Chasing The Vengeful Villainous Heiress-Chapter 163: The safety of so many civilians was put at risk

Chapter 163: The safety of so many civilians was put at risk

They proceeded with Tiana’s funeral quietly. Since it was already recorded that she was dead a long time ago, they couldn’t afford to make it big and let the world know that she had suddenly come back to life and then returned to the dead right after.

Valerie allowed them to bury her in her parents’ graveyard, right next to Frankie by the Willow tree.

She sat down next to it and said a few words, moved to tears but held in her tears. She just didn’t know how she was going to explain to Max once he woke up that his mother died because of her.

"I hope you blame me." She muttered. "I hope you don’t forgive me easily and keep that resentment. So please, don’t smile at me like that." She bit her bottom lip as she stared into the distance, her gaze fixed at a certain point.

In that garden, it was as if she was talking to someone standing in front of her. Rather, what she saw were the smiles and laughs of the people whom she held dear. They were leaving, all of them.

Her eyes became teary watching them wave with bright smiles as they walked into the light.

"Why won’t you blame me?"

The wind blew and took her tears with it.

Grampa Leo approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder,

"Are you okay?" He asked but Valerie could only shake her head. "It’s going to be alright, dear. Clear your mind and leave the rest to me."

Though they carried out an investigation, Steven was never caught with any dirt; however, he admitted knowing Lucy was Eliana and claimed he only forgave her because she confessed to having changed and he fell for her.

The reason why he let her wear a disguise was as everyone could tell, so that the love of his life would not be hated for her past and not be taken into custody.

He truly loved her.

He expressed his sadness that she would do such a thing after being given a second chance. He was regretful and said he would never trust another lie a criminal said to him.

Lies.

Valerie knew, from that day when he attended Lucy’s execution, that Steven was up to something. But she never expected it to be something like that. He broke Lucy out of confinement and that was how he was able to get her to act as Eliana obediently.

"He played us all for a fool." She muttered.

There was a hearing since Lucy was a capital criminal who should’ve been dead. The whole country knew it yet he let her into the very home of the lady she had tried to kill and committed so many sins against.

It was only fair that he was brought to court.

The judge would not take this lightly as it has to do with the chairman of Ross’ safety as well as his own cousin brother.

The death of an unknown person was also placed on him since it was thanks to him that Lucy was able to go around scott free after all her crimes.

Grampa Leo did not disclose Tiana’s identity, but he made it clear that a person died that day in place of his in-laws, and Lucy needed to be punished for it.

Steven thought he could sweet talk his way out of it, but he was wrong. The resentment of not just Stewart and Ross but the entire country had fallen on him.

Lucy had also been blamed for the bomb explosion and though it was not true, they needed to make sure Steven suffered for what he did.

The safety of so many civilians was put at risk thanks to that incident. It made the resentment of the people grow.

And the recipient of that resentment was now Steven.

"This court hereby announces that Steven Stewart be sentenced to fifty years Imprisonment. Any attempt to escape this punishment will be a death penalty." The judge hit his mallet on the table. "This is the court’s decision."

It was a befitting punishment, if not lacking. But with this, Steven was automatically disqualified from the fight for the chairman position as well as the head of the family.

The position of representative, as well as rightful heirs to the Stewart name, was officially vacant, and anyone could work hard to take it, including children from the branch families.

"Grampa," Mariam called. "What did you do to Lucy? The court didn’t mention her."

"Don’t worry, Valerie wants to be the one to dispose of her."

The word dispose only meant one thing. Death.

Valerie was finally fed up. She was tired of having her life controlled by fear. Too many people wanted her dead, each trying to kill her with every chance they got, so heart death would make them one less.

It was high time she watched Lucy leave her life or anybody’s life for that matter, for good. She has plagued lives for too long.

Lucy opened her eyes, perceiving the smell of gasoline. She opened her eyes to find herself in the back seat of a car.

"What’s going on?"

Her legs were damaged and bandaged.

"Who’s there? I smell gasoline. Hello?"

"No one will hear you no matter how loud you scream." Valerie said, standing in front of the door. The window was opened for some reason but she was not worried since Lucy could not walk and her hands were tied.

Lucy looked at her and the deadly glare she had on her face.

"Haha, did you finally snap and want to commit a crime?" Lucy asked with a mocking grin, not understanding her situation at all.

"You underestimate me, Lucy." She said and showed her the lighter in her hand.

Lucy’s face froze as she saw the lighter.

"You... You’re not really going to..."

"Like I said, you underestimate me." Valerie leaned closer and said, "You have plagued my life for too long. It’s high time I exterminated you with my own hands."

"So, you want to kill me?" Lucy yelled. "How dare you?"

"See if I dare not." Valerie said and stepped back. "You wanted to make me a villainess so badly. Today, I will show you exactly how a villainess takes out the nuisance."

Lucy kept yelling and screaming. She cursed at Valerie.

"I will haunt you, Valerie Ross. I will make sure you never live peacefully. I will make sure you suffer."

"Good. Keep that resentment and come to haunt me as a ghost. But you’ll never get near me, you know why?" She put on the lighter. "There’s a full truck of people who hold more resentment towards you. When you become a ghost, they will definitely find you and torture you. Rott in hell, Lucy." She threw the lighter and the floor caught fire, trailing towards the car. "Oh, and give my regards to uncle."

The fire went up the door and entered the car through the opened window, burning up the seats that were made of foam.

Lucy screamed in agony, knowing the fire would reach her soon. She was scared but she wouldn’t stop cussing or bother to plead for forgiveness at this point.

Valerie turned and walked away to get to a safe distance from the car. She would continue watching her as she struggled to no avail but from a safe distance.

Lucy screamed and cussed as her dress caught fire with no way to put it out.

Inside, the car was burning, and she was going to burn with it.

From a safe distance, Valerie watched. This time, she would make sure Lucy died in front of her eyes. No more surprises.

There was no way she would be able to escape death this time around.

She will burn here and also burn in hell.

The car finally exploded and Valerie turned away.

This time, Lucy wouldn’t survive.

’It’s finally over.’ She thought and closed her eyes. ’She’s finally gone for good this time.’

One of her guards, who had accompanied her, approached and whispered in her ear.

"Then, let’s go." She said.

So many things had happened, and so many lives were lost, but most importantly, so many memories were made, happy and sad ones.

Valerie had passed through hardships and happiness. She has made memories that could never be replaced, no matter what, and has found the very thing she had always longed for.

A family.

This time, she will protect what she had created with her own hands.

She touched her stomach. This precious gift that was given to her, she would treasure it.

It was ’their’ gift.

Valerie rested her head on the plane window, staring out the clouds. She had said her goodbyes and was ready to leave.

Mariam would follow shortly after concluding things in Ross. She was going to school with Stephanie in that same university.

Yes, she forgave her but it was sort of a probation forgiveness. She would see if she had truly changed and that would determine if she had indeed changed or if she was the same as always.

Max was in a different compartment of the plane, where the doctors made sure to monitor his condition 24/7 in case of any anomalies during the flight and Valerie did not have the courage to sit next to him. Rather, she was advised not to.

Valerie closed her eyes. As long as Max was with her, no matter how long it took. No matter how many years he stayed in a coma, she would remain strong and live for both of them.

When he woke up, she hoped he would receive his child with a smile and knowing that he had a family waiting for him all along.

She hoped to be with him again.

Someday...

Life... Life was about moving on and staying strong. As long as one didn’t give up, holding on to what was considered important and treasured, more opportunities to be happy would come your way.

For now, she would leave all the fighting to the own who was capable. She opened her eyes, her red eyes glowing fiercely.

Chris Romaine, it was up to him to keep her family safe so she would trust him this time.