Chapter 16

VALERIA

“Miss Valentina, why are you buying a boy's clothes if you claim you don't have a child?" He quizzed me, his gaze searing and searching as he scanned the piece of clothing in my hand.

I gulped, my heart racing.

Bracing myself, I turned gracefully around to face Reese, wearing a grim and indifferent demeanor that masked the turbulent thoughts swirling inside of me.

I met his gaze, my brows creased in mild annoyance, a storm of defiance and unease churning behind my eyes.

"I can't remember being obliged to explain my actions to you." My voice was firm despite the turbulent emotions writhing inside of me.

Something glinted in his eyes, and his lips parted as if he was about to say something, but they clamped shut as he thought against it.

Taking it as my cue to leave, I clutched the piece of clothing tighter in my grasp as if he were going to snatch it any second.

I turned on my heels without looking back as I made my way out of the store, the door closing with a soft chime behin