Julian's curiosity intensified as Valerie struggled to answer his questions. Eventually, her sister-in-law, Ashley Warren, intervened. "Stop grilling Valerie!" she exclaimed. "She's 24 and perfectly capable of handling her own affairs."

Valerie quickly added, "Ashley's right. Chill, Julian."

Though Ashley initially seemed to be defending Valerie, her tone soon shifted. "Seriously, Valerie, you need to discuss these things with the family. How could you not even tell Ruth about getting married? That kind of behavior makes us look bad."

Valerie thought to herself, Talk it over? What, so I can be auctioned off?

Ashley continued, "A woman's prime doesn't last as long as a man's. For men, aging isn't a drawback; they're often more sought after with time. Getting $60,000 in bride price means his family is wealthy. You could really live the high life with him."

High life! Valerie smirked internally, keeping her peace.

Valerie had always known she was treated differently by her parents. To them, a son was their pride and joy, but a daughter was merely a burden, destined to be passed off to another family. She once believed she had angered Ruth, but no matter how hard she tried, Ruth never softened. Ruth had even forced Valerie to quit school to work in a factory when she was a teenager. When Valerie refused, she was kicked out in the dead of winter, left without food or money. Homeless, she survived by taking odd jobs and nearly dropped out of school. Thanks to her aunt, who took her in for two years, and Julian, who secretly shared his meal money with her, along with her own scholarships, Valerie managed to graduate college and secure a job.

Ironically, her friends envied her slim figure, unaware it was the result of years of malnutrition that had left her with severe stomach problems.

Now, Ruth was aggressively trying to profit from her marriage. Valerie had written her parents off. Julian was the only true family she recognized. She would fulfill her obligations to her parents, but nothing more.

Ashley, aware of Ruth's past actions, felt disheartened by her inability to persuade Valerie and excused herself to wash up.

When Ashley left, Julian took Valerie's hand, looking troubled. "Ignore Ashley," he said.

Valerie smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Julian. I'm serious about this marriage. He's good to me."

Seeing her earnest expression and then glancing at the marriage license, Julian sighed in resignation. He discreetly pulled out a card and handed it to her.

"What's this?" she asked, puzzled.

Julian's voice softened. "Valerie, there's $10,000 on this card. I've been saving a little from every paycheck since I got my first job, including the money you paid back. Consider this your wedding gift. I hope it's enough."

Valerie was stunned, quickly pushing the card back toward him. "Julian, I can't take this!"

"Take it," Julian insisted firmly. "Look, you're married now. You need some assets in your name, otherwise, your in-laws might not respect you. And hey, stop sending money home every month. If Mom needs anything, I'll handle it. Just send a little something occasionally. Giving too much might upset your husband and his family. You have your own family now. Just focus on building a good life with your husband. I'll deal with Mom and Dad. Remember, I've always got your back, Valerie."

Julian was acutely aware that while he had received the lion's share of the family's resources, Valerie had received virtually nothing. Parents might be biased, but he was determined not to be.

Tears welled up in Valerie's eyes.

Despite owning a fruit shop, Julian was under significant financial strain, with most of the shop's earnings going directly to Ashley. She left him barely enough to cover his meals while regularly indulging herself and her own family. Strapped for cash, Julian rarely dared to dine out with his friends.

When Valerie started earning her own money, she repaid Julian for his support during her education. She never imagined that he had not only saved all of it but also scrimped enough from his meager meal money to save some for her.