Chapter 52 Back Home
"Are you having an affair with that young Cain?"
Deborah froze in the center of the grand Valmere living room as Caelum’s voice thundered through the marble walls. The doors had barely closed behind them after arriving from Italy, yet the interrogation began instantly, sharp, relentless, and merciless.
Lucio threw his jacket onto the couch, his expression twisted in disbelief. “Deborah, answer him.”
Casper crossed his arms tightly, jaw grinding as he stared at her like she had committed the biggest betrayal of her life. “You disappear without a word. You drag us across Europe. You come home with Luther Cain suddenly showing up? How do you think this looks?”
Knight leaned against the far column, silent… too silent. His eyes never left Deborah, not judging, not angry, but knowing. Watching. As if he already understood more than he should.
Deborah swallowed, feeling her chest tighten. “I’m not.... we’re not— it’s not what you think.”
Caelum stepped forward. “Then what is it? Because Luther Cain flew into another country the second he heard you were gone. Because he confronted Ylmaz? Because you talk to him every single day? Because he acted like—”
“Like he had a right to you,” Lucio finished sharply.
Deborah clenched her fists. “He doesn’t have any right over me.”
“Then why did he look like that?” Casper snapped. “Why did he show up in Amalfi like a man whose wife ran away?”
Knight’s voice finally cut through, calm but piercing. “Because Deborah tells him things she doesn’t tell us.”
Silence.
Deborah’s eyes widened slightly. “Knight—”
He didn’t look away. “I’m not against you. But it’s the truth.”
Caelum exhaled slowly, frustration etched into every line of his face. “Deborah… why didn’t you tell us? Any of us?”
“Because you wouldn’t let me go, you never do, and... I didn't tell him,” she whispered.
Lucio scoffed. “We protect you. You’re our sister.”
“And I’m an adult,” Deborah countered.
Casper shook his head. “Adults don’t vanish overseas with another man.”
She winced. Even if it was unfair, the words still hit her like stones. Before she could respond, footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Lysander entered first, brows raised in confusion. “What on earth is happening? Why are all of you yelling?”
Right behind him, Aston walked in, hands in his pockets, posture casual but eyes alert. “We heard shouting from outside.”
And then Rionessi Valmere stepped forward.
Their father.
His presence alone made everyone inhale sharply. Tall, composed, powerful, wrapped in the calm authority of a man the world feared yet respected.
He looked at his children one by one before settling his gaze on Deborah. “Explain.”
Deborah felt her throat tighten. “Dad, I—”
But Lucio cut her off. “Deborah went to Italy without telling us. She only informed you.”
Aston blinked. “Italy?”
Lysander let out a low whistle. “Damn, Deborah.”
Casper continued, “She went with Ylmaz. And Luther Cain followed afterward.”
Aston’s brows shot up. “Cain? Why the hell.... You mean our rival?”
Rionessi lifted a hand, silencing all of them.
“Enough. Deborah, you made a reckless decision. But that’s not what matters now.”
Caelum frowned. “Dad—”
Rionessi turned to him. “We have bigger problems.” The brothers exchanged tense glances.
Lysander’s expression darkened. “The Cortez?”
Rionessi nodded once. “Cortez-Valmere Group officially pulled out from their contract with us.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Deborah felt her chest sink. The Cortez and Valmere partnership was massive. years of business, investments, projects worth billions. Losing them was like losing a pillar of the Valmere empire.
Lucio swore under his breath. “That’s a direct attack.”
Casper’s jaw tightened. “We can strategize, negotiate—”
“We won’t,” Rionessi said firmly. All his sons stared at him in disbelief.
Knight straightened from the column. “You’re giving up a contract that big?”
Rionessi’s expression remained unreadable. “Yes.”
“Why?” Caelum demanded.
“Because fighting them now benefits them, not us,” Rionessi replied calmly. “They want us rattled. They want us chasing them. They want us to react. We won’t.”
Aston nodded slowly. “He’s right. If they want a show of weakness, we won’t give them one.” Lysander exhaled heavily. “Still… losing them hurts.”
“It does,” Rionessi agreed. “But we’ll recover.” Silence settled for a moment.
Then Rionessi shifted his gaze back to his daughter.
“Deborah,” he said gently, too gently, which made her heart twist. “You didn’t cause this. The Cortez had decided long before you left. They’re aligning with someone else. This was bound to happen.”
Deborah looked down, guilt still gnawing at her. “But leaving made everything worse.”
“No,” Knight intervened, voice surprisingly soft. “What happened with the contract has nothing to do with Deborah.”
Caelum sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Still… you should have told us.”
“I know, sorry,” she whispered.
Rionessi placed a hand on her shoulder, firm but reassuring. “Next time, tell your brothers. Even if you need space. I can manage them. You'd learn your lessons, princess.”
Deborah nodded meekly. After a moment, he spoke again, this time addressing everyone.
“For now, we focus on the event the Devereaux family is hosting next week. The passing of their empire to their heir. All of us will attend.”
Lucio blinked. “All of us? But we have meetings in the France next week.”
“Yes,” Rionessi said. “We cannot appear shaken. The Valmere name must remain strong. All must attend.”
Casper rolled his shoulders. “Fine. We’ll prepare.” Aston stretched his arms lazily. “Guess we’re wearing suits again.”
Lysander smirked. “Deborah’s coming with us, right? No more escapes?”
All his brothers turned to her sharply.
Deborah’s cheeks burned. “I wasn’t planning another escape.” Knight murmured, “Hopefully.”
Caelum let out a breath, part frustration, part relief. “Good. Because this family has had enough chaos for a month.”
Rionessi nodded once, finalizing the conversation. “Then it’s settled.” The room became quieter, tension slowly easing, though not disappearing.
Because questions still lingered. Because Luther’s anger still echoed. Because secrets still hung in the air. But for now… The Valmeres stood united again. Bruised. Shaken.Confused. But together. And Deborah felt all their eyes on her, protective, demanding, worried, loving in their own twisted ways.