Chapter 12: Valerie's Final Secret
Alex met Valerie the next day.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he needed answers.
She looked nervous.
For the first time since he knew her...
she looked afraid.
"What did you mean?"
Valerie avoided his eyes.
"I didn't tell you everything."
Alex felt his stomach tighten.
"About the elevator?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
He stared at her.
"Valerie..."
"I was scared."
"I know."
"No."
She looked up.
"You don't."
She took a deep breath.
"When the elevator stopped, I called you."
Alex froze.
"What?"
"I called you before the emergency button was pressed."
His face changed.
"Why?"
Valerie looked away.
"Because I knew you would come."
The room became silent.
Alex's voice lowered.
"What are you saying?"
She swallowed.
"I knew if you heard my voice..."
"You would choose me."
Those words destroyed something inside him.
Because suddenly...
he understood.
The rescue wasn't where everything went wrong.
It started long before.
Valerie knew.
Lucy knew.
Everyone knew.
Except him.
"You manipulated me."
Valerie shook her head.
"I needed someone."
"No."
Alex stood.
"You needed me to prove I still belonged to you."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"You loved me once."
"I married Lucy."
The words shocked even him.
Because they were the first honest words he had said in months.
Valerie looked at him.
"And now?"
Alex had no answer.
Because Lucy had been right.
May you like
He had spent so long trying to protect Valerie's feelings...
that he destroyed the woman who actually loved him.
