Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Buried with Her Daughter
Rhys Hawthorne leisurely sliced an apple, then glanced up to gauge Victoria Monroe’s reaction.
There wasn’t a hint of nervousness on her face, she merely asked flatly, "Is he dead?"
"He’s being rescued, but the chances of dying from a timely discovered wrist slit are slim."
Victoria muttered as if she had guessed something, "He won’t die; he just wants to empathize deeply."
She lost so much blood from the miscarriage, so he slits his wrists.
They were married, how could she not understand him?
Even so, does he think the feud between them can be simply written off?
Impossible, whether it’s Julian Fordham, Lana Jameson, or Rachel Hayes; none of them can escape what they owe me.
Victoria stared at Rhys and spoke, "Tomorrow at ten in the morning, hold a press conference.
Life or death is his own choice, but now what she’s going to do is drag all of them into hell, burying them with her daughter!
"Alright, I’ll take care of it, but Rachel Hayes’s unborn child..."
Victoria coldly retorted, "Let her give birth. Doesn’t Lana Jameson want a grandson? She personally destroyed her own granddaughter for a fake, I want her to regret it forever!"
She wouldn’t harm Rachel Hayes’s child for two reasons: first, the child is innocent, and having just miscarried herself, she could empathize.
Secondly, she intended to use this child to incite the Fordham Family wolves and Rachel Hayes’ve dog to tear each other apart!
"By the way," Rhys suddenly reminded her, "Autumn Fordham and Caleb Spencer went to Linwood, presumably to avoid the heat."
Autumn was Caleb’s devoted admirer; she adored the character he portrayed on screen.
Even though I had told her that Caleb Spencer has a colorful private life, she was indifferent, women always naively believed they could reform a playboy.
For a man, she turned her back on Rachel Hayes, years of friendship couldn’t withstand a man.
Caleb Spencer is no easy prey. Julian Fordham managed him tightly while at home, but once out of control, Autumn will be consumed without even a trace left.
By then, Autumn will realize she’s willingly walked into hell!
However, Victoria must also thank Autumn for allowing her to see Julian Fordham’s true nature clearly.
He always flaunted his love for her, yet his deepest love was for power and status.
Eighteen years of friendship died completely in that pool of blood.
That little girl who resembled Victoria Monroe departed as if Julian Fordham himself had killed Victoria.
"Do you need me to disclose her whereabouts to Julian Fordham?"
"Disclose and her child won’t survive. There’s no need for that right now."
Hurting Rachel Hayes’s child would only bring temporary pain.
Victoria wanted Rachel to fall from heaven, to taste the bitter fruit of her own actions, living in agony all her life!
Victoria looked at the calm man beside her, noting he was younger than both her and Julian Fordham, yet meticulous in his actions.
In those chaotic times, Julian was frantic, rushing towards the hospital.
Rhys didn’t forget to order an investigation into the truth, and monitored the Fordham Family.
Seeing Victoria fall into the pool, all Rhys wanted was to slaughter everyone present.
Not to mention Rachel Hayes, even an ant couldn’t escape.
As Victoria entered the operating room, he had already vowed in his mind.
He would return the suffering Victoria endured tenfold upon that woman.
Since Victoria was kind-hearted enough not to harm the child, he would spare the child’s life.
But Rachel Hayes, he had plenty of ways to deal with her.
No one knew that Rhys wore those prayer beads not out of Buddhist faith.
He was never a man of virtue.
Yet when his gaze fell on Victoria Monroe, he tucked away his claws and blades, appearing poised and gentlemanly.
"Hungry? Want to eat something?"
Victoria shook her head. She reached out for the water glass on the bedside table, but as she extended her arm slightly, multiple joints throughout her body ached terribly.
Having suffered cold once before, falling into water added to it, intensifying the chill.
Rhys saw her pain, and glanced at Assistant Woods, "Go prepare for the press conference."
"Alright," Assistant Woods said, turning to leave, closing the door behind.
Rhys handed her the water cup, and from the cabinet beside him, took out a bottle of ointment.
"I brought this from Portoros, it’s effective for treating joint pain. It’s safe and can be used by pregnant women."
"Thank you, I’ll use it in a few days."
Rhys had already unscrewed the cap, "The chill in your body will affect the child, are you sure you want to wait a few days?"
"Then I’ll do it myself."
"Don’t push yourself. Right now, what you need is rest, or are you worried..."
Rhys propped a hand beside her, leaning down, his sharp black eyes locking onto hers as his thin lips whispered, "I have ulterior motives towards you?"
Victoria widened her eyes, knowing she wouldn’t be conceited enough to think Rhys would harbor any ill intentions towards a newly miscarried pregnant woman!
She completely trusted his character.
"No, I’m just afraid of troubling you."
"Not troublesome," Rhys quickly replied, and the next moment he stood by the bed, slightly bending over, and gently pulled back the covers, softly rolling up her loose pajama pants.
The woman’s snow-white calf was revealed, Victoria’s skin not only fair, but also smooth and delicate.
Feeling shy, her toes curled tightly against the bedsheet, appearing adorably.
Rhys’s Adam’s apple subtly rolled, in just one more day, she’d be free.
He averted his gaze, refraining from being inappropriate, he smoothed the cool ointment onto her knee joint, initially cold.
Soon his warm palm landed down, calloused.
It’s hard to imagine how such a privileged young master had calloused hands.
But when those calluses gently rubbed against her skin, she felt somewhat discomforted.
She had only ever been touched by Julian Fordham, not accustomed to physical contact with another man.
Yet, if she awkwardly refused someone offering help, it felt pretentious.
He was humbling himself already, what was she struggling with?
Rhys, someone capable of getting any woman he desired, wouldn’t spend sleepless nights pampering a pregnant woman’s feet, would he?
Thinking this, Rhys swiftly finished applying the ointment on both legs.
His gaze landed on her arm, "Your hand."
Victoria was about to roll up her sleeve, Rhys pressed his lips together, "That way your shoulder can’t be reached."
"It’s alright, my shoulder doesn’t need it."
"It’s hurting so much you can’t even lift your arm, Ms. Monroe, are you really going to resist? Or should I get a female nurse in here for you?"
Even if there’s a night shift nurse, they might be dozing off, Victoria bowed her head refusing, "No need, if you don’t mind, please..."
"I don’t mind," Rhys’s clear gaze fell on her chest, "just unbutton two buttons and take out your hand, I’ll help you undress."
"Okay."
Victoria tried to unbutton, but as soon as her arms bent slightly, pain shot through her joints.
The shadow cast by the man as he leaned over engulfed her, as he got closer, she could distinctly smell the lingering sandalwood and a faint scent of bath soap on him.
The man’s lowered gaze landed right on her chest.
Victoria’s figure was exquisite, slender where needed, and conspicuous where necessary.
Even through a thin layer of fabric, he could sense the surge from it.
Victoria caught the man’s gaze and noticed Rhys’s pupils were calm and indifferent; any further assumptions about him felt like a desecration.
She bashfully averted her gaze, looking elsewhere, whispering, "Then please."
Victoria didn’t notice that the man’s distinct knuckled hand trembled lightly for a moment, his clean and slender fingers landed on her neckline.
Seeing her obedient demeanor, even as virtuous as he was, uncontrollable images stirred in his mind.
"Forgive my trespass." His Adam’s apple softly rolled.
The next moment, his fingers unbuttoned one button.
This set of pajamas had large spaces between the buttons, by the time the second was undone, a portion of whiteness was unexpectedly exposed.
Rhys’s heart was pounding wildly, even beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his body temperature surged abruptly.
Besides the time he saved her from the bathroom, this was the only time he was so close to her.
Victoria bit her lip, blushing as she closed her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.
The next moment she felt the man’s fiery hand on her petite, rounded shoulder, the pain in her shoulder combined with the male touch stimulated her into a involuntary soft cry, "It hurts..."