Return With the Billionaire Baby Daddy-Chapter 41: stay away from them

At 8 in the morning...

Valerie enjoyed the morning atmosphere with her mother, Leonne, and Daniel while waiting for the school bus.

"Damian came too late last night. Doesn’t he know that by that time, Daniel is already asleep?" Dana asked, dipping a croissant into her coffee.

"I think he knows," replied Valerie lazily, her gaze fixed ahead. "He came for me."

"I know that, he’s looking for you, not Daniel," added Leonne, advising Valerie. "If you still like him, you should just marry him before he gets taken by someone else. You’ll regret it."

Valerie fell silent, contemplating Leonne’s words.

Dana smiled, seemingly pleased with Leonne’s explanation. "Your little sister even knows what’s best for you," she said.

"Sometimes what you think is best for me isn’t the best for me. I feel it, so don’t judge too quickly," Valerie replied, turning her face back towards the yard. "Now everything is not like it used to be... It’s like there are too many wounds in our relationship. It’s too awkward to go back."

"But you let him kiss you!" exclaimed Leonne.

"That was forced," Valerie retorted. "It’s proof that he never respected my decision... He’s always infuriating!"

"You say it’s forced, but you let him kiss you for so long! You can’t lie to a witness!" Leonne teased.

"Shut up!" Valerie snapped. "And you shouldn’t be watching adult activities!"

"I didn’t mean to see!"

"You should have left immediately, not keep watching!"

"I couldn’t, last night I was shocked that you were willing him to kiss you, so I kept watching!" Leonne defended. "It’s not my fault, it’s yours!"

Valerie sighed, choosing silence and turning her face away.

Leonne continued to laugh, looking at Valerie who seemed unwilling to accept that she still wanted Damian.

The school bus honked from the street.

"The school bus is here," Dana said, standing up.

Leonne quickly kissed Daniel on both cheeks, then kissed her mother, and ran towards the waiting school bus.

Valerie approached Daniel, who was a bit messy from eating pancakes with cream, strawberries, and a bit of sausage.

"Are you full?" she asked.

"Yes... Full," Daniel replied, leaning his head on the chair.

Valerie chuckled. "You’ll be sleepy after eating. Now, let’s clean your face," she said, lifting Daniel from the chair.

"Are you going to bathe him?" Dana asked.

"No, Mom, I’ll just wipe his face," Valerie replied, carrying Daniel inside, but her attention was drawn to a newly arrived car. "Samuel," she said, realizing it was Samuel’s car.

Dana noticed Daniel’s mess. "Let me clean him up," she offered.

Valerie let her mother take Daniel, then she lifted the small table and chair, carrying them to the living room near the door. After that, she returned to the porch, and Samuel approached with a smile.

’This is the first time we’ve met since I made him angry. Turns out he’s not angry anymore,’ Valerie thought.

"It’s hard not to stop by here," Samuel said, glancing elsewhere as if uneasy under Valerie’s gaze. "My office is quite close to this area, so I’ll always pass by here," he continued, looking back at Valerie.

"Um... It’s good," Valerie replied with a faint smile. "But maybe you deliberately did that... I mean... You intentionally found a job close to this house..."

"You know it, so I can easily meet you and Daniel." Samuel smiled shyly, then focused on Valerie’s lips, recalling Hannah’s message from the previous night. "But I don’t want to expect too much again. I can’t force you to accept me... I’m sorry for that night, I was really upset..."

"No, I should apologize. I was rude; I seemed to be playing with you," Valerie said, moistening her dry lips with her tongue, looking at Samuel who had always been good to her but also had a negative influence. "I sincerely apologize, but I never intended to hurt you..."

"I understand your decision, Valerie. Everyone has the right to make decisions, including you, the decision to choose Damian over me," Samuel said before Valerie could finish.

Valerie furrowed her brow.

"I know you plan to go back to him, and I won’t be angry because it’s the best for you and Daniel," Samuel continued.

Valerie immediately shook her head. "Who said that? I mean, who said that I will go back to him?"

"I don’t need to be told by anyone; I can see it in your eyes and your attitude," Samuel explained, taking a deep breath, seemingly uncomfortable with the situation.

"I have no plans to go back to him. I think he also has no such plans... Right now, I want to focus on myself and my family. I don’t want to depend on you or him. I have to succeed for Daniel’s future," she said, looking away.

Samuel nodded. "Then let me remain your supporter. Don’t let our friendship fall apart just because I once expressed my feelings."

Valerie fell silent, still looking awkward.

"I will also focus on myself... I also need to succeed for my future, maybe with a good girl like you," Samuel said with a determined look.

Valerie immediately looked at Samuel sadly. "I know you will find a girl much better than me. You’re a good man, so you’ll find a good girl," she said.

Samuel just nodded.

Valerie hugged him. ’Forgive me, Samuel... I just don’t want to add more problems,’ she thought.

Samuel remained silent, returning the hug, but his heart said, ’All I want is you. Maybe for now, I can only let you make your decision, but I will never let you become Damian’s wife or anyone else’s!’

Hannah was cleaning the living room carpet with a vacuum, seeing Valerie still hugging Samuel.

’Damn!’ she thought, quickly moving away from the door, but their hug shadows were already imprinted in her mind. ’Who does she want, Samuel or Damian? Why does she seem to want them both? Why is she like this? And why does Samuel still want her?’ she wondered, then glanced towards the door again and saw Samuel smiling face to face with Valerie.

’I can’t let this happen

Damian must continue to pursue Valerie, or even marry her soon. Samuel will only belong to me!’

Hannah took her phone from the gray pants pocket, sending a message to Damian.

"Samuel is here.

He hugged Valerie."

"Hannah."

Valerie’s sudden arrival startled Hannah, causing her to accidentally drop her phone. She quickly picked it up, smiling nervously at Valerie.

"Um... I wanted to throw out some dust, but I hesitated because you’re still with Samuel," she stammered.

Valerie sighed. "He’s gone now. After this, I’ll take Daniel to daycare..."

"Daycare?"

Valerie nodded. "He needs to start learning... And maybe after this, we’ll move to my new house," she said, walking towards the family room.

Hannah followed Valerie, full of curiosity. "Where are we moving, and why do we have to move?"

"I’m tired... I need a quiet place, a place unknown to Samuel or Damian or Mr. McCourtney," Valerie explained wearily as if she truly couldn’t bear to meet them again.

Hannah fell silent, allowing Valerie to continue walking into the kitchen. She hurriedly checked her phone again, scanning the messages.