Trading My Ex for His Uncle



Valarie smirked. "I know. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to do."

Anthony stepped aside with a nod, and Valarie got back into her car, driving off.

She had originally planned to meet Nyla, but changed her mind and headed straight for the Genge residence instead.

When she arrived, a maid greeted her, "Ms. Weir, Mr. Genge is waiting for you in the living room."

Valarie snickered. Tom had known all along she would come.

Entering the living room, she found Tom lounging on the sofa with a smile. She mirrored his expression and sat across from him.

"Tom, didn't I tell you I want nothing to do with you and don't want to see you again?" Valarie asked.

Although she was smiling, her gaze was icy, filled with disdain.

Tom was unfazed by her attitude. Calmly, he poured her a cup of coffee. "I can't stand seeing anyone bully you, so I did something about it. How is that wrong?"

Valarie took the cup he handed her and promptly poured its contents into the trash bin beside her.

"I don't need your fake kindness!" she snapped.

Tom raised an eyebrow. "Fake? Is Brandon's affection any more real?"noveldrama

"At least he's more genuine than you," Valarie shot back.

Her words wiped the smile off Tom's face.

"If he really cared about you, would he just stand by while the Weir

et

Group teeters on the brink of bankruptcy? If he were truly genuine, wouldn't he have done something when he found out Zayn tried to

assault you?

"If what you consider 'genuine' is a show with zero effort or cost, then yes, he's very genuine," Tom taunted.

His mocking tone made Valarie frown.

"And what right do you have to criticize him? At least he doesn't cheat on me or disappoint me over and over again," she retorted.

Tom paused before replying, "Yes, I

made a mistake five years ago. But I

never touched anyone else. I just

didn't realize what I felt. Are you really going to judge me for one mistake?"

"Once unfaithful, always unfaithful. I'm not giving you another chance. If you mess up again, it's on me for being naïve," Valarie answered.

"I won't make another mistake. That's just your bitter assumption," Tom argued.

et

Valarie chuckled. "Don't you get it?

Whether or not you'd make another

mistake, won't give you another chance. Stop with these pointless gestures. I don't need them. And leave the Updike Group alone"

With that, she turned to leave.

Watching her go, Tom smirked. "Well, Valarie, if you trust Brandon that much, let's see if he can resist temptation."

Valarie halted, turning back to glare at him. "Tom, the more you meddle, the more I despise you. If you try anything with Brandon, I won't let you get away with it!"

Seeing her so fiercely defend Brandon wiped the smile from Tom's face, leaving him cold.

He stepped closer, an ominous tension filling the air. "Valarie, if you keep defending him, I can't guarantee what I might do."

Valarie held his gaze, unafraid. "Do whatever you want. It won't change anything, and I'm not scared. But don't think for a second I'll come back to you."