Chapter 46 Unyielding Bonds
Stefan's POV ~
The Lovtan summit hall hummed and buzzed with excitement while I waited, the crowd's whispers reverberating off the ceiling, but all I could focus on was Valenticia. Her exceptional cleavage supported her otherworldly poise, the jade hairpin from Rosanna glittered in her dark hair, the way her radiant sapphire gown draped her curves. Her speech kicked off, voice strong, and authoritative: “Seryne’s rumors—doctored audios, spurious contracts—are lies. I’m Clawford’s heir, in blood and grit. We’ll create, with New Dream, a tech hub for Wyllbron.” I leaned forward, my heart swelling. She glanced at me, grinned, and I nodded as pride welled up — there was no stopping her.
An applause broke out as her speech finished, but the reporters swarmed, their questions pointed. "Miss Clawford, do you happen to be Galden's experimental model?" one shouted, camera flashing. I walked up, my gravely CEO attitude acting as a barrier, my voice slicing through. “That story is a lie—Galden’s just trying to smear her. Just check their accounts at Nexus Ventures; all of their funding can be traced back to the leaks. The reporter stumbled, scrawling, and another pressed, “Evidence, Mr. Myles?” I smirked, leaning close. “Audit Clawford’s books—clean as crystal. Now back off.” They fell back, my words acted as a barrier around her.
We left arm in arm and I placed my hand on her back — leading her through the marble foyer of the summit. I looked over at her in the Bentley, and my voice was warm. “You were amazing, Valenticia. That speech — they’re eating out of your hand.” She blushed, her fingers fumbling with her ring. “Because of you,” she said soft-eyed. “I felt you with me.” I squeezed her hand.
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We left for my safe house where we met Gideon, who was waiting for me, his laptop shining in the darkness. Valenticia was sitting at my side, her jeans exchanged for her gown, her presence anchoring. Gideon’s voice was grim. “The memo — was faked, implicating Valenticia in a merger swindle. Was traced to Gregor’s Nexus account.” I clenched my teeth. “We trap him,” I said, a plan hatching. “Use the memo to draw out his Galden enforcer—the one with the scars from Pier 17. Catch him, get his files.” A light glinted in Valenticia’s eyes now, her voice steadier. “I’m in, Stefan. I need to end this.”
I paused, my fear of having her not close to me palatable. “I would love to have you with me always,” I said, my voice firm. “But you stay close.” She nodded and tugged her knife into the waist of her soaked pants. Gideon had hacked the enforcer’s burner phone and dispatched a fake drop-off signal, convincing him to meet at a waterfront warehouse tonight.
The warehouse was looming when the two of them approached under Lovtan’s darker sky that contained no moon, with walls creaking in rust. Valenticia and I ducked in, a shadow among crates, my gun holstered, her blade drawn. The enforcer — burly, scarred — showed up, clutching a tablet and muttering about “Gregor’s memo.” I raised my hand, and we pounded, my voice low. “Drop it, now.” He whirled, a blade whipping from its sheath, and leaped. I push Valenticia behind a crate and smash my fist into his jaw, his dagger getting a good swipe at my arm. Valenticia sprang, her knife cutting his arm, blood seeping, her violence matching mine. “Back off!” she hissed, eyes blazing.
A second thug appeared, holding a gun, and I brought him down as well, tumbling into a stack of crates, wood cracking. Valenticia kicked his wrist, disarming him, stifling, her breath harsh. I took the tablet, its screen illuminated by files., and we ran, the enforcer’s yells receding. With our heart drumming, we ran to the Bentley and drove off to the safe house. “You okay?” “What is that?” I said, peering at her, as I found a tiny cut on her hand bleeding. She nodded, fiercely. “We got it.”
We were now at the safe house, where I bandaged her cut, my fingers light, the antiseptic sting causing her to wince. "You were something else," I said, my pride thick, thumbing her palm. Her eyes locked with mine, soft, flaming, she bent closer, our lips covering for a full, burning kiss. A moan rumbled over me, my hands cradling her face and my pulse pounding. We pulled apart, panting, her blush furious and I grinned, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Trouble, heiress,” I replied, and she laughed, leaning on my arm.
We looked at the tablet, its contents in a Pandora’s box. One of them caught my attention: Galden Serum, Subject V, 1999. It described memory transformation, linked to Dr. Marrow’s clinic, with V.C. — Valenticia’s initials. My blood ran cold—she was a test subject child with the induced amnesia? She scowled at the screen, confused. “What’s Subject V?” she asked, voice curious. I nodded, “Must be some old Galden code,” I lied, my chest squeezing, keeping the truth from her to protect her.