Chapter 210

In the hospital lobby, Victoria sat on a bench, staring blankly at the people coming and going through the entrance.

She had been sitting there for quite a while, feeling utterly exhausted.

Nora had always treated her this way, ever since she could remember. Now that she was older, there was no need to feel hurt by such coldness anymore.

At this moment, it was Nora and Bobby who should be in a panic, not her.

After coming to this realization, she slowly stood up and walked to the vending machine to buy a cup of hot coffee.

Just as she took the cup, someone bumped into her from behind, causing the coffee to spill on her chest, making her wince from the heat.

She frowned and looked up to see a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties, dressed extravagantly, with an arrogant demeanor.

Even though the woman knew she had bumped into someone, she only glanced at Victoria indifferently, without any intention of apologizing.

"Excuse me, ma'am, you..." Victoria froze when she saw the person behind the woman. "Wendy?"

Wendy was hiding behind her mother, Carol Clark. She had recognized Victoria but deliberately avoided her gaze, pulling her scarf up to cover most of her face.

Victoria's heart tightened, and she vaguely guessed the woman's identity. Her expression turned cold as she asked softly, "Wendy, why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"

Carol glanced at Victoria arrogantly and asked Wendy with a frown, "Do you know her?"

"Just a colleague, not very close." Wendy was eager to distance herself from Victoria in front of Carol.

Victoria frowned, full of doubts, but she could see Wendy's reluctance and knew she had her reasons, so she didn't press further.

After nodding slightly to the two of them, she threw the paper cup into the trash, bought another cup of coffee, and returned to her seat. She took out a tissue to wipe the coffee stains from her chest.

Carol watched Victoria's departing figure suspiciously and muttered to herself, "Have I seen her somewhere before?"

"She's my colleague. Maybe you've seen a photo or something." Wendy tried her best to conceal Victoria's true identity.

"Is that all?" Carol's brow furrowed. Hearing the nurse call her, she took Wendy into the examination room.

Before entering, she gently patted Wendy's head and forced a smile. "Wendy, you're grown up now. You know what to say and what not to say, right?"

Wendy bit her lip and nodded.

She turned around, dragging her heavy steps, filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

This was just a chance encounter. Victoria understood that Wendy didn't want to share her family matters and didn't intend to pry, thinking that Wendy would speak up when she was ready.

But who could have predicted that the next day, when Victoria received a call from Diana, she would be filled with regret.

When Victoria rushed to the hospital, Diana was already in the room.

Wendy lay on the bed, her hair disheveled, her face bruised and swollen, her body covered in bruises, clearly having been severely beaten.

Victoria walked up, looking at her pale face, her nose stinging with emotion. "What happened? How did you end up like this?"

Diana whispered, "The police called me early this morning. They found her unconscious on the street. They couldn't reach her family, so they called me. The doctor said she has multiple fractures and many old injuries."

Diana sighed softly. "She woke up briefly. I asked if she wanted to call the police, but she refused. She said she was afraid..."

Victoria felt a pang of sorrow. "Afraid of what?"

"Afraid her mom would get into trouble." Diana hesitated. "From the way she talked, it seemed like her mom was the one who beat her because her dad wants a divorce, and she took it out on Wendy."

Victoria's heart was a whirlwind of emotions, and her eyes reddened.

Some mothers were truly mothers, but some were demons to their children.

Victoria silently examined Wendy's injuries, new wounds layered over old ones.

There was a faint scar on her head, already healed. If her hair hadn't been such a mess, it would have been hard to notice. It looked like it had been caused by a hard object.

They couldn't imagine what Wendy had endured over the years.

Victoria was both angry and heartbroken. She decisively said, "I'm calling the police!"

At that moment, a weak hand tugged at Victoria's sleeve, pulling feebly. "Victoria, don't call the police."

Victoria looked down at Wendy, her gaze firm. "If we don't call the police, are we just going to let her keep torturing you? This time you were lucky to be brought to the hospital. What about next time? And the time after that? She may have given you life, but that doesn't give her the right to abuse you!"

Diana also tried to persuade her. "Don't you see? She doesn't see you as her daughter at all."

Just then, the door opened, and Carol walked in.

The moment she saw her, Victoria could feel Wendy's body tense up.

Wendy instinctively lowered her head, gripping Victoria's hand tightly.

In front of others, Carol appeared extremely gentle. Seeing them, she immediately asked with concern, "Are you Wendy's colleagues? Thank you for coming to see her."

Victoria asked directly, "What happened to Wendy's injuries?"

"It breaks my heart to talk about it. I've been sick these past few days, feeling out of it. Wendy insisted on helping with the housework. She's clumsy and accidentally knocked over a hot water bottle, burning herself, and then tripped and fell several times, getting these injuries. I'm heartbroken too."

Carol's eyes reddened as she spoke, her voice choked with emotion, as if she were the one who had suffered.

Wendy turned her head away in embarrassment, burying her face deep in the blanket.

Diana couldn't stand it anymore and said angrily, "Mrs. Clark, Wendy has always been a smart and capable employee at work, never giving me any trouble. How could she be so clumsy at home? Do you really think anyone would believe your story?"

Carol was momentarily stunned, seemingly never having heard anyone speak up for Wendy.

Her facade of gentle kindness shattered, and she screamed hysterically at Wendy on the bed, "If she were so smart, why couldn't she help me win her father's favor? Now her father wants to divorce me and live with his mistress and illegitimate child. Isn't that her fault?"

Wendy cried silently under the blanket, her tears soaking the pillow, but she didn't dare to say a word in protest.

Victoria trembled with anger, glaring at Carol. "So you beat her and abused her to make your husband change his mind?"

'Why are some mothers so cruel, taking out their marital frustrations on their children?' Victoria wondered.

It was clearly her own problem, her own shortcomings. How could she make an innocent child suffer?

"Miss, don't say such things." Carol looked at Victoria, her tone as gentle as a spring breeze. "You're still young and don't understand the difficulties of being a parent. Besides, disciplining my child is our family matter."

With that, she walked to the bed, elegantly lifting a corner of the blanket, her face showing a seemingly concerned smile. "Wendy, tell your colleagues to go home. You need to rest and not waste their time."

Wendy looked at Carol with helpless eyes, instinctively shrinking back into the bed, her voice choked with tears. "You all, you all should go. I'm fine."

Carol's lips curled into a barely noticeable smile, and she politely said, "I'm sorry, my daughter needs to rest now. Please, everyone, leave."