Chapter 573 - Better Off As Friends

"I am sorry." Valerie breathed as Preston drove beside her. He was focused on the road. So, he did not see the expression on Valerie's face. Her heart ached for him. But she did not know what more to say.

"Why are you sorry, Valerie?" Although Preston understood what his good friend was trying to do, he still feigned ignorance with an idea to tease her and loosen the mood. "Did you do something behind my back that might potentially harm me? Or what secret are you hiding from me?"

Valerie rolled her eyes at his pathetic attempt to joke with her. But she was still glad that Preston was not too in despair after he failed to get the girl he liked. His friend was smart and strong, and she smiled lightly, praising him for not falling too deep in sadness.

"You guessed it right. I was short of money. So, I was thinking of...." Valerie stopped, allowing the mystery to settle.

"Thinking of?" Preston probed, glancing at her for a moment before he returned his gaze on the road.

"I was thinking of taking it out of your piggy bank?" Valerie's smile widened as soon as she saw the confused look on Preston's face.

"Piggy bank? Val, I do not have a piggy bank and why would I have one? I am not a child." He gave her an incredulous look, and this time, Valerie could not control herself anymore. She burst out laughing, adding more to the man's puzzlement.

"Are you sure you do not have one? Ryder and I both know about your secret account where you are storing money to buy your favorite car, and you are almost close to reaching the amount you have in mind." Valerie winked the moment Preston's face snapped to hers. 

"How did you know about it?" Preston could not hide his shock even if he wanted to for as far as he could remember, he did not recall revealing it to anyone. It was a secret he had maintained all these years, and to think that it was not a secret anymore, turned his face red in embarrassment.

"We know all your secrets, dear friend. Otherwise, how do you think I would have the notion of stealing some money from your treasure trove?"

"Don't you even dare." Preston warned. Even though his voice was low and threatening, Valerie did not take it heart and brushed it off with a chuckle. He was definitely not serious with his threats.

"Are you sure I wouldn't?" Valerie continued, and Preston eventually gave up when he realized that she was just teasing him. Why would she even eye his treasure when she herself had a lot of savings?

"As if you can." He just scoffed lightly to have the last say.

"How are you feeling?" Valerie's expression turned solemn all of a sudden as she stared at the man beside her who had his eyes fixed on the road. He did not dare look at her this time for he knew she would find out his true feelings if she were to see his eyes.

"I am fine." Preston took a few seconds to answer her, composing his distressing feelings.

"Are you sure?" 

"Yes, I am. I am fine, Val. It was best that I found out the truth about Aria before I got too carried away with my feelings for her. I can now suppress them and come out of it as soon as possible." Preston let out a deep sigh.

"Did you confess to Aria about your feelings?" 

"Not at all, although I have a hunch that she might have found out about it. It was her who brought up her boyfriend first. So, I stopped myself quickly. We are now good friends and I did not intend to make it awkward between us and lose her friendship too." Preston stated as they entered the parking lot of the Intelligence building.

"That's great. Do you know friendship is deeper than a relationship?" Valerie released her set belt and turned towards Preston completely. "So, I assume that whatever happened was for the best. You now another friend other than us."

Preston just shook his head and got off the car while Valerie followed suit. "I am saying the truth. Any relationship will be a success if they start by being friends. So, my dear friend," Valerie walked beside Preston, making sure to keep his attention on her. "You have a stronger bond with her. So, what if she could not be your girlfriend, she is now your friend. Moreover, you might lose a girlfriend, but you will never lose a true friend. And as far as I can feel, Aria is a true friend."

"Val," Preston stopped walking, forcing Valerie to stop too.

"Yes?" She gave him a pleased look and folded her hands, smiling brightly at him.

"Are you done preaching? If so, let's go. Ryder must be losing control now with our prolonged absence." Without another word, he started walking while Valerie followed him with a chuckle. She did not speak any further about Aria or any topic related to friendship or relationship, allowing Preston to take his take time to get our his feelings himself.

Meanwhile, Preston smiled to himself when he realized that what Valerie had said was the truth. He preferred being Aria's friend, rather than have a relationship with her. At least that way, he was sure he could be with her and keep her in his life. Moreover, he valued friendship more than anything in the world and now, Aria had entered his short list of friends, one he wished to keep happy and safe forever.

"Finally," Ryder raised his hands in exaggeration. "I thought you guys forgot me or had abandoned me."

"We forgot you after we decided to abandon you." Valerie's reply was instant, and Ryder threw a glare at her.

"Then, why did you come back? Leave and abandon me again."

"Ryder, if you have forgotten, we work here. We will have to come back here even if we decide to abandon you." Preston answered, and Ryder now almost had the urge to kill his friends.

"What took you guys this long?" He changed the topic and frowned lightly as he ran a hand through his hair.

"We will tell you about it later. Let's meet Jared first." Valerie started walking, not giving the man any heads up about what was to come.

"Why are we meeting Jared? Did you guys find out more about him?"

Preston draped his hand around Ryder's neck. "Yes. So, come and watch the drama and maybe some action too. You might not want to miss this. This is just unbelievable.." He did not say more, keeping his friend in suspense while the two men followed their Deputy towards the interrogation cell where Jared was being held captive.