Hi Ex, Your Uncle Is My Hubby Now - Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Anthony remarked, "It seems you two are really close." After all, Valerie wouldn't have shared such painful memories with Irene if they were just casual acquaintances.
Irene nodded. "Of course! We're best friends—total ride-or-dies."
Anthony asked, "Do you know why Valerie has changed so drastically these past few years?"
Anthony recalled how Valerie looked the day before, his emotions a bit complicated. "I didn't even recognize her yesterday. She's nothing like the girl I remember."
Valerie had attended Anthony and Jaycee's wedding—she was even one of the bridesmaids.
At that time, Valerie was just twenty years old—quiet and reserved, with only a touch of makeup. Dressed in a pale lavender bridesmaid dress, she stood behind Jaycee, just like a sweet, lovable girl next door.
But the girl he saw the day before, dressed head-to-toe in black with makeup like a spilled paint palette, was completely unrecognizable to him.
Anthony continued, "Last night I called my in-laws and mentioned this. They spoke in such a heartbroken tone. According to them, Valerie only turned out this way because she fell for an underground musician in a band.
"Irene, if you truly consider her a friend, I'm begging you—please talk some sense into her. She's clearly gone down the wrong path."
"As her best friend, you shouldn't just stand by and watch her go down a destructive path without trying to stop her."
It was evident Anthony was deeply concerned about Valerie—his tone turning solemn and earnest.
But Valerie's undercover work was strictly classified—no one but Irene knew the truth.
Valerie's Aunt Louisa and Uncle Mack had no idea what was really going on.
They only saw the surface.
Their once sensible niece suddenly turned into a lovesick fool for some guy. And the worst part? That guy was a total deadbeat—already past his prime, no real job, just wasting his days playing in some underground band.
Smoking, drinking—he was into every vice imaginable.
Louisa and Mack were, of course, heartbroken to see their beloved niece Valerie throwing her life away for a guy like that.
Irene's heart ached for Valerie, knowing full well what she was really going through.
Her clandestine yet noble mission had left Valerie isolated and misunderstood by everyone around her. Irene could hardly fathom the crushing weight she must be bearing.
"She..." Irene hesitated, her voice trailing off.
Irene put on a disappointed expression and said, "We had a falling out yesterday—just because I suggested she break up with that underground musician and come back to work in Eldraeth City.
"She yelled at me for meddling in her business, made me pull over halfway, and then stormed off, leaving Eldraeth City."
Irene shook her head at Anthony. "Sorry, Anthony. Valerie is dead set on this path—there's no talking her out of it."
Hearing this, Anthony's brow furrowed in confusion. "How did she end up like this?"
Jaycee adored her cousin Valerie. Whenever she passed by a mall and saw pretty clothes or handbags, she would always mention wanting to buy them and sending them back to Valerie in Draymont City.
The girl Jaycee doted on—the apple of her eye—was never meant to become a delinquent.
What on earth happened to turn such a good girl into someone so lost?
"Can you give me Valerie's number?" Anthony couldn't just stand by and watch Valerie go astray. He resolved, "I'll try persuasion first. If that doesn't work, I'll have to take tougher measures."
Anthony thought, 'If I can convince Valerie to get back on the straight and narrow, that'd be ideal.
'If persuasion doesn't work, then I'll have to resort to tougher measures.
'There's no way I can just stand by and watch Valerie throw her life away like this.'
Irene said, "She's blocked me on everything—both my phone and WhatsApp. I can share her WhatsApp contact with you, but I can't guarantee she'll accept your request."
"Got it." With Valerie's contact info in hand, Anthony turned and left.
Standing just outside the door, Ruth overheard their conversation.
After Anthony left, Ruth stepped inside to help Irene tend to the potted plants by the window.
As Ruth pulled out the weeds growing around the young tree, she suddenly said, "I once saw a forest of white pines. Standing straight and tall is simply in their nature."
Irene frowned in confusion at her grandmother, Ruth.
Ruth tossed the weeds into the trash bin, then turned to Irene with a knowing smile and said solemnly, "Pine trees never grow crooked, and a hero's child would never become a disgrace."
"What do you think, Rini?" Ruth asked.
Irene and Ruth exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smile.
Irene always thought her grandmother was the most insightful person in the world. Sometimes, she couldn't help but feel her grandmother was an understated powerhouse—someone with hidden depths no one could ever truly fathom.
Irene said meaningfully, "I believe the children of heroes would aspire to be heroes too."
Ruth nodded and said, "You get back to work, Rini. I'll go scoop the litter."
After sharing her life wisdom, Ruth figured it was time to give the cats a little pep talk about the importance of losing weight.