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 stood by the window after she returned to her room.It was already evening. The clouds were colored like blazing embers by the horizon.Her mind kept replaying the incident that had happened with the White family earlier. It was beyond her control to stop it.The sadness and helplessness that she had been suppressing broke out from within her at this moment.Victoria leaned against the wall with her right hand pressing onto her left arm.Her face was pale with her brows furrowed. She looked like she was in pain.Her injury was throbbing painfully, as if the bullet was still lodged within her.Slowly, Victoria could no longer remain standing and she slumped onto the ground.She curled herself up but it wasn't enough to take away the cold and pain from within her.It has been a week since Victoria regained consciousness.Her joints would hurt whenever there was a change in the weather.It was like she had fallen from a high place into the sea, and the waves were angri
Victoria took out two bags of glucose from the drawer. She drank them as if she were drinking water with a frown.After a while, she finally regained some strength.Victoria supported herself and stood up.She rinsed her mouth repeatedly when she was in the shower.Victoria liked to have sweet things when she was feeling irritated. But she did not like a "drink" like glucose that was sweet with a bitter aftertaste.It was especially so when Victoria had just finished two packets in one go.She did regain her strength, but she felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. But she couldn't afford to be picky with food with her current body condition.After the shower, Victoria tidied up her room.She then asked Wendy to send her her phone and some food.Victoria took the phone and then used Wendy's WhatsApp to request a video call with Ethan.The call was connected immediately.Victoria sat on the bed and positioned the phone so that the camera was pointed at her face.Ethan's eyes slow
More than half a month later, they were headed to the Azure Estate in Youngville.Victoria was still in the car, but she could see Louis standing by the iron gates from afar.He was basked in the afternoon sunlight as he stood tall in a dark blue suit.It gave him a mature look.He looked as if he was smiling, but there was an icy air about him that kept everyone at bay.Louis had slimmed down a lot.It wasn't until he saw the car with the targeted license plate appearing that his smile turned warm. He then ran over to the car as fast as he could.The car stopped at the intersection where Louis was at.Victoria got out of the car.Louis looked at Victoria's face with tears in his eyes. He did not cry, but instead laughed out loud in excitement.Victoria opened her arms and said, "Will it feel more real to you if I give you a hug?"Louis hurriedly walked toward Victoria and enveloped her in his arms.He hugged her tightly, as if he was making sure of her existence.It made
Victoria nodded. Her face paled even more under the sunlight.Benjamin used to be someone who was uninterested in other women and only had eyes on her.But now he was attending another woman's birthday party as if it were only right for him to do so.Louis frowned and said, "I'd actually prefer if you wouldn't get involved with Benjamin Harper any longer, Vivi."Back then, it was all because of him that you … I just want you to be safe and sound now."But you like him. You should be able to have whatever you like. I'll get him for you no matter what it takes!"Victoria hummed a reply before saying, "I thought so, too. Even if he had forgotten about me, our marriage certificate is still valid."He's mine as long as we don't divorce each other. Unless I decide that I no longer want him, I will get him back even if I have to steal him away."Let's not talk about me anymore. How are things between you and Megan?""It's fine," Louis said calmly.There wasn't an ounce of happiness
A palm-sized gap was left ajar by the window of the car's backseat.The man that had gotten out of the car was pulled back. A slender arm wrapped around his neck.After that, the man lowered his head.It looked like they were hugging and kissing from their posture.Victoria pursed her lips. Her breath quickened.Lena looked at the way Victoria's face had paled underneath the dim lights of the basement parking lot.She asked, concerned, "What happened?"Lena followed Victoria's eyes, but she couldn't make out anything.She touched Victoria's hand and frowned.She asked, "Why is your hand so cold? Are you feeling unwell again?"Wendy, who had been reversing the car, had almost rammed the car into the wall with a slip of foothold on the accelerator.She turned back to look at Victoria and said, "I'll call Ciel and tell them we'll not meet for today."Please endure it for a few days more, Victoria. I'm almost done developing my warming pills. You can take it once per day, and y
Victoria scooted closer to Tilly and said, "She's a bitch. What would I be if I'm wearing the same clothes as that bitch, then?"Tilly replied, "A beauty, of course!"After complimenting Victoria, Tilly looked at those salespeople and urged, "Hurry up!"The manager found Victoria familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on where she had seen her before.But Tilly had been here a few times before this. She was even accompanied by Simon.The manager knew who Tilly was. She was a client that the manager couldn't afford to offend."I'm sorry, but those dresses bought by Ms. White were limited editions worldwide."There's only one piece of each in the entire Celestrian area. But they were all bought by Mr. Harper as gifts for Ms. White."If Ms. Rogers' friend is interested, she could look around for other dresses. We still have a few of the latest style dresses from the last season here in our shop."Tilly raised her brow.She questioned angrily, "You showed Yvette the latest sty
Simon and his men blocked their way. They stopped Victoria and the others from leaving.Tilly walked to the front.She recalled Benjamin and Yvette's hand-holding scenario when she saw Simon. The look of displeasure and anger were evident on her face.Tilly spat, "You men are wretched things! I'm bringing Ciel and Selene over to stay with Vicky for the next few days!"Simon didn't know Tilly and Victoria had seen Yvette shopping with Benjamin in the mall earlier.He felt bewildered and looked toward Victoria.Ciel stretched his arms wide and stood in front of Victoria. He looked at Simon and said, "Watch your gaze! Don't bully Vivi!"Both Tilly and Ciel were siding with Victoria.Simon frowned.Selene ran over to his side and tugged at his pants. As soon as Simon looked down at Selene, his gaze turned soft.Selene was his precious daughter.Besides Wendy's group of people, the others were not surprised seeing the way Simon was doting on his daughter.It was as if they had s
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