Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Livestreaming Rachel Hayes’s Scandal
Their eyes met, and Victoria Monroe seemed drawn to those deep eyes, absentmindedly stretching out her leg.
The moisture on her body had already dried, and when Rhys Hawthorne’s fingers touched her, she instinctively shrank back a little.
"Don’t be afraid." Rhys gently soothed her emotions.
He again grasped her slender ankle, his thumb gently rubbing and twisting. Initially, Victoria felt some pain, but gradually, he worked out the knots and slowly alleviated her discomfort.
It was then that Victoria realized Rhys was kneeling on one knee by the bedside while her foot was gently placed on his thigh.
Even though she didn’t dare press down too hard, she could clearly feel the strong and firm muscles beneath the fabric.
The hardness reminded Victoria that he was far from being harmless.
Victoria felt this scene was somewhat unreal. He was a young master of the Hawthorne Family, yet he condescended to do these things for her.
In fact, he was a lot like when he was a child, always behaving like a gentleman with good manners, utterly unpretentious.
Such a man, if he married in the future, would probably respect his wife, unlike Julian Fordham in the way he treated her.
Thinking of Julian Fordham, Victoria felt a sharp pain in her heart.
"Rhys, I’m okay now, it doesn’t hurt so much anymore." Embarrassed, she withdrew her leg.
Rhys slowly got up and brought a hairdryer from the bathroom. Victoria waved her hand repeatedly, "Really, no need, I can do it myself."
"It’s nothing."
Rhys had already plugged in the hairdryer at the bedside table and turned it on, leaving Victoria unable to refuse.
Previously, it was Julian Fordham who did these things for her.
Victoria watched the heavy snow flying outside the window, her thoughts drifting away.
Rhys had seen his father tending to his mother’s hair, drawing her eyebrows, and applying her lipstick when he was a child.
He had seen his father’s broad hand gripping the reins forcefully while taking him horseback riding and resolutely making decisions in high-level meetings.
Yet he had never seen his stern father being so gentle in front of his mother.
His fingertips felt the damp coolness among the hair tips as they slipped in.
As the moisture evaporated, the woman’s hair became soft and fluffy, with tenderness sliding down his fingers.
At this moment, he understood his father.
Serving the woman you love is a comfort and sense of satisfaction that can cleanse your soul.
All Victoria could think about was Julian Fordham, even though she had clearly drawn the line with him and was prepared to never meet again.
How long would it take her to walk away from eighteen years of affection?
Maybe for a long time, hearing a song or seeing a fallen leaf would remind her of him.
The people who once loved each other so deeply became ex-husband and ex-wife in less than a month.
Rhys turned off the hairdryer and lowered his gaze to see Victoria’s red-rimmed eyes.
"It’s late, you should rest early. I won’t disturb you anymore." He didn’t know what to say to comfort her.
When it comes to feelings, nothing he said would help.
All he could do was let Victoria slowly digest it and move on.
Victoria watched his back and reminded him, "Grandma’s room is vacant, you can use it to wash up."
"No worries, focus on resting."
Rhys closed the door for her and headed to the master bedroom’s bathroom.
Rapid footsteps echoed on the wooden floor in the hallway, followed by a knock on the door.
"Victoria, it’s me." Julian Fordham’s slightly anxious voice came from outside.
Victoria straightened her clothes and opened the door, snowflakes from behind Julian fell readily.
His black hair and shoulders still bore the unmelted snowflakes, and his handsome face was full of urgency, in stark contrast to Victoria’s calm demeanor.
"Victoria, I did arrange for Rachel Hayes to have an abortion."
Victoria frowned slightly, "Whether she aborts or not makes no difference to me. Julian, I’ve said everything I needed to tonight. I’m going to rest now. Please leave and stop making a commotion."
Julian grabbed her hand abruptly, looking somewhat out of control, a far cry from his usual calm and somewhat like that night.
This side of Julian made Victoria feel a bit scared. She furrowed her brows and said coldly, "Let go!"
"Victoria, you once said that if Rachel Hayes aborted the child, you could let it go."
He explained frantically as if clutching at the last straw, "I really arranged it, but at that time my sister just woke up, so I..."
"Julian, when I said that, I only wanted to see who was more important to you, me or the child. If you had firmly chosen me back then, I would have forgiven you."
Victoria continued calmly, "But you didn’t. You blocked my comeback, intending to keep me captive. There’s no such thing as having your cake and eating it too, is there? The moment you thought I could coexist with this child, I lost, and you lost with me."
"I gave you a chance, and you didn’t cherish it. Now all your affairs with that woman have nothing to do with me."
She tried to pull her hand away, but Julian held on tightly, refusing to let go.
"Victoria, I’ll make her have an abortion and declare that you’re my wife. Trust me, please, trust me one more time..."
The obsession in his eyes grew frenzied. Julian felt like a beast bound by chains, ready to lose all reason once the chains broke.
How did the once cool and superior academic god become like this?
But his affairs were no longer her concern.
"If you keep pestering me, I’ll livestream and expose the ugly truth of you and Rachel Hayes. Now that the assets are split, I have nothing to worry about."
Victoria coldly threatened, "You know my temper, I’ll do what I say. Let go and leave, that’s what you should do."
Julian not only didn’t let go but forcefully pulled Victoria into his arms.
The cold air from his body invaded, making Victoria tremble slightly.
"Julian, you bastard, didn’t we agree that you..."
Julian’s chin rested against her neck, his hands overlapping, holding her tightly in his arms, "Victoria, it’s impossible. I won’t let go unless I..."
Before he could complete the word ’die’, a cold male voice sounded from behind, "Let her go."
Hearing that voice, Julian was startled. He looked up to see Rhys Hawthorne, still damp, walking out of the room...