VALERIE POV“Ballocks!!” He yelled and smashed his drink in anger. “How dare those imbeciles belittle and downgrade my princess to a slave!”"Grandpa, please, you need to calm down. This isn’t good for your health either,” I begged in desperation.Ever since Liam, my cousin, brought me home, the entire household has been in an uproar. Well, not everyone, but then...“You should have seen how they looked at her when I went to pick her up; only heaven knows what Val endured in that family!” Liam added furiously.“She herself decided to go there, didn't she?" Liam's mom walked in. "I thought you found the love of her life.” She taunted, her voice dripping with scorn.“Youngsters and reckless decisions, where’s the undying love you wouldn’t shut your mouth about now, huh? Her husband added with a chuckle.I hate to admit, but their jabs did hit a spot—a very wounded spot at that. But I can’t continue with that; it was high time I moved on.Three years was more than enough. “Yeah, very fun

VALERIE’S POV“Ma’am?” Rob, my assistant, called out for the third time since we arrived at the building for the signing. We are currently in the underground parking lot kept specially for VVIPs. It's been almost 30 minutes and I still couldn’t find it in me to get down from the car. Trust me, this was not the first time I had to come for a partnership signing, but this was the first time I would be seeing Hudson after our divorce. If I said I wasn’t tense about it, I would be lying.It’s been 5 years already, but it still seemed like yesterday. The memories of him and his family are still fresh on my mind. And especially today, it felt more like an open wound. Liam had repeatedly offered to come on my behalf, to save me the heartache, but I refused.This was my fight. After my experience with them, I fought constantly to be who I am today, building up my walls and confidence that they had trampled upon so ruthlessly. And I most definitely cannot let one meeting shatter all my eff