Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Give Me Another Child
Rhys Hawthorne’s brows were tightly knit. They were right at the door but didn’t see anyone else leave.
Something’s wrong.
"There’s something off about that group of staff earlier. Could it be Julian Fordham..."
At this moment, Rhys saw the light, "We’ve been tricked! From Julian Fordham’s suicide, he’s been setting this up. He knew that once the child died, there was no turning back, that Victoria would never forgive him, so he faked his death and declared bankruptcy, making all of us believe he was devastated beyond recovery."
"So the real purpose of Julian Fordham was to numb us, he never intended to give up on Ms. Monroe!"
Rhys had considered this possibility, but he had not expected such ruthlessness from Julian Fordham, going to these lengths to win Victoria Monroe back.
The two had parted ways because of business, and he decided to burn bridges completely.
Rhys proposed a thirty-day cooling-off period, cornering him.
The result: Julian Fordham voluntarily terminated the contract with Willis, shouldered all the losses, then liquidated and declared bankruptcy.
Everyone thought he was too broken, retaliating against Lana Jameson and punishing himself, spiraling into complete ruin.
The reality was quite the opposite. Julian Fordham aimed for rebirth from the abyss.
Apart from giving Victoria Monroe hundreds of billions, the rest of his assets had likely been transferred overseas long ago.
He held the most critical technology, money, connections, and skills, and starting over would be simple if he wished.
Perhaps he made this move to escape Lana Jameson’s control.
Even Victoria Monroe was fooled by him. He had been secretly planning for today to take her and her grandma away!
Assistant Woods couldn’t help but admire, "What a two birds with one stone move."
Rhys Hawthorne clasped his prayer beads, his face full of gloomy menace, as if a storm was looming around him, intimidating.
He said coldly, "No, it’s three birds with one stone. He knows it was I who secretly helped his company rise. He doesn’t want to owe me this favor, so he’d rather abandon the company!"
"Boss, honestly, I quite admire him. With such determination, he would succeed in anything he does."
After speaking, Assistant Woods realized the current antagonistic state between Rhys Hawthorne and Julian Fordham and hurried to amend, "Julian Fordham made a grave mistake before, but now he’s realizing his error and took Grandma and Ms. Monroe away. Do you think the two of them might reunite romantically?"
If that’s the case, Rhys Hawthorne would become the fool.
He’d been maneuvering behind the scenes, repeatedly stepping in on Victoria Monroe’s behalf, but if they reconcile, then Rhys Hawthorne...
Assistant Woods looked at Rhys Hawthorne with worry in his eyes.
Rhys’ expression turned colder, "A shattered mirror will always have cracks. Even if someone painstakingly glues the pieces, the scars can never vanish. I trust Victoria. The more Julian Fordham pushes, the more he would only cause her to despise him more, but..."
A hint of worry crossed the man’s brow, "She’s just starting to get better, and there’s a child inside her that Julian Fordham doesn’t know about. I’m afraid if that man acts recklessly and harms her child again, Victoria would lose her mind. Go find out Victoria’s whereabouts quickly."
"Yes."
Rhys Hawthorne’s unease deepened, knowing Julian Fordham might have predicted Victoria Monroe’s intention to leave Kenton, which is why he acted against her before that could happen.
He would certainly try and hide Victoria Monroe away!
Rhys Hawthorne returned to Grandma’s room, and October had indeed disappeared too.
Julian Fordham took the whole family away, this lunatic!
*
Victoria Monroe awoke with a fuzzy head. She had just been pushing Grandma into the examination room when she sensed someone behind her.
Before she could turn and prepare, she was knocked unconscious in the next second.
Upon awakening, she felt weightless — a sensation all too familiar.
The air carried a faint rose fragrance, and the soft texture beneath her reminded her that this was the main bed in Julian Fordham’s private jet.
For the sake of having a child, they had tangled fervently here.
Her waist was tightly encircled, with a man holding her from behind, just like countless nights before their divorce.
Victoria Monroe’s back went cold, her eyes filled with raging anger. She turned toward the dim light and could instantly recognize Julian Fordham’s familiar silhouette.
It really was him!
With her movement, the man awakened from his sleep.
Perhaps for the first time in a long while, he had slept well. Only by holding Victoria Monroe could he sleep deeply.
As he opened his eyes, his voice was slightly hoarse, "Victoria, you’re awake?"
He was so calm, as if they’d never divorced and nothing had ever happened.
Victoria Monroe pushed him away, "Where’s my grandma?"
"Victoria, don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you. I just want to fulfill my past promise and take you and Grandma to see the world outside."
As he spoke, Julian Fordham moved closer, brushing Victoria Monroe’s cheek with his hand, "Grandma is on another plane, with dedicated medical personnel looking after her. We will soon reunite."
Victoria Monroe avoided his touch, her eyes filled with disdain for him. She coldly said, "You’re using Grandma to threaten me?"
Clearly, his private jet could accommodate over a dozen people, yet he separated Grandma, obviously using her as leverage.
"Victoria, it’s not a threat. I know all these years I’ve been obsessed with work, solely focused on climbing. I became overbearing and controlling, ignoring your feelings. Now I understand, what I truly want isn’t power, it’s you."
Julian Fordham pulled her into his embrace, "I buried our child with the company, severed ties with the Fordham Family, from now on, I will accompany you, care for Grandma, I’ll learn to be a good husband."
"Once your health is restored, I’ll take you on a world tour, each country we visit, we’ll take a wedding photo. I’ll announce to the world that you are my wife, alright?"
He spoke so tenderly, but Victoria Monroe was already numb.
If he had made such plans two months ago, there might have been room to turn back.
But times have changed, and she was no longer the Victoria Monroe foolishly in love with him.
Victoria Monroe’s gaze was icy, her voice chillingly cold, "What makes you think that today, I can’t live without you? Would I die without a man?"
"Julian Fordham, when I loved you, I could give up everything for you, but now I don’t love you. You can trap me for a while, but not for life."
"Unless you cut off my legs, making me forever unable to walk; don’t gouge out my eyes, I will always hate you; don’t cut off my tongue, I will curse you day and night."
Victoria Monroe was born stubborn, and not loving Julian Fordham meant his words and deeds were useless.
Julian Fordham lifted her chin, gently caressing her delicate skin with his fingertip, "Victoria, as long as you stay by my side, hate me if you must."
With that, he leaned down to kiss Victoria Monroe, his breath softly murmuring on her lips, "Victoria, how about giving me another child?"