Return With the Billionaire Baby Daddy-Chapter 42: knowing about Damian

At 11 am, Valerie was still at the daycare, which turned out to be not far from her new home, managed by her close friend, Sonia.

"I didn’t expect you to leave that day because of Clara’s madness," Sonia said, intense gaze fixed on Valerie, as Valerie watched Daniel learning and playing with his new friends. "She’s crazy; that day she disappeared... She didn’t say anything," Sonia continued, taking a sip of water from her bottle.

"Maybe she didn’t want to be embarrassed," Valerie replied.

"Or maybe she feels guilty."

Valerie sighed, looking around the green-themed room with games fostering children’s development.

"I don’t want to think about it anymore; it’s in the past," she said.

"Yes, but at least you should know what has been happening lately," Sonia replied.

Valerie turned immediately, looking at Sonia, casually dressed in a red and black outfit with her hair tied back.

"What happened?"

"A month after that event, she got involved in a scandal with a businessman... He’s old, 50 years old, and has a wife!" Sonia said with a serious expression, then sighed and shook her head. "I feel like we had the wrong friend. Maybe if we knew how bad she was, she wouldn’t have been part of that bachelor party," she continued, sounding regretful.

Valerie remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

"And unfortunately, Damian was tempted by her charm. If not, maybe you’d be happy with him, and your son wouldn’t be far from him," Sonia said, glancing at Daniel.

"There’s nothing to regret; it’s already happened." Valerie stood up. "I have to leave for a moment. I’ll ask Hannah to pick up Daniel later."

Sonia immediately stood up.

Valerie observed Daniel, engrossed in playing and learning. "I think he’ll be comfortable and won’t cry even when I’m gone."

"He’s like his father; you don’t need to worry," Sonia said with a smile.

Valerie just gave a faint smile, then quickly excused herself to leave the room. She walked towards the street, crossing the green yard with neatly trimmed grass, but her steps halted when she saw a car stop. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Mr. McCourtney," Valerie murmured.

Darius got out of the car, approaching Valerie while adjusting his robe.

"So, you feel capable of taking care of your son alone until I want to give him a considerable inheritance," he said with a sarcastic smile.

Valerie sighed, lifting her face slightly, seemingly unafraid of Darius’s attitude.

"I will take care of him without anyone’s help, even before you promised him an inheritance," she said. "And let me emphasize once again, I told Damian about him because it’s my duty as a mother. I have to let him know who his father is, and he has the right to know his firstborn son. It’s not about me wanting an inheritance!" she continued firmly.

"You say you don’t want the inheritance, but you’re playing with Damian. You’re messing with his mind, making him unable to move forward," Darius remarked.

"What do you mean?"

"You hurt him by accepting Samuel... I was pleased with your decision because he finally dared to decide to stop chasing you and accept the arranged marriage with Karina. But now, he’s changed his mind again because you didn’t accept Samuel! What do you want? Do you still want him or not? Didn’t I say, if you still want him, then go back, and if not, never open the door for him to come close to you again!"

Valerie was immediately stunned, her throat instantly dry, as if shocked by what Darius said.

’He accepted an arranged marriage with another girl?’ she thought, instantly haunted by Damian’s kiss last night. ’Did that happen before he kissed me? Does it mean he was silent for a few days because he was already thinking of distancing himself from me and accepting another woman?’

"You’re confusing me!" Darius exclaimed, clenching his jaw. "Maybe before he made a decision, I could accept you again if you wanted to be with him. But now, he’s already decided to accept the arranged marriage with that girl, and I can’t change it even if he forces it... You can’t play with decisions!" he continued angrily.

Valerie swallowed, slightly bowing her head, moistening her dry lips with her tongue.

"Sorry... I..."

"I know you must regret it because now he’ll belong to another girl!" Darius shouted before Valerie could finish speaking.

Valerie looked back at Darius.

"You must remember; you’re not perfect, you even have flaws... I can’t let my son keep chasing you while you keep chasing him, even though he stopped wanting you for a while... You should realize that it’s a sign that he’s tired of you!" Darius exclaimed angrily, his face turning red, unable to conceal his emotions.

"I didn’t mean to do that," Valerie replied, then turned her gaze to the street while thinking about Damian. "If he has indeed stopped chasing me, then it’s not a problem... Because I don’t want him to chase me," she continued.

"In that case, stay away from him!"

"I will stay away from him..."

"Go far away!" Darius took a check from his jacket pocket and handed it to Valerie. "Money, you can use it to buy a new house in another city without his knowledge. Never come back here before he marries my chosen girl!"

Valerie took the check, then looked at it, finding the amount written: $20,000.

"I know you want more because I can give it to you later through a transfer," Darius said with his arrogant gaze, but he furrowed his brow when he saw Valerie tearing it up.

"He’s still arrogant," Darius whispered with an annoyed look.

Valerie approached Darius again. "You can leave now; we have no business anymore. I don’t need your money and don’t promise any inheritance to my son. Consider him not part of your family," she said calmly, but her eyes radiated an undeniable disappointment.

Darius gave a thin smile. "Seems like you’re still arrogant. But that’s okay because it’s your choice. I know you’ll regret it."

Valerie remained silent, reluctant to look at Darius.

Stick to your words, never let peace come near you again. I’m the barrier between you two... I won’t let him come back to you. He’s better off with my chosen girl... She’s far better than you; she’s classy, and her family can bring benefits to me... Unlike your family!" Darius said again, then quickly returned to his car.

Valerie took a deep breath while clenching her fists as if holding back her emotions.

’I shouldn’t be angry; this is what I wanted. What else can I expect? I did hurt us by accepting Samuel even though I didn’t like him... So, this is the risk I have to accept... He deserves to be with a woman who can love him and not play with him,’ she thought, her eyes teary, as if still unwilling to accept Damian with another woman.

She immediately took her phone from her black pants pocket and tried to contact Elena, luckily getting an immediate answer.

"Mrs. McCourtney?"

"Hey, Valerie!" Elena sounded enthusiastic.

Valerie bit her lower lip as if nervous.

"You don’t usually call me," Elena remarked.

Valerie nodded anxiously and said, "I’ll move to that house if it means peace, and my father doesn’t find out about it."

"Of course, they won’t know. I’ll buy it directly under your name, using my undisclosed savings," Elena replied casually. "But why did you say that? Did my husband do something to you?"

"No... nothing happened. I just want to move soon and maybe focus better on working from that house," Valerie lied.

"Don’t worry, only my driver and I know about that house."

"Please, don’t tell Damian and his father... I want peace," Valerie pleaded.

"Don’t worry, I won’t tell."

"Thank you... Maybe I’ll move there later this evening."

"I can hire someone to help me."

"No... It’s not necessary... You’ve already helped me a lot," Valerie said, wiping away tears as if deeply hurt by the situation.

She glanced around, seemingly searching for assistance in her difficulty.

"I’ll only find peace if I don’t deal with them anymore... I can only help myself," she thought in her tears.