Chapter 48: Forty Eight.

VALERIE

I woke slowly, then squeezed my eyes shut as sunlight forced its way through the curtains. I turned onto my side with a tired groan, blinking away the ache behind my eyes.

Then I heard voices.

At first, I brushed it off, sinking deeper into the mattress. But the sound didn’t stop. It swelled—overlapping voices, confident, familiar. Like the house was hosting company.

My forehead creased.

I slid out of bed, pulled the duvet from my legs, and stepped into the hallway.

Each step downstairs sharpened the noise until it was impossible to ignore.

When I reached the bottom step, I stopped abruptly.

The dining area was occupied.

Mr. and Mrs. Castillo were seated there. Lucas was seated with them too.

She looks much better now.

Mrs. Castillo’s voice trailed off mid-sentence the moment she noticed me.

Her eyes lit up.

“Oh, Vanessa dear, there you are,” she said warmly. “We were just talking about you.”

Mr. Castillo’s gaze lifted immediately, and Lucas’s eyes followed a second later.

Lucas’s expression softened as it settled on me, something quiet and unreadable flickering there. I felt it linger and deliberately tore my eyes away.

I stepped off the last stair and walked toward them, aware of his gaze tracking every step.

Mrs. Castillo rose the moment I reached the table, a wide smile spread across her face.

She drew me into a warm hug, her perfume faint and familiar. She held me for a moment before easing back, still smiling.

When she drew back, I smiled politely. “Good morning, Mrs. Castillo.”

I dipped my head toward Mr. Castillo. He smiled in return and patted my head, his gesture affectionate and approving.

We settled back into our seats as the chef stepped in to serve breakfast.

“I apologize for waking up late, Mr. and Mrs. Castillo,” I said softly.

Mrs. Castillo waved it off at once, smiling. “Oh, please. It’s no problem at all, my dear. You should rest as much as you like. There’s absolutely no issue with that.”

She leaned forward slightly, her tone still gentle. “I know how much effort you’ve put into taking care of Lucas these past few days—watching over him since the accident. That kind of devotion takes its toll.”

Her smile widened. “Lucas even told us you were asleep and insisted we didn’t disturb you.”

I managed a polite smile and glanced at Lucas.

He was already watching me. When he realized I’d noticed, his gaze dropped. He picked up his fork and began eating quietly, suddenly absorbed in his plate.

I glanced back at Mrs. Castillo. “You look much better, Mrs. Castillo. I didn’t realize you’d be here this morning.”

She smiled warmly. “All thanks to you, Valerie. Honestly, I don’t like to imagine how things might have ended if you hadn’t intervened.”

She smiled faintly. “The doctor said the mixture you gave me helped a great deal. He even advised it be kept prepared at home.”

I nodded and looked away, lips pressed into a modest smile, uncomfortable with the attention.

A hand rested over mine on the table.

I lifted my eyes to find Mrs. Castillo watching me intently. “Thank you for saving my life, my dear.”

I parted my lips to respond, but she gently stopped me. “Please, let me finish.”

I smiled and nodded. She was exaggerating.

“You could have chosen to do nothing,” she continued. “You saw my condition and still went to great lengths for me. For that, I am genuinely grateful. Who knows how much worse it could have become.”

Mr. Castillo placed his hand on her back.

“You spared us from something tragic,” he said quietly.

His expression hardened. “My wife has a severe nutmeg allergy. We’ve always been careful. Even the maid had no explanation for how it ended up in her meal.”

His voice hardened. “That negligence put her behind bars.”

My heart skipped painfully.

Behind bars?

I looked away, the words settling heavily in my chest. Before I could dwell on it, Mr. Castillo’s next question cut through my thoughts.

“I never knew you had a background in medicine, my dear.”

I snapped my head up, startled.

“That mixture you prepared,” he continued calmly, “when the doctor examined it, he said it held remarkable medical relevance. I must say, I’m impressed.”

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond as their attention shifted fully to me. Lucas leaned back and watched with a quiet smile, his fingers resting against his jaw.

“Umm… about that,” I said carefully. “I only did a bit of research. I enjoy studying, so I happened to come across it while reading. I’d never actually put it into practice before that day.”

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Lucas’s smile fade, but I didn’t look at him.

Mr. Castillo nodded approvingly. “That’s superb, my dear. Please, keep nurturing that curiosity. Talent reveals itself in moments like these.”

Mrs. Castillo reached across the table. “Since you became part of this family, things have only improved and become lighter.”

I smiled, but guilt prickled beneath my skin. Their gratitude felt misplaced.

Mr. Castillo cleared his throat, his expression and tone settling into something decisive.

“That is precisely why we have come to a conclusion,” he said calmly.

My fingers curled into my palms.

“We believe it is time to proceed fully,” he continued. “The business contract will be finalized with your family. Once the remaining clauses are settled, the agreement will be activated.”

Activated?

“And with that,” he added, “the union between the families will stand in good faith.”

The room seemed to tilt.

A billion-dollar contract.

No delays. No reversals.

I had known this was coming. I had always known. Yet hearing it said so plainly sent a cold wave through me.

Once the agreement was sealed, the families would be tied together—publicly, permanently. And if the truth ever surfaced… If they discovered I was not Vanessa, if they learned I had stood in her place from the very beginning…

Oh God.

A quiet dread settled deep in my bones.

A gentle squeeze grounded me.

Mrs. Castillo’s hand rested over mine, her eyes warm. “My dear?” she said softly. “You seem pale. Are you alright?”

I swallowed hard and forced my lips into a smile. “Yes,” I said faintly. “I’m okay.”

When I glanced at Lucas, I expected panic. Fear. Anything that mirrored the storm tearing through me.

Instead, he looked calm.

Too calm.

He met my gaze with a warm, unreadable smile that unsettled me deeply.

The maid appeared again, clearing her throat. “Should I bring dessert now?”

“Yes!” I blurted, louder than I intended, startling everyone.

The sound echoed.

Mrs. Castillo blinked. “Vanessa?”

“Actually, let me go,” I said quickly, already pushing my chair back. “I’ll bring it myself.”

I didn’t wait for permission.

I turned and hurried out of the dining area, leaving behind four pairs of confused eyes and the weight of everything I was running away from.