Chapter 132 The Fall Apart
Chapter one hundred and thirty two
Valenticia’s POV
I woke up to my phone vibrating nonstop. At first, I thought it was an alarm or maybe a reminder about something I had forgotten. But when I reached for my phone and saw the screen… my stomach tightened.
Hundreds of notifications.
Messages. Missed calls. Emails. Alerts.
I opened one, then another, then more, and my hands began to shake.
There were insults. Threats. Articles about me. Videos with my name in the caption. People talking about me like they knew me.
“She ruined the wedding.”
“She destroyed Natasha’s life.”
“She stole someone else’s man.”
“She deserves the downfall coming to her.”
I sat up fast, breathing hard.
My name was everywhere.
I whispered, “No… not today… please.”
But it didn’t stop.
My company board sent messages too.
EMERGENCY MEETING – TODAY.
We need to address your involvement in the lawsuit. Your connection to Stefan is damaging the company.
I pressed my hands to my face. I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw my phone away. Everything was heavy already. Nona was gone. My house felt empty. My heart hurt. Now this?
“This is too much…” I whispered to myself.
I tried to stand but my legs felt weak. Anger rose up inside me. “I cannot believe Natasha is dragging me into this when Nona just died. She has no conscience.”
I walked to the kitchen, trying to make tea, but my hands shook too much. The cup slipped. Tea spilled down my arm. I hissed and dropped it in the sink.
My phone buzzed again.
Lucas.
Lucas Ryder:
We need to talk. Urgently. I can help you.
I ignored him.
Another message came seconds later.
Lucas:
Your company will crumble if you do nothing.
Meet me today.
I locked my phone and dropped it on the counter.
I didn’t want his offer. I didn’t want his calm voice or his strange confidence. I didn’t want another man telling me what to do.
I needed silence, but I wasn’t getting any.
Around noon, I went to the office because the board demanded it. The moment I walked in, everyone stared at me. People whispered. Some avoided my eyes.
I entered the conference room, and the tension was thick.
One of the board members spoke first.
“Valenticia, this situation is damaging the company.”
Another added, “Your involvement in Stefan Hale’s scandal is affecting our partnerships.”
I frowned. “I wasn’t involved. Natasha dragged my name into something I didn’t start.”
“That doesn’t matter to the public,” a woman said. “Investors are pulling out.”
“Brands want distance from your image,” someone else added.
My heart started pounding fast. “What are you saying?”
“We are giving you time to fix your public reputation,” the chairman said. “If you cannot stabilize things, we may have to temporarily move you away from executive duties.”
I felt like the floor under me cracked. “You’re thinking of removing me?”
I looked around the room. No one met my eyes.
I stood slowly. “I just buried my grandmother. I am grieving. And now you want me to clean up a mess I didn’t create?”
The chairman cleared his throat. “We understand your loss. But the company cannot crumble because of personal matters.”
My jaw clenched. “I’ll handle it,” I said and walked out.
I barely made it to my office before tears burned my eyes.
The moment I closed the door, I let out a small cry. I pressed a hand over my mouth to stop myself from breaking completely.
A knock came a few minutes later. When I opened the door, Dimitri stood there holding food in his hands.
“Val…” he said softly, “you didn’t answer my texts. Are you okay?”
I wiped my face. “No… I’m not.”
He stepped inside quickly and set the food down.
“What happened?”
I sat on the couch, covering my face again.
“Everything is falling apart. Nona is gone. The media hates me. My company is turning on me. Investors are leaving. I can’t handle this.”
Dimitri kneeled in front of me. “Val, breathe. I’m here. You’re not alone.”
I shook my head. “I feel trapped. Like no matter what I do, something else collapses.”
He gently lifted my chin. “You will not drown in this. I won’t let you.”
The kindness in his eyes made my chest ache even more.
He sat beside me and pulled me into his arms. I let myself lean on him because I couldn’t hold anything inside anymore. I cried into his shoulder, shaking from anger and grief and exhaustion.
After a long moment, I whispered, “Why is this happening…”
“Because Natasha wants revenge,” Dimitri said quietly. “She wants to destroy Stefan. And anyone connected to him.”
I closed my eyes. “I want everything to stop…”
My phone buzzed in my pocket again. I ignored it.
Dimitri sighed. “Is that Stefan again?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I can’t talk to him. Not now.”
“Then don’t,” he said. “Take your time.”
I nodded weakly, even though nothing felt right.
Hours later, I drove home feeling empty. I sat on my bed for a long time, staring at Nona’s picture.
“I miss you…” I whispered. “I need you.”
My phone rang again. I almost didn’t answer. But when I saw who it was, my heart jumped.
My Attorney
I picked up quickly.
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
Her voice was serious. “Valenticia… Natasha’s camp just filed more documents.”
My grip on the phone tightened. “What documents?”
There was a short pause before she replied. “They have officially named you as part of the lawsuit.”
I froze.
“What?”
“You are being accused of manipulating Stefan emotionally and causing the wedding collapse. You are now involved legally.”
My breath caught. “What… what do you mean legally?”
“You will need to prepare a defense. They are targeting you too.”
I felt my world tilt. She continued, “Valenticia… I’m sorry. But this is now a legal battle.”
“This cannot be happening.”I whispered, shaking,