Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria)

Chapter 19

Summer calmed herself down after hearing Victoria’s remarks. Since they

had been friends for years, she knew Victoria well.

She was someone who knew where she stood, so she had anticipated

that something like this would happen. Even so, Summer’s heart broke for

her.

“But… Are you willing to do so?” asked Summer as she bit her lip.

“Does it matter?” Victoria replied impassively.

It was not the result that she wanted, but nothing changed even when she

tried to alter it. Reality slapped her in the face, which reminded her that

she should not be delusional.

“Are you free tomorrow? Can you accompany me to the hospital?” She

paused before continuing with a smile, “I don’t want to go alone.”

“Come on, you’re my only best friend. Of course, I’ll make time for you. You

don’t even have to ask. Just let me know, and I’ll accompany you.”

Summer nodded.

“Let’s eat. I wanna rest early.” Victoria smiled.

She was so calm that Summer could not tell how she was feeling. Faced

with that scenario, she felt like crying when she saw how Victoria was

trying to hold back her emotions. Victoria was unlike that before the

Selwyn Family went bankrupt. She used to be a typical girl who had a

candid personality since the Selwyns would have her back if anything

happened. However, ever since their bankruptcy…

“Victoria, you should let it out if you feel sad. Since there are only two of us

in this room and I’m your best friend, you don’t have to hide your feelings

in front of me.”

Victoria was surprised upon hearing that. Did I mean to cry?

She had cried her eyes out multiple times ever since the bankruptcy. It

was also then that she understood crying would not solve anything, and

that her tears were worthless. Not only that, those who wanted to trample

over her would see her as a joke.

Ever since then, she decided she would not shed tears so easily in front of

anyone, even if it was someone she trusted.

With that thought in mind, she smiled. “Are you silly? What’s there to cry

over? Since day one, he had told me clearly that this is a marriage of

convenience. I’m here to help him deal with his grandmother, and he

would pay off my debt. This is just a deal.*

Her nonchalance enraged Summer. “You’re lying. If this is just a deal, why

are you pregnant? If he only sees this as a deal, he shouldn’t have slept

with you and impregnated you. Getting an abortion is bad for your body,

so what does he see you as?”

All of Summer’s questions struck Victoria’s heart as if her heart had been

stabbed.

In the beginning, she and Alaric were unlike how it was now. After they

married, they would sleep in the same room to avoid any unnecessary

speculations, though he would sleep on the couch. Since he was her

savior and someone whom she liked, she could not bring herself to let him

sleep so uncomfortably.

Instead, she allowed him to sleep on the bed with a pillow placed in

between them. Since it was a big bed, it did not affect their sleep.

This went on for a long time until one night when Alaric brought her along

for an event, and she was introduced to some big shot whom she had

already known before her family went bankrupt. During that night, she was

introduced as Mrs. Cadogan, and nobody dared to embarrass him.

After the event ended, Victoria bought him drinks as she was in a good

mood. Both chatted about work as they drank and got drunk.

She had a hard time carrying him back to the room and suddenly fell into

his arms after tripping over something. Her being in his arms had

somehow aroused him, and he grabbed onto her waist while pressing

himself on her.

His slim yet fit figure was on top of hers. She was not sure whether it was

due to the alcohol, but she could feel her face boiling. She wanted to push

him away, but before she could do so, he pressed his lips against hers.

Startled, she was about to push him away when he started kissing her. At

that moment, her head went blank, and she froze.

When she finally made sense of the situation, she kissed him back. That

night, he clung to her, and she let herself go. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

When she awoke in his arms the next morning, she noticed the frown on

his face. Just as he was about to say something, she interjected. “This is

just an accident since we were both drunk last night.”

Hearing that, his gaze darkened as he repeated her words. “An accident?”

“Yes, an accident.” She nodded.

This could only be an accident since it was a marriage of convenience

from the start. If something like that happened along the way, it would

affect their relationship, and he might not let her stay by his side, thinking

that she had an agenda.

His expression turned grave after hearing the word ‘accident‘.

It took him a while to finally calm himself down. “As a woman, you’re on the

short end of the stick. You can think of what you need from me.”

“Why do I need anything from you? And what makes you think I’m on the

short end of the stick? We’re both adults, and this is just a biological need.”

Victoria pretended to be nonchalant.

Alaric’s expression turned heavy upon hearing that. “It’s just a biological

need?” He glanced at her with his darkened gaze.

“What else could it be? Don’t overthink it. If you feel bad, you can just pay

1. me. She shrugged and acted nonchalant about it.

That day, Victoria used her way to convince Alaric that it was just a deal

and quietly hid her true feelings from him. Eventually, she asked for a

million.

It was unknown whether he thought the amount was outrageous, but ever

since that incident, his face had never been any gloomier during all the

years she spent with him. Even so, he paid her the money, but both of

them did not speak to each other for a long time.

He would always greet her with a long face whenever he bumped into her

and purposely go to work early and stay back after work to avoid her.

Thus, both barely saw each other during that period. However, their

relationship finally improved after Griselda’s birthday.

Victoria sighed as she recalled the past. “There’s that. I hope to get over it

soon.*

After everything was done, it would be time for her to leave. She could get

divorced after Griselda’s operation and be free to go anywhere she

wanted!

The next day, Victoria was up early. After meeting Summer, both of them

headed to the hospital.