Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Out of Control
When Rhys Hawthorne saw this photo, he felt a pang in his heart.
The interaction he had with Victoria Monroe last night made it clear to him that Victoria’s mind had yet to realize it, but her body had grown accustomed to his presence.
Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, she could accept him.
However, Julian Fordham clung to Victoria like a ghost.
Assistant Woods noticed the veins protruding on Rhys’s hand, "Master Rhys, do you think Ms. Monroe will soften her heart?"
"No."
Although Rhys felt a bit troubled, he did not lose his composure.
"If they were truly reconciled, do you think Julian Fordham would need to send me this photo that doesn’t even show a frontal view?"
Rhys articulated each word with precision, "He’s issuing a challenge to me. If I go to Milara now, he’ll probably immediately circle to another city."
"This is tricky. He’s not hitting two birds with one stone, but four. Julian Fordham drove the company into bankruptcy, and from now on, Master Rhys has nothing to leverage against him. He’s ruthless!"
Assistant Woods couldn’t help but sweat for Rhys. If Rhys went, Julian would leave with Victoria, treating Rhys like a fool to toy with.
If Rhys didn’t go, Julian would send things every day to unsettle him.
Originally Rhys had the upper hand, but now the situation had reversed; Julian became the one making the moves.
If Rhys wasn’t mistaken, Julian held a trump card that he hadn’t played yet.
That trump card was the Hawthorne Family.
If the Hawthorne Family found out he secretly loved a divorced woman, they definitely wouldn’t support him.
Then it would be Rhys who found himself in a predicament.
Assistant Woods felt that Rhys’s future was too bleak to see any Hope.
"Master Rhys, with Ms. Monroe being so hard to pursue, if your family finds out, the patriarch will be a hurdle you can’t pass. Perhaps you should give up..."
"Three years ago, I willingly let go, which resulted in Victoria’s current situation, Julian Fordham’s emotions are uncontrollable and he’s not a good man."
Rhys’s gaze carried a sharp chill, "Victoria is the key to this situation. As long as she doesn’t compromise, I have a chance."
"If the Hawthorne Family finds out..."
"So what? The person I want to spend my life with is Victoria, not the patriarch."
Rhys slowly stood up, "In the future, he might use the same tactics on me, to see if I choose between the inheritance or Victoria."
"I will use my actions to show him what the correct answer is."
"I accept his challenge. Assistant Woods, quickly find out about Julian’s biological parents. He’s abandoned everything to have no weaknesses. Targeting his family must yield results."
"Notify the crew, we’re flying to Milara."
Assistant Woods watched the man’s broad back as he and Julian’s battle officially began.
Milara.
Victoria Monroe was forced to put on a wedding dress. Her face was composed, without a trace of joy.
Because she had lost some weight recently, the dress was slightly loose and needed further adjustments by the designer.
He specifically brought her to Milara just to have her try on this wedding dress.
That night, they then flew toward Turkey.
Victoria was going crazy. Early in the morning, before dawn, he took her up in a hot air balloon to watch the sunrise.
He only remembered that Victoria once expressed a desire to travel the world, so he took her to many places.
Aethelos in Greece, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Aqua Venice...
If Victoria hadn’t refused to go to Cryos, he would have already taken her on a glacier journey.
He exhausted every effort to make her happy, trying to reclaim their past happiness.
Yet from beginning to end, Victoria didn’t smile once.
On the luxury cruise ship, the sunset was just right, roses, red wine, dinner, the atmosphere was perfect.
He dressed in a suit, knelt on one knee at her feet, humbly looking up at her, "Victoria, what do I have to do for you to forgive me?"
Victoria sneered, "You think you’ve done so much, but you’re moved, not me. Julian, you keep saying you’ll change, but in the end, you’re still selfish and arrogant, imposing your will on others."
"Victoria, isn’t this what you wanted? I didn’t have time before, but now I have it. Whatever you want, I can give you."
"Everything you’re doing now is what Victoria from two months ago wanted."
Victoria showed him no kindness, "You’re using the guise of traveling with me to force me to forgive you. Travel should be free, but I’m not free, I feel like a prisoner, stifled every moment with you."
"I just want to support my grandma in her old age, find a quiet place to live with her, why can’t you agree to something so simple?"
Julian lunged forward and hugged Victoria.
"Victoria, I just want you to be happy."
"Letting me go is happiness."
"Sorry, I can agree to anything else but not this."
Victoria gazed at the sunset in the distance, no matter how beautiful the scene, she couldn’t appreciate it, only despair filled her eyes.
Somehow, the person she thought of in that moment was Rhys Hawthorne.
She had grown accustomed to his cool sandalwood scent, being with him, even spending an afternoon in silence, she felt at peace.
Rhys wouldn’t force her to do anything, even though he was younger, she felt an indescribable sense of security with him.
Three weeks had passed since their parting in Kenton.
He should have long since returned to Portoros.
He was the future heir of the Hawthorne Family, and so busy he would probably forget her soon.
She was two months pregnant, in another month her pregnancy would start showing.
By then, she couldn’t hide it from Julian anymore, and Julian would definitely not let her go.
Does that mean she has to spend her life in misery with Julian?
No, seeing his face reminded her of the innocent baby that died.
She couldn’t forgive Julian, nor could she forgive herself.
The only one in the world who could save her was Rhys.
But Rhys, where are you?
Victoria’s eyes were reddened, she was desperately yearning for Rhys, longing for him to take her away.
Julian released her and saw Victoria on the brink of tears.
Her gaze was distant, and he was not in her eyes.
He asked, "Victoria, what are you thinking about?"
Victoria didn’t want to reply to him.
He lowered his gaze and a cruel glint flashed through his eyes, "We’ve known each other for eighteen years, you can’t hide what you’re thinking from me. You were just thinking about Rhys, weren’t you? You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?"
"Yes, I was thinking about him. We’re divorced, I can think about whoever I want."
Victoria knocked over the candelabra, yelling like a madwoman, "Julian, I’ve had enough of you."
The sea breeze tossed her hair and whisked the roses on the table around them.
Victoria had endured the whole journey and her emotions were at the breaking point. She got up wanting to return to her room.
Julian grabbed her hand, "Victoria, you promised me, you’d love only me in this life. How can you change your heart?"
Before Victoria could answer, the next second Julian hoisted her up to the railing at the edge of the deck.
Behind her was the unfathomable sea.
They were already near the tropics, so the temperature wasn’t cold.
She was draped in a black suit, and with his movement, the suit fell into the sea.
It was like her fate, if he let go, she would fall into the ocean.
The sea breeze hit her from behind, chilling her to the bone.
She wore a qipao that Julian had carefully selected, and he grasped her slender waist with one hand resting on her thigh.
His gaze was both intense and dangerous, "Victoria, you’ve rested for a month. I can touch you now, can’t I?"
Victoria’s legs trembled under his grasp, the man knew her sensitive spots, his breath caressed her earlobe, "Darling, I love you. If I enter your body one more time, then you won’t think about another man, right?"