Chapter 159

"Does it even matter to you?" Victoria shot him a glare, her teeth clenched.

William felt a sharp pang in his chest as she didn't deny it, his eyes instantly welling up.

It was like his heart was being sliced apart with a dull knife, the pain unbearable.

Victoria looked at him coldly, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Didn't you always say I was a whore who'd sell herself for money? I'm just doing what you said. Why are you acting all hurt now? Isn't it ridiculous?"

William stared at her, feeling a deep, festering pain in the most hidden part of his heart.

He silently watched her.

She was clearly thinner than before, but her eyes were still clear and bright, filled with a stubbornness.

This was the girl he loved, and also the one he had hurt the most.

"Are you doing this to get back at me?" he murmured softly.

"Don't flatter yourself. Do you think I'd ruin myself for you? Samuel is a thousand times, no, ten thousand times better than you!" Victoria shot back mockingly.

William felt a mix of pain and bitterness in his heart. He clenched his fists, enduring the tearing pain inside, and asked again, "Victoria, I admit I started out to get back at your father, but later..."

"Shut up!" Victoria lost control, screaming to cut him off, her eyes cold and filled with hatred. "Haven't you bullied me enough? Why are you still bothering me?"

William fell silent immediately, staring at her in a daze. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but his throat was so dry he couldn't form a complete sentence.

What should he say? What could he say? Should he say he really loved her? He was afraid she would hate him even more.

After a long silence, he suddenly grabbed Victoria's shoulders tightly, almost begging, "What do I have to do for you to forgive me?"

Victoria winced in pain from his grip and desperately shook off William's hold. "William, I won't forgive you unless you die!"

With that, she turned and ran away, her eyes quickly filling with tears, but she didn't want them to fall.

William stood there in a daze, feeling as if his heart had been hollowed out, the emptiness suffocating him.

Victoria ran all the way home, only to find Nora squatting at the door, yelling at the house. "Victoria, I'm your mother! How dare you not let me in?"

"Victoria, are you getting too cocky? Do you think you can ignore me?"

"Get out here right now!"

"Victoria, if you don't come out, don't blame me for being rude!"

Her voice echoed through the neighborhood, and the neighbors peeked out, whispering among themselves.

Victoria walked up helplessly. "Mom, what are you doing?"

Nora stood up and slapped Victoria across the face, scolding, "How dare you ask me why? I've called you so many times, and you didn't answer once! Do you even see me as your mother?"

Victoria covered her swollen cheek, looking down. "Sorry, I didn't hear it."

Nora was about to continue scolding her, but Victoria had already taken out her keys and opened the door.

Nora didn't bother causing more trouble and immediately walked into the yard. As soon as she entered the house, she started shouting, "Where's your dad? What's he doing? He never answers my calls."

"He's out of the country," Victoria replied indifferently.

Nora's interest was piqued. "Out of the country? What's he doing, business?"

Although she had always disliked Alvin's gentle, unmanly demeanor, she had to admit he had a good business mind.

Starting from scratch, in just over a decade, he had turned a small design company into a top national enterprise. It was a miracle!

Victoria glanced at her. "How would I know what he's doing?"

Hearing this, Nora angrily twisted her ear, scolding, "You little brat, how dare you talk to me like that? Do you believe I'll beat you to death?"

Victoria winced in pain and pushed her away. "I warn you, if you touch me again, I'll have the property management kick you out. This house is mine now."

"You!" Nora pointed at her nose, her chest heaving with anger.

Though she was full of bluster, she didn't dare use violence again.

She knew that Victoria was indeed capable of doing it now.

Victoria pushed out a large suitcase and coldly said to Nora, "I've packed your clothes and other things. I'll call a car to take you to a hotel."

"I have a home. Why should I stay in a hotel?" Nora said nonchalantly, walking to the sofa and sitting down gracefully.

She patted the empty spot beside her, signaling Victoria to sit too. "Victoria, I know you have issues with me, but that's all in the past. Now that your dad is out of prison, our family can finally be together again. We should look forward, not dwell on the past."

Victoria emphasized each word, "This home is mine and Dad's!"

Nora laughed, a hint of smugness in her eyes. "Have you asked him? Did he say he doesn't want to get back together with me?"

Victoria was stunned. She hadn't actually asked Alvin about his thoughts.

Seeing her reaction, Nora became even more smug, shaking her head slightly. "It's all your assumption. How could you understand our feelings? Your dad and I have been on and off for years. This is just how we are. You have no right to decide for him."

Victoria's face turned cold, and she retorted mercilessly, "You abandoned him."

"But he doesn't care! Just wait until he comes back and ask him if he still has feelings for me. Without me, he can't live." Nora smiled, getting up to grab Victoria's hand. Victoria instinctively stepped back, her eyes full of unfamiliarity and wariness.

"Victoria, let me give you some advice. Your dad loves me very much. Don't let your selfishness keep us apart. You might face some bad karma." With that, Nora yawned, took her pajamas from the suitcase, and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

"Don't call me for dinner," Nora added.

Victoria stood there, feeling helpless and wronged.

After a while, she slowly walked to the sofa, took out her phone, and dialed Alvin's number.

The phone rang for a long time before it was answered. "Victoria."

The background noise on Alvin's end sounded very loud and chaotic; it seemed like he was in a place like a bar.

Victoria frowned and asked, "Dad, where are you now?"

Alvin's voice came nervously, "Victoria, I'm busy. You should go to bed early. I'll be back in a few days."

Victoria obediently agreed and was about to hang up when she suddenly heard Daisy's scream on the other end of the line.