In just two or three minutes, Valentina, who was already panicked, was squeezed by Charles, whether she was smart or not, after all, she was just a child who grew up in a greenhouse, and Charles, who had been in the court for a long time and was accustomed to seeing people, was of course incomparable.

"Well, anyway, you're my cousin after all, how could I possibly look at you embarrassed?"

He stopped Valentina, who wanted to kneel down to him, and told the other party with a smile on his face. "If there's anything you need me and my grandfather to help with, please let me know."

Valentina was still terrified, trembling like a frightened fawn, but she gradually regained her composure under Charles's smile.

"Thank you, my cousin......" she had used the word for Charles for the first time, apparently letting her guard against him loosen her guard. If it weren't for the fact that there was no other way, my grandfather and I really wouldn't bother you...... I'm so sorry. ”

"Now that it's all done, there's no point in apologizing, isn't it?" "Let's face it," replied Charles—Valantina, you'd better hurry up and finish with me, your father is expected to be driving me away soon, and I've become his unwelcome guest. ”

Valentina lowered her head, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly, as if she was a little embarrassed, and finally she let out a long sigh.

"Hey, if my mother was still here, how happy our family would be! Ever since my stepmother came, disasters have befallen me......"

"Looks like it has something to do with your stepmother?" Charles asked quietly, "I've heard that she's not very nice to you, and you've suffered all these years." ”

"It doesn't matter if I'm alone, but my grandfather...... My grandfather is suffering too! He's a lot worse than I am, because he's become like this now, and he's at the mercy of others. At the mention of her grandfather, Valentina's eyes glistened with tears again, "My stepmother hates me as well as him. ”

"Then why does she hate you?" Charles continued to ask, "I understand, stepmothers hate their original children, but they don't hate your grandfather!" ”

"After all, it's money...... Valantina laughed miserably, "she married into my family, and gave birth to my brother Edward, she loved her son very much, but she had no money in the family, and she couldn't leave Edward much property, and whenever she thought about it, she was very miserable, and then she hated me." Because I had property, my mother's estate was left to me, and my grandfather, the Marquis Saint-Meyran, had no other children, so the couple would definitely leave it to me after his death......"

"Even your grandfather doesn't plan to leave the money to your brother Edward?" Charles seemed to understand something.

"Yes, it's strange to say, Edward is his only grandson, but he doesn't like Edward at all, and he didn't give Edward any good looks before he had a stroke." Valentina nodded, and could see that her preference for her grandfather was still a little snickering, "He said in the past that the inheritance will never be given to Edward after death, but ...... Leave it to me ......"

"So your stepmother hates him and hates you." Charles suddenly realized, "They deliberately dragged on not making a will for your grandfather?" ”

"Yes, with my grandfather's status, if he was completely healthy, no one could stop him, but my grandfather had a stroke...... God, why should he suffer so much! Valentina closed her eyes in pain, "After Grandpa suffered a stroke, he lost his mobility, and everything had to go through others, and Dad and Stepmother took the opportunity to replace the people around Grandpa, and then no longer carried out his will, he couldn't even communicate with the outside world, let alone make a will." ”

"No wonder...... No wonder he asked my grandfather to help him make a will......" Charles let out a sigh of relief, and then suddenly looked at Valentina again, "So, Valentina, what do you think?" Do you want to get your grandfather's inheritance? ”

"How could it be! I'm not that kind of person. Valentina's eyes widened, dismissing Charles' speculation, "I...... I've gotten enough money, my mom has left me enough money to live the life I want in the future, I just want to respect the wishes of the elderly...... Since Grandpa didn't want to leave his property to Dad and Edward, then I had to help him, I was by no means coveting Grandpa's property, I told him that I could donate it to the veterans who had been wounded in the war, and Grandpa was glad that I could think so, and he decided to respect my opinion and donate most of it. ”

"So, you're doing good deeds, without any selfish motives, helping grandpa, helping those wounded veterans......" Charles straightened his sleeves for a while, and then calmly asked, "By the way, take revenge on Dad and stepmother, right?" ”

Valentina's face turned pale at the stab of Charles, and she glared at the boy hatefully.

"People like you are really dark and despicable psychologically! I always like to treat everyone as a bad person! After a few moments, she vented her anger at Charles, "Don't pretend to know me well, okay?" What do you know about me? Who are you to taunt me? I...... My mom died, my grandfather had a stroke and was paralyzed, and the people who loved me couldn't take care of me...... My father didn't care about me, my stepmother hated me, and my only brother was also a little villain, and he always took pleasure in bullying me, but in the end they were all good people, but I was the only bad person! ”

"Uh......" was so angry with his cousin that Charles was a little embarrassed.

"Don't quibble, I've long seen that this world is cruel and indifferent, and it has never turned a deaf ear to the suffering of others, and even if it sees it, it will only pretend not to see it, and the politeness of high society is just a means to turn people away from thousands of miles away...... And you're such a person! Perhaps thinking of those sad things, her tears flowed profusely, "Where were you when I was pressed down at home and suffering?" You're eating, drinking, and having fun with your friends, you're spending all your days drinking, and now you're in a position to accuse me of being mean...... I...... I absolutely do not accept your accusations! ”

"Okay, I'm sorry." Looking at Valentina with tears in her eyes, Charles herself felt a little embarrassed, so she had to apologize to her and comfort the other party, "You have really suffered all these years. ”

"That's right, I've suffered every day over the years, every day is like a torment, my stepmother has suppressed me, although she hasn't beaten me, but it's almost suffocating me every minute......" Valentina was still crying, "I see you a few times a year, watching you proud, becoming the focus of everyone, being seen by parents as a role model for their children, but what about me? You probably can't remember the last time you saw me, do you? Who cares about my suffering? No one pays attention to the girl in my corner, and we can only suffer silently......"

She picked up the handkerchief, wiped her tears, and then raised her head, her red and swollen eyes looked at Charles with an awe-inspiring look, "Anyway, since I have a showdown with my father this time, there is no turning back, I need your help, my cousin." ”

"Now that I've said that, how can I stand idly by? My cousin. Charles smiled reluctantly, soothing his cousin's emotions, "Besides, I've already told your father that I'm going to tell my grandfather, and it's not my style to give up halfway." ”

"Thank you." Valentina was obviously relieved, and her eyes softened a lot when she looked at Charles, "I know that the rules of society are to take money to do things, and I will pay for it." Merely...... I don't have any money in hand now, and the property that my mother left me is now in my father's custody, and I won't be able to use it freely until I reach adulthood, and I can't pay you now. But I think my grandfather will give your family the reward he deserves out of gratitude. ”

"It's easy to say that the reward is good, and we are not such greedy people." Charles shook his head, "That's not the problem, Valentina. ”

"What do you mean?" Valentina was on the defensives again.

"The fundamental question is, if you shatter your father's hopes, then how should you deal with the aftermath? You have to get rid of the oppression of your parents......"

"Father and stepmother." Valentina interrupted Charles, who was clearly resentful and did not allow her stepmother to take the title.

"Well, it's not easy for you to get rid of the oppression of your father and stepmother." Charles changed his title, then paused slightly, "Valentina, what are you going to do after this?" ”

This is a very real fear, the prosecutor and his wife have been planning for so long to isolate the old man Novatier, and now that Valentina has helped his grandfather to smash his parents' scheme, you can imagine how angry the couple will be. And when the incident subsides, I am afraid that this anger will be vented on the isolated Valentina.

"I ...... I can endure, I've been patient for so many years, and it's no problem to endure for a while. Valentina looked down, apparently having already made up her mind. They won't kill me no matter what, I'll just have to endure until I reach adulthood. ”

"Maybe for the sake of wealth and power, some people are willing to kill even their fathers, let alone daughters?" Charles leaned in and stared at Valentina's pale face, "Valentina, my dear cousin, you are still too naïve, don't you know what kind of situation you have put yourself in?" ”

"What...... What do you mean? Being so close to Charles, Valentina was a little flustered and wanted to push Charr away, but she didn't have enough strength. Where am I now? ”

"Your grandfather's property, I don't know the exact amount, but since he has received the favor of His Majesty the Emperor for two generations, then there must be a lot of wealth, at least more than one million." Charles looked at each other with a smile, and there was a hint of banter and pity in his blue eyes, "So...... Why do you think that after you have caused more than a million losses to your father and stepmother, they are still just a little angry? Valentina, it may be a shame to say that, but a million can buy a lot of lives. ”

Valentina trembled visibly, she understood what Charles meant.

But emotionally she had a hard time taking it.

"No...... No......" she shook her head violently, as if trying to shake the thought out of her cute head, "Daddy won't do that, I...... I'm his daughter! ”

"Well, I'm assuming your father is a good man, he wouldn't do that, so have you ever thought about the other situation?" Seeing his cousin's nervous and panicked appearance, Charles continued to speak in a good manner, "You are now the heir to three properties, your mother's, your grandfather's, and your grandfather's...... And your brother Edward, but nothing! It's because of you that he has nothing, so what kind of existence are you for a mother who loves her children? Won't she think it's better for you to disappear from the world?! ”

Charles's interrogation made Valentina lose her square inch in an instant.

The maiden knew that he was right, and that she had now become the stepmother's worst enemy, for whom she had robbed Edward of his property and had repeatedly turned against them.

But because of this, do you want to kill yourself? She still wasn't convinced.

Or rather, I can't believe it.

Charles had seen Valentina's faltering, and he knew that he had disrupted the opponent's psychological defenses, and now, it was time to reap.

"Valentina, I was sorry for you in the past, I didn't care much about you, I didn't know that you suffered so much, if I knew I would definitely find a way to save you." He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped the tears left on his cousin's face, "You are a smart child, you have wisdom and courage, and you also have the determination to move, but after all, you have been raised in the boudoir since childhood, so you still have some illusions about people's hearts, and you don't know how to be wary." But the harsh reality is in front of us after all, and it's so obvious, so we have to be on guard, right? ”

Then, with a long sigh, he said, "My cousin, if this continues, you may really die!" I'm not saying that your father and stepmother will do it, but since you've already caused them more than a million losses, anything can happen. I don't want to see such a result, and I don't think your grandfather will see such a result, right? This devastated old man, if he sees that something has happened to you, will he be able to withstand it? ”

Hearing Charles's earnest teachings, Valentina's eyes became more and more distracted, and she hung her shoulders feebly, apparently seeing a terrible omen.

If she dies in an "accident", grandpa will definitely not be able to withstand such a blow.

"But what can I do? Who told fate to put me in this situation......" After a while, she could only smile miserably, "I can only wait quietly for God's judgment on me, I hope He can pity me and my grandfather, if fate must let me die miserably, then at least I can go to heaven to see my mother as soon as possible, I can accept it." ”

"No, no, no! Don't do that, Valentina! Charles raised his voice a little and grabbed his cousin's shoulder, "You're so young, how can you want to die casually?" Would your mother want to see her beloved child die young? No, even for the sake of your mother and grandfather, you should live, and live happily. As your cousin, one of your few loved ones, I will help you. ”

"Help me?" Valentina looked at Charles in amazement, wondering why he had suddenly said that.

"yes, of course I'm going to help you. Although I knew that you had an unfortunate life, it was your family's family affair, and I had no way to intervene, so I could only watch from the side with sadness...... But now that the situation is very critical, maybe you will be in danger of your life, how can I stand by and watch in such a situation?! Charles looked at his cousin with enthusiasm on his face, "For the sake of your dead aunt, I will protect you, and I will never let you die at the hands of despicable murderers!" ”

Under the setting sun, the blonde young man looked so determined that even his eyes seemed to be shining.

Valentina stared blankly at her cousin, who was close at hand, and her face flushed.

Under the confinement of her parents' indifference and imperiousness, she has been living a secluded life, and her only caring grandfather has long been paralyzed by a stroke, and perhaps no one has said so enthusiastically to protect her for many years.

The emotional impact made the hot blood rush to her head, almost making her a little dizzy.

This is her cousin who is so loved and admired, and she is so handsome!

"Thank you...... Thank you! Then I'...... So what should I do? She asked in a trembling voice, almost out of tune.

Valentina, it's time to do what I say.

Looking at the girl's dizzy appearance, Charles made a conclusion.

Very good.

"It's very simple, you can send me a note regularly, tell me about your family, and the changes in your father's and stepmother's attitudes towards you." In order to lower the girl's guard, Charles smiled his kindest smile on his face, "So that I can protect you before danger comes." ”

"But how am I going to give it to you?" Valentina asked again—inadvertently confirming that she had intended to do what Charles had said.

"You must know this by yourself—" asked Charles rhetorically, "didn't your grandfather have a few faithful servants at home all these years?" Even if he is isolated now, there will always be people who sympathize with him, otherwise—how can you know about my arrival and play that drama in front of me? ”

"I can't hide anything from you......" Valentina froze, then smiled wryly, "You...... You're so powerful, it's scary. ”

"Don't be afraid, I am protecting you, I protected you once today, and I will continue to protect you in the future, after all, you are my cousin, and you are the same as me...... A mother who lost early like me. Charles replied emotionally, "Looking at you, I am reminded of how helpless I was when I lost my mother!" Luckily, I had my grandfather to protect me and grew up. As soon as I think of this, I sympathize with you, your grandfather can't protect you anymore, if we don't make a move, what will you do? I can't see you in danger, even if it might anger your father, I'm going to do something, trust me! ”

"Hmm...... Well! When Charles mentioned that she and she were both orphans, Valentina was completely impressed, and the similarity of the two people's backgrounds made her feel so close at once.

For the first time, she also felt that life, and even life, had a solid support.

She has lived with her father and stepmother for so many years, and even if she refuses to admit it, she has an extreme fear of them in her heart.

But if Marshal Tréville's grandchildren and grandchildren were willing to shelter her, what was there to fear?

"I'll try to write you a report on time." Valentina looked away, not daring to look at her cousin again, "If this kind of report is interrupted at any time, it means that something is wrong, please come and help me and grandpa." ”

"Hmmm! Clever! Charles nodded heavily.

"Alright...... After all this talk, it's time for me to go back. Valentina's words were filled with gratitude, "I will never forget how you helped me." ”

With that, she turned around and walked back to the mansion, but her steps were much lighter than before.

Charles stood still, looking at the light back in a white dress.

Wow, I didn't expect things to go so smoothly!

He couldn't believe that he was worrying about how to break into the Villefort family, but within a few hours of coming to this house, he had found an excellent internal response.

In the Villefort family, it is really lucky to have such a chess piece!

He couldn't help but give himself a thumbs up in his heart.

Although it may be too much to intimidate and deceive a pure and kind girl in this way......

But at least I could save her life, wouldn't I?

Charles smiled, comforting himself in his heart.