Chapter 177 046
“YOU are welcome, Uncle Val.”
That was Hazel, her voice calm and measured, after the long, almost unnecessary introduction by her mother about the sharp looking young man seated at the dining table.
Valentine turned fully toward her, a warm smile spreading across his face as he took in her composed posture and observant eyes. For a child her age, she carried herself with an awareness that was far beyond ordinary. He hadn't even experienced her display one yet, just the aura around her exposed that.
“Thank you, Hazel,” he said gently. “You are such a smart kid. Keep that up.”
Hazel smiled in response, but it was small and brief, polite rather than pleased. She nodded once, the way adults did when acknowledging a compliment they neither needed nor wanted. Then she turned on her heel and began to leave the dining area.
“Where are my brothers, Mom?” she asked, pausing only slightly.
Amelia dabbed her lips with a napkin before answering.
“They are in their room. They should be done with their nap by now. Quick, get them ready.”
Hazel froze.
Slowly, she turned back, her brows pulling together as suspicion crept into her expression.
“Really?” she asked. “You knew?”
Amelia turned to face her daughter, confused.
“Knew what?” she asked.
Hazel released a long sigh, the kind that carried frustration rather than exhaustion.
“Okay,” she said flatly. “Then why should I get them ready?”
Amelia hesitated, then replied casually, “Well, Charles is coming over today so you kids can spend some time together. Something fun. So go get your brothers ready. And please— be nice for once.”
As she spoke, Amelia turned briefly toward Valentine, flashing him an I told you look, one that spoke volumes without a single word. Valentine noticed, but he said nothing. He simply observed Hazel, who had walked back toward the dining table.
“Maybe you should cancel that appointment with your Charles,” Hazel said, folding her arms tightly across her chest.
Amelia turned slowly, disbelief flickering across her face before giving way to anger.
“Excuse you?” she snapped. “I am still your mother, Hazel.”
Hazel’s shoulders slumped. For a brief moment, the weight of being a child pressed heavily against her. Her voice softened.
“I’m sorry, Mommy,” she said. “But we are spending the night at Dad’s today. I already told him. He is already on his way here, and my brothers were excited about it. So the appointment with Charles… it is not going to be possible.”
Without waiting for a response, Hazel turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing faintly down the hall.
Amelia’s chest rose and fell rapidly as rage surged through her. Her fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palms. She pushed her chair back slightly as she rose halfway from her seat.
“Hazel!” she screamed. “Hazel!!”
Her voice carried sharp and loud through the house. Valentine, who had been silent all along, immediately leaned forward and stretched his hand toward her.
“Hey, sis,” he said calmly. “Sis… calm down, okay?”
Amelia spun toward him, eyes blazing.
“That brat,” she snapped. “That brat just spoke to me like that!”
“Please, calm down,” Valentine urged. “This isn’t helping.”
“And what the hell does Adrian think he is doing?” Amelia continued, her voice trembling with fury. “Always showing up whenever he feels like it. Planning days and nights out with the kids without my permission. These are things he refused to do when he had the chance! Now suddenly he wants to make amends?”
Valentine sighed deeply, rubbing his temple.
“Can you calm down, please?” he said. “Shouting won’t solve this.”
Amelia tilted her head slightly, her anger shifting into something darker, something like hurt.
“You see?” she said bitterly. “This is exactly what I told you. Hazel won’t even give Charles a chance. Any little time for them to bond, she runs off with her brothers to their father’s. It is exhausting.”
“You have to stay calm, Amelia,” Valentine said gently. “Charles will be here any minute now. You wouldn’t want him to see you like this, would you?”
Amelia inhaled deeply, forcing herself to breathe. Slowly, she exhaled, releasing the tight grip of her anger. Her shoulders relaxed just slightly.
Valentine smiled faintly.
“That is more like it. Thank you.”
Just then, the phone on the table rang, cutting through the tension like a blade. Valentine glanced down, his smile fading as he saw the caller ID. He picked it up and answered immediately.
“Valentine Rogers,” he said into the phone.
Amelia remained seated, absentmindedly twirling her cutlery between her fingers. Her thoughts spiraled. ‘Why was Hazel so determined to sabotage every effort?’ Amelia hadn’t even tried this time, yet somehow everything had unraveled again. Was Hazel truly protecting her brothers, or was she protecting Adrian’s place in their lives?
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice when Valentine ended the call.
He pushed his chair back and stood.
“Sis,” he said, adjusting his jacket, “I’m sorry, but I have to go. Duty calls.”
Amelia looked up, startled.
“Ah! So you too won’t get to meet him after all?”
Valentine chuckled softly.
“Come on,” he said. “I’m back now. There will be other chances. This one is important, my very first opportunity.”
She rose to her feet and stepped closer.
“I understand, my dear.”
They shared a brief side hug, and with that, Valentine walked out of the house, leaving Amelia alone with her thoughts, and the silence she hated most.