After leaving the restaurant together, Victoria and Louis got into the car.Louis secured his seatbelt and turned to look at Victoria. "Tomorrow, you'll be representing the graduating students. Prepare a speech."Louis paused. "If they don't want to collaborate with us, then that's that. Everyone saw how talented you are. They know it's Fortuna's loss. Brighton will only get better with time. Are you in a bad mood because you lost money from the bets?"Yves had started a betting game. A lot of people from Youngville participated.Before placing their bets, a few people reached out to Louis to get to know Brighton's situation.Louis believed it had something to do with Victoria. He also received a call from his friend two days ago. They informed him Benjamin had placed a billion-dollar bet on Brighton losing."I can help you settle the bets. It's still a manageable amount for me. Cheer up a bit."Victoria folded her arms. Her expression did not change. "That's not the reason. You
Why was a man leaving Victoria's room at this hour of the night?That bitch was in a relationship with Benjamin! How dare she cheat on him?Colette did not recognize Benjamin. She quickly snapped a few photos with her phone.She would let Benjamin know that Victoria was a slut who could not stand being alone.Benjamin was a clean freak. He had a problem with his body, and Victoria had cheated on him. He surely would not let Victoria off the hook so easily.Colette's fingers shook with excitement as she stood in the dark.Victoria would be done for.Colette began imagining Victoria's downfall. Victoria would kneel before her as she begged for mercy. Halfway through her fantasy, the man turned around.That man was … Benjamin.Colette's smile froze.Benjamin closed the door.The image of Victoria's white lacy bra appeared in his mind.He wondered what Victoria would look like wearing it.The moment that thought entered Benjamin's mind, he felt a fire igniting within him.He
Yves noticed Victoria and Benjamin looking at him, so he waved his hand excitedly. "Ben, Mrs. B, look here. Look here, everyone!"Smile. That's right, smile. Ben, widen your smile. Never mind. It looks too strained. Look at Mrs. B. Show me more emotions. That's right. That's it. Perfect!"Yves had changed his seat. He sat beside Jayce today.Jayce looked at Benjamin standing next to Victoria. Then, he looked at the excited Yves. He could not take it anymore. "Who are you calling Mrs. B? Have you had enough yet? There are so many people here. Although you're not embarrassed, Victoria might feel embarrassed."Yves looked at the fuming Jayce with no intention to back down. "She permitted me to call her Mrs. B. She's fine with it, so how is it your problem? You're just jealous of Ben. There's no use in being jealous. Mrs. B is loyal to Ben. Other than Ben, she won't spare anyone else a glance."Once Yves finished speaking, he made a face.Jayce was furious.At 11:00 pm last nigh
Everyone began discussing what they had just witnessed."Isn't that Jacob Sutton, the president of Kraken Property? He has a family. Why does that woman in his arms look so familiar?""Of course, she looks familiar. She just got down from the stage. She was one of Brighton's honors students. Ms. Sheehan had personally handed her the award.""Oh, my goodness! Brighton's honors student is a homewrecker? All those women must also be from Brighton, right? Why does such a school exist? It's disgusting!""Victoria was Zachary's fiancee. Not long after that, she was with Mr. Homer. And just now, she was flirting with that man on stage. Are they going to let such a flirtatious woman take over Brighton? Will they start giving lessons on being a seductress? Will they teach people to become homewreckers?""Fortuna will not collaborate with Brighton after this. Haha. I'm going to be rich!"A relaxed smile finally appeared on Colette's face when she saw the change of public opinion.Since th
Luna had just returned. She watched as Mary rushed up the stage like a madwoman.All the reporters followed Mary and headed up onto the stage. However, their cameras were aimed at Victoria.They looked like hungry predators zeroing in on their prey.Luna remembered running into a worried Yves. She laughed out loud in joy.She snapped a video of the situation and sent it to Sienna.Sienna would be happy when she saw it. She would be proud of her.Luna smiled as she returned to her seat.Benjamin turned to look at her.It was just a simple glance.Luna was a little nervous. She felt like he knew something.When she recalled Benjamin's relationship with Yves, her smile froze. She suddenly became anxious.Jayce noticed that something was wrong. He also turned around and looked at Luna's nervous expression. He had an ominous feeling. "Where have you been?""I was using the restroom. Why?"Jayce remained silent as he looked at her. He did not look like he believed her.Luna see
Victoria was stunned.Mary was an idiot.Victoria looked at Mary as if the latter were a fool.Even the reporters and the audience were stunned.When Mary had sworn that Victoria was out to get her, they imagined a long history of strife between the two women.Was that all?Someone even laughed out loud.The video of Victoria dancing had gone viral. Mary had been abroad so she did not see the video. However, most of the audience had watched the video multiple times.Mary was a good dancer, but if she were compared to Victoria, there was nothing to compare.In their opinion, Victoria had been giving others the chance to perform by choosing not to perform herself.Plus, Victoria was also talented with musical instruments and fencing.Mary could not even hold a candle to Victoria's talents. She could never live up to Victoria.They were on completely different levels. How could Victoria be jealous of her?What a ludicrous joke it was.Victoria cleared her throat and said s
One by one, Brighton's students rose to their feet.Everyone clapped with all their might as their eyes brimmed with tears.Just moments ago, they thought they would be scorned for being students of Brighton. They had hated Brighton with every fiber of their being.But now, they found hope in Victoria's words.Slowly, others stood with them.The thunderous applause was even louder hanthan the one Victoria received when she had won against Fortuna as Brighton's representative.Benjamin looked at the woman on stage.Dressed in Brighton's uniform, she stood tall. Her eyes shone with determination, and her smile was gentle and confident.Victoria was enthrallingly beautiful.She was more captivating than any other person Benjamin had ever seen.Every word she said was powerful.Even without an amplifier, her voice echoed across the stadium.How could such a woman exist?She was flawless.The more Benjamin got to know her, the more he fell for her. Jayce and Fortuna's repres
Soon, Yves brought Jayce and the rest of Fortuna's representatives backstage.Luna was also among them.When she saw Victoria, she scoffed and said sarcastically, "Vic, you're still very good at stirring up people's emotions. Did you think a few words could change your outcome? What a joke! No matter what you say, Fortuna will never agree to work with such a treacherous school like Brighton."It's no wonder you're willing to be the dean of such a school. You're also a homewrecker. You ruined other people's relationships. Even your own family doesn't want you. You are nothing compared to Ms. Campbell—""Shut up!"Jayce glared at Luna and shouted in anger, "Haven't you said enough? Who asked you to come here? Why did you follow me? No one would think you were mute if you stayed quiet."He walked closer to Luna and whispered, "If you continue to slander Victoria, I'll ruin you too.""Jayce!"Luna looked at Jayce with teary eyes. She was hurt and annoyed by his words.One of her f
Victoria saw that Benjamin wasn't looking like he was kidding at all. She placed both of her hands on his chest and turned her head away when he leaned in to kiss her.She then pushed him away hard and changed the topic by saying, "I heard that Solomon was beaten up in his own house last night."Benjamin chuckled lowly and said, "There's no use changing the topic."As he was talking, he arched his neck and pressed his lips near Victoria's ear.Victoria's ears, especially her helix, were extremely sensitive. She subconsciously pulled her hands back and covered her ears with her palms.Benjamin took the chance to wrap his arms around Victoria's waist and pulled her close to him. His face was close to hers.Victoria could feel Benjamin's burning desire as she was pressed down onto his lap. She now knew better than to struggle.This was just shooting herself in the foot!It wasn't that she didn't know what he was like, but she just had to stir him up.Victoria felt uneasy when she
Victoria used her other hand to support her cheek as she blinked.She said, "How could someone who dislikes wasting words and unnecessary chatter nag endlessly over just a small wound?"Benjamin coldly asked, "Are you complaining that I'm long-winded and annoying now?"He looked aggrieved, as if he would be angry if Victoria were to answer "yes".Victoria laughed out loud again and replied, "I'm not!"She used her finger to poke at Benjamin's cheek.She was smiling when she asked, "Are you madly in love with me, Benjamin?"Benjamin looked at Victoria seriously as he crouched by her legs.If it was before this, he would've nodded and replied "of course" without hesitation. But now …Benjamin couldn't be as confident and sure when he recalled Wendy's previous words.Victoria didn't think much of it and took Benjamin's silence as affirmation.She continued, "I'm thinking that you're definitely madly in love with me. That is why you're so heartbroken and reacted abnormally even
"Where are we heading to now, Ben and Mrs. B? Why are the people here so weird? Why are they dressed up as if they're in a period drama?"What is this place? Why are the both of you here?"Yves was back to his lively self as soon as he got into the carriage. He started asking endless questions."You regained your memories now, Ben? I knew you'd never forget about Mrs. B no matter what. Even if you did, you'd definitely remember everything as soon as you saw Mrs. B!"Yves gushed on. It took him a good while to realize that Benjamin's expression had changed. Even the atmosphere in the carriage became strange.He asked, "Did I say something wrong?"Wendy laughed dryly and replied, "He's not as deeply in love with Victoria as you think he is. He didn't remember anything."Yves laughed awkwardly before pursing his lips.He started to butter Victoria up."How did you know Ben is here, Mrs. B? How did you find—"Victoria pursed her lips and glanced at Gwen who was driving in the fro
Yves stared at Anna. She started out mumbling, and her voice grew louder toward the end.He looked confused. "Ben, Mrs. B, what is she talking about?"He was sure she was speaking the same language but couldn't, for the life of him, understand what she meant.Upon listening to Anna, Wendy immediately felt she was too quick to agree to Yves' request because of the money. She wanted to push him aside.However, he was in a sorry state with his limp. His face was visibly thinner than before, and his eyes weren't as bright as they used to be. She found herself sympathizing with him.Victoria pressed her lips together, and her brows creased further.Benjamin turned to Silas. "Go and get Asher!"Anna didn't dial back on her arrogance. "Great idea. I'm looking for him, too."There was a horse race today, yet he locked me up in that cabin! I have a score to settle with him!"Victoria recalled Asher leaving the stables urgently during the day and had a hunch about what happened."If yo
Yves looked up with teary eyes and could vaguely make out Benjamin's sour face.He rubbed his eyes with all his might. Benjamin's face slowly became clear to him as his vision cleared."It's really you, Ben! Oh, Ben!"He was pleasantly surprised, as though he finally had someone to rely on. He teared up in excitement.The next moment, he became aggrieved again. He was just like a three-year-old who was bullied by a stray cat.He cried, "You're here, Ben. Why didn't you ask someone to look for me? You've no idea what I've experienced."I've been locked away in that shabby cabin and almost lost it. I miss you so freaking much!"Benjamin looked less sour now. He took out his handkerchief that he brought along wherever he went.He passed it to Yves, who had tears and snot all over his face. "Clean up. You're a grownup man, you know. Look at you."With one hand taking the handkerchief, Yves clung onto Victoria with the other.Benjamin stared at his hand that was holding onto her.
Asher felt his heart shatter. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I've already gifted it to someone else!"The person in charge felt his heart ache, too. "I wanted to inform you when you arrived, but you told me to talk to you after the race."You've always said that horse has a character and that you like it, no? I never expected you to give it away."Who did you give it to? Could you, perhaps, buy it back from him?"Asher was dispirited. "I can't."He waved it off and continued, "Forget about it. It belongs to someone else now."I'd been obliging to its every wish for all the time it had been here. Still, it never obeyed me."It's intelligent and chooses its own master. I can't tame it. It's no better than an average horse to me."Tell those who witnessed that incident that they shouldn't talk about it to anyone. You may leave."The person in charge glanced at him. Bowing, he acknowledged the instruction he received and left.Asher looked toward Sebastian and sighed dejectedly
Silas and Wendy immediately hurried over in excitement when they heard they were going to split the winnings.Wendy, who wasn't the best in maths, counted gleefully, "We bet one thousand gold coins. As the odds are at one to 246, we'll get … ten thousand, 200 thousand … 244600 gold coins. Am I right?"She surprised herself when she said that out loud. She and Silas exchanged glances and started hopping about in delight.That was a lot of gold coins! They were rich!"Ten percent of 244600 gold coins would amount to roughly 24 thousand gold coins, so 20 percent would make it about 50 thousand. Victoria—"Silas and Wendy were already dizzy. Turning to them, Victoria instructed, "Give us a moment, and take Onyx with you.""You …" Silas looked at her suspiciously. Was she planning to keep all the money to herself?She gave him a warning glare, and he and Wendy obediently led Onyx away.They shouldn't offend their moneybag right now.Victoria looked at Asher. "That's over 240 thousa
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound. It was a teenager who was around 15 years old. Not bothering to keep up his image, he sat on the floor and clung to Sebastian's leg.Besides him, many others were standing around Sebastian. They all looked at Sebastian pitifully.Asher loudly asked the one kneeling, "Just look at you, Troy Lancaster! What happened to your enthusiasm?"It's only a meager sum. Do you really have to react this way?"Troy Lancaster? He was the Lancaster family's youngest son, Sebastian's younger maternal cousin.Victoria had a photographic memory. She saw his name when she skimmed through the log book earlier.He had bet 500 silver coins, which wasn't the least of all. It wasn't a hefty sum either, considering who he was.The Lancasters had very conflicting approaches in his upbringing. His mother pampered him, while his father was very strict toward him because he thought he was spoiled.Judging from his reaction, he must've been greedy and impulsivel
Once Roxy left, several women with ill intentions who criticized Victoria earlier became uneasy. They came up with excuses and left one after another.As the drama ended, everyone calmed down. Some were listless, while some were feeling down.There were also a few who approached Victoria, among whom were mainly men. They earnestly introduced themselves.Benjamin scanned the men who surrounded Victoria and somehow felt betrayed. Glowering, he seemed about to fly off the handle.His glare was too harsh, and many retreated after a short exchange with Victoria. She studied those who resolutely remained beside her.Compared to people from the outside world, the clan members had less desire for material possessions.Those who stood their ground didn't feel displeased at losing a hefty sum in the bet. They also withstood the pressure Benjamin's glare exuded.It was fair to say they were the best among the best.They were from decent families and had been receiving proper education sin