Chapter 7
Two months passed.[]
Our marriage was still in limbo.]
My lawyer said Victor stubbornly refused to sign the papers.[]
I didn’t understand.
Hadn’t I made myself clear enough?
What was the point of this endless dragging?
I hung up the phone, feeling disgusted with the man.[]
The next day was a Hollingsworth family dinner.[]
As a daughter–in–law, I still had
attend.
After all, the family didn’t know about Victor and me.[]
But I didn’t expect to see Nina there again.[]
www.
The woman looked radiant, wearing a red off–shoulder gown and bustling around like she owned the place.[]
I looked at Victor with obvious sarcasm.]]
“Madeline,” panic flashed across his face as he quickly pulled his hand away from Nina’s, “Grandfather won’t let me send Tilly away. She’s still so young, so 1-”
I raised an eyebrow, amused.
“Not my problem. You’re a free man–you don’t need to explain your little birds
“Besides, I’m pregnant.” I looked him straight in the eye, not backing down.[]
to
me.“]
Victor’s expression froze, hurt flashing in his eyes.
“Pregnant?” He looked hollow, helpless and confused like a lost child.[]
Because our last time together had been six months ago, on Valentine’s Day.[]
“You’re lying to hurt me, aren’t you?” He desperately wanted a different answer.
I looked at him coldly.]
“That would be a pointless lie. Stop clinging to this.“[]
“Just… can we get through today first? Please?” His voice was pleading, compromising.]
I glanced around at the curious stares.
I realized this wasn’t the time or place for this conversation.
Victor relaxed slightly.
But Nina was clenching her teeth, her fingernails digging into her palms.[]
The banquet began, full of distinguished guests.]
Among the glittering crowd, I caught glimpses of the intimidating, noble man I’d once known.
Chapter 7
But unlike before, Victor now stayed glued to my side.[]
And Nina stayed glued to his.[]
It was bizarre.
Finally, amid the whispered gossip around us, Nina lost control.]
She stepped around Victor to block my path, her face twisted with fake superiority.[]
“Madeline Shaw, what gives you the right to treat Victor like this?“[]
I stopped and looked at her with pure mockery.[]
“What are you exactly? What right do you have to question me?” I glanced at little Tilly nearby. “You think you can climb the social ladder with one kid?“[
Nina’s whole body went rigid, panic and disbelief washing over her face.[]
She clearly hadn’t expected
to be so blunt.[]
She
“You’re insane! I’m not as pathetic as you’re making me sound!“]]
She looked at Victor with tear–filled eyes, clearly expecting him to defend her.]
When his expression didn’t change, Nina swayed on her feet.[]
I laughed coldly and stepped closer, looking down at her with complete contempt.
“Try me again, and I’ll show you how hungry the wolves in the Shaw family mountains have been lately.”
I patted her pale cheek and walked away.
Left humiliated and frozen in place, Nina watched Victor follow me, jealousy driving her to madness.[]
She took deep breaths, trying to compose herself.]
People are opportunistic creatures.
When Mrs. Hollingsworth had made her position clear, they were happy to add fuel
to
the fire of Nina’s shame.]]
Nina stood helplessly in the center of the hall as mocking glances and whispered insults slowly tore apart her facade of pride.]
plessly
I caught sight of her in my peripheral vision and smirked.]
The ugliness and opportunism of high society wasn’t something a common person could handle.
I wanted her to know she didn’t belong.
When I went to the restroom, Nina finally snapped and cornered me.[]
Her bloodshot eyes showed just how furious she was.
“Madeline Shaw!” Her eyes were wild with resentment.
“What gives you the right to treat me like this?” she screamed, her voice hoarse. “What’s so special about you? If you had my background, you wouldn’t be better than me!”
Nina’s accusations looked like nothing more than impotent rage to me.]
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I was born into the elite. I have wealth you’ll never reach in your lifetime. What exactly are bitter about?”
Something occurred to me, and I smiled mockingly.[]
Chapter 7
“Oh wait, there is one thing I can’t compete with you
- on.
“0
At her confused look, I leaned close to her ear and whispered with disdain.]
“When it comes to being vicious, I’m not even close to your level. At least I wouldn’t use my own flesh and blood as a bargaining chip to get a man.”
Nina’s face went white as a sheet.
She was gasping, her chest heaving.
I lost patience with the game and turned cold.[]
“You want Victor? I won’t stop you. But if you dare show up in front of me again, I’ll end you quietly.“[]
I turned and left.]
Nina finally breathed like a drowning person getting oxygen, gasping heavily as she collapsed to the floor.[]
On the ride home, Victor was silent the entire way.[]
Only when we reached my place did he grip the steering wheel tightly, looking defeated.
“Madeline… do we really have to divorce?” He looked at me with barely concealed pleading.
“I never cheated on you.“}]
I watched a small tree swaying in the breeze outside the window–the carefree life I envied.[]
After watching for a while, I turned back to look at him seriously.[]
“Victor, you don’t have to literally sleep with someone for it to be cheating.”
“You let her provoke me, scolded me because of her, missed our anniversary for her, brought her to family events–that’s crossing lines. Physical cheating was just a matter of time.”
“Besides, disappointment doesn’t happen overnight. You gave me too many reasons.”
“D
“I
Victor listened in silence, his face growing paler.]
He looked at me with reddening eyes, wanting to defend himself but unable
“You weren’t oblivious to how inappropriate her behavior was. You knew, but you didn’t stop it. You enabled her to provoke me.“[]
I ignored his pained expression and fell into my own strange sadness.]]
Finally, I asked about what bothered me most.]
“Our anniversary night–you slept with her, didn’t you?“]
Victor’s head snapped up in shock. He closed his eyes, drowning in anguish.]
“That night was really just an accident–“[]
I cut him off, sounding almost relieved. “It doesn’t matter anymore.“]
None of it mattered anymore.
As I opened the car door, Victor’s voice broke.[]
“Madeline, can we ever go back to how things were?“]
I looked up at the stars.
“Don’t talk about the past. I don’t remember it, and I don’t want to.“]]
Chapter 7
Victor looked completely hollow, utterly lost.[]
“I understand… I’m sorry, Madeline.“]
S
(0)
(0)
(
