Chapter 40 As the host of the gathering , Noah greeted Valerie and Kieran with a warm smile . " Mr. Holt , if you hadn't shown up soon , I'd have thought you had stood me up . " Kieran bumped fists with him like old buddies . " I wouldn't dare blow off a sit - down with Mr. White , even if I had ten lives to spare . I was late because I had to pick someone up at the last minute . " Noah's gaze slid toward Valerie , and for a moment , he was dumbstruck by her beauty . " Who's this ? She's absolutely stunning - such a perfect face and flawless figure . " Although that was a compliment , the words grated on Lucius ' ears . Kieran landed a light punch on Noah's chest and said , " Ease up . She's shy and doesn't take teasing well . Oh , and she's a friend of mine who's just new to Windmere . I brought her tonight to meet everyone . " Noah had met Kieran through mutual acquaintances . Though they weren't too close , they'd always maintained mutual respect . Valerie made a strong impression on Noah . Her distinctive beauty stood out as a one - and- only , and her calm , composed presence demanded respect . Noah offered his hand . " Any friend of Kieran's is a friend of mine . My name's Noah Jensen . If you ever run into trouble , just mention my name , and no one will dare give you grief . " Valrie reached out to shake it once . " Name's Valerie Collins . Thank you , Mr. Jensen . I appreciate the offer . " As their hands touched , Noah's heart skipped a beat . A woman this breathtaking should have soft hands , but hers carried the faint roughness of calluses . With years of training in the military , he knew all too well that those had to be the hands of someone who had trained with weapons . Realizing he was holding on too long , Kieran gave a soft cough . " That's enough , Mr. Jensen . " It was only now that Noah caught himself . " My apologies . I was just wondering if you're into weapons , Ms. Collins . " Valerie raised an eyebrow . " I'm not sure what you mean . " Never one to beat around the bush , Noah went straight to the point and spoke whatever was on his mind . " Your hands give off a dangerous vibe . " As a man in the military , he had sharp instincts and knew danger when he felt it . Valerie might Chapter 40 seem young , but there was a depth in her that he couldn't read . 2/2 She spread her palms , exposing her calluses , and gave an innocent smile . " Kids from poor families had to work the fields for tuition . These calluses are just the trophies of farm labor . " Utterly speechless , Kieran's first thought was , " How does she spout lies so effortlessly ? " " Her foster father commands respect from even Gustavo , so how could she possibly not afford tuition ? " Lucius murmured to himself , equally at a loss for words . Noah wondered if he was overthinking it . Was it just different circles and different lives ? He chuckled awkwardly and tried to brush it off by saying , " My mistake . " Off to the side , Dale studied Valerie doubtfully , struggling to imagine how such a delicate beauty could ever be compared to a farmhand . Sitting next to him was Naomi Zinger , the pampered daughter of Zinger Group , clad in designer brands . Her expression twisted with disdain at Valerie's mention of farm work . To her , Valerie's supposed peasant background lowered the standing of those in a room full of Windmere's most powerful elites . But Noah admired Valerie's honesty . Owning her roots was far more genuine than puffing herself up with lies and pretending to be something she wasn't . After a round of small talk , Noah began introducing the guests . The private room felt more like Lucius ' second home as the layout and every detail aligned with the taste of a luxury villa . Only Finn was absent tonight , being tied up elsewhere . Chapter 41 Chapter 41