The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 160

"It's so disgustingly toxic!"

"Don't worry," Maloney reassured her. "I'll have my people take care of it."

"Mm," Nora hummed softly. "But I think it's handled. Jasmine's mess accidentally dragged Felix into it, so Penelope stepped in to fix it personally."

She added, "I'm going with Jasmine to visit Valery this afternoon."

"You know Jasmine used to be by Valery's side almost every single day. I'm worried about what will happen when they see each other after three whole months apart."

"And Valery already knows Jasmine ran away."

"Valery relies on her so much. If she asks why Jasmine left, or asks if Jasmine hates her... Jasmine is terrible with words. She won't know what to say."

"Ugh, I need to hurry up and get dressed. I have to get there early."

Nora rambled anxiously as she hastily pulled a sweater over her head.

Maloney's eyes darkened slightly.

Reliance?

He didn't think Valery's feelings toward Jasmine were merely reliance.

It was more like a parasitic vine, tightly strangling its host.

Valery was manipulative, deeply calculating, and far from simple.

Maloney and Valery were the same age.

Back in elementary school, they had been in neighboring classrooms.

Yes, Valery used to go to school.

Because of her poor health, teachers and students had always gone out of their way to take care of her.

Maloney's most vivid memory of her was from P.E. class. Valery would sit alone under the shade of a tree with a case of bottled water at her feet, handing a bottle to every student who came over to rest.

She had been gentle and thoughtful, and everyone adored her.

Back then, she had seemed perfectly normal.

Until middle school.

On the first day of seventh grade, the city officials gave a speech requiring all freshmen to attend. Valery, who usually rested in the classroom, had been called down to the assembly.

After standing in the sun for half an hour, she collapsed.

At first, the teachers hadn't thought it was serious.

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