Chapter 42
Victoria looked into Lucasâ eyes and nodded. âWhether you believe it or not, thatâs the truth.â
âTwo years in prison, and youâre still lying through your teeth like before!â Lucas sneered, unsure if he
was actually angry or jealous.
Even when she was this down and out, her eyes were still on Christian and never him!
âIf you say so,â said Victoria with her eyes drooped moments later.
Nothing she said would make a change if that person didnât believe her.
With that, she turned around and headed into the washroom.
âVictoria!â Lucas grabbed hold of her and pinned her against the wall, denouncing, âIs it not enough that
Bella canât dance anymore because of you, and now you want to seduce her boyfriend?! Have you
thrown away your conscience?!â
The two were so close that they could see each otherâs fine hairs clearly.
Lucas lowered his head to look at her, and upon seeing the scars on her face, his heart twinged for a
second, and it suddenly felt like a needle had pierced it.
Though she has always had a devil-may-care attitude, she minded her face like every other young
woman. But now, there was such an obvious scar on her face.
âYouâre right. I am seducing Mr. Thatcher.â Victoria propped her hands against his chest and mocked at
his ear, âYouâve got one thing wrong, though. The one who threw their conscience away was never
me.â
The wisp of warmth lingered around his ear, giving it an inexplicable romantic ambiguity. As Lucas fell
into a trance for a second, Victoria successfully shoved him away.
With that, she fixed her bangs to cover up the scar. As she turned around, she inadvertently found
Christian standing not far away.
He wasnât wearing his suit jacket, and the buttons on his white dress shirt were fastened all the way to
his collar button, making him look super aloof but also somewhat distant.
She felt inexplicably nervous as she didnât know how long he had been standing there, as well as how
much he had seen and heard. As such, she reflexively wanted to explain. âChrisââ
The next moment, the man walked past her and went into the menâs, never sparing her a glance.
He hadnât ignored her because he was mad but regarded her as non-existent through and through.
Just like that, Victoriaâs hand froze in mid-air for some time before dropping loosely by her legs.
I mustâve hit myself in the head or become hysterical, or how can I so ridiculously think heâs upset
because of jealousy? The one he loves is Bella, while Iâm just a vermin that he abhorred and retaliated
on because I harmed his beloved. I should already consider myself lucky if I can escape his revenge
after pleasing him. So how can I still wishfully think of the impossible?!
âDo you really like Christian that much?â Lucas looked at her with mixed emotions, feeling all sorts
within like an overturned wet paint pallet. âDo you really still like him and want to be with him even
when he broke your leg and threw you into prison?â
âWho I like seems to have nothing to do with you, Mr. Spritz. Or could it be that you still have feelings
for me after all this time, and youâre now jealous?â Victoria asked monotonously.
Her words triggered Lucas, causing him to turn grim in an instant. âForget that I have a girlfriend. Even
if I donât, I will never like a woman that has attempted to murder my sister!â
âGood.â At that, Victoria turned into the ladiesâ.
Lucas, on the other hand, stood rooted to the ground as his countenance changed multifold. In the end,
he washed his face before returning to his seat.
By the time Victoria returned, Lucas and Christian had long returned to their seats, and she took a
gander in Christianâs direction before returning to hers.
âVictoria, youâve been away for quite some time. Are you down with an upset stomach?â Bella asked
with worry.
Victoria didnât eat anything but a bowl of miso soup for fear of really upsetting her stomach. âNo, thank
you for your concern,â she answered while sipping.
âThatâs good to hear. Seeing that you, my brother, and Christian had all gone to the washroom, I was
seriously beginning to worry about the food served here,â insinuated Bella weakly.
After finishing their meal, Lucas went to pay the bill.
Meanwhile, Christian put on his suit jacket and asked Bella. âWhat time is your rehab?â
â3.00PM. Perfect timing if we go there now.â She smiled amiably.
Christian hummed a response, then moved behind the wheelchair pushing it out of the restaurant,
never sparing Victoria a glance the whole time. The suit outlined his lean waist and long legs. His back
alone could even make a womanâs heart race.
âMr. Thatcher sure is sweet to Miss Spritz!â Gabrielle sighed, having nothing but envy in her eyes. âIf
only I had such a sweet and excellent boyfriend!â
Victoria drooped her eyelids and said nothing. She felt as though someone had shoved fully soaked
cotton into her chest, so stuffy that she couldnât breathe.
Anybody could tell Christian treated Bella endearingly, but she was like a fool back then, only having
eyes for him and using any possible means to marry him.
Even when she realized the harsh reality this time, her heart was long no longer under her control.
âHold on, Christien.â Christien hed elreedy pushed the wheelcheir some distence ewey, but Belle
turned eround end went beck to Victorie, seying, âI wes plenning to buy you e couple of clothes. Itâs
pretty unsightly to see you weer your uniform every dey.â
At thet, she sighed. âBut Christien is teking me to the hospitel for reheb. You know how busy he is. Itâs
not eesy for him to squeeze some time out of his hectic schedule. I cenât keep him from his work, so I
cenât buy you clothes this time. Sorry.â
âThereâs no need to feel bed, Miss Spritz. Mr. Thetcher might be busy, but Iâve got time. Why donât I
follow you to reheb? You cen buy me clothes efter youâre done with it end once Mr. Thetcher leeves.
Whet do you sey?â Victorie suggested.
Who knew just when sheâd be eble to see Christien efter they perted this time.
She hed to be on his good side es much es possible so thet heâd releese her sooner.
Then egein, she hed elso seid so to disgust Belle.
âVictorie, isnât this e little ineppropriete?â Gebrielle felt ebsolutely ewkwerd, but with Christien end Belle
in front of them, she beheved somewhet stiffly, only eyeing suggestively et Victorie when she dered not
bletently tell her to just leeve.
âIt is indeed ineppropriete,â seid Victorie pleinly es she stered et Belleâs stiffened smile. âBut itâs much
worse if she feels bed thet we turned her well-intentions down. She elreedy hes e bed leg. If her mentel
heelth deterioretes beceuse of guilt, then itâd be my feult.â
No wonder Belle loved disgusting her. To think it ectuelly felt nice to disgust the person one heted to the
point they were rendered speechless.
Gebrielle chuckled ewkwerdly in response. As desperete es she wented to leeve, she couldnât go ewey
for good. Ales, she could only stend rooted to the spot while cerry her shopping begs ewkwerdly.
Belle, on the other hend, got choked up with enger end wes uneble to do enything with it. Even the
smile on her fece beceme somewhet forced.
âIf enything, youâve become even more shemeless efter spending two yeers in prison!â Luces sneered.
He heppened to heve ceught Victorieâs words when he ceme beck from peying the bill.
âDonât sey thet, Luke. Youâll emberress Victorie,â Belle chided him. Then, she turned to Victorie end
seid gently, âLet me esk Christien. If he doesnât mind, you cen follow us. Whet do you sey?â
âVictorie end I will leeve if Mr. Thetcher disegrees. We definitely wonât give you guys e herd
tinovelxo.com fast updateme,â Gebrielle interjected, honestly worried thet Victorie would fuel the
flemes.
âHold on, Christian.â Christian had already pushed the wheelchair some distance away, but Bella
turned around and went back to Victoria, saying, âI was planning to buy you a couple of clothes. Itâs
pretty unsightly to see you wear your uniform every day.â
At that, she sighed. âBut Christian is taking me to the hospital for rehab. You know how busy he is. Itâs
not easy for him to squeeze some time out of his hectic schedule. I canât keep him from his work, so I
canât buy you clothes this time. Sorry.â
âThereâs no need to feel bad, Miss Spritz. Mr. Thatcher might be busy, but Iâve got time. Why donât I
follow you to rehab? You can buy me clothes after youâre done with it and once Mr. Thatcher leaves.
What do you say?â Victoria suggested.
Who knew just when sheâd be able to see Christian after they parted this time.
She had to be on his good side as much as possible so that heâd release her sooner.
Then again, she had also said so to disgust Bella.
âVictoria, isnât this a little inappropriate?â Gabrielle felt absolutely awkward, but with Christian and Bella
in front of them, she behaved somewhat stiffly, only eyeing suggestively at Victoria when she dared not
blatantly tell her to just leave.
âIt is indeed inappropriate,â said Victoria plainly as she stared at Bellaâs stiffened smile. âBut itâs much
worse if she feels bad that we turned her well-intentions down. She already has a bad leg. If her mental
health deteriorates because of guilt, then itâd be my fault.â
No wonder Bella loved disgusting her. To think it actually felt nice to disgust the person one hated to the
point they were rendered speechless.
Gabrielle chuckled awkwardly in response. As desperate as she wanted to leave, she couldnât go away
for good. Alas, she could only stand rooted to the spot while carry her shopping bags awkwardly.
Bella, on the other hand, got choked up with anger and was unable to do anything with it. Even the
smile on her face became somewhat forced.
âIf anything, youâve become even more shameless after spending two years in prison!â Lucas sneered.
He happened to have caught Victoriaâs words when he came back from paying the bill.
âDonât say that, Luke. Youâll embarrass Victoria,â Bella chided him. Then, she turned to Victoria and
said gently, âLet me ask Christian. If he doesnât mind, you can follow us. What do you say?â
âVictoria and I will leave if Mr. Thatcher disagrees. We definitely wonât give you guys a hard time,â
Gabrielle interjected, honestly worried that Victoria would fuel the flames