Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria) novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160
His question stumped Victoria, and just as she contemplated how to answer
Hector, he spoke up. “Mr. Cadogan hasn’t eaten anything since coming back
last night.”
But what use is there in telling me this now? Victoria mused.
“I don’t know what happened between you and Mr. Cadogan, madam, but
considering how long you’ve been together, if the matter can be resolved…”
“It can’t,” she mumbled, rendering Hector at a loss for words.
Moments later, he said softly, “If you have already decided, Mrs. Cadogan,
then I can only wish you a safe journey.”
Victoria was a little bewildered at first, but she smiled in relief moments
later. “Thank you, Mr. Bowen. You take care too. As for Old Mrs. Cadogan… I
hope you can help take care of her.”
“I’m the Cadogan Family’s butler.” Hector nodded solemnly and sincerely. “I
would do so even if you didn’t ask.”
“Yeah… You’ve always been loyal and responsible.”
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And shrewd as well, for only he saw through it when others couldn’t.
“Take care, Mrs. Cadogan.”
Victoria left the Cadogan Residence with a small bag in her hand. Before
leaving, she paused and looked back at the place that had been her home
for nearly two years.
She always knew she wouldn’t stay for long when she first came, but to her
surprise, it had already been two years by the time she came around. Time
flew, and the years were truly unforgiving.
Before their fake marriage, she and Alaric were friends-childhood
sweethearts-and had a mutually supportive relationship.
But now, it came to a bitter divorce, and their relationship became that of
strangers. However… she still felt grateful to Alaric, who appeared and
helped her when she needed it the most.
She would remember the kindness forever.
Victoria turned around and left, her slender figure quickly disappearing at
the end of the road.
2/7
12 13 Sal, 24
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The cold wind mercilessly blew the fallen leaves on the ground, causing
them to spin on the street and eventually return to their original point.
On the other hand, Elaine’s life had been a living hell lately.
She had been imprisoned for some time after she was believed to be
Christopher’s accomplice. Later, considering that they were first-time
offenders, and the victim did not suffer any significant physical harm, they
were released. However, after her release, Elaine returned home only to
discover that her family had been subjected to endless retaliation.
Her family’s small company relied on the Johnsons for survival, taking
whatever the Johnsons left behind. Hence, Elaine would often flatter
Claudia to gain favor. But this time, the retaliation directly led to the
bankruptcy of the Sutcliffe Family’s small company, leaving them with a
massive debt.
When Elaine returned home, her mother embraced her. “Elaine, please beg
Claudia for help. Your father is on the verge of giving up entirely. We’ll all
be doomed if anything irreversible happens. And your younger brother,
yes, your younger brother. The school has suspended him too. Just who
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Chapter 160 He Still Doesn’t Know She’s Pregnant,
have we offended, Elaine? Why is this happening to us?”
Elaine’s heart sank in response, and she knelt on the ground with weak
knees. Whom have we offended? The only person who can be so ruthless
can only be Alaric Cadogan!
The man had already warned her the time she fought Victoria, telling her
never to appear before his eyes ever again. However, she didn’t listen.
Worst, she even bullied Victoria, and now, he had come for her.
After coming to herself, Elaine hurriedly went to Claudia, hoping the latter
could help her, but to her dismay, she was rejected at the door when she
actually visited Claudia.
Claudia didn’t want to see her at all, and if she dared barge in, someone
would kick her out. With that, Elaine lived a life worse than death.
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Her mother was no better as she was overwhelmed by the pressure. She
even contemplated taking sleeping pills to end it all but was luckily stopped
by Elaine’s younger brother.
In the end, her younger brother kneeled in front of her, begging, “Elaine,
please, I’m begging you. Who in the world did you offend? Please go and
Chapter 160 He Still Doesn’t Know She’s Pregnant,
plead for mercy. If this continues, our entire family will be utterly doomed!”
577
Even her mother begged on her knees. “Elaine, our family has never
mistreated you, even if you’re a girl. Our family is now in dire states.
Whomever you’ve offended, please apologize and make amends. Our family
can’t go on like this anymore.”
Whom had she offended? Of course, she knew who it was.
Driven to desperation, she finally went to the gates of the Cadogan
Residence.
She stood outside the gates and gazed at the towering building before her.
She bit her lip, thinking about her own broken and impoverished home.
Her phone beeped, and Elaine took it out to check. It turned out that
someone asked Claudia out for a shopping trip in the afternoon in a group
chat, and the latter agreed eagerly.
At that, she checked her chat history with Claudia, where it stopped at
Elaine sending Claudia multiple messages with not a single reply in return.
No matter how she begged, Claudia would only respond with
Chapter 160 He Still Doesn’t Know She’s Pregnant,
impassiveness.
While pondering, she suddenly noticed Claudia had deleted the message,
and she couldn’t help sneering in response. Looks like Claudia had
forgotten I’m also in the group, huh? Did she delete it because she’s worried
I’d see it?
Elaine had assumed there must be a reason for Claudia’s avoidance-
Claudia could be injured, or the Johnsons were stopping Claudia because
she offended them. At the end of the day, the revelation that Claudia
refused to see her on her own accord was devastating.
At that, a malicious idea crossed her mind as she gazed at the Cadogan’s
gate, and she gave Claudia a call.
As expected, the young woman didn’t answer. So, Elaine took her time to
send Claudia a text. ‘Do you know where I am right now?”
With that, she took a picture of the Cadogan Residence’s gate, and not five
minutes after she sent it to Claudia that her phone rang. It was none other
than Claudia herself.
Elaine smirked in response. She did nothing but watch the phone ring
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Chapter 160 He Still Doesn’t Know She’s Pregnant,
silently until it was hung up. Claudia didn’t give up either, as her call came
seconds after.
Like teasing a mouse, Elaine waited until Claudia called for the fifth time
before finally answering.
As soon as the call connected, Claudia anxiously asked, “Elaine, what are
you doing at the Cadogan Residence?”
Her tone was filled with urgency, showing no sign of weakness.
At this point, Elaine couldn’t even maintain the assumption that Claudia
was sick anymore. “Of course, I came here for a reason,” she enunciated
with a smirk. “What’s the matter, Claudia? Why do you sound nervous? Are
you afraid I might accidentally say something unfavorable to you?”
Claudia fell silent for a moment before chuckling awkwardly, “What are you
talking about? Why would I-”
“Alaric still doesn’t know Victoria’s pregnant, does he?”