Chapter 7

• The Reynolds Household
• Valerie's father Richard, along with Bianca, Camilla, and David were seated in the living room, enjoying afternoon tea. Camilla took a sip from her china cup before remarking, "It's a good thing you didn't marry that girl, David. Your parents would have been so disappointed."
• David nodded confidently. "I'm not stupid, Aunt Camilla. I know exactly the type of woman my parents expect me to have." He gave Bianca an approving look.
• Bianca listened with her heart thumping in joy, though she played the picture of innocence. "But I still think we shouldn't have done it like this. We really hurt Valerie's feelings. She'll never forgive me...I don't want my sister to hate me."
• Richard waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it, honey. She won't hate you."
• "Maybe we should hold off getting married right now, David?" Bianca glanced at him uncertainly.
• David shook his head. "No, we'll get married as soon as possible. Valerie will get over it."
• "You should ask your parents to come over so we can meet them properly," Camilla suggested.
• "Of course, Aunt Camilla. They'll be happy to meet all of you as well." David gave a confident smile.
• Camilla smiled back. "We have so much to discuss to make your engagement official with Bianca."
• Despite Bianca's feigned concerns, it was clear she relished being the new chosen bride as the family began making joyful wedding plans - all at Valerie's expense.
• Bianca kept her expression perfectly composed, the picture of sweet innocence. But her eyes glinted with satisfaction at David's words affirming their upcoming marriage. She hid her true feelings well.
• "I just worry about hurting my dear sister's feelings," Bianca said, placing a delicate hand over her heart. "Valerie and I were so close growing up. This will devastate her."
• The fake concern dripped from her lips like poisoned honey. In truth, Bianca relished Valerie's pain and humiliation after being discarded so publicly by David. She had been waiting years for this moment to steal away her stepsister's life.
• Richard gave a rough chuckle at Bianca's words, sloshing his tea as he waved a beefy hand. "Don't fret about Valerie. That ungrateful girl has been jealous of you for years anyway, my dear."
• His eyes shone with a sickening adoration reserved only for Bianca. It was obvious to everyone that she was the favored daughter, despite having no blood relation to Richard at all. Camilla smirked at her husband's obvious bias.
• "Your father is right, Bianca," Camilla purred, resting a bony hand on her stepdaughter's arm. "Valerie has been trying to come between us since your father and I married. She's resentful and spoiled."
• Bianca gave a tinkling laugh, palming Camilla's hand. Their mutual disdain for Valerie bonded the awful stepmother and daughter together like co-conspirators.
• "You're absolutely right. I don't know why I let myself feel even a moment of guilt over her," Bianca said sweetly. "Valerie brought this on herself by being so selfish and possessive of Daddy's love."
• Richard's chest puffed up, clearly loving the way his precious Bianca spoke of him. David watched the display with a satisfied grin, eager to fully join this twisted family at last.
• "Don't worry, princess," Richard cooed at Bianca, using the nickname that would make Valerie's blood boil if she heard it. "Ungrateful Valerie can go starve on the streets for all I care now. You'll be the recipient of my full inheritance, as it should be. Just as soon as you and David here make it legal."
• David reached over to grasp Bianca's hand, leaning close with a charming smile. "You'll want for nothing, my love. Not with the fortunes that will be ours between your father's money and my family's business empire. A queen deserves no less."
• Bianca giggled like a smitten girl, bringing David's hand to her lips and kissing his knuckles demurely. Evil glinted briefly behind those wide, false innocent eyes of hers.
• "You spoil me, darling. I'm just overjoyed Valerie's path is finally clear for the life I was born for." Her gaze flicked triumphantly to Camilla. "No more obstacle in our way."
• The two women shared a look of co-conspirators vanquishing their common enemy - poor naive Valerie. Their family bond was one of mutually appreciation for each other's cruelty and skill at deception.
• "Quite right, my dear," Camilla said with a thin smile. "We must celebrate the day when that dreadful girl is out of our lives for good."
• Richard raised his teacup jovially. "A toast then! To being rid of Valerie and her ghastly mother's roots poisoning this family at last!"
• The wicked quartet clinked glasses, sealing Valerie's miserable fate as they plotted and preened. Discarding her had brought them all such giddy delight.
• After clinking glasses triumphantly, Bianca allowed her innocent mask to slip ever so slightly. A sly smile curved her red lips as she turned to David.
• "We simply must set a date for our wedding night soon, my darling," she purred, trailing a finger along his jaw. "I can't bear the thought of waiting too long to make our union official."
• David's eyes heated at her brazen touch. "As my wife insists," he murmured huskily, capturing her wandering hand to press a heated kiss to her knuckles.
• Richard grunted in approval at the bold display between the betrothed lovers. "Don't be too eager there, Son. At least allow us to have Valerie's inheritance situation settled first."
• "Yes, let's take care of that dreadful business," Camilla interjected, waving a hand dismissively. "We wouldn't want her trying to contest the will when she realizes her free ride is over."
• A mean laugh rumbled from Richard's barrel chest. "That silly girl wouldn't know what to do! My lawyers have it iron-clad - old man Ashford's fortune transfers to me in full if Valerie remains unmarried by her twenty-third birthday. And I'll be damned if one cent goes to that ungrateful wretch over my darling Bianca!"
• Bianca aimed a saccharine pout at her doting father. "Oh Daddy, you're too good to us. I simply can't wait to be a blushing bride and make you proud as the lady of your estate."
• "My smart, beautiful princess," Richard cooed, patting Bianca's hand adoringly. "You were made to inherit everything."
• Sickening as the blatant favoritism was, Camilla withheld her sneer of disgust. As long as the money remained in their grasping hands, she could tolerate her husband's undisguised fawning over his stepdaughter. Their alliance remained intact.
• Bianca caught her stepmother's gaze then and the barest hint of a smirk played across her lips. The two diabolical women had Valerie Ashford precisely where they wanted her - alone, humiliated, and soon to be penniless.
• "Once we're wed, we simply must go on an extravagant honeymoon," Bianca announced loftily, stroking David's forearm. "A luxury tour of Europe, perhaps? Or a private villa in Bali?"
• Trailing her fingers up his sleeve, she batted her long lashes at her besotted fiancé. "Money won't be an issue for us to travel in ultimate style, will it David?"
• David leaned closer, his gaze burning with ardor and greed. "Nothing will be out of reach once we're married, my love. Wealth, power, fame...it will all be ours as the heirs to both our family legacies."
• The couple gazed at each other with undisguised avarice, drunk on their impending fortunes and indifferent to whose lives they ruined to obtain it. Valerie's world had already crumbled to make way for their ascent.
• Richard chuckled heartily at their rapacious looks. Yes, David would make a fine son-in-law to carry on his empire with Bianca. And when Valerie was inevitably cast out, disinherited and left on the streets where she belonged, there would be no one to stop them.