Chapter 80 Promise Her

Chapter 80 Promise Her

All day long, Giselle was completely distracted.

Her coworkers kept asking about her relationship with Valentin. She had no chance to explain, and didn't even know how to explain.

Those curious or well-meaning looks made her uncomfortable all over. She knew that starting today, her peaceful life at Fuller Corporation was over.

She barely made it to the end of the workday and quickly left the office.

The cold winter night wind blew against her flushed face, but it couldn't blow away the frustration in her heart.

She dragged her tired body back to her apartment building. The familiar shabby walls and dim hallway actually gave her a long-lost sense of peace.

She automatically reached into her pocket for her keys, but her fingertips touched nothing.

Giselle froze for a moment, then suddenly remembered Valentin's teasing words that morning. Only then did she realize her keys were still in his hands.

Anger surged up instantly.

Her chest heaved with fury. She took out her phone to call a locksmith. Just then, the apartment door clicked and opened from inside.

Giselle stopped cold. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Valentin stood in the doorway. He was actually wearing a dark gray apron, his shirt sleeves rolled up high, revealing his strong forearms.

His eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses lifted slightly, with a half-smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"You're back?" His voice was low, with just the right touch of warmth, as if they really were a couple greeting each other home every day.

Giselle's mind went blank.

She was too shocked to speak. Why was he still here? Had he stayed in her apartment all day?

Valentin looked at her dazed expression, a barely noticeable smile flashing in his eyes.

He stepped aside to let her in. The gesture was so natural, as if he were the owner of this place.

"Dinner's ready. Just waiting for you."

Giselle walked into the room in a daze. Everything before her eyes made her freeze again.

The once simple rental apartment had completely changed.

The old sofa was gone, replaced with a new one. The dining table was covered with a clean tablecloth, set with two place settings, with a bouquet of fresh tulips in the center.

The air was filled with the faint aroma of food, warm and inviting.

She looked around this place that was both strange and familiar, a complex emotion rising in her heart.

Valentin always barged into her life in the most domineering way, yet touched her most vulnerable nerve with these thoughtful details.

"How much did all this cost?" Giselle's voice was a bit hoarse, breaking the momentary warmth.

She knew that everything he did wasn't without reason.

Valentin untied his apron, casually draped it over the back of the sofa, and walked up to her. His long fingers gently pressed on her shoulders, guiding her to sit at the dining table.

"Eat first." His tone was calm and allowed no refusal.

Giselle understood what he meant.

Looking at the elegant dishes on the table, her stomach was clearly very hungry, but she had no desire to pick up her utensils.

"Valentin." After a moment of silence, Giselle looked up, meeting his eyes directly. Her eyes held exhaustion and pleading. "Don't do this anymore. Don't push me anymore."

Valentin's movements paused. He looked into her eyes, his heart tightening.

He slowly sat down across from her, picked up his utensils, and placed a piece of tender fish in her bowl. His voice was low and serious. "Giselle, don't worry. I won't make you feel suffocated anymore. I'll respect you."

Respect.

Hearing that word come from Valentin's mouth was almost unbelievable.

Giselle looked at him, her clear eyes full of wariness and distrust.

A man who dared to keep her house keys and forcibly replace all her furniture was talking to her about respect?

Valentin seemed to see through her thoughts but didn't explain further.

He only said one thing. "Get some rest after eating. Don't stay up late."

With that, he actually picked up his coat from the sofa, put it on smoothly, and walked toward the door.

His back was straight and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

Giselle was completely stunned.

She thought he would pester her endlessly again tonight like last night, and had even prepared herself to argue with him to the end.

But he just left like that? So decisively, so readily.

The huge contrast left her heart feeling empty.

She looked at the brand new, expensive furniture throughout the room, at the steaming food on the table, then thought back to her sharp words just now, and an indescribable sense of guilt quietly crept up.

Valentin was crazy. But his craziness came wrapped in a clumsy, bulldozing tenderness—crushing, impossible to dodge.

The next morning, when Giselle came downstairs on time, that black Bentley was quietly parked at the building entrance as expected.

Valentin leaned against the car door, the morning light outlining his cool, sharp profile.

He held breakfast in his hand as usual. When he saw her, he naturally handed it over. His expression was as if last night's argument had never happened.

Day after day of punctual meal deliveries, plus rides in rain or shine, were like a fine, resilient net, quietly wrapping around her layer by layer.

Giselle took the breakfast. The warmth traveled from her fingertips.

She took a deep breath and finally gathered the courage to make their strange relationship completely clear.

"Valentin, you don't need to be so good to me. We—"

Before she could finish, Valentin had already opened the car door and interrupted her flatly. "You're going to be late."

Without waiting for her to speak again, he got straight into the car, leaving her with a back that refused any objection.

All of Giselle's words were stuck in her throat, unable to go up or down, finally turning into a helpless sigh.

She knew Valentin wasn't giving her any chance to refuse.

During lunch break, the office was unusually relaxed.

Coworkers gathered in small groups, eating takeout while quietly gossiping.

Giselle's name had become the center of the latest topic.

Just then, the office door was pushed open. Two uniformed police officers walked in, their expressions serious.

The previously noisy office instantly fell silent. Everyone's eyes turned toward them curiously.