ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 57: Those who are shameless

Her gaze stopped at Valerie’s neck.

"It’s beautiful," she murmured. "And it must be worth a great deal."

Valerie froze.

Not because she was tempted. Not because she hesitated.

But because, for a brief moment, she was genuinely stunned by how low the request was.

She lowered her head slightly, her fingers brushing the necklace at her throat. The gold chain felt cold against her skin, the small pendant catching the lamplight. A gift from the Duke. A symbol of recognition. And more than that an unspoken mark of possession.

Valerie lifted her head again.

Her gaze sharpened, no longer merely cold.

"Do you want to see my head severed by the Duke?" she asked flatly. "Just because I give away the necklace he gave me... to you?"

The air instantly grew taut. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Do you truly think I’m that foolish?" Valerie continued, her voice calm, yet every word struck hard. "Or have you truly fallen so far as to lose all sense of shame?"

She took half a step forward not to threaten, but to make sure every word carried.

"This jewelry is not merely an object," she said. "It is a gift from the Duke."

She looked Countess Austin straight in the eyes.

"Touching it without permission is already dangerous," she said coldly. "Selling it? That would be the same as signing my own death warrant."

Countess Austin’s face stiffened, her lips trembling faintly. Count Austin tightened his grip on his cane. Bianca turned her face away, though her eyes still burned with envy.

Valerie stood tall among them.

"If you still possess even a shred of shame," she said softly but firmly, "stop here."

Because this time, what they were asking forwas no longer money.

It was her life.

Count Austin snorted harshly and stepped forward one pace. His gaze was sharp, filled with the impatience he had always used to press Valerie into submission.

"Just give it to us," he said curtly. "Why are you still being so stubborn?"

Valerie looked at her father, her chest tightening.Not from fear but from disgust.

"You truly don’t understand," she said quietly, her words held back with restraint. "That does not belong to me to give away as I please."

"Enough!" Count Austin snapped. "Since when did you learn to talk back to your parents?"

The argument flared again. Voices overlapped, words grew harsher. Countess Austin began lamenting the family’s needs once more, Jester spoke of sacrifice and shared blood, while Bianca kept hurling barbed remarks meant to pierce Valerie’s pride.

Valerie stood in the middle of it all.

She answered, defended herself, endured until a deep, heavy voice cut through the air with final authority.

"Enough."

That single word was enough to freeze the room.

The doors to the sitting room swung wide.

The moment Demian appeared in the doorway, the entire atmosphere shifted.

The air that had been thick with shouting and accusations tightened instantly. Valerie remained where she stood, but her body tensed on instinct not from fear, but because the man’s presence always carried a different kind of weight.

The four people before her... changed at once.

Count Austin was the first to react. He straightened his back immediately, forcing his flushed face into a smile of deference.

"Your Grace," he greeted quickly, his voice suddenly low and respectful. "We didn’t expect you to return so soon."

Countess Austin followed, her steps small, her smile soft as though she had not just tried to strip Valerie of her jewelry.

"We apologize if our visit has been an inconvenience," she said sweetly. "We were only... worried about Valerie. As her parents, we simply wish to ensure she is living well by your side."

Jester bowed promptly.

"My sister can be rather headstrong," he said with feigned concern. "We merely wished to remind her not to burden the Duke with trivial matters."

Bianca lifted her face, her smile turning sweet too sweet, to the point of falseness.

"Valerie has always been difficult," she said softly. "Please forgive her, Your Grace. We only want what is best for her... and of course, for your good name."

Valerie watched them.

Only minutes ago, the word mistress had been thrown at her without hesitation.Now, they spoke as though she were a treasure that needed safeguarding.

Demian showed no expression.

He stepped fully into the room and spoke in an even tone, as though untouched by the performance before him.

"Asher."

His personal attendant stepped forward at once."Prepare the amount they requested."

Count Austin’s face immediately lit up.

"Ah, Your Grace is truly wise," he said quickly, almost eagerly. "We knew your generosity was unmatched."

"Indeed," Countess Austin added with a broad smile. "Valerie is very fortunate to be under your protection."

Jester chimed in, his tone heavy with respect."Your kindness will never be forgotten, Your Grace."

Valerie could not hold back.

"Duke, it’s not necessary," she said quickly. "This isn’t—"

Demian lifted one hand slightly, stopping her without even turning to look.

"It’s fine," he said calmly. "Better to finish this now."

He turned to Valerie, his gaze softening for a brief moment.

"Just accompany me," he said quietly. "And watch."

Then he faced the Austin family again.

"Asher," he continued coolly. "After the money is given, escort them out politely."

He paused.

"And make sure," he added softly but clearly, "that they lack nothing."

The Austin family’s smiles remained in place,but now they looked stiff.

They bowed again, offering thanks, showering him with praise sweet words dripping like false honey.

Demian gave her no chance at all.

His hand closed around Valerie’s wrist and pulled her away from the sitting room firm, swift, without a single backward glance at the Austin family. His stride was long and steady, as though he were already done with everything.

But Valerie still managed to look back.

And that was when she saw them.

Those smiles.

Count Austin, his satisfaction undisguised.Countess Austin, her expression relieved, as though she had just won a large bet.Jester, bowing respectfully, yet the corner of his lips lifted in quiet triumph.And Bianca smiling the widest of all, a smug smile of victory, as if to say: See? In the end, you still couldn’t do anything.

Valerie’s chest tightened.

The irritation crept in fast hot, bitter, and sharp.Not because of the money.Not because of defeat.

But because they were leaving with the feeling that they had won.

The bedroom door closed behind them with a soft click far too soft for the storm raging inside Valerie.

The moment Demian released her wrist, Valerie turned on him sharply.

"Why did you do that?" she demanded, her voice no longer restrained. "Why did you just give them the money like that?"

Demian turned, shrugging off his coat with an unhurried motion, as though what had just happened were nothing more than a trivial affair.

"What’s the problem?" he replied evenly. "They asked. I gave."