Revenge In Repose (Valerie and Aiden) novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Valerie set down her brush and called out sweetly, “Dad.”

“Mmm?” David strolled over with a smile. “What are you two up to? I could hear your giggles all the way from the hall.”

“We’re practicing calligraphy!” Kelly beamed like she’d just unearthed a national treasure. She held up Valerie’s work and said proudly, “Look, Valerie just wrote this!”

David, a man with a refined taste for art and calligraphy, leaned in for a closer look. His eyes immediately lit up. “You wrote this?”

Valerie flushed a little and nodded. “It was just something casual.”

“Not bad, not bad at all,” David said, nodding with approval. “Very nice.”

Three “not bads” in a row–it was high praise from him.

Kelly puffed out her cheeks and declared, “I wrote something too!” She held out her own piece, but David barely glanced at it before grimacing, “Is this supposed to be writing or animals scratch? Looks like talons to me.”

Kelly’s eyes widened in outrage. “Excuse me? That is clearly clerical script! You better look again–those strokes are beautiful. Why do you only compliment Valerie and not me? Valerie, be honest–doesn’t mine look good too?”

Valerie couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s lovely. I can’t write clerical script at all.”

Kelly smirked triumphantly. “See? Everyone’s got their strengths and weaknesses. Valerie may be the master of seal script, but when it comes to clerical, I’ve got her beat. Right, Dad?”

David hesitated. “Er, well…”

“Dad!” Kelly whined, stamping her foot.

Not wanting to lie outright, David quickly changed the subject. “Time for dinner, come on.”

Kelly pouted. “Don’t change the subject!”

*

David cleared his throat and turned to Valerie. “Why don’t you go wake Aiden? He’s been sleeping forever.”

“Sure,” Valerie said, setting the brush down and heading out.

Kelly clung to her father like a koala. “Come on, Dad, just say something nice about mine.”

David finally gave in with a sigh. “Fine, it’s… nice. Just… my conscience hurts a little.”

Valerie chuckled at their exchange but couldn’t help the subtle ache that tugged at her heart.

This was what a real family looked like.

This warmth, this teasing, this easy affection.

Everett had never treated her this way.

No matter what, adopted children were adopted.

There was always a divide between that and blood.

1/3

Chapter 82

She made her way to Aiden’s room like it was second nature, knocking gently on the door. No answer.

He must be sound asleep.

Quietly, she cracked the door open and stepped inside. The room was dark, the curtains still drawn tight.

Moving softly, Valerie approached and pulled the curtains open, letting in the dusky gold light of sunset. A warm breeze drifted in, crop with the scent of early spring.

She turned—and spotted the lump in the bed.

Walking over, she gently shook his shoulder. “Time to get up.”

Aiden didn’t budge.

She lifted a corner of the blanket–and out shot a large hand, veined and strong, wrapping firmly around her slender wrist.

Valerie’s breath hitched. She glanced down at the culprit.

A second later, that hand pulled hard, and she yelped as she was dragged right into the bed.

Aiden’s arms came around her, cocooning her as his head emerged from under the covers. Eyes still shut, voice husky and fazy from sleep, he murmured,

“Just five more minutes…”

His voice was like velvet brushing against her ear, soft and sultry, making her heart skip.

She froze, her entire body tense.

They’d been this close before–closer, even–but somehow, this time felt different. More real. More raw.

Turning her head, she studied his sleeping face. Eyes closed, lashes long and dark, his nose straight and sharp.

His breathing was slow and even. He looked… peaceful.

She rarely saw him like this. Stripped of his cold edges, Aiden looked like a sculpture crafted by the gods–flawless, breathtaking, almost innocent.

Valerie couldn’t resist. She gently touched his nose and whispered, “Come on, time to wash up and eat.”

He wrinkled his nose like a sleepy cat swatting away a mosquito.

She laughed quietly and playfully pinched his nose. “Get up.”

Aiden finally opened his eyes.

Dark, intense, and still drowsy–but already gleaming with alertness.

Valerie’s heart stuttered. She scrambled to get up, suddenly very aware of what she’d just done.

‘Did I seriously think he looked harmless just now and decide to mess with him? What was I thinking?!‘

She tried to retreat, but before she could escape, he caught her again and effortlessly dragged her back into his arms.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, voice low and gravelly from sleep. “What were you doing just now?”

His warm breath ghosted over her skin. Valerie’s whole body went stiff. She quickly shook her head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Hm?” Aiden’s eyes narrowed slightly.