The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 14

"Victoria, you really don't change, do you? Always with the same cheap, dirty tricks."

Elias's eyes were laced with ice, and a chilling aura emanated from him. His gaze was filled with nothing but contempt and disgust for her.

The blood in Victoria's veins seemed to freeze.

He thought she was the one who told his grandfather about the divorce.

She opened her lips to explain, but when she met his gaze, it was as if her throat had closed up, strangling any sound.

His icy stare lingered on her for only a second before moving away, as if looking at her for any longer would dirty his eyes.

Elias strode past her and walked out.

Victoria pressed her lips together, her hands clenching at her sides.

"Victoria, come in." Old Mr. Shawn's voice called out.

Victoria quickly composed herself and entered the study.

"Grandfather."

"Were you standing outside for long? Did you hear everything?" Old Mr. Shawn's voice was low and tinged with exhaustion.

Victoria didn't deny it, simply nodding. "Most of it."

Old Mr. Shawn grunted. "Don't you worry. As long as I'm alive, Elias will not divorce you. In our family, there is only widowhood, not divorce. The one-year agreement is just a delay. After that…"

"Grandfather, I was the one who asked for the divorce."

"You...? Why would you ask for a divorce!?" Old Mr. Shawn was stunned, his expression turning serious. "Is it because of that woman?"

Victoria shook her head. "Grandfather, my decision to divorce has nothing to do with anyone else."

Old Mr. Shawn didn't believe her. He slammed his cane on the floor. "How could it have nothing to do with her? Chuck, go to the Vale estate! Bring that woman to me! I want to see for myself just what kind of power she thinks she has—"

Before he could finish, Victoria suddenly knelt on the floor.

"Victoria, what are you doing? Get up!" Old Mr. Shawn's face darkened.

Victoria avoided Chuck's attempt to help her up and looked at Old Mr. Shawn. "Grandfather, I know you care for me, and I know you want Elias and me to have a good life together."

"But Elias doesn't love me. You can't force happiness. Two years ago, because of me and my father, he was forced to part with the person he loved. Now that she's back, I don't want to force him anymore, and I don't want to keep lying to myself."

"Grandfather, please, I'm begging you to agree to my divorce with Elias."

Victoria's eyes reddened, and her voice grew hoarse.

"Victoria, you foolish child! What happened two years ago was Genevieve's own choice. How can you blame yourself?"

Old Mr. Shawn looked at her with pity.

After a moment, she managed a faint smile. "Grandfather, if it weren't for you and your family, The Sanger Group would have gone bankrupt two years ago. It wouldn't have survived until now. I can't be selfish and ask you to shelter us from the storm forever. My family is already grateful for these two years of breathing room."

"After the divorce, I'll go home and support The Sanger Group with my brother until Father is released. If..." Victoria paused. "If we still can't hold on and it goes bankrupt, as long as my brother, my father, and I are together, my family will not fall apart. I will have no regrets."

Old Mr. Shawn was silent for a long time.

The study was quiet, as if the air itself had stopped moving.

Finally, a long sigh was heard. "Chuck, help Victoria up."

This time, Victoria didn't resist. As she stood, Old Mr. Shawn's voice reached her, slow and measured.

"Victoria, I know the grievances you've suffered these past two years. Now that you've asked for a divorce, I really have no reason to stop you. But since the one-year agreement has been made, it cannot be changed overnight. Can you wait one more year to divorce?"

Victoria looked at Old Mr. Shawn's weary expression. Her lips trembled slightly, and in the end, she could only manage a single word: "Yes."

Only then did Old Mr. Shawn nod in satisfaction, allowing Chuck to help him back to his bedroom to rest.

As the sun set, Victoria left the old mansion and waited for a car.

A black Maybach pulled up, the window slowly rolling down. Elias's cold voice, laced with an authority that couldn't be questioned, cut through the air.

"Get in."