The bass thumped through the walls, loud enough to drown thoughts, loud enough to make the night feel alive.
Neon lights flickered across the crowded dance floor, bodies moving without rhythm, laughter blending with music and alcohol. Some were drowning in alcohol and cigarettes, making out, dancing, drinking, and enjoying their lives to the fullest.
From the entrance, a girl in a short, body-fitted, glittery dress appeared, walking in high heels. She was dressed boldly, her silky, smooth dark brown hair flowing down to her hips, swaying along with the rhythm of the music. Dressed like a doll, adorned with shiny jewellery, she practically screamed wealth.
Valary.
She walked toward her friends, who quickly noticed her presence and screamed her name, calling her over.
"Hey Val!! Over here!"
"Sup, guys… damn, you guys already finished a lot," she said, grabbing a tequila shot from her friend and downing it over her red, plump lips.
"Bitch, you're late. We aren't gonna wait for you when the drinks are calling us," one of them slurred drunkenly.
"Shut the fuck up, Harold. It was hella hard to escape my security and come all the way here," Valary snickered while drinking.
"Yo, stop talking it's time to dance. Who's coming with me?"
Soon, everyone rushed to the stage, swaying their hips to the music.
Valary danced freely, not caring about the world, completely lost in the dizzy lights and alcohol.
Suddenly, she felt a hand sneak around her waist. She was pulled slightly and collided with a hard chest.
"Hey, darling… looking so sexy tonight," the man said, checking her out from top to bottom, biting his lips seductively.
It was Dan…Valary's boyfriend.
"I know that! Don't give me that look, Dan. I'm still mad at you for not showing up yesterday to my program," she said coldly, pushing his hand away.
"Sorry, babe. My mom came from the USA all of a sudden and wanted to meet me. I couldn't say no if I did, she'd find out what I've been doing all this time," he said, trying to sound genuine.
"Whatever. I'm not going to forgive you every fucking time, Dan. And your excuses are so fucking lame even a kindergarten kid lies better than you."
She pushed him away and walked down from the stage.
As she walked, she suddenly bumped into a waiter, causing him to spill drinks all over her expensive clothes, leaving her wet and sticky.
"Watch it, you clumsy idiot!" Valary snapped, her voice cutting through the bass like a blade.
The waiter's hands shook, staring at the dark stain on her glittery, body-fitted dress. "I—I'm so sorry, Miss. It was an accident—"
"Shut the fuck up," she hissed, her eyes flashing with pure disgust. "This dress costs more than your entire pathetic life."
The manager rushed over, bowing frantically. "Miss Valary, please! He's new, I'll have him fired immediately—"
"Get this piece of shit out of my sight," she spat at the manager.
"Babe, calm down," Dan stepped in, reaching for her arm. "Don't waste your energy on these people. Let's just go."
Valary ripped her arm back, turning her venom toward him.
"Don't you dare interfere, Dan! I designed this piece myself. I put my blood and sweat into this work, and for what? To have it ruined by some incompetent freak who can't even walk straight?"
"Val, it's just a dress—"
"You don't understand my frustration!" she screamed, stepping into his space. "Try actually doing something with your life for once, and then you'll know how it feels to watch your hard work get trashed right in front of your eyes! First you, and now this asshole... you've all ruined my mood completely. Fucking hell!"
She shoved her empty glass into the manager's chest, turned on her heel, and stormed out, her dark hair swaying violently as she disappeared into the night.
She stormed out, pulling her hair in frustration, got into her car, and drove off.
Valary entered her mansion, still in her wet, sticky clothes. She suddenly stopped upon hearing a familiar voice.
"Now what mess have you created?"
Her father, Martin, stood there, sipping coffee, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a mug, sleeves half rolled.
She didn't even turn around.
"Not your business."
She started walking toward her room, but was blocked by two large guards.
"If you want to live, move out of my way," she said through gritted teeth.
"Just look at yourself, messy hair, drenched in alcohol, looking like a complete mess," Martin said, his voice sharp, though concern lingered beneath it.
"In the name of enjoyment, you're ruining your life, Valary. And that guy you call your boyfriend is a complete douchebag."
"Why are you concerned about my life now?" she snapped. "Why are you even here? Don't you have meetings, appointments, and clients to attend? Suddenly, you remember you have a daughter? How pathetic."
Martin lowered his head slightly, letting out a sigh.
"Go freshen up. I'll bring food to your room," he said softly, gently brushing her hair.
Valary said nothing. She turned and walked away.
Once inside her room, she threw everything around, making an even bigger mess.
"I hate him… I hate you so much…" she broke down, tears slipping out despite her attempts to hold them back.
After a while, she came out of the shower and changed into comfy pyjama shorts.
A knock came at the door.
Martin entered with a plate of food. He sat at the edge of her bed, looking at her as she stared at her phone, texting with an annoyed pout.
He smiled faintly. She looked like the same little girl who once got upset over chocolates.
"Valary, sweetheart… I know you didn't eat anything. Come on, eat something. You can't sleep on an empty stomach," he said, holding a spoon near her mouth.
She ignored him completely.
Martin sighed.
"Fine… I'm sorry, sweetheart. I just—"
"Sorry for what?" she cut in sharply. "For yelling earlier? Or for your absence after mom died?"
Martin froze.
"Either way, your 'sorry' won't change anything."
"Valary… I know I can't bring back the past. I can't fix my absence. But I won't let you ruin your future," he said, gently touching her cheek.
"It's my fault… I left you when you needed me. I couldn't handle your mother's death. I was weak…"
"And what are you doing now?" she snapped, pushing his hand away. "Controlling me? Asking where I go and who I meet? You're only making it worse. Stay out of my life."
"Valary… I gave you freedom so you could grow. But you've taken it for granted. This isn't enjoyment anymore, you're crossing limits," he said firmly.
"I don't want to hear your crap anymore. If you cared so much, why didn't you just kill me after Mom died? Just leave me alone!"
She stormed out, leaving behind a broken father.
Valary ran to the garden, the same place where she once spent time with her mother.
Memories flooded back.
Her mother is braiding her hair.
Telling bedtime stories.
Laughing under the moonlight.
Tears streamed down her face.
Her mother had died when she was just ten.
After that, her father became distant, emotionally and physically unavailable.
There were nights she woke up scared… with no one beside her.
Days when she needed encouragement… but no one listened.
That was the day she built walls around herself.
To never feel weak again.
To never break again.
And in doing so, she became someone the world now feared… and misunderstood.
The next morning Valary stirred slightly, her brows furrowing as the light hit her face.
"Ugh…" she groaned, turning to the other side and pulling the silk blanket over her head.
A soft knock followed.
"Miss Valary, your breakfast is ready…."
"Leave it," she muttered, voice heavy with sleep.
The door opened slightly anyway.
"Miss, you didn't eat last night, so…"
"I said leave it," she snapped this time, her tone sharp enough to cut through the room.
Silence.
The maid quietly placed the tray down and left.
Valary slowly sat up, running her fingers through her messy hair. Her head throbbed slightly from last night, and then she remembered the last thing she remembered getting knocked out in the garden, then how come she is here on her bed? She shrugged it off.
Her eyes drifted to the untouched food.
For a moment…
She just stared. And then got up and walked past it.
Inside her walk-in closet, rows of designer outfits lined perfectly heels, accessories, perfumes… everything screamed luxury.
Valary stood in front of the mirror, scanning through options.
"Hmm…"
Her fingers brushed past soft pastels.
Ignored.
Then stopped at something darker.
A fitted black crop top with sharp cuts.
High-waisted tailored pants hugged her figure perfectly.
A sleek designer jacket thrown over casually.
She smirked slightly.
"Better."
She changed quickly.
Her long, silky, dark brown hair was straightened, falling neatly down her back. A few front strands framed her face perfectly. Makeup minimal, but striking.
Sharp eyeliner, Nude lips, just enough to dominate attention without trying.
Her car pulled up in front of the university building. Students instinctively turned as she stepped out. Not because she asked for attention, but because she owned it.
Her heels hit the ground with confidence, her expression unreadable as she walked past everyone like the world moved around her.
Whispers followed instantly.
"Isn't that Valary?"
"She looks insane today…"
"She designed that outfit herself, right?"
She didn't react.
Inside the fashion design studio, mannequins stood dressed in student creations. Sketches, fabrics, and designs filled the space.
Valary stood in front of her work.
A masterpiece.
Her professor walked around, observing each design. When he reached hers, he paused.
"Impressive, Valary," he said, adjusting his glasses. "As expected from you."
She crossed her arms slightly, unfazed.
"I don't do average, sir."
A few students exchanged looks.
Some impressed.
Some annoyed.
One girl muttered under her breath, "She acts like she owns the place."
Valary heard it.
Of course she did.
She slowly turned her head, her gaze sharp.
"If you spent less time talking and more time working…" she said calmly,
"Maybe your designs wouldn't look like kids' drawings."
Silence.
The girl flushed in embarrassment. Valary turned back as nothing happened.
After class, Valary walked toward the quieter side of campus, near the design block. Dan was already waiting for her, leaning casually against the wall.
"Finally, you decided to show up," he said, straightening slightly. "I thought you were planning to ignore me for the entire day."
"I was busy," Valary replied calmly, her expression unreadable. "If you called me here just to complain about that, then I'm leaving."
Dan let out a soft chuckle and pushed himself off the wall, closing the distance between them without hesitation.
"Why do you always sound like that?" he asked, his tone lowering as he stepped closer than necessary. "I barely even get to see you, and when I do, you act like I'm a stranger."
Before she could respond, his hand moved to her waist, pulling her slightly toward him in a way that felt far too familiar for the moment.
Valary stiffened immediately, her body reacting before her mind could catch up.
"Dan… not right now," she said, placing her hand against his chest to stop him from coming any closer. "I'm really not in the mood."
He tilted his head slightly with little irritation at the reply
"Not in the mood?" he repeated, a faint edge creeping into his voice. "You're never in the mood, Val. At this point, it just sounds like an excuse."
Her brows drew together as discomfort flickered across her face.
"I don't have any reason to put up some excuses, Dan," she repeated, more firmly this time. "Can you just understand that for once?"
Instead of stepping back, his fingers tightened slightly around her waist, and he leaned closer, his voice dropping into a quieter, more pressuring tone.
"Or is it just that you don't want me?" he asked, his breath brushing past her ear. "Because that's what it's starting to feel like."
His hand began to move upward, slow and deliberate.
That was enough.
Valary reacted instantly, catching his wrist and stopping him before he could go any further.
"Stop it, Dan," she said, her voice sharper now. "I don't like this…You know that, right? I still need time"
For a brief moment, something dark flashed across his face, frustration, wounded pride, something far less patient than what he had been showing until now.
But just as quickly, it disappeared.
He exhaled, loosening his grip and stepping back, lifting his hands slightly in surrender as if he had suddenly realised his mistake.
"Alright, alright… calm down," he said, his tone completely different now, softer and almost apologetic. "I didn't mean to push you like that."
Valary didn't let her guard down immediately, but she also didn't walk away.
"You always say that," she replied quietly.
"I know," he admitted, running a hand through his hair with a small, self-aware smile. "And maybe I deserve that. I just… I like being close to you, okay? Sometimes I don't think before I act."
There was a pause, and the tension between them shifted, no longer sharp but not entirely gone either.
"You could at least listen when I say no…Of course, I also want to be close with you, but my body still needs to adjust and get adapted to being close with you. I know it will be harder for you, but won't you do that for me? For us?" she said, her voice steadier now.
"I will," he responded quickly, nodding as if he truly meant it. "You're right. I should've listened the first time."
He took another step back, this time deliberately creating space between them, making sure she noticed.
"I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me," he added, his tone gentle and controlled. "That's the last thing I want."
Valary studied him for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to believe him or not. Slowly, the tension in her shoulders eased, even if only slightly.
"I just needed some space today," she said.
"Then you should've told me that from the beginning," he replied, his voice softening even more. "I would've understood."
Something about the way he said it made it sound believable, almost reassuring.
"I didn't think it mattered that much," she said.
"It matters to me," he said without hesitation. "You matter to me."
The words lingered between them. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Then, quietly…
"Okay."
A faint smile appeared on his face, subtle but satisfied. "Great!" he said. "Are we cool now?"
"I Guess so…"
With that, Dan left from there, and she started walking towards exist
As she walked back across campus, a junior student accidentally bumped into her, dropping a file full of sketches.
"Oh…I'm so sorry!" the girl panicked, kneeling to pick them up.
Valary glanced down at the sketches scattered near her heels.
"Watch where you're going, girl!" she said flatly.
The girl froze, embarrassed.
Valary stepped over the papers and walked away without another word.
Whispers followed again.
"She's so rude…"
"But she's talented…"
"That's why she gets away with it…"
Valary heard all of it. And ignored all of it.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
She glanced at the screen.
"Martin Will"
She almost declined it…Almost…But something made her pick it up.
"What?" she said, her tone already annoyed.
"Valary," Martin's voice came from the other side calm, but serious. "I need you to come home early today."
"I have work."
"This is important."
She rolled her eyes. "Everything is 'important' with you." He paused for a second and then….
"You're getting married next month."
Silence.
For the first time…
Valary didn't have a reply.
"…What?" she said slowly.
"It's decided," he continued. "We'll talk when you get home."
The call ended.
Valary stood there, frozen. The noise of the campus faded around her. Her grip tightened on the phone.