CEO Plus-Size Ex-Wife

Chapter 64: Valentine Anderson Isn't Dead

Pete's mind, unclouded by complexities, clung to Andrea's words with a child's pure hope. He was told he would see his father upon their arrival in Vegas City, and this promise filled him with eager anticipation.

Andrea, with a gentle grace, stooped to match Pete's small stature and softly tousled his hair, her voice imbued with tenderness, "You will see him when he gets back from work," she assured.

At these words, Pete's face became a beacon of joy, his eyes shining with the light of excitement. The mansion's staff, ever attentive, promptly emerged to transport the luggage inside, their actions smooth and practiced.

Leaving Pete in the capable hands of the staff, Andrea made her way to the garden, where Agatha awaited, a conversation pending between them.

Together, they settled onto a garden bench, the weight of the situation pressing down. Agatha, empathetic to Andrea's plight, exhaled a weary sigh. "Andrea," she began, her voice a blend of understanding and concern, "I know how you feel, but you have to face the truth. If I hadn't seen Mr. Singer's body myself, I might not have believed it either. You have your son to think about, and you must be strong for him. You need to accept that Valentine is gone."

Despite Agatha's gentle prodding, Andrea clung to her conviction with unyielding tenacity. "Valentine is alive. He will be there at our wedding tomorrow," she stated, her voice laced with a defiance born of desperation.

Agatha, confronted with the unshakeable belief etched across Andrea's face, found herself at a loss for words. Sensing that no argument could sway Andrea, she pressed on, "Please, don't mislead Pete. Imagine how he will feel if he discovers the truth and Valentine doesn't return. How will you explain that to him?"

Andrea's features lost their color, her confidence faltering under the weight of Agatha's reasoning. With her head bowed, she whispered, "He's alive. He can't leave us—not without seeing our son, not without speaking our vows once again."

With a compassion that only comes from shared sorrow, Agatha reached out, taking Andrea's hands in her own, her voice a gentle caress, "Andrea, perhaps it's best to cancel the wedding. Think of the consequences—the talk, your reputation, your business, your image. Consider Pete's feelings as well."

In a moment of resolve, Andrea withdrew her hands sharply and rose to her feet. With a firmness that betrayed her inner turmoil, she addressed Agatha, "Sister Agatha, if you have nothing more to say, I must excuse myself."

Without waiting for a reply, Andrea turned on her heel and departed, leaving Agatha to contemplate her retreating silhouette, heavy-hearted with the knowledge that her attempts to ease Andrea's grief had fallen on deaf ears.

After leaving Agatha, Andrea did not return to the mansion; instead, she drove to the Anderson family's new residence.

The Andersons had moved from their old mansion to a luxurious villa on one of the most prestigious streets in Vegas, a testament to Valentine's success with Val. Corp.

Upon Andrea's arrival at the Anderson villa, the family butler promptly greeted her and ushered her into the house.

In the living room, Andrea found Mrs. Anderson and her daughter Benita, both in tears. Mrs. Anderson had just been released from the hospital and immediately faced the devastating task of identifying her son's body before coming home.

Agatha, overcome with anger and grief, confronted Andrea sharply. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was charged with accusation. Since Andrea's return to Vegas, her brother's dominance in the city had waned, and now, she had lost him too.

Ignoring Benita's presence, Andrea focused solely on Mrs. Anderson and placed a wedding invitation on the table. "Mom, please stop crying. Valentine is alive, and he will be at our wedding tomorrow. I hope you can be there to give us your blessing," Andrea said with a calm certainty.

Both Benita and Mrs. Anderson were struck with disbelief, their expressions mirroring the shock and bewilderment at Andrea's announcement.

Without waiting for a response, Andrea turned on her heel and left the room. Benita, fueled by a mix of rage and confusion, screamed after her, "You have gone insane, you are crazy!"

Mrs. Anderson's frown deepened. Though she was upset that Andrea hadn't called off the wedding, a glimmer of hope sparked within her at the possibility of her son's miraculous return.

As Benita moved to grab and tear up the wedding invitation in a fit of anger, Mrs. Anderson felt a sharp pang in her heart. Reacting impulsively, she rose and slapped Benita across the face, leaving her in stunned silence.

With her hand on her stinging cheek and eyes wide with shock, Benita managed to utter, "Mom, you slapped me?"

Firm and resolute, Mrs. Anderson declared, "You will get ready. We are attending the wedding tomorrow." Her tone left no room for argument.

Benita, still struggling to understand her mother's reaction and the day's surreal events, began to protest, "Mom..." But she was swiftly cut off by Mrs. Anderson's authoritative voice, "If you still respect me as your mother, you will do as I say."

With that, Mrs. Anderson took the wedding invitation and retreated to her room. There, she gazed upon a photograph of Valentine as a baby, tracing his features with her finger. Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered with a mixture of hope and sorrow, "My child, your wedding is tomorrow..." Unable to finish her thought, she succumbed to her emotions.

Upon leaving the Anderson mansion, Andrea, having purchased a suit for Pete for the upcoming wedding, proceeded to her next errand—meeting Kelly, the designer responsible for her bridal dress.

Upon Andrea's arrival, Kelly's expression revealed his astonishment. The tragic demise of Valentine Anderson was public knowledge throughout Vegas City, and he had naturally assumed Andrea would be preoccupied with the somber task of funeral preparations. The explosive incident that had taken Valentine's life had left no hope of preserving his remains, necessitating a prompt burial.

"I've come to collect my wedding gown," Andrea stated plainly, her gaze fixed on Kelly.

Kelly blinked, taken aback, and faltered, wondering if he had misunderstood her words. "What did you just say?" he asked.

"I said, if my wedding gown is ready, I would like to take it with me now," Andrea repeated, her tone devoid of emotion.

With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Kelly motioned to his assistant to fetch the gown. Once it was presented to Andrea, she accepted it courteously. "Thank you. You're invited to the wedding tomorrow, I hope to see you there," she said.

"What?!" Kelly couldn't help but exclaim, his shock palpable. He scrutinized Andrea with a frown, his voice laden with disbelief. "Mrs. Singers, are you intending to wed someone else? If that's the case, I must ask you to return the gown. I cannot permit my work to be tainted by such scandal."