Chapter 61 Event
“Deborah?”
Her hand froze on the doorknob.
Knight’s voice is low, rough, too perceptive echoed down the quiet hallway. When she turned, he was already there, leaning against the wall with one ankle crossed over the other, arms folded over his chest as if he had been waiting for her to emerge.
His eyes swept over her face, sharp as a blade.
“You look... tired.”
It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t even criticism. Just a fact, spoken softly enough to sting.
Deborah forced a small, practiced smile. “Just a heavy night. I’m fine.”
Knight didn’t buy it, not for a second. His brows dipped the slightest bit, and that tiny change held more concern than a dozen questions. But he didn’t push. He never pushed unless necessary.
“Fundano wants us downstairs,” he said, voice returning to its usual coolness. “Breakfast. Mandatory.”
Of course it was. Fundano Valmere didn’t hold casual breakfasts. If he called the heirs together this early, something was coming....something heavy enough to pull every sibling into formation.
Deborah adjusted her shirt, smoothed her hair, and inhaled through her nose. Knight’s eyes followed every movement, silently noting the tension in her shoulders, the slight tremor in her fingers.
“Let’s go,” she whispered.
The dining hall was already half-filled when they arrived. Caelum, Lucio, Aston, Lysander, and Casper sat scattered across the long table, each rigid in posture, each avoiding unnecessary conversation. The chandeliers above bathed the room in a golden glow that made the morning feel heavier rather than brighter.
Caelum was the first to look up at her. “Morning,” he murmured.
She smiled, faint but sincere. “Morning.”
Casper, freshly arrived from Europe, lifted his cup in greeting with a lazy grin. “Deb,” he drawled. “Haven’t seen you in days.”
She nodded back. “Welcome home, Cas.”
He winked, ever the charmer. Even jet-lagged, he carried that effortless confidence the tabloids worshiped. Then the room shifted.
Fundano Valmere stepped inside.
Every heir straightened, shoulders squared, jaws clenched, breaths measured. Deborah mirrored them instinctively. Fundano wasn’t loud, but his presence commanded the entire mansion. The air itself seemed to rearrange to accommodate him.
His sharp gaze scanned each face before settling intentionally on Deborah.
“Did you sleep well, Occeania?”
Faking calm under his stare required discipline only a Valmere could master. “Y-yes, uncle.”
A pause. A silent assessment. Then a curt nod.
He took the head seat.
“We have an important event in tomorrow,” Fundano began. “The Devereaux Global Summit. Every major name in finance, tech, tourism, and politics will attend. This family....”his eyes slid to each heir “will be watched closely. No mistakes. They will be having event first, then next day is event again passing their inheritance to the heir.”
Every brother stiffened subtly.
“Deborah,” he continued, “you will be presented formally. You are the only daughter of Valmere. You must appear flawless. There are many media and you should answer their questions if necessary.”
The words cut sharper than a reprimand. Flawless. Unbreakable. Untouched by pain.
Deborah bowed her head slightly. “I understand, uncle.”
Breakfast continued under tension thick enough to choke on. Fundano demanded updates, business expansion, mergers, acquisitions. Each brother answered with precision. Casual conversation didn’t exist here. Every word mattered.
When Fundano finally dismissed them, Deborah exhaled for what felt like the first time in an hour.
She barely stepped into the hallway before Knight caught her wrist but not harsh, just firm enough to halt her.
“Wait.”
She turned. His eyes bore into hers, unreadable yet too knowing. “You do realize,” Knight murmured, “that Luther’s company is attending the event.”
Her entire body went still. She hadn’t known.
Her breath caught, her stomach dropped, and Knight saw it instantly. His jaw hardened.
“Are you sure you can do this?” he asked quietly.
Deborah forced air into her lungs. Forced her voice steady.
“I’ll be fine.”
Knight didn’t believe it. His silence said as much. But he wasn’t her keeper. He couldn’t hold her back, not officially. Not when the forbidden line between them already burned on both sides.
Before he could speak again, Caelum approached from behind.
“You two okay?” he asked, eyes scanning her too thoroughly.
“I’m fine,” Deborah said quickly while her eyes widen. She didn't know if Caelum heard what they are talking.
Knight’s stare disagreed.
Caelum stepped closer, lowering his voice. “If you need anything, Debbie… say so.”
She offered a small smile. “I will.”
But they all knew she wouldn’t.
\---
Later, as the morning sun sharpened across the marble floors, Caelum mentioned something she hadn’t expected.
“The Montelione heir will be at the summit. Their father wants to discuss a partnership.”
Deborah frowned. “Why does that involve me?”
“They’re inquiring about you. Consider it… interest.”
Knight scoffed. “Interest is a dangerous word.”
Deborah sighed. Another complication. Another person watching her. Another pressure woven into the Valmere name.
\---
Night settled over the mansion like a heavy blanket. The halls fell quiet. One by one, the brothers retreated into their own corners of the estate. Only the guards and the soft hum of security drones remained awake.
Deborah stepped onto her balcony, breathed in the cold air, and finally....finally let her mask slip.
Her chest ached. Her eyes burned.
The silence felt cruel.
She had cut Luther off. She had chosen loyalty. She had chosen the family.
So why did it feel like shards were stuck in her lungs when she tried to breathe?
Her fingers trembled as she pressed them to her lips, stifling any sound that dared escape. A heiress didn’t break. A Valmere didn’t fall apart.
Yet here she was.
Below, in the shadows of the courtyard, Knight stood leaning against a stone pillar. Watching her. Not intruding. Not approaching. But guarding her the way he always did...silently, painfully aware, bound by rules he could never break.
He didn’t need to hear her cry to know. And he had never felt more helpless.
\---
Deborah eventually get inside. She sat on the edge of her bed, wiped her eyes, inhaled deeply trying to reclaim her composure.
Then.. .Her phone buzzed.
She froze.
One message. One name.
Luther.
Her heart lurched violently in her chest. Her thumb hovered before she tapped the screen, breath shattering in her throat.
The message was short.
“See you at the event.”