Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me Chapter 162

**VALERIE’S POV**

I always thought I was the kind of girl who could outlast a scandal.

All it took was one girl on a couch with puffy eyes and a shaky voice to prove me wrong.

The drawing room in the St Claire Estate once felt like a palace—sunlight spilling through endless windows, designer rugs, the faint scent of white tea, and jasmine hanging in the air.

Now, it’s a prison. Cold, suffocating, the scent replaced by sweat and panic, and the dull buzz of doom coming from my tablet. My inbox is a battlefield. I can’t look at it anymore.

I glance up at the muted television. Every station is running the clip, Gracie’s face frozen mid-confession. The words stamped in bold underneath:

***Gracie Storm Accuses Lucas Ashford Of Rape—Claims Cover-Up By Valerie St Claire***

I feel like I’ve swallowed acid.

It doesn’t matter that *I* didn’t hold Gracie down. *I* didn’t force myself on her. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t know how far Lucas had gone.

All that matters is what she said. What I did—and didn't do.

I didn’t help her.

I told her to stay quiet.

I thought she was being dramatic. Lucas Ashford showed interest in her; why wouldn’t she love that? Why would she want to punish him for that?

And now, *I’m* the one being punished.

The door bursts open behind me.

The sight of Nathan in the doorway takes my breath away. His sleeves are rolled to the elbow, and his eyes are shadowed, but other than the anger in his eyes, he doesn’t look exhausted or wrecked.

Almost like this shit storm isn’t affecting him

"Nathan—" I gasp, moving towards him, overjoyed at the fact that he came to see me.

"Don't," he snaps, freezing me mid-step.

The look in his eyes, the dangerous undertone in that one word… He’s not here to help me.

I fold my arms to hide the tremble in my hands. “You don’t understand what happened, Nate. She—she was going to ruin everything. I thought—”

“You thought what?” he says, stepping forward. “That her assault was a PR inconvenience?”

I flinch.

His lips curl downwards. “Jesus Christ, Valerie. She came to you—you were her *friend*. You were supposed to help her.”

“I didn’t know it was that bad. I thought she was being dramatic—she didn’t even cry when she told me!”

Nathan stares at me like I’m something filthy stuck to the bottom of his shoe. “You’re unbelievable.”

I don’t know what to say.

Nathan has always been a little closed off and stoic, and I didn’t mind as long as he was mine—I *won*—but I don’t know how to come back from this.

He still hasn’t explained why he vanished before we were to be joined and now—

“You made May do it, right?”

I blink. “What?”

“April’s dress—you manipulated May into ruining it, like April claimed.”

My mouth opens and closes, and my hesitation is answer enough.

He shakes his head, chuckling darker. “You’re un*-fucking-*believable.”*

*“It’s not like that, Nathan,” I say desperately, “I was only trying to—”*

*“To take out your competition by hurting yet another girl who trusted you. I also know about the knee brace you didn’t make.”*

*I have no words.*

*“You’ve always cared more about appearances than people,” he says, shaking his head. “You smiled and posed and schemed your way into my life like it was a ladder to climb. But I never loved you, Valerie. I never even liked you.”*

*He might as well have punched me straight in the gut.*

*“Don’t do this,” I whisper. “Not now.”*

*He laughs, low and bitter. “You think I owe you kindness now? After everything you’ve done?”*

*“I was trying to protect your family,” I say weakly.*

*He nods. “I know. And both the perpetrator and his accomplice will be punished.”*

*My eyes widen. “I’m not—”*

*“Save it.”*

“Nathan.”

*“I’m done,” he says, backing away. “We're over. Publicly. Privately. Officially. Not like we were ever really anything in my mind.”*

*Panic claws up my throat. “You can’t—”*

*“I just did.”*

*Nathan Ashford turns and walks out of my life without another word.*

*I don’t cry—I can’t. There’s too much noise inside my head.*

*But the silence outside is much, much worse.*

*My tablet pings again.*

*I shouldn’t look.*

*I do.*

**#ValerieStClaireExposed*** is trending.

My hands shake as I scroll.

Oh *God.*

***Valerie St. Claire telling a rape victim to stay quiet and protect her rapist's image is peak villain era. Lock her up. #ValerieStClaireExposed***

***Can we talk about how Valerie didn’t just ignore Gracie; she enabled Lucas. These people are monsters. #ValerieStClaireExposed***

***Valerie St. Claire has always given snake energy. #ValerieStClaireExposed***

***I was told to keep quiet, too. Different girl, same story. I see you, Gracie. I see you, Valerie #ValerieStClaireExposed***

***Nathan Ashford’s statement publicly denouncing Valerie is the only Ashford W this week. #ValerieStClaireExposed***

***As a survivor, seeing people like Valerie get exposed is cathartic. No more hiding behind wealth and PR teams. #ValerieStClaireExposed***

***From bridal darling to national disgrace. Damn, Valerie. #ValerieStClaireExposed*** 

***I used to want to be like her. Now I wouldn’t take her hand if I was drowning. #ValerieStClaireExposed***

***Lucas Ashford needs a prison cell. Valerie St. Claire needs a moral compass. Neither of them belongs in society. #ValerieStClaireExposed***

It’s endless. Meme edits of my face morphing into a snake's. Videos spliced with Gracie’s testimony and clips of me smiling at Lucas on our group pre-wedding photoshoot. Screenshots of old interviews twisted to prove I’m a monster.

I turn to the mirror, half-expecting to see scales.

But no. Just me.

Just a perfectly coiffed, empty shell with bloodshot eyes and mascara smudged from rubbing too hard.

I feel the weight of it all settle in my bones.

Nathan doesn’t love me.

The world hates me.

Lucas is radioactive.

And Gracie?

I still don’t know whether to feel hatred for, or sorry to her.

My tablet buzzes with yet another notification, and I groan, looking down at it.

***Killian Ellington issues an official statement demanding a full investigation and pressing for criminal charges against Lucas Ashford.***

I let out a small, bitter laugh.

I always wondered what the difference between Lara Ellington and me was. Why did it seem that all the things I wanted in life came to her effortlessly?

Now I know.

I found out Lucas’ true colors and protected him. Lara found out his true colors and intends to burn him to the ground.

And now? They have all the kindling they need.

There’s no press release I can issue. No apology video that’ll fix this.

I always thought I was the kind of girl who could outlast a scandal.

I’m not.

I’m collateral damage.