Is it true?

Drake’s POV

Valerie's statement hung in the air, and the room fell silent, with no sound of clinking glasses or soft murmurs left. The silence sent the weight of her words right through. Valerie stood frozen for a moment, her heart beating in her chest—as if all the guests' eyes had turned on her, their incredulity felt. Yet, she knew she had to stand her ground, no matter how much her knees threatened to buckle beneath her.

I was the first to break the silence, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting, Valerie?" my tone was cold, dripping with disdain. "This is nothing but gibberish."

"It's not gibberish, Drake," she said, fighting to keep her tone very firm, although her throat had tightened and made her voice harder to push out. "I have nothing to gain by lying about this."

My eyebrows narrowed, my jaw tightening in anger. I turned around the room, my eyes landing on a few guests who whispered to one another. "This lady is trying to