Chapter 145

Nora struggled to pry Alvin's large hands off her neck, desperately slapping his chest, her face turning purple. "Let go, let go!"

Victoria, terrified by Alvin's demeanor, rushed over and hugged his waist, shouting, "Dad! Let go! Please, let go!"

Daisy, standing nearby, tried to reason with him. "Alvin, calm down. I worked so hard to get you out. Do you want to be locked up again and leave Victoria without her father's protection?"

Hearing this, Alvin's arms stiffened.

He slowly released his grip.

Nora collapsed to the floor, clutching her throat and gasping for air, trembling all over.

She could feel that Alvin had genuinely wanted to kill her just now.

She used to think Alvin was weak and easy to manipulate, but now she realized he could be more ruthless than anyone.

Alvin was completely different now.

Nora looked at Alvin's more rugged and masculine face, her heart pounding.

Despite her fear, an inexplicable thrill crept into her heart.

The commotion was so loud that doctors and nurses rushed over.

"What happened?"

Dr. Myers asked as he approached, but Alvin stepped forward, his tone somewhat restrained. "I'm Victoria's father."

Dr. Myers was slightly taken aback, having heard a bit about Alvin's situation.

He hadn't expected Alvin to be released.

"My daughter won't be having this surgery."

Dr. Myers looked troubled and turned to Victoria, speaking gently. "Ms. Carter is an adult. The final decision about the surgery is hers."

Nora panicked upon hearing this. If Victoria didn't donate her kidney, she would be left to die.

That couldn't happen.

But having just been threatened by Alvin, she didn't dare act out again. Instead, she pitifully pleaded with Victoria, "Victoria, you're the kindest child. If you don't help me, I'll die."

She cried as she spoke, looking pitiful.

Elara, seeing this, grew increasingly agitated. As an outsider, she shouldn't have said anything. But she had seen how much Victoria had suffered over the past two years.

She knew how harsh Nora had been to Victoria, so she couldn't help but speak up for her. "Nora, we're both mothers. Can you honestly say you deserve to be called a mother?"

Nora glared at her angrily. "Who do you think you are to lecture me?"

Elara scoffed, not backing down. "Do you think I want to waste my breath on someone like you? I may not be related to Victoria by blood, but I've seen how hard she's worked. She scrimps and saves, working long hours to support herself and you and your son, while you live comfortably. And what do you do? You only care about your son and treat Victoria like a cash cow. Do you think no one knows what you've done?"

Elara paused, then continued, "The things you and your son have done are shameful. How could a mother and brother do such things?"

"That's nonsense!" Nora was furious. "You wretch, stop slandering me! I've never wronged Victoria!"

"Never wronged her? Who falsely accused Victoria of plagiarism? Who claimed she used unethical means to get into Starry Studio Gallery? Who lured her to an abandoned factory for money, nearly getting her killed?" Elara's anger grew. "And now, you and your illegitimate son have imprisoned and beaten Victoria for money! And you still dare to ask her for a kidney? You're shameless! People like you don't deserve to live!"

"Shut up!" Nora screamed. "You wretch, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

"Bring it on, I'm not afraid of you!" Elara rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight.

She had long been fed up with Nora.

Victoria was such a good, obedient child. But she had the misfortune of having an unreliable mother, suffering for years.

Elara had been waiting for a chance to deal with Nora.

Today was the perfect opportunity!

She was determined to teach Nora a lesson!

Victoria watched in shock as the usually gentle Elara grabbed Nora's clothes, ready to fight.

She was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran over to break it up.

"Elara, Elara, don't do this. It's not worth it." Victoria hugged Elara's waist, stopping her from acting impulsively.

Elara struggled. "Victoria, let go. I need to teach her a lesson! This vile woman deserves to be cut to pieces!"

Victoria was deeply moved.

She knew Elara cared for her.

But she hadn't realized Elara remembered all her suffering and pain so clearly.

Not her biological mother, but better than one.

Victoria's eyes welled up with tears. She hugged Elara tightly, choking up. "Elara, calm down. Don't hurt yourself over someone not worth it."

Elara felt a warm surge in her heart. She patted Victoria's head. "Good girl, I'm fine. This wicked woman will get her comeuppance eventually."

Alvin had only heard a bit from Daisy, but he hadn't realized Nora had done so much to abuse Victoria. He was furious.

He gritted his teeth, yanked Nora away, and slapped her hard.

The slap echoed loudly.

Nora was stunned, unable to react for a moment.

"You... you hit me?" She stared at Alvin in shock, unable to believe her eyes.

One slap wasn't enough for Alvin. He raised his leg, ready to kick her.

He wanted to kill this vile Nora!

Daisy quickly intervened, stopping Alvin.

She frowned and scolded him softly. "Enough, calm down."

Victoria also hurried to calm him. "Dad, I'm fine, really."

"Fine? You call this fine?"

Alvin looked at Victoria with a trembling voice, full of pain.

He glared at Nora, pointing at her. "If you dare ask for Victoria's kidney, I'll kill you. An eye for an eye."

Nora, pale with fear, tried to call out sweetly, "Alvin!"

Daisy snapped impatiently, "Shut up!"

Victoria's heart tightened. She had finally gotten Alvin back and didn't want to lose him again. She quickly said, "No donation, no surgery. I'm not doing it!"