There is much trouble in Paradise

Chapter 37

"Are you sure he loves you?" Sandie went on with her interrogation.

"I am! Look, it's better for everyone like this. The child is going to be raised by its natural dad, and I'm going to be with the man I love." Valerie said.

"And...what about Doug? "

"I love Doug, but not like a partner." Valerie said avoiding Sandie's gaze.

"I don't think he realizes that."

"Well, if he asks, I'm making it clear that we're just friends!"

"Don't be too harsh on him, after all he was the one who supported you when everything was falling apart." Sandie said with a scolding tone.

"Yes. I know. But... my heart desires Shane..." Valerie said in a theatrical manner.

"Girl..." Sandie laughed along her friend.

Later that day, Doug showed up at Marquise.

"Doug! Hey!" Valerie said. She'd expect him to ask her out again, and have the perfect opportunity to tell him how she feels.

"Seems like you had quite a restful night." Doug coldly responded.

"Huh?" Valerie said.

"Yesterday I asked you out, remember? You declined because you said you were too tired, right? " Doug said still maintaining the cold tone.

"Yeah, but today I-"

"Today? Well, if you come is Shane accompanying you?"

"Shane? Doug, what do you mean?"

"Weren't you so tired yesterday that you couldn't make it home and went to Shane's place? The same you said he's a pick and made you suffer so much? Remember?" Doug said loosing his temper.

"Doug... I..." Valerie started. There was no use. She went indeed to Shane's house.

"Don't bother. Hope you and Shane have a beautiful kid together." Doug said leaving in a hurry.

Valerie remained silent. She ran in the back and started crying. She hurt Doug. She didn't want to make him suffer. She waited for a while before taking out her phone.

'Doug, I know and understand you love me. I love you too Doug. But we just can't be a couple. I'm not attracted in that way to you. I want you in my life, but just as a friend, brother, protector. I'm sorry, but I need to be with Shane, for the kid, for me.' She read the text a couple times before sending it. She then put away her phone and tried to focus only on work.

Doug went straight to Albert's house. Holly was the only one home. He told her the past events and then waited for the others.

"What a bitch!" Alisha said after she arrived and Doug read the message.

"Alisha!" Albert glared at her.

"Fuck her, Douglas! She wasn't good anyways. Just let her go." Alisha went on ignoring her father.

"Language, Alisha!" Holly stepped in seeing the girl ignored Albert.

"I just... thought... she... finally... loved me." Doug said. " I was so dumb. How couldn't I see?"

"It's OK. Women are cunning. Doesn't matter now. You really have to forget about her. As I know Shane, it's not excluded to back off again later." Albert said.

"I'm sick of being her 'protector'!" Doug said. "I don't want to be her protector, I want to be her man! After all the things I've done for her!"

"Douggie... she doesn't worth it." Holly started.