Maverick stepped into the guest room with furrowed brows.
Right on the bed, Valencia was curled up in a fetal position, fast asleep. Dry tears hung on her petite and exquisite face, stabbing Maverick's heart deeply.
Maverick extended his hand towards Valencia’s cheeks and gently wiped the tears from her face his expression unexpectedly very patient and caring.

Maverick's lips drew into a thin line. Is his presence hurting Valencia so much that she will silently cry to herself? Hasn’t she always put him first? Did she truly like him no more and now care for Corbyn more?
Maverick’s left hand subconsciously balled into a fist. Still, he will never let her go. She ran away the first time he won’t let her do the same the second time.
Maverick lowered his head to kiss her enticing lips. He wrapped his hands around her thin waist.
Immediately, maverick brows furrowed upon feeling the bone. Valencia seemed to have lost weight compared to when she first arrived at the mansion.
Maverick ordered the maid to deliver quality and healthy meals to Valencia. How did it end with Valencia so thin as if she doesn't eat? He knitted his brows and separated from her.
Immediately, Maverick strode into the bathroom to take his shower. As soon as he was done, he strides out of the bathroom holding a wet, warm towel.

Maverick strode towards Valencia, and he patiently used the towel to wipe Valencia’s face.
The sleeping Valencia pursed her lips unhappily and stretched her hand in the air grumpily.
She pushed the towel away from her face and grumbled in a cute and drowsy voice, “Maverick Vandenberg, you jerk. Let go of me. I, Valencia, am done with you. I don't want you anymore. You won’t like me back anyway. You only want Tatiana. Tatiana. That...” Valencia suddenly paused amidst the speech. She turned and continued sleeping heartily, unaware.
Maverick’s hand froze in the air, and his dark eyes, filled with numerous complex emotions, were fixated on the petite back of the beautiful woman. Maverick slowly put down the warm towel and got onto the bed. He wrapped his hand around her waist and draped both of them with a duvet.

As soon as it was early dawn, Maverick woke up and disappeared from her side, leaving no traces of his arrival or departure.
——-
Tatiana opened her eyes and stared absentmindedly at the ceiling for a few minutes. After a few minutes, she sat on her back and darted her eyes around the VVIP hospital ward.
Tatiana exhaled a sigh of relief as soon as she found out she was the only one left in the ward.
Last night, Finley, that jerk, had been so scary, gloomy, and cold, almost scaring Tatiana to death.
Tatiana had been so petrified by Finley’s presence that she had to postpone all her plans for the morning.
Tatiana got down from the bed and began to make her way towards the bathroom in slow, leisurely steps.
“Ah, look. Here’s the illegitimate fairy daughter of the Austergaard family. It turns out that you didn’t leave the country you have fallen ‘sick’ again. How pitiful!” Bailey Austergaard, haughtily dressed in a black limited-edition gown, strode into the ward. She eyes the pale-looking Tatiana currently in the hospital wear and clicks her tongue in disdain.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Tatiana’s expression changed, and she paused in her track.
A trace of fury overwhelmed Tatiana's system at the mention of the degrading word 'illegitimate daughter'. The two words have always been and will forever be Tatiana's biggest bane.
It has and will always make Tatiana remember that she wasn’t a child born into a perfect family.
Rather, she was born out of a secret affair and wasn’t meant to be born into the world. Her birth had ruined a family and caused a deep stain that can never erased.
Despite the fury running through Tatiana, she could only grit her teeth and endure it. Bailey is the legitimate daughter of the Austergaard family, and an illegitimate daughter like Tatiana could only bow in Bailey's presence.
Tatiana secretly gritted her teeth, a determined glint flashing past her eyes.
One day.
One day, Tatiana promises that she’ll become the almighty Mrs. Vandenberg, and at that time, she’ll be able to straighten her back and look down at Bailey.
At that time, Tatiana made a promise to repay all the grievances and sadness she had experienced.
Despite the thoughts running through Tatiana's mind, a beautiful and demure smile hangs on Tatiana's face, and no trace of anger or negativity hangs on Tatiana's face. Tatiana bowed slightly.
"Welcome, young Miss Bailey. How can I help you?” Tatiana uttered in a soft, thin, and demure voice. Her head lowered, hiding the hatred that flickered past her eyes.
The first time Tatiana came across Bailey in the Austergaard mansion, a servant told Tatiana that an illegitimate daughter like Tatiana could only be a maid in Bailey’s presence.
Tatiana had been so overwhelmed with fury and envy. It wasn’t her fault that she was born, was it? Why should she submit to Bailey because she had been born by two shameless people?
Ever since then, Tatiana has secretly harbored a dream, and she has promised herself to be so outstanding in the future that Bailey will have to look up to her.
Tatiana gritted her teeth and clenched her fist to regain control over her emotions. It's just the main while. Yes, just for the meantime
Killing intent suddenly overwhelmed Tatiana. If not for Valencia, Tatiana would never have been in her current position, so Valencia had to pay. Yes, Valencia had to.
Bailey crossed her arms haughtily and scoffed in disdain. “Hearing you speak like that makes me want to puke. I recalled someone being haughty in front of the media a few days ago." She paused and smirked contemptuously.
"What? I’ve known you for years you still won’t shed off your feigned demure act?” Bailey expressed in a haughty voice filled with disdain. Her hands tucked a strand of air behind her right ear, and she elegantly played with stray strands of hair without looking at Tatiana. It was as if it might cause a huge stain.
Tatiana's expression changed, and her balled fist tightened. She clenched her hospital gown, and her expressions darkened with anger.
Despite the fury circling her system, she took a deep breath and feigned a small, calm smile. “I don’t understand, Miss Bailey.” She responded in a calm and soft voice.
“Really?" Bailey crossed her arms and harrumphed coldly. She leaned back on the wall and chuckled languidly. “Or a certain illegitimate chicken is expecting Maverick to avenge her,” she languidly cast a glance at Tatiana before looking away again.
Bailey sighed loudly and looked at a distance with unfocused eyes. “Have you ever wondered how I ended up missing that year? I've always known you’re ambitious, feigning filial piety, and always eavesdropping. And I've never been interested in Maverick." She exhaled, and her expression slowly turned haughty again. She cast an indifferent glance at Tariana before smirking coldly.
"Lastly, Maverick won’t choose you over the Austergaard family, and ah..." She paused, and her lips curved in a taunting smile.
"A certain news floated into my ear: Valencia is back, and Maverick ditched you for her. Tsk, if a man isn’t blind, why would he choose a white lotus over Valencia? Tch!“
Without waiting for Tatiana's response, Bailey turned and strode out of the room, her chin and shoulders held high and her high heels clinking haughtily against the floor.
Tatiana’s eyes reddened, and her body trembled. With a loud crash, she fell onto the floor and clutched her chest tightly.
A trace of panic flickered past her eyes, and she shook her head like a rattling drum.
It can’t be. No, it can't be. Bailey must be lying. Bailey must be trying to dampen her joy. Bailey must be trying to scare her. So she can't believe whatever Bailey says. Yes, I definitely can't believe it.
A few years ago, Maverick destroyed a top underground group that’s known for their corrupt and ruthless practices, just for a guard.
When Tatiana becomes Mrs. Maverick, Maverick will certainly be willing to do more than that.
Thinking like this, Tariana took a deep breath to calm down.
A glint of hatred flickered past her eyes, and she scoffed. So what if Bailey knows the secret? The Austergaard family began it first. They can only ruin each other, not Tatiana.
Thinking like this, Tatiana took a deep breath and pinched her palm deeply. Soon, she found herself calming down a lot.
Abruptly, Tatiana stood up and strode towards the bed. She picked up her phone and dialed a number.
A feigned sweet yet stiff smile appeared on Tatiana's face as soon as the person on the other side picked up the call.
“Sister Amelia. It’s Tatiana.” Despite the stiff smile on Tatiana’s face, Tatiana's voice was extremely soft, demure, and docile, causing one's heart to soften.
“Ah, Miss Tatiana. You’re all over the news. Have you indeed returned to Lex? I thought you left immediately.” Amelia cheerfully expressed herself.
Tatiana subtly snorted in contempt. If it weren’t for the current disadvantages, how would Tatiana be currying favor with a lowly maid like Amelia?
Despite Tatiana's thoughts, none of them affected her words. Rather, Tatiana's voice sounded steady, thin, and demure. “How can Tatiana leave without seeing sister Amelia?
Sister Amelia and Nanny Mady had taken care of Tatiana in the past. Once Tatiana leaves the hospital, Tatiana will personally deliver Sister Amelia's gifts." Tatiana sweetly conveyed.
Amelia's eyes lit up, and her voice raised a notch due to excitement. "Really?" Upon recalling a shameful memory, she scoffed in disdain. "Miss Tatiana is so different. Unlike that shameless slut who thinks the spring garden belongs to her." She murmured.
Thinking about how that vixen embarrassed her in the garden the day before made Amelia huff in annoyance.
Upon hearing Amelia's words, Tatiana's eyes constricted and her fist clenched. In the next second, she snapped out of it, and she softly exclaimed. "Are you saying something, sister Amelia?"
Upon hearing Tatiana's question, Amelia snapped out of her reverie and hurriedly shook her head in denial. "No. No. It's nothing." She responded and exhaled in relief. Luckily, Tatiana didn't hear her words. What if Tatiana gets to know that Valencia is in the mansion through Amelia? Won't Tatiana be furious?
"The nurse has just come in. I’ll call sister Amelia back." Tatiana quickly spurned a lie, and without waiting for Amelia's response, she cut off the call.
Tatiana fell onto the bed immediately. Her eyes were filled with multiple negative emotions, and her hands held the phone tight.
Ring!
The sudden ringing of Tatiana's phone jolted her awake from her thoughts. She hurriedly looked down at her phone.
Upon seeing the familiar string of numbers, she quickly picked up the call.
"I’ve thought of a perfect plan to send Valencia away from the spring garden. However, it lies on Maverick's phone. You’ll have to divert Maverick's attention from his phone when he comes to pick you up."