Chapter 4

Victoria POV

The crystal chandelier in the living room shone brilliantly, but my gaze was utterly cold.

Emma, dressed in a brand-new maid's uniform, stood up immediately when she saw me and curtsied respectfully. "You're back."

And the boy named Alex was busy smashing a limited-edition model car against the floor.

It was from my favorite collection, one I'd worked hard to complete.

"What is going on here?" My voice was as cold as ice.

Michael hurried down from upstairs, forcing an unnatural smile. "Victoria, you're back. This is... a nanny sent by my mother. She said the house was too empty, and she's here to look after this child."

He gestured towards Alex, telling a pathetic lie.

"My mother brought this child back from an orphanage. She felt sorry for him, so she brought him home to raise."

I was trembling with rage.

"An orphanage? Michael, do you take me for a fool?" I pointed at the child, who was practically a carbon copy of him, my voice shaking. "Do you find it amusing to carve away at my heart, piece by piece, like this?"

Seeing my genuine anger, Michael panicked. He stepped forward and grabbed my hand.

"Victoria, don't be angry," he pleaded, eager to state his position. "If you don't like him, I'll send him away immediately!"

His phony love only disgusted me.

Alex seemed startled and suddenly burst into tears, pointing at me and screaming, "Bad woman! You're bullying my mommy!"

"Alex!" Michael snapped sternly.

Emma immediately rushed over and hugged her son, then looked at Michael with red-rimmed eyes. "Sir, please don't blame him. He's just... he's just shy around strangers."

Michael's tone indeed softened.

I looked at the glaring scene before me, feeling a chill run through my entire body.

I yanked my hand free from Michael's grasp and walked upstairs without a word. The bedroom door slammed shut, cutting off everything.

Michael stood by the door for a while, murmuring a few comforting words, but when he heard no response, he turned and left.

Not long after, my phone received a message.

It was from Emma: "Ms. Victoria, if you lock Michael out, don't blame him for coming to me for comfort."

I deleted the message and got up to leave the bedroom.

The villa was quiet. I found myself walking towards the basement wine cellar door.

It was ajar, a dim yellow light spilling out.

I drew closer and distinctly heard a woman's gasps and a man's low grunts coming from inside.

"Michael... be gentle... it hurts..."

"Isn't this what you asked for? Afraid of pain, yet you still tried to lure me down here?" Michael's voice was hoarse and impatient, but his actions didn't stop.

"I'm warning you, Emma. Don't provoke Victoria again, otherwise..."

The woman's moans drowned out the rest of his words.

I froze in place, utterly cold.

I lay back in bed just before dawn, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Nine years of love, a whirlwind courtship.

All of it shattered in this moment.

This time, I was the one who didn't want him.