Wendy hung up the phone. Turning around, she saw Silas blocking Yves.Yves forcefully pushed past Silas, advancing determinedly in Wendy's direction."Why are you holding me back? Who was Wendy talking to? What's going on that you're keeping from me?"Wendy took a moment to collect herself.With thoughts of Victoria's current situation flooding in, Wendy's worry and urgency left no room for composure. Her eyes welled up instantly."The call was from Ms. Frost. She asked about me and Victoria's situation, and I …"Yves hung his head, his spirits low.After a moment, Yves looked up at Wendy with desperate eyes. "Wendy, Mrs. B … we're all upset about what happened to her, but Ben is really struggling."He never wanted any of this. If he knew Mrs. B would face problems in Yrinas, he wouldn't have come no matter what."Ben is beating himself up over it. Can you not blame him? Right now, he's not listening to anyone."As Mrs. B's junior, maybe he'll listen to you. Silas, all of you
Silas paled when he saw Wendy's attitude.He walked to Wendy's side and summoned his courage to call out tentatively, "Wendy."Wendy was beyond livid. She could only think about the fact that Victoria was injured everywhere and might remain in a coma forever.Her eyes widened as she looked at Yves who was speaking on behalf of Benjamin and Ethan. His words were like daggers to her heart.She spat, "You're right, it's none of you guys' fault. It's all Victoria's fault for having such good taste in outstanding men."Her sense of justice was too strong, and she poked her nose too much into other people's businesses. She just had to get herself involved in this matter."She shouldn't have gone back to Youngville. She wouldn't have encountered all these things if she hadn't gone back to Youngville and never met all of you!"Victoria was such an outstanding person. She was the best among us. Such a wonderful person—""Wendy!" Yves turned around and called her name in rage, covering h
Benjamin watched as Wendy left. He then stiffly turned around.Fresh blood trickled down from the corner of his lips. They landed on his dirtied and bloodied clothes.Yves came back to Benjamin after seeing Wendy out.He was planning to comfort Benjamin to encourage and cheer him up. He let out a surprised yelp when he saw Benjamin coughing blood."Mr. Harper!""Benjamin!"Ethan, Sean, and the others immediately rushed toward Benjamin.Yves was stunned.He fell onto the ground before Benjamin and cried, "Ben, please, please don't be like this. I … I'm so scared!""Take Mr. Harper away for treatment!" Will's voice was cold as he instructed."No. One. Touch—" Before Benjamin could even finish his words, he coughed out more blood. He then passed out.Even Ethan was shocked. He looked at Benjamin's pale face and shouted hoarsely, "Hurry up and save him!"Sean and a few others carried Benjamin up onto the helicopter."You looked unwell too, Ethan. Do you want to come along?" Yv
Yves was about to follow Sean, but he was stopped by Sevyn.Sevyn said, "Enough, we shouldn't join in if they're to talk business. How are you even willing to look at that poker face of Will? We can just guard Mr. Harper here!"Yves snorted angrily and said, "Stop fooling around. Don't think I don't know that you're in the same circle as Will. Whatever the case, I won't let any of you do this!"…On the other side, Will was talking to Sean."Mr. Harper is weak both physically and mentally now. You should hypnotize him and make him forget about that woman!"Sean replied, "What do you mean "that woman"? That's Mrs. Harper, show some respect!"Will was startled.He frowned before saying, "Yves is an idiot, but why are you talking nonsense just like him now? Not any woman would be a good match for Mr. Harper. She'd just be a burden to him, no matter dead or alive."You're a doctor, you'd know best about Mr. Harper's current condition. He might not even wake up if he can't forget a
Victoria's entire body was covered in tubes in the ICU ward. Her face was pale and her limbs were bruised.She had not come out of the critical stage yet."Victoria!" Wendy cried as she rushed toward the bed. She didn't even know where to place her hands.Wendy sobbed, "What happened to you? Wake up soon, please wake up soon, okay?"I'll listen to you. I'll be frugal and not tip any random person anymore."I … I won't read fiction and play games anymore. I'll work hard to earn money and give all my money to you!"Mr. Harper and Ethan have been looking for you. They were so depressed thinking that you're dead. Especially Mr. Harper—"He's just like the male protagonist in fiction. He couldn't accept the news that you're gone at all. His condition is terrible, he's suffering so much."Mr. Harper is blaming himself a lot. I won't forgive him if anything really happened to you, and he wouldn't forgive himself as well. He would never be happy anymore."Right now, he's depressed to
In an estate located at a tripoint somewhere around Yrinas, Victoria was walking up the slopes of the lawn. Her fair skin was reddening and beaded with sweat.Victoria looked at Wendy, who was worried, but she did not pause her steps.She said, "Do I still need to rest? I've been left rotting on the bed for a good half year. I'd go crazy if I were to lie down again."My body functions have deteriorated since I've been down for so long. I need to restore my previous physical fitness as soon as possible so that I can go find Benjamin soon."There's also that Jackalyn. I'd be dead meat if I were to meet her again next time without recovering completely."Until now, Victoria could still feel the piercing pain throughout her entire body whenever she thought of the time she fell off the plane into the sea.She couldn't just let it be since she'd suffered greatly.Wendy frowned when she heard Victoria mentioning Benjamin.Victoria realized something was wrong. She stopped to wipe off
Lena was with Waldo and the others in the front yard. They had already killed all who came through. Only a few were left alive.There were dead bodies everywhere on the ground.The coppery smell of blood was thick in the air.The greens on the ground were all dyed red.Waldo and a few others were currently interrogating those who were injured but captured alive."Ms. Frost," Victoria called as she walked toward Lena.Her voice had caught the attention of the captured men. They looked up and were utterly stunned when they saw Victoria.Someone had even blurted out, "Mrs. Harper."Even though the voice wasn't loud, Waldo and the others could still hear it."Mrs. Harper? Who are you guys? Who sent you?" Waldo immediately questioned.They were looking at Victoria in disbelief. They pursed their lips and shook their heads.It was like they couldn't believe what they saw."We found this on him!"One of Victoria's juniors had pointed at a man who was barely alive on the ground ne
Lena lowered her gaze.Victoria's arm was placed on the edge of the bench. Her thumb was unconsciously rubbing on it forcefully.It was as if she was venting.She looked distracted. It was unsure what she had been thinking but it made her mood down.Lena held onto her hand.She had wanted to comfort Victoria at first. But her words unknowingly changed as soon as they left her lips."Has Wendy told you about Benjamin Harper's matter? How much have you suffered for him already? You've almost lost your life in the process."Even though you regained your consciousness now, you're still so young. What if you developed some disease that couldn't be treated completely?"You've shown him such a big act of kindness, but instead he forgot about you as soon as he could. He's even hooked up with the woman that wanted to kill you."What is there for you to linger on with such a man like that?"The more Lena spoke, the angrier she got. The way she felt unfair for Victoria was exactly like
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