Andrew slapped Valerie hard across her beautiful face, twice in a row.

He hissed, "I told you to quit acting up! The first slap is for looking down on Amari. The second is to remind you just how cruel this world can be. I'm not your dad, and I'm sure as hell not someone who'll keep pampering you."

Valerie froze, completely stunned by the slaps. Her cheeks burned with pain, but it could not compare to the shock and fury boiling inside her.

She shrieked, "You actually slapped me? You actuall