Chapter 568 Claiming the Title of Mrs. Valdemar
David stood silently at the washbasin, his expression dark as a thundercloud.
He washed his hands with methodical precision, as if every crease and line needed to be scrubbed clean.
Water flowed steadily from the faucet, splashing against his palms and face as he rubbed them together, yet he remained utterly motionless, lost in thought.
Slowly, David raised his head to meet his reflection in the mirror. The man staring back at him was almost unrecognizable—those eyes that once burned with passion now seemed cold and distant.
He let out a quiet sigh, turned off the tap, and allowed the warm water to trickle through his fingers one last time. After shaking his hands half-dry, he grabbed a paper towel and dried them completely.
David turned to leave the restroom, his steps deliberate and measured as he tried to mask his uneven gait, hoping to avoid drawing unwanted attention. But the moment he stepped outside, a cold laugh shattered his careful composure.
"No matter how well you pretend, you'll always slip up eventually," Violet said, her words dripping with double meaning that made David's expression shift slightly.
A flicker of surprise crossed David's eyes before he regained his composure.
Violet stood there with her arms crossed, studying him with calculated leisure. Her gaze was ice-cold, lips curved in a mocking smile that radiated contempt.
David barely glanced at her, seemingly indifferent to her presence as he moved to walk past. But he'd barely taken a step when Violet moved forward, blocking his path.
Violet raised an eyebrow, making her meaning even clearer. "You put on quite the performance for that spoiled princess back there. Is this how you've always done it? Fooling everyone so completely that even you started believing your own act?"
David pressed his lips together but refused to rise to Violet's bait. To him, she was nothing more than a court jester—hardly worth his attention.
"But pretense is still pretense, and eventually the mask will slip," Violet continued, her gaze dropping to his legs. "Just like those legs of yours—no matter how hard you try to hide it, anyone can see they're not quite right. Isn't that so?"
David ignored her completely, tossing his used paper towel into the trash bin before addressing her with cool detachment. "Ms. Swift, are you finished? Because I need to return to my table—my date is waiting."
"I'm far from finished!" Violet's smile vanished instantly, her composure cracking despite her attempts at control. "David, we agreed to work together last time. You gave me your word—why are you backing out now?"
David finally met Violet's eyes directly, his gaze filled with disdain and icy indifference. "You can't give me what I want, so why would I partner with you?"
His voice was low and magnetic, yet it sent chills down the spine.
Violet was taken aback, clearly unprepared for such bluntness. She wanted to argue but found herself speechless—David's words cut through her like a blade, striking at her very core.
"I can't give you what you want? Then who can?" Violet's expression twisted into something almost feral.
David watched Violet quietly, knowing he'd successfully provoked her anger, though he couldn't care less.
David let out a soft laugh. "What business is that of yours? After all, you're merely my brother's ex-girlfriend—surely you wouldn't stoop to seeking me out?"
"David," Violet's voice took on a mocking edge, "is it because I'm not offering enough? Or are you simply too cowardly to face your own desires?"
David's lips curved slightly. "Desires? I've never lacked for those. But my desires aren't something you could ever satisfy."
Violet hadn't expected David to be so ruthlessly direct. She took a deep breath, recognizing this wasn't the time to burn bridges with him.
She regained some composure. "So that little princess of yours back there can satisfy them? Can she help you crush Albert underfoot, or win Yvette back for you?"
David pressed his lips together—she couldn't do either.
Seeing the answer in David's eyes, Violet felt somewhat reassured and let out a derisive laugh. "Since she can't either, why are you on this blind date with her? Planning to marry her?"
"My marriage is my own decision," David replied coldly.
"Of course it is. But," Violet spread her hands between them, crooking her finger at David, "I'm claiming the position of Mrs. Valdemar."
Hearing Violet's declaration, David's mouth curved into a contemptuous smile. His eyes filled with scorn, as if mocking her delusions of grandeur. "Ms. Swift, what kind of joke is this? That position isn't for just anyone to claim."
"David, doesn't everyone say you're the Valdemar family's benevolent and far-sighted strategist? How can you be so rash?" Violet's eyes gleamed with determination and ambition as she smiled meaningfully. "I told you—I'm taking the Mrs. Valdemar position."
David looked at Violet as if she were a performing clown. "That's not your decision to make. No one in this world can force me to marry a woman I don't want."
In that instant, Violet finally realized that the David before her truly was Albert's brother. Despite their completely different personalities and approaches, they shared the same stubborn streak.
For just a moment, Violet had actually seen Albert's shadow in David.
How interesting.
Violet smiled, straightening her spine. "But I will find a way to make you marry me."
"Do I need to spell it out for you?" David surveyed Violet with disgust. "Forget whether you can even bear children—just the fact that Albert dumped you disqualifies you from ever becoming my wife."
David's voice was arctic, like icicles in a frozen wasteland—sharp and cutting.
David had no desire to waste more words on her. While Calliope couldn't offer him significant assistance, her family maintained excellent relations with Cheryl's parents' clan—there were connections to be leveraged.
If he could truly create an alliance through marriage, Cheryl would certainly think twice before giving Albert all the advantages. Moreover, judging by the affection and goodwill Calliope had shown him, she would undoubtedly offer him complete support and assistance in the future.
As long as he continued his performance, the Bennett Group might very well become his. When that happened, everything would still be in play.
"Wait," Violet called softly, halting his steps as she spoke with unhurried confidence. "David, don't worry—I definitely have what you want."
David's footsteps faltered.
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