Trading My Ex for His Uncle

Valarie no longer believed Brandon.

"Valarie..." Brandon reached out to take her hand, but she quickly stepped away.

"As for what happens next, let's talk about it after you actually follow through on our bet," she said.

The next morning, just as Valarie finished washing up, she received a message from Stefan.

Stefan: [Good morning, Veevee! Are you up yet? The weather's nice today. Want to go out and have some fun?]

Valarie: [No, I have things to do today.]

Stefan: [Oh... okay...]

Seeing the sighing emoji he sent, Valarie couldn't help but smile.

She remembered last night when they'd been walking around campus. Stefan's shoes were so worn from washing that the color had faded, and the edges were frayed. Her smile faded a little.

After a moment of thought, she sent him another message, asking if he was free to go shopping with her.

Stefan replied almost immediately, his cheerful tone evident. They agreed to meet at the university gate in an hour.

An hour later, Valarie picked up Stefan, and they drove to the mall.

"Veevee, why the sudden urge to go shopping? Is there something you need to buy?" Stefan asked.noveldrama

Valarie nodded. "Yeah, a friend of mine is pregnant, so I want to get her and the baby some gifts."

"Oh, I see," Stefan replied.

They chatted casually on the drive.

Thirty minutes later, Valarie parked in the mall's underground parking.

She led him to the clothing department on the second floor right after they got out.

As they entered the shopping center,

Stefan noticed people eyeing him. It wasn't outright disdain, but that subtle, pretentious judgment that people tried to mask, as if revealing it would somehow lower their status. sŵnovel

He used to resent it, but now...

He hesitated and spoke carefully. "Veevee, maybe I should wait for you in the parking lot?"

Valarie turned to look at him. "Why?"

Stefan seemed troubled. "I think walking around with you like this makes you look bad."

Seeing the unease and

embarrassment in his eyes, Valarie frowned slightly before linking her arm through his. "You haven't stolen anything, and you haven't hurt anyone. What's there to be ashamed of?" sŵnovel

Her gaze was warm and sincere.

It was like a feather brushing against Stefan's heart-ticklish, unfamiliar.

"Veevee, if you keep treating me like this, I might actually fall for you," he confessed.

Valarie chuckled. "That's great! I've always been lovable. Now, let's go. I have a lot to buy today."

Stefan let himself be led forward. He glanced at her side profile, feeling his heart skip a beat.

Lowering his gaze, he forced himself

to suppress the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind. If Valarie ever found out that he was deliberately getting close to her, she would never forgive him.

Some feelings and fantasies weren't meant to be entertained from the start.

Stefan clenched his fists, his expression growing colder.

Valarie led him into a men's clothing store and picked out several casual outfits, handing them to him. "Go try these on."

Stefan shook his head. "Veevee, I don't need them."

"Who said they're for you? A friend of mine has a birthday coming up. You're

about the same size, so I need you to try them on for me," Valarie explained.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Stefan's eyes, but he quickly forced a smile. "Got it."