Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Announcement! Victoria Monroe Is My Mrs. Fordham
When Corbin Prescott entered, Julian Fordham, with a pale face, was gripping a teacup tightly, oblivious to the scalding tea spilling on the back of his hand and turning it slightly red.
"Boss..." Corbin spoke softly.
Julian finally seemed to awaken from a dream, a flash of pain crossing his eyes as he looked up.
"Do you still remember Rainmaker?"
"Of course. Back then, when you were swindled and all your research data was taken away by a partner, if it weren’t for the investments from Rainmaker, we might have taken another ten years to recover."
Julian let out a bitter laugh: "Rhys Hawthorne said Rainmaker is his company."
He tilted his head back and swallowed the tea; it was bitter, but his heart was even more so.
It turned out that everything he prided himself on was actually a gift from Rhys Hawthorne.
That was the wedding gift he had prepared in advance for Victoria Monroe.
Rhys had pulled Julian from the mire, paving the way for his smooth ride to the top.
That man could go to such lengths for Victoria!
Now that Rhys had torn apart the facade, disregarding face-saving on both sides, it meant this time he wouldn’t back down.
No matter how high Julian climbed in the future, just the thought that the person who helped him was Rhys drove a thorn into his heart, one he could never remove.
Rhys Hawthorne, the master of psychological assassination.
Evening.
When Victoria awoke from her dream, the curtains were drawn, leaving the room in darkness.
She sat on the bed in confusion, feeling for a moment as if the whole world had abandoned her.
A moment later, memories flooded back, and Victoria, touching her abdomen, realized her child was still there, but there was no news from her grandmother yet.
Victoria covered her face with her hands. She didn’t understand how everything had spiraled out of control in just a month.
Julian couldn’t foresee the outcome, and neither could she.
Life is full of uncertainties.
What could she do?
The door was gently pushed open, and Victoria, alarmed, looked up, only to relax when her gaze fell upon Rhys Hawthorne’s tall figure.
Somehow, at some point, Julian had become terrifying in her mind like a demon, while Rhys acted like her Amulet, bringing her peace.
Rhys stood by the door, impeccably dressed, the light casting a gentle, elegant aura over his pronounced features.
He was enveloped in a golden, delicate light, taking one step after another towards Victoria.
"Are you alright?" Rhys’s voice was tender and deep, unlike his usual coldness.
He must have just taken a shower, as the air still carried a faint, unfamiliar scent of bath products, quite different from what he used to have.
This Rhys lacked his usual aloof authority, now exhibiting a touch more humanity.
Victoria pressed her fingers to her temples, responding with slight fatigue, "Not well, headache. How is my grandmother doing?"
"She regained consciousness briefly, her life isn’t at risk for now, but..."
"But what?" Victoria looked at him sharply.
"Her memory is confused, and she temporarily can’t control her body. She may remain in this state for a long time; you need to be prepared."
Victoria’s heart sank, and she lifted the covers to get up, but Rhys held her hand, "Your grandma just took her medicine and fell asleep again. You won’t be able to see her now. More than your grandma’s matters, remember you’re still pregnant."
Rhys calmly reminded her, "The child inside you can be hidden for a while, but not forever. What’s your plan?"
After her grandmother’s incident, Victoria was truly bewildered.
"After my grandma passes, they might be my only family left in the world, I..."
Getting rid of the baby, she would be left truly alone.
Seeing the fragile and helpless woman, Rhys tentatively spoke, "Once your grandmother’s condition stabilizes, do you want to leave Kenton and find a safe place for delivery?"
Victoria murmured softly, "A safe place..."
"A place where even Julian Fordham can’t find you."
Rhys’s words carried a hint of weariness, like a siren on the reefs, with an enchanting quality that stirred Victoria’s heart slightly.
"Is there really such a place?"
"Ms. Monroe, in half a month you can get your divorce papers, then I’ll arrange for you and your grandmother to leave together."
Their eyes met, and Rhys’s gaze carried an undeniable resolve: "If you want to leave, no one can stop you."
Away from Julian, out of this place of discord, to safely give birth to a pair of kids. Even growing old in loneliness was better than being imprisoned by Julian.
The proposal was too enticing.
"Alright."
Rhys’s lips curved faintly upwards, "In half a month, I will take you away."
"Rhys, what can I do for you?" Victoria’s heart was unsettled.
Rhys had helped her so much; although she could now afford to repay him substantially, given his position and status, offering money seemed like an insult.
He had so much that Victoria felt she had nothing to repay him with.
Noticing a wisp of hair on her lips, he gently pushed it behind her ear with his fingertips, "You don’t need to do anything."
Under the faint light, Victoria saw only gentle ripples in his deep black eyes.
"Ms. Monroe, I only wish for your happiness, whether it was three years ago or now, my intent hasn’t changed."
Since Julian couldn’t make her happy, it was his turn now.
*
For the next two days, Julian Fordham didn’t bother Victoria Monroe. He was very ill, so much so that after two days of turmoil, he almost ended up in the ICU.
When he finally recovered, his first reaction was to inquire about Victoria.
"Where is Victoria?"
"The old lady just came out of the ICU, and the madam is taking care of her."
"Has Rhys been around these past two days?"
Corbin Prescott nodded, "Yes, he hasn’t left her side. Boss, your divorce deadline with the madam is less than half a month away."
Julian clenched his fists, a dark look of determination flashing in his eyes.
"Go prepare a PR statement to clarify my relationship with Rachel Hayes and publicly announce my true marital status!"
At these words, Corbin instinctively tried to stop him: "Boss, don’t forget your contract with Willis; you have a thirty-day cooling-off period. If this exposure affects the deal, it won’t be worth it. It’s just a little over half a month anyway; why not wait until the contract takes effect and then announce your marriage to the madam? Wouldn’t that be a win-win?"
Julian’s pale face showed a bitter smile: "Corbin, there’s never a true win-win in this world."
He once thought he could have both, and it turned out to be a colossal mistake.
The thirty-day cooling-off period was a battle challenge set by Rhys. If he waited until the day of the divorce papers, it would once again prove that Victoria was less important than his work.
"I’ve made too many mistakes already; in the coming days, I refuse to err again."
Julian’s eyes were filled with resolve, speaking hoarsely: "At any cost, I want to find Victoria and let everyone know that Victoria Monroe is my wife!"