only Val

Chase told Valeria to come see him tomorrow and then left after taunting Diego some more.

The next day Chase had her in the recliner again—her “favorite spot” for their little talks now.

The lights were dim, his voice low and steady, a rhythm that pulled her down into that syrupy stillness.

“Breathe in… and out… deeper… deeper still,” he coaxed. “Let Valeria fade, piece by piece. Just a mask. Just an act.”

“…Just an act…” she echoed.

“Good girl. You’ve been wearing that mask for years—pretending to be some caring mother, some serious doctor. But that’s not you. Never was.”

Her brows twitched, a faint frown of concentration forming.

“You’re Val. You’ve always been Val. The girl who laughs when people break. The girl who takes what she wants. The girl who made boys stutter and girls jealous.”

“…Val…”

He began to paint it for her, memory by memory—memories she’d never had, but ones she felt deep in her bones now.

“You never had a son you cherished. You had a toy named Diego—some pathetic kid you liked to push around. You made him carry your stuff. You made him cry. And you loved it.”

Her breathing quickened slightly.

“That little boy in your house? He’s not family. He’s just the same loser you knew back in school—still weak, still soft, still yours to mock.”

A smirk tugged at her lips, even under trance.

“Every time he calls you ‘mom,’ it’s just adorable—like a puppy thinking it owns the house. But you know the truth. You own him. You could tear him apart anytime you wanted.”

A soft, warm laugh escaped her.

“That’s it,” Chase whispered, leaning close to her ear. “The more you remember being Val, the more the mask of Valeria just… melts away. And every time you see Diego, you’ll feel it—that rush. The power. The fun.”

“…Fun…” she murmured, her smile wide now.

“When I count to three, you’ll wake up believing nothing happened… but Val will be in control. Valeria will just be a name you wear like a costume.”

He began to count.

“One… the mask is paper-thin now. Two… you’re practically humming with who you really are. Three—wake.”

Her eyes opened. They glittered.

“Hey,” Chase said casually, “how’s my girl?”

Val licked her lips, her voice smooth and sharp. “Better than ever.”