Chapter 184 Consequences of our parents' actions

Chapter 184 Consequences of our parents' actions
Valeria's POV 
The next morning, after my shower, I sat in front of my dresser, staring at my reflection. 

I picked up a section of my hair and ran my fingers through it. It was starting to get straighter instead of holding the curly look I preferred.

I sighed.

I hadn't really had time to take care of myself lately.

Between school, the breakup, and everything else happening around me, I had barely paid attention to how I looked.

Today, I was going to change that. 

Reaching for my curling iron, I plugged it in. I sectioned my hair and carefully curled the ends, letting each section fall into soft curls around my shoulders. 

When I was done, I looked at myself again.

Better.

Much better. 

I grabbed my makeup bag and applied a little concealer, brushed my brows, added some mascara, and lightly glossed my lips.

Nothing too much. Just enough to make me feel like myself again.

I tilted my head toward the mirror.

Okay. I looked very pretty.

At least something was going right in my life today.

I quickly got dressed for school, grabbed my bag, and headed downstairs. Then I made my way outside toward my car. 

As I was about opening the door to get in, Hector hurried toward me. "Valeria."

I turned. "What is it?"

He looked uneasy. "I don't know if it's safe outside this house. There are reporters waiting for you at the gates."

I frowned. "Reporters?"

He nodded. "I think they'll be asking about your father.”

Of course they would. I had never even thought for a moment that this was likely to happen.

"Maybe you should let the driver take you today," Hector said.

"I'll be okay," I said, forcing a small smile.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I'll be fine."

I opened my car door and got inside. Then, I started the engine and pulled out of the driveway.

As I drove toward the gates, I saw them swarming outside like predators waiting for prey. I took a deep breath and continued driving.  

The moment I reached the gates, cameras appeared everywhere.

People surrounded my car, holding microphones toward the windows and taking pictures.

“Valeria! What do you have to say about your father's arrest?”

“Did you know about his connection to the Iron Kings?”

“Is your father guilty?”

“Do you think your father should go to prison?”

I rolled my windows up, blocking out whatever they were saying. I kept my eyes on the road, my hands tightening around the steering wheel. Carefully, I maneuvered through them, making sure I didn't hit anyone as they crowded around my car.

Eventually, I made it through.

I exhaled heavily, shook my head and drove toward school.

Apparently, I didn't get to escape the madness there either. These people were already at strategic points with their cameras and microphones, waiting to pounce on me or anyone else related to this case.

My heart was already thudding as I drove closer and closer to the school parking lot.

Lord, how would I escape this?

I parked my car and sat there for a moment, staring through the windshield.

Maybe if I stayed inside long enough, they'd get bored and leave. But I doubted that. Because these people were ready to wait until whenever I showed up. 

Finally, I grabbed my bag and stepped out. 

One of the reporters immediately sighted me. Her eyes widened like she had found a great treasure. She didn't waste any second before running toward me with her microphone.

I sighed and quickly shut my car door. But as I turned around, I was shocked by the number of people who were already swarming me, pushing their phones and microphones toward me.

“Valeria!”

“Valeria, is your father involved with the Iron Kings?”

“Did you know he was laundering money?”

“Has your father spoken to you since his arrest?”

“When are you going to visit him in prison?”

“Is it true your father invested millions into the Iron Kings?”

My breathing became shallow. There were too many people, too many voices at the same time.

“Excuse me,” I said, trying to move. But they wouldn't let me.

Another person stepped in front of me. “Valeria, just one question!”

“Excuse me, I need to get to class.”

Another microphone appeared inches from my face. “Did your father ever confess his involvement to you?”

And that's when I started feeling like I couldn't breathe properly. My fingers began to tremble around the strap of my bag. 

There was nowhere to go. The reporters were everywhere. I couldn't even see the school building at this point. 

The questions kept coming, the cameras still flashing.

Calm down, Valeria. I told myself.

And suddenly, it felt like the walls were closing in around me. I swallowed hard, trying to pull air into my lungs.

“I... I need to go.”

But nobody moved. It was as if they didn't even hear me. 

My heart hammered against my ribs. It felt like I was going to have a full-blown panic attack right there in front of everyone.

I didn't even know what was happening anymore. The voices, the cameras and the flashes had all blended together. Everything felt too loud.

Then suddenly, someone grabbed my wrist. I flinched and looked up.

It was Rowan.

I stared at him, trying to keep my gaze there and no where else. 

The reporters immediately gravitated toward him.

“Rowan! What do you have to say about your mother’s arrest?”

“Did you know about her involvement with the Iron Kings?”

“Do you believe that Valeria’s father was also involved?”

“Are your families connected to the same criminal organization?”

Rowan's grip remained tight around my wrist. He looked at the reporters, his expression hard. 

“Both my mother and Valeria’s father were involved,” he said. “You guys know that, so why are you still asking?”

A few reporters immediately started talking over each other.

“But—”

“Were you aware—”

“Does that mean you and Valeria—”

“It has nothing to do with us,” His voice cut through them.

The reporters became quiet. 

“Being their children doesn't mean we should take the fall for their actions. We didn't know what they were doing, and we had nothing to do with it.” His jaw tightened. “So stop harassing us.” 

One reporter shoved a microphone closer. “Are you saying you had no knowledge of the crimes?”

These people were just daft.

Rowan didn't reply.

Another camera flashed in my face. I turned my head, burying my face in Rowan's shoulder.

He immediately stepped in front of me. “I said stop harassing us.”

Then he pulled me closer, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as he guided me away.

I followed him, keeping up with his quick strides. With every step, the noise behind us seemed to fade.

The reporters still followed, but there weren't as many surrounding us anymore. And Rowan's long strides gave us some distance from them. 

I took one huge inhale, allowing air to fill my lungs. I hadn't even realized how badly I had been holding my breath until then.

“Are you okay?” Rowan asked, glancing down at me.

I nodded, even though I wasn't sure. “Yeah. Thank you.”

“It's nothing.”

We reached the school entrance, and Rowan held the door open for me. The moment I stepped inside, I thought it would be better, but no. My relief disappeared instantly.

Everyone was staring. Students standing by the lockers turned to look at us. Some began whispering behind their hands. Others didn't even bother hiding it.

“I can't believe her dad got arrested. He's one of the big donors of the school.”

“And Rowan. His mom was arrested too.” 

“Why are they walking together?”

“Didn't they say his mom tried to kill Zayne's mother?”

“I heard Valeria's dad was involved with the bikers.”

“Are they related somehow?”

“Why is Valeria with Rowan lately? I hardly see her with Zayne.”

My stomach twisted. 

I kept my eyes forward, wishing I could just disappear.

I hated the way everyone was looking at me like I was some kind of criminal. Like I was responsible for everything my father had done.

My grip tightened on the strap of my bag.

“Don't listen to them,” Rowan murmured. 

I looked at him. “I... I can hear them.”

He stopped and turned to look at me. “All they say means nothing.”

My throat tightened.

Rowan resumed walking. I followed him, pretending the whispers weren't slowly breaking me apart.

My dad had just one thing to do before getting away from my life. And all he could do was disgrace me.

I started my senior year in Ashford High with a humiliation, and I would be ending it with a much bigger humiliation.