Chapter 127: Chapter 127: We Once Had a Daughter
Victoria was dumbfounded. Such truth was beyond her wildest dreams.
When she was a child, her family was poor, and Lana Jameson didn’t take kindly to her, always encouraging Julian Fordham to befriend wealthy girls in class. Whenever Victoria and Julian got close, she would roll her eyes.
Whenever Julian failed to accomplish even the smallest task, she would punish and curse him.
Victoria thought that Lana Jameson was naturally harsh, which made her feel sorry for Julian.
Every time Julian got beaten, she would secretly apply medicine to his wounds.
He was silent and reticent, so she chirped and chattered to him.
Wasn’t she a ray of light in Julian’s dark world? She was the one who healed his miserable childhood.
Their relationship had long surpassed friendship, kinship, and even love.
That’s why no woman outside trying to seduce him succeeded; no one could replace Victoria’s eighteen years of presence!
Rhys Hawthorne had long understood this; the connection between those two wasn’t something he could infiltrate with power or money.
Back then, he chose to bury his love in his heart, never expressing it.
This was also why Victoria never wanted to break with Julian; had it not been for losing the child, she would never have reached this point with him.
But the world does not entertain the word "if."
Reaching this point today was Julian’s own fault.
If he had cleared up the misunderstanding under the first fireworks, or if earlier when Victoria found out about him and Rachel Hayes, he’d decisively aborted the child in Rachel’s womb, they wouldn’t have ended in such an irreparable tragedy.
The Fordham Family was at fault, Julian was at fault, but only Victoria and that child became the sacrifices.
Everyone should bear the consequences of their own mistakes.
Julian pressed forward step by step, while Lana Jameson trembled with fear, "This—it’s fake, you’re the child I bore after ten months!"
Julian sneered coldly, "Is that so? If you refuse to reveal my origins today, you’ll never see your daughter again."
"What have you done to Autumn? She’s innocent; in her heart, you’ll always be her brother!"
"And what have you done to me? Where are my biological parents? Why did I become your son?"
Julian grabbed Lana Jameson by her collar, "Father died early, all these years I respected you, doted on her, but you made me lose my wife and child. If I suffer, how do you deserve to live well?"
His pupils were filled with bloodshot lines, dragging Lana to the tombstone, "You personally killed my child, so I’ll make your child pay for it!"
With that, he kicked Lana’s knee, and she fell down with a thud.
Victoria also saw the words on the tombstone, it said "In Loving Memory: Dolores Fordham’s Tomb."
Dolores, Victoria.
He was regretting the person he had missed.
Victoria saw the name he chose and felt a sharp pain in her heart.
Just as Julian was about to say something, he looked up and saw Victoria.
Compared to the person who appeared at the press conference a few days ago, she didn’t look as haggard, and her face gained some color.
The former Victoria was like a rose, bright and beautiful, glowing.
Now she wore a white coat, with a scarf, seeming to be enveloped by an unending sorrow.
Like a magnolia in the rain, quiet yet permeated with somberness.
Julian still had his grip on Lana’s collar, forcing her to bow in penance.
The moment he saw Victoria, his hate-filled eyes immediately transformed into joy.
He walked towards Victoria, but then seemed to think of something, so he subconsciously adjusted his clothes.
"Victoria."
Assistant Woods followed at a respectable distance, not giving him a chance to get close to Victoria.
Victoria’s voice was calm: "I came to take October away."
After saying this, she ignored Lana and Julian, quickly heading towards the room.
Not seeing her for a long time, October jumped down from the high cat tree, "Meow..."
Sensing something, October didn’t leap directly into Victoria’s arms but obediently stopped by her feet, continually rubbing her pant leg.
Julian followed her, "Victoria, would you like something to drink?"
"No need."
Victoria packed the cat carrier; she had prepared everything else long ago. Tomorrow, she would bring Grandma onto the ship, then take October over directly.
She kept herself busy, unwilling to even glance at Julian.
Julian watched her slender back, feeling deeply troubled inside.
"Victoria, I deeply regret what happened that night, I..."
Victoria zipped up the cat carrier, her voice low, "Julian Fordham, an apology won’t change anything, I don’t need your regret."
Assistant Woods swiftly helped her with the cat carrier, not letting her carry heavy objects.
Julian wanted to move closer, but Victoria’s vigilant gaze was unmistakably clear.
He could only stop three steps away from her, his tall figure filled with desolation, like a child who made a mistake, saying hoarsely, "Victoria, you said once that a mistake, if corrected, should be forgiven."
Victoria met his eyes, "But I also said, once the line is crossed, there’s no forgiveness! Julian Fordham, do you know? We used to have a daughter."
Mentioning the child, her eyes turned slightly red, gritting her teeth, "Because of you, I lost her, so please never appear in my world again."
After saying this, she turned and left. Julian’s voice rose behind her: "How do you know it was a daughter..."
Tears streamed down Victoria’s face as she trembled and said, "She bid me farewell in my dream."
Julian stood as if struck by lightning, dazed. When he finally came to, Lana Jameson had seized the chance to run away.
Within the vast estate, he was left alone, even the cat was gone.
He dragged his feet slowly to the tombstone, his knees gave way, kneeling on the ground, his large hands gently stroking the tombstone.
"Baby, are you angry with Daddy, so you never come into my dream, I’m sorry."
He looked down to see a few roses and a small doll keychain before the tombstone.
Victoria had already paid tribute.
Julian picked up the doll, stroking it repeatedly, as if sensing Victoria’s hope for the child.
After a while, he received a call.
"Boss, madam has been in the hospital lately, not returning to the apartment. She took October to Aeridor; she’s likely visiting Grandma."
Julian stared at the small doll in his palm, a deeper meaning in his eyes.
"Is the nursing home and apartment set with cat trees and other things?"
"No one has been in and out of the apartment recently, and the nursing home hasn’t seen a large cat tree or other things."
With Victoria’s personality, to take October away, she would surely prepare properly, replicating the familiar setting for October, like buying a huge cat tree from home. She wouldn’t make decisions lightly, so there’s only one possibility.
Julian decisively concluded, "Victoria is planning to take Grandma and October away from Kenton!"