Chapter 132

Hearing this, Victoria's heart ached deeply. She fought back the urge to cry, gritting her teeth. "Mom, what more do you want from me? I don't owe you anything. Stop using 'family' to guilt-trip me!"

Nora's face twisted with rage, her fingers trembling as she pointed at Victoria. "Victoria, don't forget, I'm your mother! Without me, you wouldn't be here! How dare you speak to me like that? Watch how I teach you a lesson!"

Before she finished speaking, she raised her hand and slapped Victoria hard across the face.

The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the living room. Victoria clutched her burning right cheek, staring blankly at Nora, then stood up to leave.

Bobby quickly stepped in, holding Nora back and whispering, "Mom, what are you doing? We invited Victoria here for a family reunion today."

He emphasized "reunion," which seemed to calm Nora down a bit.

Nora took a deep breath, steadying herself, and spoke softly, "I just got too emotional. Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

Bobby also tried to soothe Victoria, "Victoria, you know Mom's health isn't great. Don't hold it against her. We're about to leave Silvermist City and go abroad. Let's not argue and just have a nice family meal."

Victoria's eyes stung with unshed tears.

Bobby gently coaxed her towards the dining room.

The table was laden with a feast, including several of her favorite dishes.

Victoria's anger slowly dissipated. She forced a smile and sat down next to Bobby.

Seeing this, Nora's expression softened considerably.

Once all the dishes were served, Bobby picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Victoria's bowl. "Here, Victoria, try your favorite fried fish."

Victoria hesitated for a moment but eventually took it and ate.

A glint of something flashed in Bobby's eyes, gone in an instant.

The meal was tasteless, and no one spoke much.

Victoria ate in silence, not noticing that Bobby and Nora hadn't touched any of her favorite dishes.

Nora watched Victoria eat with a cold smile, a flash of malice in her eyes, but it was quickly hidden.

Victoria had only eaten a little when she suddenly felt dizzy. She frowned, rubbing her forehead, feeling her head grow heavier.

Victoria propped her head up, trying to keep her eyes open, looking at Bobby, who was smiling at her strangely with a glass of wine in hand.

A chill ran down Victoria's spine. She tried to get up and run, but her body felt weak and unresponsive.

Bobby's smile widened in triumph. "Victoria, don't struggle. Just have a good sleep."

Victoria shook her head desperately, trying to stay awake, but no matter how hard she tried, she fell into unconsciousness.

Samuel waited at the hospital, but Victoria never showed up.

This wasn't like her. If something had come up, she would have called.

A sense of foreboding filled Samuel. He pulled out his phone and dialed Victoria's number.

The phone rang endlessly, and Samuel's brow furrowed.

Unwilling to give up, he called again, with the same result.

He called Starry Studio Gallery and learned she had left work hours ago.

A strong sense of unease gripped Samuel. Something must have happened to Victoria.

But with his right leg unable to support him, he could only call Ryan, asking him to send people to look for her.

Meanwhile, William also received news of Victoria's disappearance.

His face darkened immediately, and he ordered Harry to find her as soon as possible.

After hanging up, William walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring into the dark night sky, his brows knitted in worry.

Even though Victoria had distanced herself from him, he wouldn't allow anyone to harm her.

Remembering the pain while digging her out of the ground before, William's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He would not let Victoria be hurt again!

When Victoria woke up, it was already noon the next day.

Nora had miscalculated the dosage, giving her too much sleeping medication.

Victoria groggily opened her eyes, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings.

She tried to rub her aching head but found her hand shackled by a long chain, securing her to the room.

Victoria let out a bitter laugh. Of course, it had come to this.

But she had to play her part convincingly!

Victoria feigned terror, struggling to free herself from the chains, but it was futile.

She pounded on the door, shouting, "Help! Let me out! Let me out now!"

The loud banging echoed through the room.

After a while, she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock, followed by the door opening.

Nora and Bobby stood in the doorway.

Seeing Victoria awake, Nora smiled and walked slowly towards her.

Victoria looked at them in disbelief, her eyes wary. "Mom, what are you doing? I'm your daughter! You drugged me and locked me up!"

She had thought their betrayal and threats were the worst they could do, but now they had resorted to kidnapping and confinement.

Nora sneered, "You defied me."

Bobby chimed in, "I told you last time, give me more money, and I won't bother you again. But there was only a couple of thousand dollars in the account. Is that really all you have? You tricked me, so don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Victoria shouted angrily, "Bobby, you know how much Mom's medical bills cost, and Dad's debts-William paid for all of it! It's too shamelessly to ask for more. I have no money now!"

Bobby's face darkened, his eyes cold as he glared at Victoria. "I had to drop out of the University of Aesthetics Shine and go abroad because of you! Fine, I believe you have no money. But you know how much it costs to go abroad, and you could have found a way to get it. Why didn't you?"

"You're a jerk! I should never have helped you! You falsely accused me, and now it's my fault?" she snapped back.