Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria) novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78 

Victoria never expected Yasmin to opt for the smart way by calling Alaric. 

She would’ve praised Yasmin for her intelligence if it were not for the 

ongoing fight. 

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Furthermore, he might chew her out upon learning about tonight’s 

incident. The sheer thought of his father–like scolding caused frustration to 

bubble in her. 

Men would usually treat their partners with care and gentleness so as to 

not scare them. However, Alaric always showed her that sour face like 

how a brother would. That was why she figured that he did not have 

feelings for her. 

While she was immersed in her thoughts, there came the steady sound of 

footsteps. The big guy guarding the entrance greeted, “Mr. Morison.” 

Mr. Morison? Victoria was stupefied by the last name. 

Chapter 78 Give Me A Hug 

The aloof yet familiar voice asked, “Where is she?” 

“Miss Selwyn is right in there.” 

“Okay. You may go ahead.” His voice was low and husky. 

Victoria stayed seated without moving a muscle. She was astonished to 

learn the identity of the incoming person. The names of her old 

acquaintances had flashed across her mind, bar one–Bane Morison. 

Why is it him? 

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Bane topped her most–hated person list when she was young. Although 

he was one of Alaric’s homies, Bane never respected her. That douchebag 

kept pulling her braids, hence the hatred. 

Forget about calling her Vixie–inspired by the word ‘Pixie‘–Victoria 

resented him so much for telling her stories about Alaric and Claudia. 

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“Why didn’t you come to Claudia’s birthday party? Alaric gifted her a 

gorgeous necklace. Have you seen it?” 

“Yesterday, Claudia invited Alaric to a masquerade, and they won the Best 

Couple title! Why didn’t you come?” 

“Claudia gave Alaric a custom–made sweater. She personally designed 

the picture on the back and embroidered the words on the front right 

shoulder of it. Have you seen it?” 

Bane kept blabbering about Alaric and Claudia in front of Victoria, and 

whenever he did, she would always say seriously, “Stop telling me these, 

Bane. I haven’t heard anything and I don’t want to know any of them. Do 

you hear me?” 

However, it seemed like he could not understand human language 

because he never stopped. She gradually grew sick of it until she 

overheard Alaric himself say that he only had eyes for Claudia in the mini 

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garden one day. 

Victoria never threw tantrums at Bane anymore after that, not even when 

she felt jealous. 

Not wanting to hear about Alaric and Claudia wouldn’t change the truth 

because he would only ever have eyes for Claudia. 

Later, when Bane noticed her silence whenever he mentioned the duo, he 

never brought them up again. On the day he left the country, everyone 

sent him off except Victoria. He texted her and asked Alaric to buy a 

present in his stead. 

‘See you soon, Vixie.’ 

The present was a scarf. Its color and texture were to her liking, yet she 

kept it in the box after taking a glance at it, It was never opened again. 

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“Have some more. You didn’t touch your food after just one bite. Did your 

preference change? Or is it not to your liking?” 

Victoria turned around to face the incoming person. Five years were 

enough to efface the teen’s sentimentality, making him appear more 

mature and sharper with a tinge of wisdom sitting upon his raised brows. 

He was neatly dressed in that white shirt and dark–colored suit. Pinning on 

the light–colored tie was a clip, which was the cause for the nuance in her 

expression. 

She did not expect him to keep that tie clip despite all these years. 

Her scorching gaze of scrutiny made Bane lift a brow as he smiled. “What’s 

the matter? You don’t recognize me, Vixie?” 

She lost her cool upon hearing that nickname. “Who’s Vixie? Who gave you 

the right to call me that?” 

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He grinned at her puffed cheeks. “You look like a pufferfish. Isn’t this my 

little Vixie?” 

Pufferfish? She frowned at him. “Can you stop giving me nicknames?” 

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“Alright, alright.” Bane approached her with an affectionate smile and 

ruffled her hair. “Give me a hug.” 

A hug? Before she could react, the man already spread his arms and 

leaned forward. The smell of tobacco became stronger. 

The wispy scent of Victoria wafted into his nose as he pulled her into his 

embrace, boosting the sense of satisfaction in him. 

It had been five years, and never once had he forgotten about her. Had 

she come to the airport five years ago, he wouldn’t have needed to wait 

until today for a hug. 

The soft sensation and satisfaction filled him to the brim, but not the void 

Chapter 78 Give Me A Hug 

in his heart. He dared not to tighten his arms because it might scare her. 

“You’ve grown into a fine woman, Vixie. Pretty, but skinny.”