Victoria looked at Lena. She thought she had misheard. "You want to jump down?"Lena nodded. "The worm jumped down, which means its mother is also there. I don't have the time to explain it to you now. I'll explain it to you after we reach the Hughes clam."In short, the barrier is here. We will only reach the Hughes clan by jumping down.""Ms. Frost, there's an ocean below us. If we jump—"Victoria had nearly lost her life after being dropped down the ocean.She could feel her trauma slowly creep back in as she stood by the cliff. Although she had not jumped, her whole body flared up in pain at the thought of jumping.Victoria closed her eyes and clenched her fist.She listened to the wind and gulped. "I'll jump!"She opened her eyes. "I believe in you, Ms. Frost. We'll jump. Who's jumping first?""Mrs. B, where are you? Wendy, Ms. Frost, help me. I can't find the exit!"Yves' cries for help sounded behind Victoria."It's Yves. Why is he here?"Wendy turned to look at Lena
Victoria had always been sensitive to things around her, especially when people looked at her with a predatory gaze.Her expression darkened. Her eyes were full of hatred as she looked at Sebastian.Sebastian had already collected his predatory gaze. He returned to his gentle demeanor and gave Victoria a small smile.It was as if his offensive and predatory gaze had been a figment of her imagination.He waved his hand and headed toward Lena.Victoria was in a trance as she looked at Sebastian.How could such an elegant man exist?Sebastian's dignity and elegance could not be described in words.His clothes might have also helped his case. He wasn't that attractive the last time Victoria saw him.But then, she was in no mood to admire anyone's beauty in that scenario.She wondered what Benjamin would look like in an embroidered tunic.Victoria was suddenly filled with expectation."Milady."Sebastian bowed to Lena.Lena nodded slightly and hummed in response.Her voice wa
The roads in the capital were much more spacious compared to the roads on the outskirts.Different from the outside world, oil lamps hung from each pole and house. They, as well as the bright moonlight, made it seem like it was daytime.There weren't any skyscrapers either. From Victoria's observation, the tallest house was only four stories tall.The houses were built of stone and marble, just like Renaissance architecture.Although the lighting was good, the buildings looked much different from what it would look like during the day.The medieval characteristics of the buildings made Victoria feel like she had traveled back in time.No matter how smart Victoria was, she was only a 20-year-old woman.She immersed herself in the situation. She knew she wasn't in a movie. She understood she was in something like a parallel dimension, making the situation much more intriguing.She seemed to have thought of something as she looked at Sebastian. She asked curiously, "Mr. Veron, do
Sebastian walked toward Victoria and asked, "Where are you heading to this early, Ms. Victoria? The elders of the clan want to meet you as well."Wendy watched Sebastian admiringly. She couldn't answer as her mind went blank.Victoria looked at the carriage that had stopped at the entrance, as well as the armed guards by its side.There were even carved railings and painted eaves that would otherwise only appear in dramas and tourist spots.The air was even exceptionally fresh there.Victoria replied, "Can't I be curious about your kind of world? I'm going shopping with Wendy, Mom!"Victoria pulled Wendy along and went past Sebastian. They then ran toward the marketplace.She thought, "Benjamin, here I come!"Sebastian watched Victoria's retreating back. She was like a fluttering bird full of vigor under the morning sun.Sebastian tore his gaze away and saw that Lena was watching him.His signature gentle smile deepened as he said, "You've brought Ms. Victoria up well, Milady
When the carriage went past them, Victoria and Wendy were separated to the different sides of the carriage.Wendy didn't see Benjamin in the carriage. She wasn't aware of Victoria's unusual reaction as well.She didn't see Victoria anywhere after walking for a while.When Wendy backtracked, she saw Victoria staring blankly at a carriage that had gone past.Wendy said, "That's the carriage of the young lady of the Bennett family, Roxy. She's the woman that Mr. Harper's about to marry. I know her too."She's the same as Mr. Veron, they've both been outstanding from a young age. I haven't seen her in a long time. Do you want me to introduce you to her, Victoria?"She continued, "But speaking of which, aren't you too sharp? You've never seen her before this, but you could identify your love rival at a glance. That's awesome!"Wendy looked at Victoria in awe and gave her a thumbs up.Victoria slowly came back to her senses and replied, "I saw Benjamin on the carriage earlier."She
Victoria glared at the duo that were facing each other with her teeth bared.She thought, "Benjamin, you're so done!"Benjamin wasn't even looking at Roxy. His attention was all on Victoria.He looked at the way she was seething.The young woman was very beautiful. She was even more so than Roxy before him, who was known as the most beautiful woman in the Hughes clan.Her skin was radiant and translucent. The way she was angry looked adorable as well.It was especially so with those bright eyes of hers.Benjamin felt something tug at his heart.That feeling seemed so strange yet familiar.Benjamin wasn't aware that his usual icy expression had unconsciously become tender.Roxy saw the way Benjamin had reacted. She thought that he was interested in her.Benjamin was thinking of marrying her after all.Roxy lowered her body and leaned closer to Benjamin.Victoria's eyes widened.What happened to the Hughes clan's women being reserved? It was all bullshit!If they were in t
Roxy and the others were coming back.They were rather quick in doing so as well.Victoria raised her brow and smiled charmingly. She then slipped her phone and marriage certificate into the opening of her tunic near her chest area.Benjamin's gaze was burning passionately.Victoria didn't notice it as they were standing a few feet apart, and Benjamin's position was reflecting light.She spoke hastily, "Anyway, you're mine. You already have a wife, you can't marry another woman and you can't get close to other women."The reason you've forgotten about me now is because I was met with an accident half a year ago. You thought I was dead and you didn't want to go on living."She continued, "In short, you love me very much. I … I'll leave for now, I'll look for you next time and explain to you then."Victoria walked to the window and turned to look at Benjamin.She pointed a finger at him as she warned, "Control yourself and stop playing around. Otherwise, I'll hunt you down. I'll
As long as they got married, Roxy couldn't believe that Benjamin could remain indifferent if he had to face such a beauty like her every night.Who did they think Roxy was? How could those mediocre women from the outside world be on par with Roxy?As long as they were lawfully wedded, Benjamin would be devoted to her sooner or later.Roxy was confident in herself.Benjamin looked at Roxy, whose self-confidence was through the roof. However, his heart was thinking about Victoria instead.When he recalled her words that she would marry another man, his icy expression worsened.That woman might really just do that.Such a thought somehow popped into Benjamin's mind, and he placed the coffee mug on the table irritably.He asked, "Who among all of you could stop me if I decide to leave now?"Roxy was speechless.Benjamin knew of the Hughes clan's existence and had even brought other people in successfully. That meant he had already acquired the secrets of the Hughes clan.He was
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