Chapter 119
Christianâs gaze rested on her without a word, the emotions in his eyes undistinguishable.
Victoria didnât hang her head low like she usually did. Instead, she held onto his gaze this time. Her
expression was neither humble nor haughty, but it had a hint of challenge and smugness.
For a moment, he thought he was watching her from two years ago. Swallowing hard, he landed his
gaze on the red spot on her neck. âDid Lucas come to you?â
His words came out as a question, but his tone was affirmative with a hint of jealousy he didnât even
notice.
A distressed look emerged on her face as she mocked, âThanks to you, the people in your social circle
have known me as a promiscuous woman. Even Mr. Spritz is planning to keep me as his mistress.â
âHis mistress?â Christianâs finger was tapping on the bedside at an increasing speed. Ignoring the
frustration building in the bottom of his heart, he stated coldly, âI bet youâll willingly throw yourself at him
even if he doesnât pay you.â
Victoriaâs eyes bored into the man before she chuckled to herself and turned her gaze away. âHis
identity isnât important. As long as he can free me from the Delta Club, Iâll do whatever I can to throw
myself at him.â
Victoria bent and leaned over to his face, her voice lower and her smile restrained. âMr. Thatcher, do
you like my answer?â
The tapping of Christianâs finger on the bed stopped for a beat as he clenched his hand into a fist. He
got closer to her and held her chin in a firm grip. âLucas isnât able to do that. Youâre wasting your efforts
on him.â
Victoria then pushed his fingers away before straightening up and taking a few steps backward,
distancing herself from him.
âYou should remember that youâre the culprit of breaking his sisterâs legs, and heâs engaged to Scarlett
recently. You shouldnât dream that heâll care about you. Even if heâs thinking about freeing you from the
Delta Club, as long as his mother, sister, or his fiancée voice their disapproval, heâll change his mind.
The guilt heâs holding toward Bella, the so-called justice he insists on, and the reputation of his family
will become his reasons to abandon you without a second thought. At that time, youâll lose more than
you gained.â Christian maintained his usual expression but had unclenched his fist. His slender finger
was now tapping on the table, indicating he was in an extremely bad mood.
Victoria cast him an indifferent glance and she answered, âAs if I care.â
He furrowed his brows at her words before undoing a button of his hospital gown. His expression sank
and the emotions were surging in his eyes like a wave.
Victoria felt good watching him in such a state. âI have delivered the soup Miss Charlotte asked me to. I
have to go now; I have work to do.â
Victoria didnât spare him another glance as she left the room with her lips curled up, all under the
watchful gaze of Christian.
After she left the room, the vibration of her phone caught her attention. As she looked at the caller ID,
her gaze turned soft and she pressed the button to answer. âTeresa?â
âLong story short.â Teresaâs voice sounded more rushed than usual on the other side of the phone.
Victoria clenched her phone tighter and tensed her body at Teresaâs words. âTeresa, what happened?â
A hint of worry escaped Teresaâs tone. âYesterday, Dad came home losing his temper after he and
Mom went to see you. He took Vincentâs cards, cell phone, and laptop away, and prohibited him from
giving you money or reaching out to you. Vincent didnât want to obey Dad, so Dad grounded him at
home, and he isnât allowed to go anywhere. Mom tried to reason with Dad, saying youâre their daughter
after all, but he wasnât listening.â
Teresa sighed, changing the topic instead. âEnough of all this nonsense. Vincent wants to know how
you are feeling. I heard that Christian has discovered the drug and pinhole camera. Did he make things
difficult for you?â
âNo, he didnât.â He hadnât done anything to Victoria yet since the incident. She had no idea about his
thoughts, but she didnât have the impression that he would ever let her off.
At that, Teresa sighed deeply and a few sniffles escaped her and reached Victoria. âVincent is such a
moron! He always causes more harm than good, and troubles you the whole time. Tori, you donât need
to avoid making us worried and not telling us anything. You can tell us if Christian picks on you. M-
Maybe I can help you with that.â
Teresa stuttered at her last sentence, betraying her lack of confidence.
Victoria, on the other hand, was glad to have Teresa as her sister-in-law. âTeresa, donât worry about
me. Iââ
âTori, Dadâs home. I need to go. Iâll call you later!â Teresa muttered in a frightened tone from the other
end of the line and ended the call abruptly.
Watching the screen of her phone darken, Victoria smiled bitterly before she walked over to the
elevator.
The elevator chimed when it reached its destination.
Matthew stepped out of the elevator with his briefcase, looking ever like a gentleman, while another
hand was tugging Janice, who was crouching in the elevator and resisted moving even a bit.
âMr. Buckley, whatâs the point of bringing me along when youâre visiting Ice Man? You can do this by
yourself. No! I donât want to go⦠AhâI got my period and it hurts. I want to go home.â Scrunching her
face as she crouched in the elevator, Janice looked like she was about to cry.
Matthew turned around with a raised brow as he watched his shameless student. Then, he put the
briefcase under his arm as he bent over and carried Janice, who didnât want to go, in his arms with
ease.
Being carried in his arms, Janice flopped around like prey caught in the trap as she yelled, âHelp! Heâs
harassing me! Is there anybody there? The manâs kidnapping a woman in broad daylight! Heââ
The second âhelpâ didnât manage to make its way out as Janice greeted the woman before her. âHi,
Victoria! What a coincidence to run into you here.â
Victoria hummed in response and replied in a low voice, âGood evening, Miss Mooney.â
âPerfect timing!â Pinching the spot under Matthewâs armpit, Janice finally got to her feet as Matthew
had no choice but to release her. Her eyes rolled as she was thinking, and she spoke afterward. âMr.
Buckley is planning to treat you to dinner and apologize. Letâs go to dinner together after we visit Ice
Man.â
Victoria cast a glance at Matthew, who was acting as if nothing happened through the pain
fnovelxo.com fast updateor the sake of his image, before she turned her focus back to Janice. âIââ
âDid you have dinner?â Janice interrupted with a question. Before Victoria could even answer, Janice
continued, âItâs still early, so youâve surely not had your dinner. What kind of cuisine do you like? Iâll
book a place first.â
Then, Janice took out her phone and began to swipe on several icons.
âMiss Mooney, Iâm good.â Victoria tried to stop her. âMr. Buckley and I are merely acquaintances, and
he has never wronged me. Instead, you guys helped me several times in the past, and Iâm the one who
should be grateful.â
Shoving the phone back into her pocket, Janice pouted. âHe was accusing you of getting closer to me
on purpose and wanted you to stay away from me. He wronged both of us in such a statement.â
She harrumphed before her round and sparkling eyes glared at Matthew, and she began with a drawl,
âMr. Buckleyââ
âMiss Coleman, I apologize for being offensive with my phrasing when we last met.â He caressed
Janiceâs hair with full tenderness and a hint of resignation before turning to Victoria. âI hope you can
honor us with your presence at the dinner.â
Victoria, however, tried to excuse herself. âMr. Buckley, donât mention it. Miss Mooney isnât from an
ordinary family, so itâs normal if you think of me like that. You donât need to worry about it.â
âVictoriaâ¦â Holding Victoriaâs hand, Janice pleaded in a sweet tone, âDo you not want to have dinner
with me because you are mad at me?â