Chapter 31
I continued my Europe Tour with a sense of relief after finally voicing all my
frustrations to Anthony. For the first time, it felt like I had closed a painful chapter of my life.
He understood my sadness, and I knew I could begin the process of moving on completely from everything that had once húrt me.
At the departure gate, I noticed Anthony standing at the airport, watching me. His expression was full of sorrow, his condition visibly worsened.
He looked as though he had not slept in days, his posture defeated. But I did not let myself care. To me, we were strangers now.
Valerie Keith did not know Anthony Harris. That was what I told myself.
But I was wrong, moving on was not that
easy.
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When the intercom on the plane announced our arrival in Paris, my heart clenched. Memories came flooding back, memories I had tried so hard to suppress.
My mind drifted to my birthday gift from Anthony–how he had surprised me with something so thoughtful–the moment I discovered his affair with Julie.
The contrast between the man who once adored me and the one who betrayed me felt like a knife twisting in my chest.
Suddenly, the pain became unbearable. My stomach churned violently, my breathing grew shallow, and panic gripped me.
I clutched the armrest, trying to steady myself, but it felt as though the walls of the plane were closing in.
Gordon noticed immediately. “Valerie,” he said softly, concern evident in his voice.
“Are you okay?”
“I need to go to the toilet,” I managed to whisper, my voice strained and weak.
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Before I could move, Gordon was already helping me out of my seat. My legs felt wobbly, and I leaned on him for support.
Together, we made it to the bathroom, where I barely made it to the sink before
the nausea overwhelmed me.
Gordon stood behind me, his hand gently holding my hair back as I heaved.
“Let it all out, Valerie,” he said
soothingly, his voice a balm to my frazzled nerves. “Let it all out. You’ll feel better
after.”
One of his hands gently patted my back while the other secured my hair. His presence was steady, unwavering, and for the first time in a long while, I felt safe.
The tears came next, uncontrollable sobs that racked my body. Without thinking, I turned and buried my face in his chest, letting the storm inside me finally break free.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered, his arms
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wrapping around me protectively. “Let it out, Valerie. I’m here.”
But our moment of solace was interrupted by a knock on the door. A flight attendant’s concerned voice came
through. “Excuse me, but the plane is about to land. Please return to your seats.”
Gordon helped me up carefully, his arm still around me as we made our way back.
Once seated, he fastened my seatbelt for me, his fingers brushing against mine briefly. I kept holding his hand, needing that anchor, as the plane descended.
After we landed, Gordon asked gently, “If you don’t feel up to facing the reporters, I can arrange a private car to take you straight to the hotel. You don’t need to push yourself.”
I shook my head. “No, that will raise suspicion. I can do this. Just… don’t let me go for a moment.”
He nodded, his expression resolute. “I will
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always be beside you.”
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