Rising from the Ashes BY Only For You

---- Chapter 2447 Elaine was furious, pointing a trembling finger at Valerie. "You're out of line! If you ever dare say something like that again, !'ll tell Finnegan right away. I may not punish you myself, but he won't be so kind." Valerie scoffed. "I can stop talking about it, but don't even think about forcing me to marry. Elaine Theron, we used to be best friends. But I never imagined that while I treated you as my best friend, you wanted to become my stepmother. "By marrying my dad, you gained the status and power that countless people wouldn't even dare dream of.

But have you ever thought about what a woman needs status and power for? Aren't those things men obsess over? What a woman should pursue most is freedom, independence, and strength." She added, "I'm different from you. In this lifetime, I only believe in myself and only love myself. Marriage? To me, that's an insult. Elaine's expression darkened as well. "Fine, since you're so uncooperative, I'll be blunt. The wedding gift they're offering is a price that even Finnegan would be tempted by.

the option to refuse this marriage." Valerie's anger mixed with curiosity. "Oh, really? I'd love to see ---- who's rich enough to think he can buy me. Go ahead, tell me. How much did he offer that you and Dad both lost your self- control?" Elaine smiled faintly. "Ten ninth-grade supreme elixirs. And that's just part of the

told you, this isn't an ordinary proposal. Even Finnegan would be impressed. But no, it wasn't from a noble family, nor any of the royal bloodlines. The one who proposed... was Andrew Lloyd." Valerie froze, her face flushing crimson. "What? Andrew? That bastard wants to marry me? He actually thinks

the hell does he think he is?" Her embarrassment twisted into something strange. She could ---- not help but remember how he had asked her about marriage at the auction. The memory made her pulse quicken like electricity rushing through her veins. So, that bastard had been eyeing her all along! What gave him the nerve? Did he think she was that easy to claim? However, before her thoughts could spiral further, Elaine calmly clarified, "I should've been clearer. The one who proposed was Andrew, but