Etangled By Casanova

"Bastards! What exactly were you doing? You can't even properly guard one person!" James barked furiously when he heard the report-that Valerie could not be found anywhere, in any corner of the hospital.

Valerie had successfully escaped, freed from him. James could not accept it.

Anna lowered her head, frightened and deeply guilty. "I'm sorry, Sir. I thought Miss Vale was truly undergoing an examination." Anna genuinely felt she had been completely deceived by a fake nurse and doctor who helped Valerie escape.

"Find her! Find that woman-search until you get her! I don't care how. You must bring her to me immediately, as soon as possible!" James ordered.

James was extremely furious. He could not bear the thought of the woman he had bought escaping from him-especially Valerie, a woman who had left a strong impression on him because of her behavior, so different from other women. Valerie defied him, but to James, that was merely a challenge-to make her submit to him.

James then remembered that someone else was searching for Valerie. Unfortunately, he had not obtained any information about who they were.

The man was deeply irritated. This was the first time he had ever struggled to obtain the information he wanted. Whoever was searching for Valerie seemed mysterious, making them difficult to trace. Because of that, James grew even more curious about Valerie and the figure behind her.

James also tried to locate Lukas, thinking Lukas must know the information he needed. But to his frustration, James could not find Lukas anywhere. He even heard that Lukas had been taken away by several men in black suits, his body covered in wounds-by those who were searching for Valerie.

"Who are they? And what is your connection to them, Valerie?" James growled.

Meanwhile, Vale, who had now arrived at a mansion, was left in awe as she looked around at the lavish surroundings. She could hardly believe that she truly had a grandfather.

The house looked like a magnificent palace, while she herself had lived her entire life in a small apartment on the outskirts of the city.

"Is this really my grandfather's house? And am I really his granddaughter? Are you sure you didn't get the wrong person?" Vale asked repeatedly, convinced that Merry and Beni had mistaken her for someone else.

"Of course not, Miss. We would never be wrong about the information we obtained. Your stepfather has even been secured," Beni explained, causing Vale's expression to change instantly.

The confusion on her face turned into anger. Vale looked as though she wanted to beat the man who had destroyed her future. The wealth that should have been protected had been forcibly taken by that bastard-by selling her through her stepfather.

"Is Lukas close to that grandfather?" Vale asked.

She did not want to fall into another trap. If the man called her grandfather supported Lukas, then her life would undoubtedly become even more miserable.

"Close? Of course not, Miss. Lukas-your stepfather-is currently rotting in an underground prison," Merry replied.

Hearing that, Vale smiled. It meant she could take revenge on Lukas, and that her grandfather was not on Lukas's side.

Even so, Vale had to remain cautious. She did not know whether this grandfather was truly a good person, or whether he was really her biological grandfather-or just another man pretending to care about her, like James.

Step by step, Vale entered the mansion, hesitant, yet determined to uncover the truth-did she truly have a grandfather?

As soon as she reached the threshold, she was warmly welcomed by the mansion's staff. Smiles filled with sincerity greeted her, and the doubts in her heart slowly faded, replaced by a gentle smile and a surge of emotion-as if she had finally found a new family.

But why only now?

"Valerie..." a deep voice called out. Vale turned and saw an elderly man walking slowly toward her, leaning on a cane. He looked delighted to finally have Vale standing before him after searching for so long.

"I am your grandfather-the father of Morgan, your biological father," the old man said, leaving Vale frozen.

Valerie stood speechless. Morgan was indeed her father's name, and it had been more than ten years since Morgan left her. But how did this man know she was his granddaughter?

"You're really my grandfather? Then where have you been all this time?" Vale asked. None of this made sense to her.

"It's a long story, Vale. But Grandpa will explain it briefly." He led her to sit on the sofa and began his story. "Morgan chose to leave with your biological mother, abandoning this wealth. I thought Morgan was living well, until... two years ago, when I returned to this country and discovered that Morgan had passed away," he explained simply. Yet it was still not enough for Vale to fully believe him.

"Then Grandpa found your mother, but she refused to let you come with me, so I could only watch over you from afar. I never expected your mother to leave this world so soon-and at that time, Grandpa was overseas. When I arrived here, I searched for you immediately, but that bastard sold you to another man. Grandpa regrets it... I was too late to save you, Vale..."

The deep voice broke into sobs. Vale could only remain silent; it was hard for her to believe everything she was hearing.

What was this? And why?

So many questions flooded her mind, but Vale felt this was not the right time to seek all the answers. She needed more time to understand everything.

"This is your home now. You deserve all of this. You are the only heir of the Russell family," her grandfather, Smith, said.

Vale froze at his words. It felt as though she had been granted an extraordinary blessing from God. She could not believe that a story about an heir was happening to her.

After enduring so many hardships, it was as if God had finally taken her side-answering the prayers and hopes she had whispered, especially her desire to take revenge on those who had hurt her.

Vale smiled as tears slipped down her cheeks. Everything was overwhelming and hard to believe, but she felt fortunate. With what she now possessed, she could do anything-especially stand against a powerful man like James.

"I don't know, Grandpa. All of this is so sudden, and I still have many questions. But if you allow it, I want to use this right to take revenge on someone who stole my future-my most precious treasure," Vale said.

"Do it. Do whatever you want. I've handed everything over to you. Use it however you see fit," Smith replied.

Vale smiled and nodded. Though she had not fully accepted Smith as her grandfather yet, she would try.

"Lukas-where is he? I want to kill him!" Vale snarled, desperate to face him.

Smith then led Vale to the basement where Lukas was being held. Vale saw Lukas curled up on a bamboo bed lined neatly together. His body was covered in wounds, making Vale smile faintly.

"I thought you were enjoying yourself, Lukas?!"

Hearing Vale's voice, Lukas jolted awake. He stared at her as though begging for help.

"Vale, you're here-get me out quickly!" Lukas pleaded, his tone unchanged, even though he was now powerless behind bars.

"Out? But you have to answer my question honestly first. Did you kill my mother?" Vale asked. She was desperate to know the truth behind her mother's sudden death.

"Your mother died on her own!" Lukas replied, making Vale furious.

"You'd better die here," Vale hissed.

Lukas laughed at her words. "Why ask about your mother? She's already dead. Dead because she drank the poison I gave her. It was her own fault for not obeying me!"

Vale growled in rage. Her suspicions had been right-her stepfather had murdered her mother. "You're truly a cruel man, Lukas!"

"No, I'm kind. I handed you over to a rich man. Now you get to enjoy a wealthy life, don't you? You should repay me!"

"Repay you? Right... Grandpa, may I finish him?" Vale asked.

"Of course. Anything for you, my dear," Smith replied.

Lukas froze.

What did Vale mean? Was she going to kill him?

"Vale, you-?"

"What are you going to do, Vale? You can't kill me! I'm your father!" Lukas challenged Valerie. He refused to die at the hands of his stepdaughter.

His life should have improved after he handed Valerie over to James, but instead, Lukas ended up being imprisoned by an old man who protected Valerie. Lukas still wondered who that old man was-someone powerful enough to help and shield Valerie from James.

"Father?" Valerie laughed with bitter sarcasm. "Stepfather! You're not even worthy of that title, Lukas! Besides, you murdered my mother-so why shouldn't I kill you?"

Lukas froze. He could do nothing. His eyes darted around, realizing everything was against him. The old man stood there, merely a spectator between Valerie and Lukas.

"Ah, you must be wondering who the grandfather standing behind me is," Valerie said again.

Valerie wanted Lukas to regret destroying what was most precious to her-her mother and herself. If only they had lived like a proper family, perhaps it would not have ended this way. But Valerie deeply resented Louisa for choosing to marry Lukas, a decision that had brought them nothing but misery.

"This is my grandfather, Smith. Smith Russel!" Valerie added.

Lukas went pale. He never imagined Valerie was a descendant of the Russel family. Had he known from the beginning, perhaps he could have exploited Valerie and Louisa.

"Russel? No! That's impossible!" Lukas shouted in disbelief.

If it was true, then Lukas was standing on the edge of a cliff. Powerless, his life now rested entirely in Valerie's hands. He looked at Valerie in fear, then at Smith, who wore a cold, mocking smile.

Should he beg for mercy?

But begging his stepdaughter was impossible. Lukas knew Valerie's hatred for him ran deep-not only because of Louisa's death, but also because he had sold Valerie to James.

Valerie raised the pistol in her hand, aiming it straight at Lukas. The stepfather stumbled backward, hoping to escape the fury of a woman whose future he had destroyed.

"You won't escape my punishment. Even death is too light a sentence for you. But I don't care, as long as I never have to see you in this world again!"

"No! Vale... you-you won't really kill me, will you?" Lukas pleaded, his voice filled with desperate hope.

Valerie smiled coldly. Her mother's husband still thought she was merely threatening him.

"Goodbye, Lukas. Go to hell!"

Click.

One pull of the trigger rang out sharply. Lukas died instantly, the bullet striking him square in the head. His body collapsed as fresh blood poured from the wound.

Valerie stared blankly at him. There was no pity, no hesitation over having taken a life. Whatever she once felt seemed dead-there was no empathy left within her. She turned and walked away without a single word, not even to the grandfather she had just met.

"Dispose of the body. Make sure there are no traces left," Smith ordered his men.

Smith watched his granddaughter's back as she slowly walked away. He understood what Valerie had endured-anger, vengeance, and isolation.

Yet upon meeting her, he saw that Valerie now possessed the strength to stand again and retaliate against those who had hurt her. Smith felt both pleased and afraid of the woman Valerie had become.

Would this be dangerous-or beneficial?

Whatever the outcome, Smith knew he could only support her. Valerie was the sole heir of the Russel family.

Meanwhile, James had just received information about Valerie. The man laughed loudly, as if it were the most amusing-and most delightful-news he had ever heard.

James learned that Valerie was, in fact, the only heir of the Russel family.

"Make sure this information is correct. If you're wrong, I'll kill you one by one!" he threatened.

The happiness on James's face hardened as he spoke to his men. He refused to let that joy turn out to be nothing but empty talk.

"No, Sir. We've verified it repeatedly. We were quite shocked by the information ourselves."

James laughed again. He was pleased to know that Valerie came from a powerful background-not the daughter of a poor man drowning in debt like Lukas.

"I will make her my wife! If anyone disagrees or stands in my way, I will eliminate them-even if it's Smith!"

"Valerie... you belong only to me!"