Chapter 140

Victoria looked up at him, her eyes filled with hesitation. Finally, she softly pleaded, "William, can you just leave me alone?"

William's head snapped down to look at her, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Victoria jumped off him, her face earnest as she continued, "Aren't you getting married soon? Stop worrying about me and focus on your big day. My life is my own to handle. You can't protect me forever."

William's brows furrowed as he watched her walk past him with her head down.

He quickly stepped forward, blocking her path, his voice tinged with obvious anger, "What if I insist on being involved?"

"It's my body, my choice. No one gets to decide for me unless you lock me up like those people."

Victoria gently lowered his hand, pushed open the hospital room door, and walked in without looking back.

William stared at the closed door, knowing full well how stubborn Victoria was. Once she made up her mind, no one could change it.

For the first time in his life, William felt powerless. This feeling left him frustrated and without an outlet for his emotions.

Nora was nearly scared to death by William.

She could feel that he genuinely wanted to strangle her at that moment.

When had Nora ever suffered such a fate?

But that damn William threatened her with Bobby!

She couldn't just let it go. She was unwilling to accept it!

She thought to herself, even if she couldn't say anything directly, what if someone else spread the word? Then it wouldn't be her fault, right?

When the nurse came to draw her blood for tests, she deliberately cried out in distress, "I'm as old as his parents, and he bullies me like this. Just because they have money, they think they can do anything! My life is so miserable!"

The doctors and nurses didn't want to get involved, treating her words like a joke, offering a few perfunctory responses before preparing to leave.

It was a joke, really. Not to mention that William was a major shareholder in this hospital, everyone knew how Nora treated her biological daughter, Victoria. They had all seen it.

She constantly exploited and demanded from Victoria, and now that Victoria was going to give her a kidney, she didn't feel any remorse. Instead, she kept badmouthing Victoria.

If it were any other mother, even a foster mother, she wouldn't accept her child's donation, right?

So, even though Nora cried her eyes out, the medical staff ignored her, pretending not to hear, completely disregarding her.

"You don't understand, he even threatened me! I used to be a respected lady, and he..."

The door suddenly opened.

Victoria walked in with a dark expression.

Seeing this, the others quickly finished their tasks and left the room.

With no one else around, Nora immediately dropped her pitiful act, replacing it with a look of disdain.

Victoria closed the door, turned around, and stared at her sharply, "Shut your mouth! This has nothing to do with William. Don't let me hear you mention him again!"

Nora squinted her eyes, a mocking smile on her lips, "You're in love with him."

Victoria's eyelashes trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze, speaking softly, "That's my business."

"What a joke. He's got a fiancée and is getting married. Are you planning to keep being his side chick after he ties the knot? How could I have such a shameless daughter? You bring shame to me!"

Nora's insults grew harsher, her eyes filled with resentment.

Victoria's face showed a hint of sarcasm as she quietly stared at her, "You're right. You cheated during marriage and I become a mistress. We truly are mother and daughter."

Nora was momentarily speechless.

"You!" Nora gritted her teeth, glaring at her, wishing she could tear her apart.

Victoria gave her a cold look, "And don't forget your current situation!"

Nora's face changed abruptly, glaring at her viciously, "What, you don't want to donate your kidney anymore? I'll tell your father about you being a mistress. Let's see how you face him then!"

She pointed at Victoria, her emotions out of control, "William is backing you up, huh? Unless he can protect you for life, you'll never escape my grasp! If you don't donate your kidney today, I'll make your life miserable tomorrow! You hurt my son, I'll destroy you!"

She laughed maniacally, but Victoria's heart was already calm. She turned and walked out.

That night, Dr. Myers brought a stack of documents for her to sign, mostly disclaimers about the risks of the surgery, meaning that if anything went wrong, she would bear all the consequences.

Victoria wasn't a medical professional, but she understood the gist of these terms.

After she signed everything, Dr. Myers sighed and said, "As a doctor, I have to fulfill my duties, but I sincerely advise you to reconsider. If something goes wrong, who will take care of you? Who can you rely on?"

Victoria tightly gripped the papers in her hand, momentarily speechless, unsure of how to respond.

She returned to her room, the surgery scheduled for the next morning. Victoria tried to study for her University of Aesthetics Shine entrance exam, but she couldn't focus.

At a nightclub, William sat in a corner booth, the table in front of him littered with empty glasses. He had lost count of how much he had drunk.

Despite the alcohol coursing through his veins, his eyes remained cold, with a hint of fierceness.

A girl dressed provocatively approached him. "Hey there, you look like you're having a rough night."

William glanced at her. She wore a tight, short dress that accentuated her curves, her ample chest and slim waist drawing attention.

Victoria had a similarly graceful figure, but she always wore loose clothing, hiding her body. Only up close could one appreciate the allure beneath her clothes.

Men naturally have a desire to explore, and William often imagined gently unbuttoning her shirt.

As the thought crossed his mind, his eyes turned icy.

What was he thinking?

William tilted his head back, downing his drink in one gulp. His collar was slightly open, his Adam's apple moving, giving him a rebellious look.

This slightly tipsy appearance, with a touch of wildness, was incredibly attractive to the girl.

Seeing that he didn't respond, she took it as a sign of consent and eagerly sat next to him, her hand reaching for his shoulder.