Chapter 70

Victoria calmly sipped her tea, "Didn't you say I could name my price? What? Backing out already? If that's the case, then I guess I came here for nothing."

Lloyd quickly interjected, "Ms. Carter, Sofia is still a child and doesn't know any better. Please don't hold it against her."

He kept signaling Sofia to apologize.

Unfortunately, Sofia didn't appreciate it and instead directed all her anger at Victoria.

"Who 's backing out? You're the one making outrageous demands!"

Victoria raised an eyebrow, "If you can't afford it, that's fine. You don't need to apologize. You injured my arm, so let me hit you until I'm satisfied, and I'll let Mr. Scott drop the matter. How about that?"

"You! You're too much!" Sofia's eyes turned red, and she started to cry, "You're bullying me!"

Victoria's face remained indifferent, "My terms are fair."

Thalia, seeing Sofia crying in anger, quickly tried to comfort her, "Sofia, don't cry."

She turned her head and glared at Victoria, "Ms. Carter, asking for a hundred million dollars is unreasonable. We're sincerely trying to resolve this matter with you, so there's no need to be so aggressive."

Lloyd, despite his fear of William, couldn't help but get a little angry, "Ms. Carter, as far as I know, you're just a small employee at a gallery, living off your salary, with a sick mother and a brother still in school to support. Name a realistic number, and don't make things difficult."

Alton, seeing the tense atmosphere, wanted to say something in Victoria's defense but chose to remain silent because William was present.

Victoria chuckled softly, a hint of self-mockery in her eyes.

It seemed that, in the eyes of the Moore family, everything she did was just to get more money.

To these wealthy people, anything that could be solved with money was not a big issue.

But if you wanted to harm their noble bodies, that was a great insult.

They never considered that while their bodies could feel pain, so could others'.

Rich people had dignity, and so did poor people.

Victoria's hand on her knee clenched slightly. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger about to erupt, and said calmly, "You can't come up with the money, and you don't want me to hurt your precious body, so there's nothing more to say."

With that, she stood up to leave.

William grabbed her hand, pressing her back into the chair, and extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray.

His eyes were dark, and his voice was cold, "Do as she says. Let her hit your daughter until she's satisfied."

William's tone was calm, but the underlying menace and ruthlessness were terrifying.

As soon as he spoke, the temperature in the restaurant seemed to drop several degrees.

Sofia trembled in fear, almost collapsing to the floor.

She stammered, "No... no way!"

Thalia panicked, "Mr. Scott!"

William glanced at them mockingly, "I understand you want to protect your daughter, but I also have to protect my woman. It's either a beating or jail. You choose. I'll give you a day to think about it."

With that, he took Victoria's hand and walked out of the private room.

Sofia stood there in shock for a moment before rushing to the door, only to be stopped by the bodyguards waiting outside.

"Mr. Scott, please listen to me. Give me another chance. I was wrong. I really know I was wrong."

But William didn't stop, walking straight out.

Victoria followed beside him, her head down, feeling conflicted.

Lloyd's words echoed in her mind, reminding her of the times Alvin had defended her.

She kept her head down, ignoring William's increasingly tight grip on her hand.

In the car, the warm air from the air conditioner blew gently. William looked out the window at the passing neon lights, his expression unreadable.

Victoria pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

Suddenly, William turned his head, staring at her profile, and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Victoria's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly shook her head.

"Don't let their crazy talk get to you." William's voice was magnetic and low.

Victoria pressed her lips together, "Thank you for helping me."

If it weren't for him, she would have had to swallow the insults and injuries in silence.

It seemed he wasn't as bad as she thought.

"To hear a 'thank you' from you is quite rare," William scoffed.

Victoria ignored his mockery and continued, "That Sofia is still young. Just give her a little lesson. Even if she let me hit her, I couldn't do it."

William narrowed his eyes, "What? Feeling soft-hearted?"

Victoria paused, raising her clear, bright eyes to look at him seriously, "It's not soft-hearted. I just think her parents have it tough."

"you're kind-hearted but foolish, always letting useless people bully you," William said nonchalantly.

Victoria pressed her lips together and said nothing more.

William smirked, then leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest.

After a while, Victoria's phone rang.

She glanced at the number; it was Samuel calling.

Victoria looked at William, hesitated for two seconds, and answered the call.

"Victoria, my parents are here. They want to invite you to dinner the day after tomorrow. Can you come?" Samuel warmly invited over the phone.

Victoria glanced at William, who was resting with his eyes closed, turned her head, and lowered her voice, "Okay."

After hanging up, she looked at William. He still had his eyes closed, showing no reaction. She let out a long breath.

It seemed that once Alice returned, he really wouldn't bother her anymore.

Thinking this, she felt much more at ease. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, looking even more gentle and pure.

William opened his eyes just in time to catch this moment.

His heart sank, and even his breathing became difficult.

Was she that happy to meet Samuel's parents?

What was so good about that old man?

What was she so happy about?

He narrowed his eyes, a strange feeling spreading in his heart, tinged with a bit of sourness and helplessness.

Victoria sensed William's gaze and immediately returned to her usual self.

William suppressed his emotions, placed his hand on the armrest, and said lightly, "I just remembered I have something to do at the office. You'll have to take a cab home."