Queen Of Revenge And Glory (Victoria and Jackson) novel Chapter 5

5 I’ll Leave

Victoria’s words left Curtis speechless. He had just started to feel a bit guilty when Angelica suddenly broke down in tears again.

She said, “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. It’s my fault for having a mother like that. Victoria, if you hate me, you can hit me or yell at me, but please don’t blame Curtis.”

As she spoke, she struggled to pull free from Curtis’s hand. With a determined look, she bit her lip and ran toward Victoria.

“Angelica!” Curtis panicked and quickly got up to follow her.

Angelica ran up to Victoria and was about to bow, but Curtis caught up just in time and pulled her back. “Angelica, what are you doing? This isn’t your fault. It’s your mother’s fault.”

Victoria watched the whole scene and suddenly laughed. She even clapped her hands like she was watching a show. “This is really something. Are you putting on a pity act for me?”

The small bit of guilt Curtis had felt disappeared right away. After helping Angelica steady herself, he looked at Victoria coldly.

“Why are you being so unreasonable?” he asked. “Angelica already apologized sincerely, and you’re still mocking her.”

“I’m not just mocking her. I’m mocking all of you,” Victoria said. “Her mother planned everything, found a way to switch us, and let her take twenty years of the life that should have been mine.

“Now that I’m back, you guys are still protecting her right in front of me. It’s a shame that I ended up with a family like this.”

Curtis’s face darkened even more.

Julia looked helplessly at Darell. She hadn’t expected Victoria to be so stubborn and didn’t know how to deal with her.

No matter how she looked at it, Julia just couldn’t bring herself to like Victoria.

Darell, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. “That’s enough, Victoria. Angelica’s mother has already been punished. Angelica is alone now, with no one to rely on.

“Your mother and I raised her for twenty years. We can’t just throw her out. The Binder family has more than enough. Keeping her here is no big deal. She won’t affect you.”

But Victoria didn’t accept that. “If it’s really no big deal, then she can live anywhere. Why does she have to stay here and bother me?

“Every time I see her, I’m reminded of everything I went through after being switched.”

Darell didn’t expect her to keep pushing like this. Just like Julia, he began to feel more and more resistant toward Victoria.

Compared to Angelica, who was gentle and understanding, Victoria seemed completely rude to him.

Angelica bit her lip and let her tears fall silently. She looked pitiful, making it hard not to feel sorry for her.

Seeing how aggressive Victoria was, Curtis finally lost his temper. “So you won’t be satisfied unless we send Angelica away, huh?”

Victoria nodded. “That’s right. We’re not both living here. It’s one or the other.”

As soon as she said that, everyone’s faces darkened.

“I don’t want to leave you,” Angelica said through her tears, looking completely wronged. It made anyone who saw her feel bad.

Curtis held her hand tightly. “Angelica, don’t worry. You don’t have to go anywhere. As long as I’m here, I won’t let anyone drive you out of the Binder family. You’ll always be my sister. You’re part of us.”

Victoria raised an eyebrow. “So you want me to leave, huh?”

Julia was already at her limit, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Victoria, you just got back. You don’t really know Angelica yet.

“She’s kind and understanding. Once you spend some time with her, you’ll accept her. Her staying here won’t affect your place. No matter what, you’re our real daughter.”

Victoria sneered, “Really? Then why did all of you look disgusted the moment you saw me? Is it because I’m not as pretty as her? Or because I’m not as refined?

“But have you forgotten? If we had never been switched, the pretty, refined one would be me. Everything she has now was built on the suffering I endured for her.”

Julia froze and quickly shook her head. “That’s not it. We just haven’t adjusted yet.”

“You need time to adjust to your own daughter, huh? Then why didn’t Uncle Hector and Aunt Daisy need time when they saw me?” Victoria pressed.

Julia had no answer. But she thought it was because Hector and Daisy had no children, so of course, they would be happy.

She took a deep breath and softened her voice. “Victoria, we won’t treat you badly from now on. Your living expenses will be the same as Angelica’s. Your father and I won’t favor one over the other.”

Victoria gave a faint, mocking smile. “Should I thank you for that? Honestly, for me, not favoring one over the other is already the biggest favoritism.

“You two are really kind. You don’t want your own daughter, but you’re willing to spend money raising the daughter of someone who ruined my life. I’ve never seen people this generous.”

Julia held back her anger and continued, “Victoria, stop making trouble. You’re my real daughter. We finally found you. How could we let you keep suffering out there?”

Victoria replied, “So you knew I was suffering. While I was suffering, that criminal’s daughter was living here, enjoying everything you gave her in my place.

“And now, on the very first day I come back, you’re ready to push me away again.”

Curtis said coldly, “Get this straight. We’re not pushing you away. You’re the one making things difficult. You could stay here peacefully, but you refuse to accept Angelica.”

“How could I accept the daughter of a criminal?” Victoria asked. “If I hadn’t been lucky enough to survive, her mother would be both a trafficker and a murderer.

“She committed the crime, but her daughter hasn’t been punished at all. Why should she get to keep living this rich, comfortable life as if nothing had happened?”

Angelica’s body swayed. Curtis quickly held her steady, his anger finally breaking through. “With your attitude, do you even deserve to stay here while Angelica leaves?”

“Of course I do. First, I’m a Binder by blood. Second, unlike you, I’m not an idiot.” After snapping at him, Victoria lost her patience. “Have you decided? Is she leaving, or am I?”

Curtis pulled Angelica into his arms protectively and said firmly, “Dad, Mom, if I have to choose, then I only recognize Angelica as my sister.”

“Good. One vote.” Victoria raised her index finger and then looked at Julia. “What about you?”

Julia forced down her frustration and said gently, “Victoria, don’t do this—”

“Alright, that’s two votes,” Victoria said, not even bothering to listen. She turned to Darell. “Your vote doesn’t matter anymore. There are already two votes for Angelica. Fine. Since that’s the case, she stays. I’ll leave.”

A trace of anxiety flashed in Angelica’s eyes. If Victoria really left, there would be no one to take her place in marrying Jackson.