Chapter 45
Victoriaâs pupils shrank upon hearing so, and she looked at Christian with incredulity. Why did he let
everyone misunderstand me when he knew the truth?!
Christian looked ahead and never even thought of sparing her a glance. It was like he was oblivious to
the fact that she was looking at him.
At that, Victoria tucked her gaze away, and her countenance returned to usual.
What was I thinking? Bella is his beloved, while Iâm just nothing to him.
âActress?â Bella blinked innocently. âAre you referring to Victoria, Christian? If she wants to become an
actress, then sheâll have to get rid of the scar on her face first, and no one can know she has been to
jail, or sheâd be damned.â
âWith such great acting, itâs a shame that youâre not in showbiz, or youâd be an Oscar-winning actress.â
Christian stopped in his tracks, looked at the woman in the wheelchair, then sneered before continuing
his journey ahead.
âSince Christian thinks you have such potential, why donât you give it a try?â Bella blinked. âThough
thereâs the fact that youâve been put behind bars, you can still give it a go. At the very least, itâs a more
respectable job than a hostess or a cleaner.â
âIs there a point in playing dumb?â Victoria asked.
Bella looked toward Christianâs back, and mixed emotions began surging beneath her eyes. âThere has
to be one even if there isnât, or something I hold dearly would be taken away.â
Later, when the three headed out after Bellaâs rehab session, her attending physician called out to
Victoria out of the blue.
âYes, doctor?â Victoria stopped in her tracks.
The doctor looked at her right leg and asked, âDonât mind me asking, but your right leg⦠Is it
dysfunctional?â
Shouts of prison inmates calling her lame rang in her ear, causing her face to blanch as she tucked her
right leg in.
She had already tried her best to walk like any other person. Still, her disability wasnât something she
could hide just because she wanted to.
âIâm sorry, I donât mean anything else. I was just asking,â the doctor explained because of the awkward
atmosphere. âIf so, I suggest that you get it checked. Maybe you have a chance at recovery.â
Victoriaâs eyes lit up for a split second upon hearing so. No one would willingly live with a disability for
their entire lives, after all.
On the other hand, Bella lowered her eyelids, concealing the malice that flashed across her eyes. She
had visited tons of specialists only to get one resultâher leg injury was irremediable. But lo and behold,
Victoriaâs bad leg could be corrected!
âThat wonât be necessary. She was born with it. Nothing can fix it,â Christian said impassively and
headed out the door before Victoria could say anything.
The hopeful light in Victoriaâs eyes vanished in that instant, reignited with burning anger, but it could
only be converted to unwilling resignation.
She had nothing to fight Christian. The only thing she could do was to please him and stay far away
from him.
If he didnât want her leg to be cured, then so be it, lest⦠he broke it again.
When they entered the car, Victoria had just pulled a piece of tissue out when Christian, who was
sitting at the back, said, âThereâs no need to be so wasteful anymore.â
She turned her head to look at his handsome face as her thick, curly eyelashes trembled.
With that, she hummed a response, put the box of tissue in front, and sat down.
âChristian.â Seeing so, Bella furrowed her brows but very quickly released them. âIâve given it some
serious thought, and I think that Victoria should treat her leg if something can be done about it. Itâs
already enough that my life is ruined. Donât ruin hers too.â
âItâs the price she should pay for breaking your leg.â The sun shone through the car window, casting a
ring of light on Christian.
It was a sight to behold, but Victoria had no mood to admire it, only feeling cold.
He was really dead set on ruining her.
Meanwhile, Bella sighed and looked at Victoria with pity.
However, that gaze only made Victoriaâs stomach churn. Bellaâs phony act was one that she could
never master.
âBy the way, I saw your brother and sister-in-law inside earlier. Why didnât they come and say hi to you?
Do they think youâre an embarrassment because you were sent to prison?â asked Bella curiously.
Victoria pursed her lips tightly and drooped her eyelids. Her hands, which were on her lap, clenched
her clothes involuntarily.
âTheyâre still your family, though. Isnât it harsh for them to be like this?â Bella sighed, speaking
insouciantly, âYou havenât gotten to meet the pigeon twins when you were locked up in prison for the
last two years, have you? Iâve met them a few times. Theyâre pretty adorable; theyâve inherited your
brother and sister-in-lawâs good genes.â
Victoria clenched her clothes so tightly that her hand paled from it. She had been forcibly dragged to
Delta Club after she had been released. What chance did she have to meet her brotherâs twins?
Bellaâs words were only a deliberate stab at her heart!
âWhy arenât you saying anything? Are you possibly⦠sad?â Bella leaned forward, bringing their
distance closer. âWhy donât I talk to Mr. Coleman and Vincentââ
At the limit of her tolerance, Victoria shot her eyes wide open and interrupted Bella, saying, âAre you
not tired of pretending to be someone youâre not every single day?! Do you not feel disgusted?! Now
that you canât dance anymore, do you have so much free time to repulse everyone and get their
attention
Alas, Victoria regretted it the second she finished her words.
Christian looked at her silently in his seat on the right side of the back seat. His gaze right then was like
a black hole, seemingly wanting to suck her into limbo.
Victoriaâs anger gradually diminished, and it was replaced with fear and apprehension toward him. Her
hands that had been clenching her shirt loosened a little, but her fingers shook barely visibly.
Perhaps the situation would alleviate if she apologized, but she didnât want to, nor was she willing to do
it.
âHow can you think of me like that?â Bella spoke aggrievedly like she had been spooked. âI just want to
help you as a former friend because I donât want to see you and your family fall out like this.â
Victoriaâs lashes quivered, and she tried her best to ignore the icy gaze on her. âI appreciate your
kindness, Miss Spritz. Thereâs no need to trouble yourself with it.â
âNo trouble at all. No need to stand on ceremony with me,â said Bella with feigned magnanimity,
overlooking the fact that Victoria had lashed out at her. âIâm sure Mr. Coleman will let you see the kids if
I ask him.â
âNo need to proliferate your kindness.â Christian suddenly spoke up, emphasizing the word âkindnessâ.
There seemed to be a hint of mockery in his voice, but his countenance made it impossible for anyone
to tell.
Light flashed across Bellaâs eyes, and she muttered, âSorry, I got carried away.â
At that, she said no more.
The atmosphere in the car turned eerily silent, and the air seemed to have compressed, making
breathing challenging.
Victoria covertly sized Christian up through the rearview mirror. The latter was looking out the window
with a deadpan face, making it hard for her to tell if what she said had pissed him off.
With that, she tensed up her back muscles, and her whole body stiffened up like a fully drawn
bowstring.
It wasnât until ten-plus minutes later that she wiped the thin layer of sweat that had formed from who-
knew-when seeing that he didnât have any intention of giving her a hard time. However, her back
remained tense.
Victoria got out of the Bentley after it pulled up in front of Delta Club. It was only after the vehicle
disappeared from her sight that she realized she was covered in a layer of cold sweat.
âTori!â Someone suddenly patted her shoulder.
Victoria turned around reflexively, and a hint of not-so-visible joy laced her eyes when she saw who it
was. âVince?!â
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