Chapter 148
Chapter 148
“You’ve probably guessed what actually happened in the car accident two years ago, haven’t you, Mr. Coleman?” Christian inquired slowly, his gaze fixed steadily on Glen’s face.
For the first time, Glen talked about the car accident that occurred two years ago. “Regardless of who is in the right or wrong, Bella was ultimately injured while Victoria got her leg broken and was imprisoned,” he said after giving it some thought. “She has received the penalty that she deserved. And as for– ”
“You’re such a ‘great’ person.” Christian smiled and cut him off.
Glen couldn’t figure out what he meant and thought he was complimenting himself, so he continued saying, “Victoria deserved her punishment for doing something wrong. Although she is my daughter, I have to be reasonable and not stand on her side.”
“Yes, you’re a great man indeed.” Christian sniggered sarcastically.
Glen smiled. “As for the land in Glogan… ”
He did not finish his sentence, but it was obvious what he was implying.
“Take part in the auction the way you normally would. I’d suggest you prepare some cash in advance. Going to the bank for a loan is an option if the available cash in the company is insufficient. I have other stuff to do, so I’ll take my leave first.” Christian walked away without giving Glen a chance to speak.
The smile on his aged yet well-groomed face was replaced by confusion, which grew even more as he watched Christian leave.
Since the accident where Victoria knocked Bella, Christian held a grudge against the Colemans. Why was Christian still unhappy with him even after he made it clear that it had nothing to do with him?
From his expression today, it didn’t appear like he hated Victoria to the core, but rather…
After giving the ward a quick glance, he frowned and finally decided to head in.
With bare feet and a sullen face, Victoria made her way to the grass in front of the hospital. The lights were on, but they weren’t particularly bright. The patients and their accompanying family members had also left by the time it was 9.00PM, leaving the area vacant.
Her limbs became cooler as time went on. Her entire body was frigid but her heart was warm, and the heat brought by rage and sullen fire nearly scorched her soul to death.
“Tori, put on your shoes. The ground is cold, and it’s not good for you.” After lingering behind her for a while, Teresa gave a soft sigh and approached Victoria with her shoes.
Whether it was a disabled leg or pulmonary edema, catching a cold could be troublesome. Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
Victoria’s head lowered, ignoring Teresa as she wore no shoes. The heat of her heart was entwined with the chill on her body; it was as if she was on the rack.
“No matter how mad you are, don’t take your body lightly. If you have a relapse of your illness, it’s you who suffers, not those that you hate.” Teresa squatted down to hold her feet. “Raise your feet.”
“I need to cool down for a moment. Go back, Teresa. It’s chilly here,” Victoria remarked in a slightly harsh manner. As she shook her head, tears dropped down the corner of her eyes.
“If you don’t want to make me mad, do as I say,” Teresa screamed at her. “If you don’t obey me, I’ll let your brother out to deal with you.”
“With a physical disability, he can’t even get out of bed, let alone beat me up,” said Victoria while grinning, which caused a salty tear to fall into her mouth.
As she spoke, she raised her right foot that was held by Teresa.
“When he recovers, he’ll certainly beat you.” Teresa put on her right shoe and lifted her left foot, saying, “Lift it up.”
Looking down at Teresa as she put on her shoes, Victoria elevated her left foot. She was holding it in so much that she felt like her chest was being choked, causing her to struggle for breath.
She hurriedly wiped the tears that were about to fall and laughed again. “My brother won’t hit me.”
“You’re aware of that, yet you continue to punish yourself.” After putting on Victoria’s shoes, she stood up. Her eyes became slightly red. “You have no idea how your brother has been living here for the past two years; he always drinks, and when he’s wasted, he sits on the ground sobbing while apologizing to you.”
She choked and exhaled deeply, her voice returning to normal. “He’s now beginning to work and learn the ropes in the company, and he always makes a fool of himself. Every time he returns, he’d get so pissed that he’d want to give up, but he’d still arrive at work an hour earlier the next day. It seems as though he’s two entirely different people!”
Victoria lowered her head as she remained silent. Her upper body was obscured by darkness, making it difficult to see her face or read her emotions; all that could be seen was crystal clear droplets dripping onto her shoes.
“Your brother is doing this just to help you.” Teresa patted the back of her hand tenderly. “Don’t torture yourself, or both your brother and I will be heartbroken.”
Only once in the previous two years had Victoria shed a tear in front of her brother and novelxo.com fast updatesister-in-law, which was during her birthday celebration. At other times, even if she was frustrated and angry, she never shed a tear in front of them.
However, Victoria’s tears at this very moment were uncontrollable. She tried to stop them by raising her head, yet tears continued to stream down her auricle and her neck.
Her two years in prison had harmed both her dignity and caused her fury. The sole reason she wanted to live was to see her parents, brother, and sister-in-law once she was released from prison. She then intended to commit suicide and escape this terrible world after that.
Still, she didn’t expect to see Christian before seeing her parents. He threatened to make her a Delta Club employee, a life that was worse than death.
She considered her time in jail to be the worst period of her life, but she didn’t want her parents to judge or talk poorly of her. Thus, she had to work at Delta Club. However, the humiliation and targeted harassment she had to endure while working there only made her feel worse.
It was until then that she realized the worst period of her life had just begun.
She struggled with exhaustion, agony, helplessness, and despair every day. Victoria knew that dying would be the ideal outcome, but she didn’t want her brother and sister-in-law to be dragged into the situation, so she had to continue to live every day like a walking dead instead.
Coward, worthless, shameless, and murderer were among the labels that had been placed on her by others. It did hurt her sometimes, but Victoria had suffered many deaths, so only her brother and sister- in-law were relevant to her; she was already numb to how others judged her.
“Victoria,” said Teresa as she put her coat back on. Then, she hesitated before saying, “No matter how strong they are, the Thatchers cannot disobey the law. You don’t need to stay at Delta Club with your brother for me. How about this? Your brother and I will figure out a way to send you abroad after you get discharged from the hospital, and you shall never return.”
Victoria lowered her head and wiped away her tears numbly. Then, she said hoarsely, “I’m fine.”
“I’m serious. Once you’re discharged from the hospital, go abroad.” Teresa sighed softly. “You only make your brother and I worry even more when you’re living like this for us.”
“As for Mr. Thatcher… No matter how furious he is, he can’t murder me and your brother,” she said with a smile.
“A lot of times, living is harder than dying.” Victoria appeared to be a lifeless figure as she gazed up at the darkened sky with her soulless eyes.