As Raymond stepped out into the cool night air, the bloodied warehouse behind him, his thoughts drifted deeper.
Despite the burning anger still coiling inside him, a small part of him couldn't deny it—he was seeing progress.
This Valentina… she was different.
The Valentina he used to know—if it had been the old her, the previous version—she would have folded by now. She would have broken down completely, relying on him for every step, every breath.
She wouldn't have even thought about standing up to anyone, much less asking to handle Maria herself.
And her family… her cursed family… back then, they would have crushed her without her even knowing it. Manipulated her, torn her down, used her like a pawn.
But now, she was fighting back, even if her strength was still rough, even if she didn't yet fully realize what she was up against.
At that moment Raymond's lips tightened into something almost like a proud smirk.
"Good."
That was why he had decided to let her do it her way.
