Chapter 11

Ella sneered, "What kind of coffee is this? It's terrible. And the dessert is disgusting. Even a dog wouldn't touch this."

Her eyes landed on a picture of Victoria and Alvin on Victoria's desk.

A wicked grin spread across her face as she picked up the photo and said with disdain, "Victoria, look at your dad. He claims to be the country's top architect? The stadium he built collapsed-luckily, no one died, but the resort hotel he designed ten years ago collapsed and killed dozens. He's a murderer! He only got ten years in prison, but he should've gotten the death penalty-poisoned, electrocuted, shot!"

Victoria's eyes flared with anger at Ella's cruel words. She rushed over, snatched the photo, and clutched it to her chest.

Glaring at Ella, she shouted, "Shut up! My dad has paid a heavy price for his mistakes. He was sentenced to ten years by the law, and he tried his best to compensate the victims' families. He's trying to make amends for his wrongs. And what about you? Besides throwing your weight around because of your family's background, what meaningful things have you done? Do you think that makes you important? No, you're just a pathetic person with an ugly heart and an empty soul. You have no right to judge my father or his life."

Ella was so enraged by Victoria's words that she saw red and snatched the photo frame from Victoria's hands, smashing it to the ground and stomping on it with her high heels.

Victoria's anger hit its peak as she watched Ella's actions. Unable to take it any longer, she grabbed a pastry and shoved it into Ella's mouth, shouting, "Your mouth is so foul. This pastry will clean it."

Ella was stunned by the sudden action and was about to retaliate when William, already furious, walked over. He picked up a large glass of water from the table and threw it in Victoria's face. Water splashed all over Victoria's face and body, leaving her in a sorry state.

Then, William slapped Victoria hard across the face, shouting angrily, "Victoria, who do you think you are? How dare you disrespect my fiancée. What's wrong with what she said? Doesn't a murderer deserve to die?"

Victoria was stunned by the water and the slap, her head buzzing. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and everything around her became blurry.

Tears glistened in her once bright eyes, but she held them back. She raised her head slightly and looked directly at William.

"I won't let you insult my father! He's the best architect in my heart," she said, her voice hoarse and trembling but full of strength. "He's designed so many buildings without any issues. I believe there must be other reasons."

"The court found him fully responsible, and you still want to clear his name? Dream on!" William's voice was cold, devoid of any warmth, and his gaze at Victoria was full of warning.

Victoria's body trembled slightly, and she bit her lip until it bled. Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her palms, but she felt no pain. She wanted to argue but couldn't find a reason.

Ella, seeing Victoria's sorry state, felt extremely pleased. The feeling of having Victoria under her heel made her both excited and triumphant.

She said, "Victoria, you're just the daughter of a murderer. What if you were almost raped? No one will stand up for you! I don't mind telling you, those four men who tried to rape you only suffered minor injuries. They're fine now, living a wealthy life, enjoying themselves!"Ella's words dripped with mockery and pride.

It wasn't until she finished speaking that she realized she might've slipped up. Her words seemed to confirm to Victoria that she had a hand in that incident. She quickly glanced at William, and seeing no reaction from him, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Victoria felt like she'd been struck by lightning hearing Ella's words. Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Trembling, she murmured, "How is that possible? How could they have only minor injuries?"

Her mind was flooded with the pain and humiliation she had suffered, while those who hurt her walked away unscathed. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart, making it hard to breathe.

"William, didn't you say they had been punished? You're a liar!" Victoria angrily questioned William.

William frowned, his expression darkening. "Victoria, calm down and know your place," he said.

"I can't calm down! Didn't you tell me they had been arrested?" Victoria continued to question, her voice trembling with anger. Her voice was like a blade, piercing William's heart.

His face darkened further, a flicker of unease in his eyes, but he suppressed it and coldly responded, "Victoria, don't make me lose my patience with you!"

Victoria's heart felt like it was being squeezed, the pain washing over her. Her thoughts raced like a torrent, flooding her with fear and anger.

The shadows of the past surged, and memories of being beaten, humiliated, and her helpless struggles in the dark all resurfaced.

"You're a liar! A shameless liar!" she cried out in anguish, her voice hoarse, suffocating in her inability to breathe.

William frowned slightly, a complex emotion crossing his face.

"Victoria!" he finally spoke, his voice low but commanding, "You're just someone who sell your body. You have no right to shout at me! If you can't calm down, go reflect downstairs, or I guarantee you'll regret your impulsiveness today!"

By now, it was pouring rain outside, the large raindrops hitting the glass windows with a crisp sound.

The rain obscured everything as Victoria stared at William blankly. The hatred in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by deep despair and helplessness.

Victoria straightened her back, slowly turned, and walked towards the elevator under William's inscrutable gaze. She stepped out into the rain, which quickly soaked her hair and clothes, the cold water running down her cheeks.

Her already pale face became even more bloodless under the rain, like a sheet of white paper. The five-finger mark on her face was clearly visible. She bit her lip hard, trying to stay conscious of the pain, but her lips were already bloody and raw.

Passersby hurried by, the rain blurring Victoria's vision, but she could still hear their mocking voices.

"Look at that woman, probably a mistress caught by the wife and being punished! Look, she even got slapped!" a middle-aged woman muttered, her eyes full of disdain.

"Maybe she scammed someone and is getting her comeuppance," a young man sneered as he walked past Victoria.

Victoria could only smile bitterly at the mockery.

The rain poured harder, soaking her completely, the cold seeping into her body through every pore. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably, and the pain and exhaustion made it hard for her to stand as she trembled in the rain.