound?"

Valerie sniffled. "Bryant, will you help me? No matter what happens, you'll always side with me, won't you? I'm your cousin. You have to be on my side."

Her eyes were watery. In her panicked state, she reminded him of a homeless woman, eager for any show of support.

Bryant looked at her for a while without saying anything.

"Bryant..." Valerie whined at him pitifully, tears streaming down her face once more.

Bryant was left with no choice but to nod.

"Of course. I will do everything I can to help you."☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐